Charles Ives

[zamyrabyrd]

Also, Leo K., thanks from me for your lengthy article on Ives' 3rd Symphony. Here is one link with a score:
https://www.youtube.com/v/xgOh4YJ0Ixk

A powerhouse of a song by Ives - "Majority":
https://www.youtube.com/v/5tc8UhNIfio

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, zb!

[zamyrabyrd]

Cheers, zb!

Gleaned from the comments section:
Charles Ives--"It is nearly impossible for a lone voice to hold against the score"

[Leo K.]

Also, Leo K., thanks from me for your lengthy article on Ives' 3rd Symphony. Here is one link with a score:
https://www.youtube.com/v/xgOh4YJ0Ixk

A powerhouse of a song by Ives - "Majority":
https://www.youtube.com/v/5tc8UhNIfio

Thanks very much for sharing these links. Aces!

[jlaurson]

Latest on Forbes.com:
Classical CD Of The Week: Charles Ives Down Under

Charles Ives, Orchestral Works v.2, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor), Chandos SACD

...This disc, nominally the second volume in the Melbourne Orchestra's cycle of Charles Ives orchestral works, contains three of his major goodies (Central Park in the Dark, Three Places in New England, and The Unanswered Question) and one of his less performed, perhaps underappreciated works in the most phenomenal performance I have heard: The New England Holidays Symphony. This combination makes the release a perfect starting place for this series and indeed a perfect starting place for your Ives-adventure...


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/03/30/classical-cd-of-the-week-charles-ives-down-under/#20229fe06ede

[Leo K.]

Latest on Forbes.com:
Classical CD Of The Week: Charles Ives Down Under

Charles Ives, Orchestral Works v.2, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor), Chandos SACD

...This disc, nominally the second volume in the Melbourne Orchestra's cycle of Charles Ives orchestral works, contains three of his major goodies (Central Park in the Dark, Three Places in New England, and The Unanswered Question) and one of his less performed, perhaps underappreciated works in the most phenomenal performance I have heard: The New England Holidays Symphony. This combination makes the release a perfect starting place for this series and indeed a perfect starting place for your Ives-adventure...


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/03/30/classical-cd-of-the-week-charles-ives-down-under/#20229fe06ede

Thanks for the heads up on this release!

[Maestro267]

I received in the post today a recording of the 4 numbered symphonies of Charles Ives. Having just listened to the First, and read up about it, there are some things I need to clear up. Most significant is the huge difference in length between this recording and others I've seen the timings for. This recording I've got is 30 minutes, but I've seen others that are around 45 minutes. Surely that can't be down to interpretation! Am I hearing the complete symphony with this recording, the LA Phil conducted by Zubin Mehta?!

Another point: I saw a performance on YT of Ives 1, and the finale features extra percussion (bass drum and cymbals), which do not appear in this recording. Which is the definitive answer, percussion or no percussion?

[Leo K.]

The difference between the 30 min. version and the 45 min. version is the new Critical Edition edited by James Sinclair.

[quoted from a review by Hurwitz]

"With additional percussion in the finale that Ives specifically indicated in a letter but that never made it into the previously published score...compared to the mature Ives it's tame stuff, but with all of its repeats in place and lasting some 45 minutes, the work now has a bigness of vision and greatness of heart that identifies it, emotionally at least, as genuine Ives, indelibly stamped with his irrepressible personality even at this early stage."

[Mirror Image]

Violin Sonata No. 2



I. Autumn
II. In the Barn
III. The Revival

While the nostalgic references in Ives's first sonata for violin and piano remains, for the most part, unnamed, the composer applied telling titles to the three movements of his second violin sonata. The first movement, "Autumn," gets its title from Bathélémon's hymn of the same name. This hymn makes frequent appearances during the movement, as the disparate violin and carry on a lively dialogue before finally reconciling themselves. In the second movement, titled "The Barn," the violin becomes fiddle, sawing through a variety of stock hoe-down figures, and even making a snide hint at "Turkey in the Straw," before suddenly and comically switching character to sound out the "Battle Cry of Freedom." The final movement, "Revival," originally appeared as a fourth movement to the fourth sonata for violin and piano. It begins slowly and thoughtfully, perhaps reflecting a more introspective spirituality. As it gains momentum and intensity, that inner devotion becomes outward praise, with strains of "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing" ringing out above the din of an excited and evangelized crowd. As the din of the faithful dies out, faint strains of the hymn remain, turning thoughts inward once again.

[Article taken from All Music Guide]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just love this work so much. This work captures so many emotions and moods. What's more amazing is that with just violin and piano Ives is able to conjure up this wide-ranging emotional tapestry of sound. Without a doubt in my mind, the Fulkerson/Shannon performance on Bridge gets my vote for the definitive version of this sonata.

[Mirror Image]

Latest on Forbes.com:
Classical CD Of The Week: Charles Ives Down Under

Charles Ives, Orchestral Works v.2, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor), Chandos SACD

...This disc, nominally the second volume in the Melbourne Orchestra's cycle of Charles Ives orchestral works, contains three of his major goodies (Central Park in the Dark, Three Places in New England, and The Unanswered Question) and one of his less performed, perhaps underappreciated works in the most phenomenal performance I have heard: The New England Holidays Symphony. This combination makes the release a perfect starting place for this series and indeed a perfect starting place for your Ives-adventure...


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2016/03/30/classical-cd-of-the-week-charles-ives-down-under/#20229fe06ede

Sigh...I still need to listen to this recording as it's lying here still in its' shrinkwrap.

[snyprrr]

I'd like to hold up Ingo Metz's EMI recital from the 90s

[Mirror Image]

I'd like to hold up Ingo Metz's EMI recital from the 90s

Do you know the SQs and violin sonatas?

[snyprrr]

Do you know the SQs and violin sonatas?

SQ2 = Flux Quartet, getting all the microtones...

I only know VS 'Camp Meeting'? Yea, I'm not too familiar. Which do you like...

[Mirror Image]

SQ2 = Flux Quartet, getting all the microtones...

I only know VS 'Camp Meeting'? Yea, I'm not too familiar. Which do you like...

I like them all. The Fulkerson/Shannon set on Bridge is the one to own for the violin sonatas IMHO. As for the SQs, I only know the Blair String Quartet's recording on Naxos, but it's nice enough that I don't really see myself seeking out alternatives at this juncture.

[Mirror Image]

PUBLIC LETTER OF URGENCY:


Dear Maestro James Sinclair,

Please for the love of God record ALL of Ives' Sets for chamber orchestra (incl. the Set for Theatre Orchestra). All nine of the sets must be recorded! Please! Call Naxos and make this happen!

Cordially,


An Ivesian fan

[Mirror Image]

Now for the actual email I forwarded to James Sinclair -

Dear Mr. Sinclair,

Will it be possible in the future for you to record all nine of Ives' "Sets for Chamber Orchestra"? All of these works are in dire need of recording. There's a recording of several of them on the Decca label, but, alas, it's incomplete. Please consider recording these works. This could definitely be a part of your Ives series on Naxos. Your excellent musicianship and championship of Ives' music has long been admired by many (myself included). I have been talking with many fans of Ives' music about your own recordings and we all agree that this project would certainly be one (of many) crowning achievements of your career.

Thank you for your continued excellence in music and your dedication to this composer's music. I think I can speak for everyone and say we're extremely grateful for what you've done so far.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Charles Ives, is one of the most addictive  composers I've ever heard (alongside Xenakis, Stravinsky, Bartok, Webern etc)
[...]
I truly believe that he was more than just an American innovator.   

Ain't it the truth. As I stated above, I only really skirted his oeuvre until a couple of years ago. Then I decided to explore in detail and really got hooked.

Funny thing too, I recently bought the 100th Anniversary LP box that I decided not to earlier in this thread:



I haven't yet listened to it, but physically the thing is marvelous, a real luxury box. This is why we collect vinyl!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Speaking of Ives: can anyone give an opinion on Ludovic Morlot's Ives from Seattle? He's done (I think) 3 of the 4 symphonies with that orchestra.

[Mirror Image]

Speaking of Ives: can anyone give an opinion on Ludovic Morlot's Ives from Seattle? He's done (I think) 3 of the 4 symphonies with that orchestra.

I'm kind of curious about this myself. He's done the 2nd through the 4th as of now. I hope he does the 1st and Holidays and then a box set will hopefully follow.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

The 10 Best Classical Recordings Of 2016
#5 Ives: http://bit.ly/Forbes_Best_Classical_Recordings_2016_New