Discovering Johann Nepomuk Hummel

[tarantella]

do you use itunes sonicman?

[SonicMan46]

do you use itunes sonicman?

Well, yes & no - I have an iPod Touch and use iTunes for that purpose; I've downloaded a number of non-musical apps, but no music to date; so I guess that I'm open to suggestions?   

[tarantella]

aha! i ask as the rondo brilliante op109 that i enjoy so much is available on the meridian cd with croshaw playing on itunes - you can also buy that track as a single purchase for 79p or the whole album, with the very lovely cello sonata, for £8.00
cheaper and more immediate:?

[DavidW]

Well, yes & no - I have an iPod Touch and use iTunes for that purpose; I've downloaded a number of non-musical apps, but no music to date; so I guess that I'm open to suggestions?   

God you're just like my parents!   They have Touch and use the apps and never listen to music.  Even if you don't like listening to music on earphones Dave, there is one thing you might like-- when you buy digital music you don't have to burn a cd because

(a) with a dock or just a headphone mini (1/8th inch) to mini cable you can plug your ipod into your amp/receiver,
(b) with an fm transmitter you can listen to your ipod in your car

Consider it.

[SonicMan46]

God you're just like my parents!   They have Touch and use the apps and never listen to music.  Even if you don't like listening to music on earphones Dave, there is one thing you might like-- when you buy digital music you don't have to burn a cd because......

Now David, you misunderstood my comments - my meaning was that I've not downloaded any music from iTunes; I have at least 6 MP3 downloads on the iPod from ClassicsOnline (believe you may have asked me about that site?) and I've 'ripped' plenty of my own CDs to MP3 format and loaded them onto the iPod - at present I have well over 40 albums of music on the device and plan to add more.

For listening, I use all sorts of options, including earphones, small portable speakers (which I take on the road), and direct plug-in to my home stereo & basement boombox, and any type of speaker system that may be in our hotel rooms - so I use the device at home, in the bedroom, on a treadmill, in hotel rooms w/ earphones and external speakers of all sizes and types -    Dave

P.S. Below a pic of my portable Altec Lansing speakers which fold for easy packing - just posting an image because the price is a steal at the moment on Amazon ($24!) - I paid 3x that amount a number of years ago - must be coming out w/ another updated model?

[SonicMan46]

Just had a chance for a first listen of the Meridian V.2 CD below - a mixture of solo piano & piano w/ flute or violin - the performances are indeed wonderful as mentioned in previous recent posts in this thread; the recorded sound is excellent - will decide on acquiring the first volume - 

[DavidW]

Oh sorry I didn't get you, my bad! 

If you're afraid of using the itunes store you should know that the music is drm free and I've copied bought music between pcs without a problem.  And the aac format is finally being supported by non-apple brands like sansa and sony so you don't have to worry about lockin.

I might buy that set you have, seems cheap and convenient and I like Altec Lansing.

[SonicMan46]

Oh sorry I didn't get you, my bad! 

If you're afraid of using the itunes store you should know that the music is drm free and I've copied bought music between pcs without a problem.  And the aac format is finally being supported by non-apple brands like sansa and sony so you don't have to worry about lockin.

I might buy that set you have, seems cheap and convenient and I like Altec Lansing.

No problem at all but did not want you thinking of me as an 'ole codger' - 

At that Amazon price, I would strongly recommend those portable speakers (actually my 2nd set - I left the first one purchased in a hotel room - now I make a list of all of electronics on a trip and check each item off when I leave the room) - comes w/ a short built-in mini-stereo plug or a longer dual mini plug & DC adapter (also works on batteries) and a cloth 'stinged' carrying case; the sound is of course not loud but pleasantly fills up a hotel room or a bedroom.  Dave 

[DavidW]

Well I'm not looking for loud since I live in an apartment.  Sounds up my alley.

[tarantella]

Sonic, here's the last 2 mins of the Hummel op109 - its great
http://www.christinecroshaw.com/discography

[tarantella]

Glad you liked the Volume 2 Hummel - I think the Viola Sonata is great. Glad you agree with my recommendation of a very neglected pianist too!

[tarantella]

Great 2 hour Hummel night on Classic FM last night
For those who missed it, you can listen again now:
http://www.classicfm.co.uk/on-air/programmes/full-works-concert-with-jane-jones/weeks-running-order/friday-running-order/

[SonicMan46]

Well, 2 years since a post here - Hummel was just brought up in the classical thread, so I decided to review my modest collection of his works which I've probably not added to since then - now own just over a dozen discs, plus have some of his works on 'mixed' discs w/ other composers (an * in the list below).

In reviewing his list of compositions (HERE), there are 127 Opus numbers (earlier ones w/ multiple works) + some released posthumously - I can find NO symphonies, so for instrumental music, mostly solo piano and chamber works of various types.

For those w/ recent additions to their Hummel collection, please post some of your favorites - about to look on Amazon to see what might have been released more recently - could easily add another disc or two!  Dave

P.S. Piano Septets - two different performances of the same works, the Brilliant disc on period instruments.

[SonicMan46]

Thanks Annie for the list - we'll have to make you the official Hummel Expert here!

We do have a lot of overlap when comparing our lists - just have two of the piano concertos, so an area to expand for me; also, I was on Amazon today exploring the Hummel offerings and added the two below, which should arrive early next week - Dave

 

[mc ukrneal]

One of my more recent acquisitions (considering I am on a little buying hiatus at the moment to allow me to enjoy what I already have) was the String Quartets disc on Hyperion (Delme Quartet, picture below). They are surprisingly virile performances (for me anyway). At least they are not that stereotypical Hummel playing that I have run across, where everything seems a bit blah.

[asin]B0006OR166[/asin]

I have all the piano concerto discs from Chandos, and I think none are less than excellent (with some magnificant). Can't go wrong with those.

[kyjo]

I don't have that much Hummel (or that much classical/early romantic music, for that matter) in my collection, but I can't recommend this beautiful disc highly enough:



These two minor-key works have an air of subdued melancholy rather akin to Schubert or Chopin. There's very little in the way of Beethovenian sturm und drang here, though Hummel's music has a discernible inner drama. Anyone who enjoys the late Mozart PCs, those by John Field, or pretty much PCs in general will find much to enjoy here. Hough's phrasing is astonishing, and the ECO under Bryden Thomson make sensitive yet involved partners with Hough.

[mc ukrneal]

I don't have that much Hummel (or that much classical/early romantic music, for that matter) in my collection, but I can't recommend this beautiful disc highly enough:



These two minor-key works have an air of subdued melancholy rather akin to Schubert or Chopin. There's very little in the way of Beethovenian sturm und drang here, though Hummel's music has a discernible inner drama. Anyone who enjoys the late Mozart PCs, those by John Field, or pretty much PCs in general will find much to enjoy here. Hough's phrasing is astonishing, and the ECO under Bryden Thomson make sensitive yet involved partners with Hough.

It is one of my favorite discs - of any composer! I have posted it many times (including once in this thread), so I am glad to see someone singing its praises. It was the first time I really appreciated Hummel for what he is.

[Sammy]

The Hough is one of my three favorite Hummel recordings.  The other two are the piano trios on MDG and string quartets on Hyperion/Helios.

I tend to put Hummel, Spohr and Reicha into a special bridging position between the Classical and Romantic era; Hummel always is on top.

[Ken B]

I don't have that much Hummel (or that much classical/early romantic music, for that matter) in my collection, but I can't recommend this beautiful disc highly enough:



These two minor-key works have an air of subdued melancholy rather akin to Schubert or Chopin. There's very little in the way of Beethovenian sturm und drang here, though Hummel's music has a discernible inner drama. Anyone who enjoys the late Mozart PCs, those by John Field, or pretty much PCs in general will find much to enjoy here. Hough's phrasing is astonishing, and the ECO under Bryden Thomson make sensitive yet involved partners with Hough.

The disc that introduced me to Hummel beyond the trumpet concerto and a couple fripperies.
All of these are great. Brilliant is starting to record the concerti with fortepiano.

Naxos has some excellent chamber stuff too.

[SonicMan46]

The disc that introduced me to Hummel beyond the trumpet concerto and a couple fripperies.
All of these are great. Brilliant is starting to record the concerti with fortepiano.

Naxos has some excellent chamber stuff too.

Well Ken, a lot of Hummel to explore - don't think that I've added any discs since my list of nearly a year ago - will need to check - Dave

Addendum - just checked my database and have added several more Hummel discs since my last post & shown below: