current Desert Island disks

[lunar22]

I don't think there's been a general thread about this for a while (apologies if i missed something). The idea is to select 8 works which you would take with you to the proverbial desert island as used to be the case when this show was on the BBC (nowadays, it seems to have been replaced on Radio 3 by "Private Passions"). Just as importantly, the reasons why!

For me, in these times of ever increasing insanity in the world around, I'd like just now to present works which seem to me to be hopeful and idealistic even if in some case they come out of tragedy.

1. Janáček's "Cunning Little Vixen". If there were just one disk, this would be it -- a wise tale in endlessly inspired music about the follies and vanity of humanity which nevertheless show that life goes on and we can learn from our mistakes.
2. Suk "Asrael" symphony. Perhaps the most moving symphony ever written but one that ends in cathartic comfort
3. Bruckner Symphony no. 6  The most quirky and melodically diverse of all Bruckner's works, there has never been a greater radiant love song written than the slow movement.
4. Fauré  piano quintet no. 2.  My favourite chamber work by any composer, this one moves from tragedy to affirmation in an almost miraculous transition in the slow movement.
5. Weinberg Symphony no.19   Although "The Passenger" is this Polish composer's greatest masterpiece, I like the final piece of his War trilogy even more when all the suffering is eventually vanquished (well almost -- Weinberg is never black and white)
6. Novak "Slovak Suite" Superficially this might seem like a light work but the sense of longing in "The Night" especially is so intense as to give a very different impression.
7. Brincken Symphony no. 4  Almost uniquely among 21st century symphonists, this is throwback to the world of Rachmaninov 2 or in places Bruckner or Schmidt. The slow movement has perhaps the most unforgettable melody written for many a year.
8. The little Mermaid by yours truly. It wouldn't have occurred to me until fairly recently to take one of my own works to the desert island but I think I would like to be reminded of what I've done and this particular work fits in with the general theme of idealistic longing, tragedy and a final redemption and for me, at any rate, the coda contains my best music.

[Mandryka]

How can we hear The Little Mermaid?

[AnotherSpin]

How can we hear The Little Mermaid?

Well, to start with, you'd need to wash up on some deserted little island

[Kalevala]

How can we hear The Little Mermaid?

I believe that Lunar22 posted an excerpt or draft of it a while ago under the "Composing and Discussion" area.

K

[hopefullytrusting]

It can be found on this page: https://play.reelcrafter.com/dko22/latestworks

And it is very cool in the snippet I heard, I will need to set more time aside to hear it, and I would definitely bring it along - it is sweet.

Here are the eight discs I would bring with me:

1. Lange's Works for Listening 1-10 - Music for meditation.
2. Johnston's String Quartets 1, 5, & 10 - I will never be able to capture this all, no matter how much I listen.
3. Johnston's String Quartets 2, 3, 4, & 9 - I will never be able to capture this all, no matter how much I listen.
4. Johnston's String Quartets 6, 7, & 8 - I will never be able to capture this all, no matter how much I listen.
5. Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (Dudamel) - No matter how many times I listen to this, I weep every time.
6. Daser's Missa Pater Noster & Other Works - This music is still cutting edge, and it was composed over 500 years ago.
7. Bach's Wedding Cantatas (Hogwood/Kirby) - "Oh it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh."
8. Mozart's Symphony No. 41 (Honeck) - I now have an enormous of time to figure out why I seemingly don't click with this work.

[AnotherSpin]

Here are the eight discs I would bring with me:

1. Lange's Works for Listening 1-10 - Music for meditation.

[...]

I've often seen albums called Music for Meditation or something along those lines. I can't say I understand the point. If meditation is about calming the mind, then music is just another distraction. And if sound really helps (which I doubt), the noise of a vacuum cleaner should work just as well.

On a deserted island, thoughts would probably quiet down by themselves. I've never been on one, but I have been in places with almost no people. There, you don't feel like listening to anything. Recorded music, like many other social products, isn't needed at all.