Sergei Taneyev's Tent of Twirbling Tones

[Brahmsian]

Through the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now subscribed to this thread. I had not, until very recently, heard a note of the music of Taneyev. I had recently, through the good graces of another fellow member, been given a recommendation for the following CD:



I, very soon afterwards, bought that CD and I was immediately attracted to and engrossed by this music. Here is a cross post from the Listening Thread of my initial reactions to listening to that CD:

As a further consequence of the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now purchased the following CD....




....with the Jarvi version of No. 4 to follow as it has also been recommended to me.


I also have no doubt that the Chamber Music will duly follow 

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the exploration. 

[aligreto]

I am sure that I will 

The waiting is the difficult part 

[Brahmsian]

I am sure that I will 

The waiting is the difficult part 

I am listening now to Taneyev's 6th string quartet (his latest string quartet), as string quartets 7-9 were earlier unpublished works.  Taneyev SQ with the performance.  Top notch chamber music!

I'll probably have another listen to Symphony No. 2 and 4 today, as I just seem to be in the mood for his music lately.

[Cato]

I am listening now to Taneyev's 6th string quartet (his latest string quartet), as string quartets 7-9 were earlier unpublished works.  Taneyev SQ with the performance.  Top notch chamber music!

I'll probably have another listen to Symphony No. 2 and 4 today, as I just seem to be in the mood for his music lately.

I have been revisiting The Oresteia and again find great pleasure in every minute!

https://www.youtube.com/v/imp6YQ5VbG4

[Brahmsian]

I have been revisiting The Oresteia and again find great pleasure in every minute!

https://www.youtube.com/v/imp6YQ5VbG4

Nice!    I've decided to listen to all 9 string quartets (Taneyev SQ) over the last couple of days.  Listening to number 1 (which is actually the 4th quartet in chronology).  Highly lyrical piece.

Aligreto (Fergus) alert! 

[aligreto]

Nice!    I've decided to listen to all 9 string quartets (Taneyev SQ) over the last couple of days.  Listening to number 1 (which is actually the 4th quartet in chronology).  Highly lyrical piece.

Aligreto (Fergus) alert! 

Thank you for keeping me in the loop 

[Karl Henning]

Just landed:  I didn't realize that "8 Quartets" is a typo until I was reading through the booklet ... Hello, what's this Quartet № 9 about?

[Brahmsian]

Just landed:  I didn't realize that "8 Quartets" is a typo until I was reading through the booklet ... Hello, what's this Quartet № 9 about?

Wonderful, Karl! I got mine about three weeks ago and I have listened to all but one disc! It really is a splendid chamber music set. 

[Karl Henning]

Wonderful, Karl! I got mine about three weeks ago and I have listened to all but one disc! It really is a splendid chamber music set. 

Just eating it right up, Ray!

[Brahmsian]

Well, I have completed my travels across this entire set, and I do want to say that it is mostly superlatively fantastic.

As it is mostly terrific, I will just mention a few exceptions:

One of my favourite Taneyev works is the early String Trio in D major (1880).  The performance here unfortunately pales in comparison to the magnificent performance by the Leopold String Trio on Hyperion.  I highly recommend that one, I think it is a superior performance, with the proper tempi and pace to bring out the Slavic/Russian flavours in their greatest impact.

My least favourite work by Taneyev is the Viola Quintet in C major, Op. 16. And this performance doesn't change that.    Especially the grating 1st movement.  I just don't understand it, nor enjoy the piece overall, I'm afraid.  It's thumbs down all the way around from me. 

One particular piece that deserves special mention for outstanding performance is the Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30, with Tamara Filder on piano accompanying the Taneyev SQ.  OH MY, is this superb!!  What a performance, and it outdoes the great Dream Team ensemble performance of Pletnev, Imai, Gringolts, Repin, and Harrell on the DG label.

[Karl Henning]

Interesting, Ray!

[SonicMan46]

Thanks Ray for your comments!    I also have the Leopold String Trio recording, so would like to compare the two to better appreciate your thoughts.  Dave

[Cato]

My least favourite work by Taneyev is the Viola Quintet in C major, Op. 16. And this performance doesn't change that.    Especially the grating 1st movement.  I just don't understand it, nor enjoy the piece overall, I'm afraid.  It's thumbs down all the way around from me. 

Is the dislike perhaps due to the odd quasi-microtonal tuning or - simple intonation - problems?

Listeners commenting on YouTube have noticed it as well:


https://www.youtube.com/v/jI0bzsu43AA

vs.

(The Middle Movements are missing.)


https://www.youtube.com/v/LqvlbNS8mxg&list=RDkp9H9N_Ya9Q&index=3



https://www.youtube.com/v/kp9H9N_Ya9Q&list=RDkp9H9N_Ya9Q&index=1



Any change of heart?  0:)



P.S. I found the missing movements as performed by the Ohio group Carpe Diem:


https://www.youtube.com/v/vw6VPrA_Et0


https://www.youtube.com/v/A1-yNNTteMU
 

[Brahmsian]

It is nothing to do with the recording.  I just don't like the piece (especially the 1st movement). 

[Cato]

It is nothing to do with the recording.  I just don't like the piece (especially the 1st movement). 

Okay!  Still, not a bad percentage overall!   

[Brahmsian]

Okay!  Still, not a bad percentage overall!   

No doubt about it.   

[Karl Henning]

Okay!  Still, not a bad percentage overall!   

Verily.

[aligreto]

Taneyev: Symphony No. 2 [Sanderling]





This is my first listen to this work. This is a completed and edited version presented by Vladimir Blok [1977]. I do not know how this edition compares with other versions, obviously, or even if there are indeed any others. It sounds like a very good and organic presentation to me.
I particularly like the opening of this work. I also like the change in mood from the pensive to the more up beat at around 3:30 mins. This tone pervades the rest of the opening movement which moves along with a very nice forward momentum, helped a lot by those sweeping strings. The opening movement, unifyingly, comes full circle and ends just like it began.
The slow movement has some wonderful music and the orchestral textures and sonorities are, once again, wonderful. Still, it is the weakest part of the entire work as this is the section, apparently, to which Taneyev paid the least attention, which is a great pity. This shows, unfortunately, as it labours in places.
The third movement bursts into life and proclaims itself with excitement and exuberance. It immediately has an impact and one can feel the gifted hand of the composer at work and crafting something totally rounded, complete, engaging and appealing. Why did he not have the conviction to complete this work?
The orchestration is wonderful. I like his scoring overall but especially that for the wind instruments.

[Karl Henning]

Today will be disc 10 of this lovely set:

[Brahmsian]

Taneyev: Symphony No. 2 [Sanderling]





This is my first listen to this work. This is a completed and edited version presented by Vladimir Blok [1977]. I do not know how this edition compares with other versions, obviously, or even if there are indeed any others. It sounds like a very good and organic presentation to me.
I particularly like the opening of this work. I also like the change in mood from the pensive to the more up beat at around 3:30 mins. This tone pervades the rest of the opening movement which moves along with a very nice forward momentum, helped a lot by those sweeping strings. The opening movement, unifyingly, comes full circle and ends just like it began.
The slow movement has some wonderful music and the orchestral textures and sonorities are, once again, wonderful. Still, it is the weakest part of the entire work as this is the section, apparently, to which Taneyev paid the least attention, which is a great pity. This shows, unfortunately, as it labours in places.
The third movement bursts into life and proclaims itself with excitement and exuberance. It immediately has an impact and one can feel the gifted hand of the composer at work and crafting something totally rounded, complete, engaging and appealing. Why did he not have the conviction to complete this work?
The orchestration is wonderful. I like his scoring overall but especially that for the wind instruments.

Thanks for sharing your thorough thoughts and analysis. I too particularly love the opening movement of this symphony, and the contrast between the pensive introduction to the transition into exuberance.