Haydn's Haus

[Gurn Blanston]

What fortunate timing for me! I just received my Brilliant Haydn Edition box days ago, after pining for it for months years. The baryton works are among the pieces I most look forward to exploring.

Excellent! Until I got the Big Box, I only had 3 single disks, so I was basically unfamiliar with the group. As I talk about in my essay, it took a little effort to get into them and eventually get the most appreciation for them, but I'm glad I did. I think you will be too.

[Que]

As promised, the next of the series. I hope you will read this one and come back and discuss with me. I am looking for ideas, and you will see why once you've read this.

The first baryton trios

Thanks,

I see you suggested the transcriptions for basset horns by the Trio di Basetto (K617), nice!

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

I see you suggested the transcriptions for basset horns by the Trio di Basetto (K617), nice!

Q

Indeed, hard not to like those!!

Thanks,

[Gurn Blanston]

I finally completed the final essay for 1765. Had to cover a lot of ground, in fact it is my longest essay to date (which fact you can give negative or positive feedback on here). So much happening, next year we move to Eszterháza, and things change forever. If you are inclined to read, please do so. If you are inclined to give feedback and discuss, even more welcome!

Adios to 1765

Thanks,
Gurn

[Madiel]

It still doesn't seem that long, actually.

Honestly, for someone like me who likes cataloguing and completeness and context and good information, your blogging is an absolute Godsend. Being able to see where a work fits, or is thought to fit, chronologically within a composer's output is exactly what I want. I haven't read systematically from the beginning, but I'm bound to one day, and I think the size of your chunks of text is excellent. To me it's all very clear and well written.

[Gurn Blanston]

It still doesn't seem that long, actually.

Honestly, for someone like me who likes cataloguing and completeness and context and good information, your blogging is an absolute Godsend. Being able to see where a work fits, or is thought to fit, chronologically within a composer's output is exactly what I want. I haven't read systematically from the beginning, but I'm bound to one day, and I think the size of your chunks of text is excellent. To me it's all very clear and well written.

Thank you very kindly, Orfeo. It is very useful to me to know I am providing this information in a good way. You never really know you are hitting the mark with some aspects, and length of essay is a big one. I've been averaging around 1000 words, but this one was 1600 so I was a bit anxious about it.

So pleased it fills a gap for you. Thanks for reading! 

[marvinbrown]

  Haydn fans and experts (ie Mr. Gurn Blanston, Mr. Sarge, Mr. Karl Henning and co. Happy New Year by the way!!)  I posted this on the Recordings you are considering thread but I figured this is a more appropriate place:

 
  I need to supplement my Fischer Box of COMPLETE Haydn symphonies (Brilliant Label) with the late symphonies, namely the Paris and London symphonies.  Reason: Fischer recorded these symphonies first but got progressively better as he worked his way back to Haydn's earlier symphonies. I would like to hear a clearer if not better interpretation.  I am thinking one of these 2 sets:

  [asin]B001DCQI9Q[/asin]

  OR

  [asin]B001TKK39S[/asin]

  Oh yes...there it is again Karajan vs. Bernstein. I do realize that Karajan has the better orchestra here while Bernstein has the added advantage of the masses and the Creation, or should I look elsewhere?.......... what to do? what to do?

  marvin

[Karl Henning]

I have not heard HvK in "Papa", Marvin, but his Mozart was not at all to my liking.  So:  I cannot directly answer to that, but I should be cautious.

Fortunately, though, I can enthuse for Lenny's set here, and on its own merits, because I have long been familiar with it: vital, and sensitive, music-making.  Engage!

[kishnevi]

I have not heard HvK in "Papa", Marvin, but his Mozart was not at all to my liking.  So:  I cannot directly answer to that, but I should be cautious.

Fortunately, though, I can enthuse for Lenny's set here, and on its own merits, because I have long been familiar with it: vital, and sensitive, music-making.  Engage!

I have a certain respect for Karajan's Mozart--not fondness, but respect: he did Mozart in a way that we, sitting here in 2014, think of as all wrong,  but because it's so different,  it's quite worth hearing--as an alternative, though.  Like Karl, I have not heard his Haydn, but people seem to not like his Haydn for the same reasons they don't like his Mozart.

Solti recorded the London symphonies, and so did Szell: both are good to my ears, and better to my ears than Bernstein's Haydn recordings on DG (a much smaller set than the Sony recordings Karl posted, which I have not heard);  you may want to check then out before you make a final decision.

ETA: the Solti set, which seems to be less known than the Szell.
[asin]B0001Y4JHK[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

My recommendations in the other thread: Lenny before Herbie along with Fey's Paris set and Norrington or Minkowski's Londons.

Solti recorded the London symphonies, and so did Szell

Szell's Haydn should be in every serious collection but since his is not a complete London set it might not be as attractive for Marvin. Solti's Haydn I haven't heard but I'll take your word that it's worth consideration (I love the Mozart I've heard him conduct).


Sarge

[kishnevi]

My recommendations in the other thread: Lenny before Herbie along with Fey's Paris set and Norrington or Minkowski's Londons.

Szell's Haydn should be in every serious collection but since his is not a complete London set it might not be as attractive for Marvin. Solti's Haydn I haven't heard but I'll take your word that it's worth consideration (I love the Mozart I've heard him conduct).


Sarge

Well. that would explain why my set is only a partial one.  I thought there was more I didn't have....
Solti is available dirt cheap, btw.

[Sergeant Rock]

Solti is available dirt cheap, btw.

Yeah, I see that: 11 Euro new from some Amazon DE sellers.


Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

New acquisition arrived yesterday. I should have got it years ago.



This is Leach's second all-Haydn disk. Purists will immediately bristle over the fact that she plays an 1823 English (Stodart) square piano. However, by the time these works were all published and distributed to the general public, it is not nearly as inappropriate as it seems at first blush. It is still just a 5.5 octave keyboard, and the sound is gorgeous!  Leach is an extremely stylish player, very much an artist. Her realizations here are totally fine, even in the 1765 Capriccio, which I generally prefer on the Viennese short octave harpsichord for which it was composed. Nonetheless, this is easily the finest piano realization that I have.

Leach's first all-Haydn revue is here:


The two disks together comprise mainly what are known as the Auenbrugger Sonatas because of their dedication to the sisters of that name. In addition, there is Hob 49, dedicated to Marianne Genzinger, a really fine piece.

The sonatas are listed here:

Hob 16:  20, 23, 34, 35, 36, 37, 49 & 51

In addition there are some very well performed variations and non-sonatas:

Hob 17:  1 & 6 (Un Piccolo Divertimento)

If you are an absolute purist about keyboards, clearly these won't be what you are looking for. But if you are willing to stretch a point, not only do these sound great, but they are a nice selection that show Haydn's artistry as well as the player's.   

[Wakefield]

New acquisition arrived yesterday. I should have got it years ago.

This lady was a terrific performer, so low profile and always in total command of her instrument. 

For those interested this track (second Gurn's cover) could be an useful link. (:

http://mfi.re/listen/nytwjmnwygk/(Variations_in_F_minor,_Hob.XVII-6)_Sonata_-_un_piccolo_divert.mp3

[Gurn Blanston]

This lady was a terrific performer, so low profile and always in total command of her instrument. 

For those interested this track (second Gurn's cover) could be an useful link.

http://mfi.re/listen/nytwjmnwygk/(Variations_in_F_minor,_Hob.XVII-6)_Sonata_-_un_piccolo_divert.mp3

Indeed, that was my own introduction to her...

[Karl Henning]

I'm glad there's always a light on at da Haus.

[Gurn Blanston]

I'm glad there's always a light on at da Haus.

Indeed, we keep it burning for such as you, Karl.   0:)

Meanwhile, I've been edging around with 1766. It is an eventful year, unless one is simply rewriting 'Chronicle & Works' one needs to pare down to the essentials!

If you would like to see what I've done there, here it is, steaming fresh! 

1766, a new record for new records

[TheGSMoeller]

I'm glad there's always a light on at da Haus.

It's our home away from home. 

Indeed, we keep it burning for such as you, Karl.   0:)

Meanwhile, I've been edging around with 1766. It is an eventful year, unless one is simply rewriting 'Chronicle & Works' one needs to pare down to the essentials!

If you would like to see what I've done there, here it is, steaming fresh! 

1766, a new record for new records

Thanks, Gurn. Keep up the great work, it's a joy to have such wonderful resources on Haydn's life available to us.


Random list...

Current top 5 favorite/most listened to String Quartets from Papa, and recording of choice...

1) Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 no 5 - London Haydn String Quartet
2) Quartet in D minor, Op. 76 no 2 "Fifths" - The Lindsays
3) Quartet in B minor, Op. 64 no 2 - Buchberger String Quartet
4) Quartet in C major, Op. 54 no 2 - Endellion String Quartet
5) Quartet in F major, Op. 77 no 2 "Lobkowitz" - Edding String Quartet

[Gurn Blanston]

It's our home away from home. 


Thanks, Gurn. Keep up the great work, it's a joy to have such wonderful resources on Haydn's life available to us.


Random list...

Current top 5 favorite/most listened to String Quartets from Papa, and recording of choice...

1) Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 no 5 - London Haydn String Quartet
2) Quartet in D minor, Op. 76 no 2 "Fifths" - The Lindsays
3) Quartet in B minor, Op. 64 no 2 - Buchberger String Quartet
4) Quartet in C major, Op. 54 no 2 - Endellion String Quartet
5) Quartet in F major, Op. 77 no 2 "Lobkowitz" - Edding String Quartet

Thanks for the kind words, Greg. I'm pleased that others benefit from my curiosity!

That's a fine list of quartets you have there. Round it out to an even half dozen with

6) Quartet in Bb Major, Op 50 #1 - Tokyo Quartet

and you can't go wrong! 

[Madiel]

I could be mistaken, but I think it was that Tokyo recording that I fell head over heels for in a blind listening test, only to discover that it's never been released on a 'proper' CD.