Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

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I first knew Schnittke through the first Cello Sonata (always paired with DSCH), and, certainly at the time I didn't care for it. It's somewhat gnomic, no? Anyone a really big fan? I must have 4 recordings just because of the pairings. Maybe I thought bitterness didn't make for good music? The Cello Sonata No.2 is classically in Schnittke's late style.

As an 'heir' to DSCH, I was certainly expecting Russian Melodies from Schnittke, nut, no, he's none more black.

I really like both Cello Sonatas, snyprrr. My favorite performances, of course, being Ivashkin/Polyansky on Chandos. They've never given me any problems. I think anyone expecting 'Russian melodies' from Schnittke clearly has never done any research on the composer beforehand. I'll stress this, and I hope Scots John is reading this, Schnittke isn't about melodies per se, although he can sling them at the listener any time he wanted, his music is about the journey from point A to point B to point C, etc. Along the way we're given some pretty tough pills to swallow and he certainly even has been known to shove these musical pills down our throats, but it's the strange brew of the music itself that I find compelling. Many listeners want to listen to music that makes them feel good, I want to listen to music that makes me feel glad I just listened to a composer's music. In other words, I like coming away with a better sense of not only who the composer is and what his music aesthetically sounds like, but I want some kind emotional/intellectual fulfillment and, for me, Schnittke's music provides these two very different aspects of human nature in spades.

[not edward]

This is a chamber ensemble work for bassoon, cello, double bass, harpsichord, harp, timpani, and tubular bells. I'm satisfied with the BIS performance, but I could imagine even greater liberties being taken with the music.

Is this one of the Hymns? If so, you might like to look out for the Melodiya recording with Alexander Lazarev conducting the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, these days primarily available on a Vox two-fer, along with the Three Madrigals, A Paganini and an intense if rough-around-the-edges reading of the 2nd string quartet:



As an added bonus, the set also contains short pieces by Gubaidulina and Mansurian, plus a rarely heard masterpiece: Edison Denisov's chamber cantata Sun of the Incas, IMO the finest work from his early atonal period (and sometimes referred to as the Russian Marteau sans maitre due to its post-Pierrot ensemble and delightfully crystaline sonorities).

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Is this one of the Hymns? If so, you might like to look out for the Melodiya recording with Alexander Lazarev conducting the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, these days primarily available on a Vox two-fer, along with the Three Madrigals, A Paganini and an intense if rough-around-the-edges reading of the 2nd string quartet:



As an added bonus, the set also contains short pieces by Gubaidulina and Mansurian, plus a rarely heard masterpiece: Edison Denisov's chamber cantata Sun of the Incas, IMO the finest work from his early atonal period (and sometimes referred to as the Russian Marteau sans maitre due to its post-Pierrot ensemble and delightfully crystaline sonorities).

Yes! That 2-CD Vox set has the Hymns for chamber ensemble on it, but I can't seem to find a recording at reasonable price. I'll keep looking. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention, Edward! I had never even seen this recording before.

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Daniel, Scots John, Karlo listen to this when you have the chance:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9RWe35YrM5E

[madaboutmahler]

Aye, his Concerto Grosso is making me 'see things'. 
I love that you listened to the Requiem in the dark watching the sky.  Fabulous.  For the sake of it, I will sit by my bedroom window in the dark looking at the Hawthorn tree outside the window and the stars beyond whilst listening to it.  If it can do that for you, then I will follow your precedent somewhat and see how I like it.
Of course, I'll do that a wee bit later on...

(Cue Twilight Zone music...)

Fantastic, John! It was an amazing experience for me! How did you like the Requiem?

Ummmm...Choir Concerto.  Especially if you enjoyed the Requiem, then you know how wonderfully Schnittke can compose for voice.

Here's the 4th movement: Complete This Work Which I Began, this performance is a little slower than I prefer, but it's still divine, and the harmonies are well in tact.

http://www.youtube.com/v/ykuF8h7sFwI

Have spent most of the evening listening to the Choir Concerto, and absolutely adore it. Such pure, gorgeous, angelic music. I could just repeat listening to it over and over.... Stunning....

Thank you guys for all the recommendations, I haven't been more excited about a composer since I was discovering Mahler! This composer is becoming a big part of my life.

Ok, 3rd symphony next then, John, tomorrow afternoon! And Faust Cantata after that? Or something else?

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Wow, very happy to hear that you're continuing to enjoy Schnittke's music so much. He's certainly a composer that I love and admire. He was one of those composers that seemed to not be afraid of touching on things that have already happened in music but he did this in such a such a Modern, and compelling, way that I've become simply glued to every event that happens in the music. The Choir Concerto is a mesmerizing, gorgeous work that, as I mentioned before, is yet another facet to this all-encompassing composer.

Symphony No. 3 would be a work to listen to next as it kind of pays homage to everything that has happened in Germanic music up to that point. Really something else. If I could read music, this would one score I would study. It's so kaleidoscopic.

[TheGSMoeller]

Does the Concerto for Piano and Strings directly quote the Adagio from Bruckner's 7th? I clearly hear it from the strings several minutes in.

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Does the Concerto for Piano and Strings directly quote the Adagio from Bruckner's 7th? I clearly hear it from the strings several minutes in.

Good question. I'll have to listen.

[TheGSMoeller]

@4:11...

http://www.youtube.com/v/E8IwbnmJ_8M

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@4:11...

http://www.youtube.com/v/E8IwbnmJ_8M

Yes, okay, well it does use some of that phrasing from the Adagio of Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. I do hear it, but it's obviously carried out and resolved in a completely different manner.

[TheGSMoeller]

...obviously carried out and resolved in a completely different manner.

Well of course it does, otherwise it would have to of been called Bruckner's 7th. 

I just kept hearing those three chords in my head and it turned into the three chords from Bruckner's 7th, and then it turned into THIS (listen to just the opening 4 seconds, yes it's Neil Diamond)...

http://www.youtube.com/v/hc-v8CFJzu4

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Talk about a strange brew: Bruckner, Schnittke, and Neil Diamond.

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Well of course it does, otherwise it would have to of been called Bruckner's 7th. 

Yes, but Schnittke has been known to lift entire pieces of music out of another composer's oeuvre and inject heroin into them and call them his own. Listen to, for example, how Schnittke uses Ravel's Bolero and morphs it into something completely off-center and disorienting:

http://www.youtube.com/v/lEmOn8mRuBA

Listen around 8:24.

[Octave]

Since there was some discussion recently about a disc with the CHOIR CONCERTO and MINNESANG (Parkman/Danish/Chandos), I was curious how it compared to this Hyperion disc directed by Stephen Layton, featuring the same two pieces plus VOICES OF NATURE:

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It's been a while since I worked through this thread; I can't remember seeing it mentioned.

[TheGSMoeller]

Since there was some discussion recently about a disc with the CHOIR CONCERTO and MINNESANG (Parkman/Danish/Chandos), I was curious how it compared to this Hyperion disc directed by Stephen Layton, featuring the same two pieces plus VOICES OF NATURE:

[asin]B00005UO83[/asin]

It's been a while since I worked through this thread; I can't remember seeing it mentioned.

I like that one, Octave. Plus you get Minnesang which is a beautiful labyrinth of a piece. Also try Danish National Radio Choir, a little stronger than Holst Singers, plus another Minnesang. 

[madaboutmahler]

Daniel, Scots John, Karlo listen to this when you have the chance:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9RWe35YrM5E

Just finished listening to this - absolutely incredible work! Schnittke is just so AWESOME!!!! A work as amazing as that has left me speechless again.. I just love so much how Schnittke transforms such a variety of melodic/harmonic styles into his own, and the orchestration is mesmerizing too of course!

What's next, John!?

Wow, very happy to hear that you're continuing to enjoy Schnittke's music so much. He's certainly a composer that I love and admire. He was one of those composers that seemed to not be afraid of touching on things that have already happened in music but he did this in such a such a Modern, and compelling, way that I've become simply glued to every event that happens in the music. The Choir Concerto is a mesmerizing, gorgeous work that, as I mentioned before, is yet another facet to this all-encompassing composer.

Symphony No. 3 would be a work to listen to next as it kind of pays homage to everything that has happened in Germanic music up to that point. Really something else. If I could read music, this would one score I would study. It's so kaleidoscopic.

Thank you for all your guidance with my Schnittke journey, John! So excited about this composer! Indeed, such a genius.....

And indeed.. incredible work. Felt some references to his predecessors, Shosty and Prokofiev too, at points. Schnittke-fied of course! :p

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Just finished listening to this - absolutely incredible work! Schnittke is just so AWESOME!!!! A work as amazing as that has left me speechless again.. I just love so much how Schnittke transforms such a variety of melodic/harmonic styles into his own, and the orchestration is mesmerizing too of course!

What's next, John!? Thank you for all your guidance with my Schnittke journey, John! So excited about this composer! Indeed, such a genius.....

And indeed.. incredible work. Felt some references to his predecessors, Shosty and Prokofiev too, at points. Schnittke-fied of course! :p

Awesome, Daniel! Glad you enjoyed Symphony No. 3. I'm always happy to give you recommendations in hope that find something you really enjoy and looks like Schnittke was sure fire hit!

Give this a listen next whenever you get the chance (I think you'll like it):

http://www.youtube.com/v/0g4RFX_RLS0

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Here's a cool shorter work for you, Daniel:

http://www.youtube.com/v/rdnmWXkfR3E

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I wonder how our young adventurer Daniel is doing with Schnittke?

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Hello, Daniel? Are you there?