Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

[Joaquimhock]

Here's what Ivashkin writes in his biography (Phaidon) about the BIS recordings:

"The composer was very happy initially, but later on his relationship with Bahr (BIS CEO) changed quite dramatically, with Schnittke insisting on making special comments on the cover of each disc to the effect that the composer did not necessarily like this particular performance of this work or works" Page 196.

[ibanezmonster]

I have the Segerstam, but had to look up Rozhdestvensky, and it's there, in one video as well! 

Hehe, let's see... 

[Mirror Image]

Segerstam's recording of Schnittke's 1st is awfull. A real mess. This work is crazy, I agree, it's a very bizarre pudding of everything, but it's also a very deep and poetic work. To understand this you need to listen to  Rojdestvenski's recording for Chandos. By the way, according to Schnittke's friend and biographer Alexander Ivashkin, many of the recordings made by BIS during the 90s were considered as complete crap by Schnittke himself.

I think the first symphony is complete crap, so the composer is right about that.

[lescamil]

Wow, such harsh words about the Symphony No. 1! I guess that is one piece that just works for me. I don't really care for the Rozhdestvensky recording. It makes the piece sound too sane, hehe. I will maintain that the piece is not supposed to sound 'nice', and it needs a nutjob like Segerstam.

[CRCulver]

Here's what Ivashkin writes in his biography (Phaidon) about the BIS recordings:

"The composer was very happy initially, but later on his relationship with Bahr (BIS CEO) changed quite dramatically, with Schnittke insisting on making special comments on the cover of each disc to the effect that the composer did not necessarily like this particular performance of this work or works" Page 196.

Surely this applies to the Tadaaki Otaka and Segerstam recordings. For those with Eri Klas, I thought that Schnittke had extensively coached the conductor and so the result should have been in keeping with his vision.

[ibanezmonster]

I have the Segerstam, but had to look up Rozhdestvensky, and it's there, in one video as well! 

Hehe, let's see... 

I liked the Segerstam better. Honestly can't see a recording topping that one.

[Karl Henning]

I liked the Segerstam better. Honestly can't see a recording topping that one.

Interesting, Greg.  That's part of the BIS set, though, yes?  So it's the one which has really set John's teeth on edge.

Of course, he's just bein' a hayta ; )

[Mirror Image]

Interesting, Greg.  That's part of the BIS set, though, yes?  So it's the one which has really set John's teeth on edge.

Of course, he's just bein' a hayta ; )

I really wish I could get into Schnittke but his orchestral music does very little for me. I did enjoy Peer Gynt though. I've been enjoying his SQs too, but I haven't listened to any of them in awhile. I think Schnittke's musical language lends itself better to chamber ensembles. Not only do you get more intimacy, but there's something more revealing and sparse that I find more intriguing.

[snyprrr]

I really wish I could get into Schnittke but his orchestral music does very little for me. I did enjoy Peer Gynt though. I've been enjoying his SQs too, but I haven't listened to any of them in awhile. I think Schnittke's musical language lends itself better to chamber ensembles. Not only do you get more intimacy, but there's something more revealing and sparse that I find more intriguing.

I do remember enjoying all 4 Violin Concertos. And the 2 Cello Concertos are great for a dark and stormy night!

But I have ALWAYS been horrified of the Piano Concerto, the one with all the 'heart attack' stabs.

I know, I know ,...

[snyprrr]

Everybody seems to like Peer Gynt though. Huh.

[lescamil]

But I have ALWAYS been horrified of the Piano Concerto, the one with all the 'heart attack' stabs.

Which one? He does have three, you know, plus his Music for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. I assume you mean the Concerto for Piano and Strings. You may like the early Piano Concerto No. 1, which is like a beefier Shostakovich concerto, but without so much of a feeling of a Hanon exercise. I happen to love all 4 of the works for piano and orchestra, even the thorny Concerto for Piano 4 Hands and the serial Music for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. Schnittke definitely loved the piano.

[Karl Henning]

I really wish I could get into Schnittke but his orchestral music does very little for me. I did enjoy Peer Gynt though. I've been enjoying his SQs too, but I haven't listened to any of them in awhile.

That's interesting, John.  What about the choral music (the Concerto for Choir and the Fourth Symphony, e.g.)?  Have you given the piano concerti a go?

[snyprrr]

Which one? He does have three, you know, plus his Music for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. I assume you mean the Concerto for Piano and Strings. You may like the early Piano Concerto No. 1, which is like a beefier Shostakovich concerto, but without so much of a feeling of a Hanon exercise. I happen to love all 4 of the works for piano and orchestra, even the thorny Concerto for Piano 4 Hands and the serial Music for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. Schnittke definitely loved the piano.

Aye, thar's the one! Haven't heard the other three.

[Mirror Image]

That's interesting, John.  What about the choral music (the Concerto for Choir and the Fourth Symphony, e.g.)?  Have you given the piano concerti a go?

I haven't heard any of those works, Karl. What recordings would you recommend?

[lescamil]

I could rave about the Choir Concerto a bit, but I'll leave that to Karl. Instead, I'll rave about the Piano Quintet (and it's arrangement for orchestra In Memorian...)! Ever since I saw this work performed, it is a piece that has haunted my subconscious for years. I was familiar with the work before seeing it, but when I saw it, it was like an epiphany. In Memoriam... is the much more atmospheric arrangement for orchestra, which expands on the already extremely varied timbres of the Piano Quintet. That BACH waltz in the second movement is absolute genius, and that ethereal ending is, in a word, cathartic.

[snyprrr]

Segerstam's recording of Schnittke's 1st is awfull. A real mess. This work is crazy, I agree, it's a very bizarre pudding of everything, but it's also a very deep and poetic work. To understand this you need to listen to  Rojdestvenski's recording for Chandos. By the way, according to Schnittke's friend and biographer Alexander Ivashkin, many of the recordings made by BIS during the 90s were considered as complete crap by Schnittke himself.

I'm confused. I listened to the beginnings of Segerstam, RozhMEL, & RozhCHAN, and either Segerstam takes the bells at half speed, or Rozh takes things really really quickly (in both). Even if it's wrong, I preferred the Segerstam. This sounds crazy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoaTVgvxm-M

uh... not that it's not supposed to, haha!

[eyeresist]

Yes;  I've heeded well the voice of a number of neighbors whose musical opinion I regard well, where they have cautioned against the BIS set.

The set is so cheap (or was when I bought it), that it's still worth picking up. Nothing in it is really BAD; it's just that some of the performances are less effective than you'd hope.

[Karl Henning]

I'm confused.

You cannot mean it!

[eyeresist]

I was going to post in the Lutoslawski thread - and still may - but I finally picked up the EMI Gemini Lutoslawski set with his two symphonies. Listening to the second movement of symphony 2 was a revelation in terms of "Good Lord, so THAT's where Schnittke got it from!"

I am aware that there are all these connections in modern music which I am still missing, largely due to lack of money.

EDIT: Having finished listening to that set, nope, I still don't much care for Lutoslawski. I like the Funeral Music, and the 2nd symphony has some strong stuff, but the concerto for orchestra continues to bore me, and the elements I do like of Luto's music appear to stronger effect in Schnittke. Yay Alfred!

[Karl Henning]

I am severely out of compliance . . . I've still not yet listened to Peer Gynt : (