EJ Moeran

[Roasted Swan]

You are misquoting my quote. No mention in article above of "shrapnel in the brain".

Of course one man's tragic is another man's not but a marriage to a woman I think Moeran loved (some of his best music written for Peers IMO) breaking up after less then five years is fairly tragic in my book.

I'd agree - tragedy does not have to have an epic scale. 

[J]

I'd agree - tragedy does not have to have an epic scale. 

By the criteria I fear being proposed here, all our lives are tragic.  I wonder what might distinguish Moeran from myself and innumerable others in that regard.  The outcome of such thinking is the banalization (via the psychologizing thereof) of a once noble idea.

Maybe Moeran's life was truly "tragic" (in its Classical meanings), but then not because of one or a few failed relationships, some physical frailties and misfortunes, and not living to a ripe old age, - the common lot for masses of humans.

I could only wish I had the advantages he had in his life at the same time.

[Irons]

This may have been posted before, even possibly by me! Never mind, enjoyed this morning during spot of gardening.

[Irons]

Anything negative I may have said about Hurwitz I take back as his critique is beyond approach.

[Roasted Swan]

Anything negative I may have said about Hurwitz I take back as his critique is beyond approach.

If you only buy one disc of Moeran make it this one!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Anything negative I may have said about Hurwitz I take back as his critique is beyond approach.

   

PD

p.s.  I have at least one CD of his music, but I haven't heard that one.

[Daverz]

Anything negative I may have said about Hurwitz I take back as his critique is beyond approach.

By the way, the 24/96 remastering is a useful improvement over the CD.  Unfortunately Lyrita seems to have stopped releasing any more hi-res remasterings.  I suppose sales didn't meet expectations.

https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/37627
https://www.prostudiomasters.com/search?q=lyrita

[Pohjolas Daughter]

By the way, the 24/96 remastering is a useful improvement over the CD.  Unfortunately Lyrita seems to have stopped releasing any more hi-res remasterings.  I suppose sales didn't meet expectations.

https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/37627
https://www.prostudiomasters.com/search?q=lyrita

$24 seems rather steep don't you think?

PD

[Daverz]

$24 seems rather steep don't you think?

PD

The 24/96 download is $17.99.  24/96 is already overkill, so I would never bother with 24/192.  I did get it when it was on sale initially.  I can't find any other site selling the hi-res download at the moment.  Presto and Qobuz only have the 2007 release. 

On the other hand, I've played this one so many times that it has been more than worth the asking price.

See this post by Roasted Swan about the Lyrita releases that got the hi-res treatment:

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,315.msg1244332.html#msg1244332

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The 24/96 download is $17.99.  24/96 is already overkill, so I would never bother with 24/192.  I did get it when it was on sale initially.  I can't find any other site selling the hi-res download at the moment.  Presto and Qobuz only have the 2007 release. 

On the other hand, I've played this one so many times that it has been more than worth the asking price.

See this post by Roasted Swan about the Lyrita releases that got the hi-res treatment:

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,315.msg1244332.html#msg1244332

Thanks!

PD

[Irons]

Thanks!

PD

Or PD you could invest in the LP.

[vandermolen]

I consider Moeran's Symphony to be one of the greatest 20th Century symphonies and not just by a British composer. Yes, it may, in some places, be derivative but I find it to be moving, powerful and memorable.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Or PD you could invest in the LP.

PD

[kyjo]

Anything negative I may have said about Hurwitz I take back as his critique is beyond approach.

I certainly don't agree with Hurwitz all the time, and I do think his "trashing" of certain recordings is usually overly exaggerated. But it's his enthusiastic videos about lesser-known repertoire like the above one that place him firmly on my "good side". There's no denying that his videos are giving this music the wider exposure it so richly deserves!

[kyjo]

I consider Moeran's Symphony to be one of the greatest 20th Century symphonies and not just by a British composer. Yes, it may, in some places, be derivative but I find it to be moving, powerful and memorable.

Agreed, Jeffrey - there's no need for the "British" qualifier. It can easily stand amongst the finest 20th centuries from any nationality. As Hurwitz mentions in his video, Moeran is able to reference other composers (specifically Sibelius) in this work without compromising his own individual voice. Now that's the mark of a great composer!

[kyjo]

Was just listening to this fantastic disc:



While it may be true that nothing else Moeran wrote quite reaches the epic inspirational heights of the great G minor Symphony, it would be our loss to forget his "smaller" works. The Serenade in G major, in 8 relatively brief movements, is a delightful neo-Renaissance confection along the lines of, say, Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances. Moeran judiciously spices things up with piquant harmonies and boisterous brass writing throughout. (His orchestral writing is a horn player's dream!) Next comes the relatively early and less memorable mini-tone poem, In the Mountain Country, followed by the substantial orchestral Rhapsodies nos. 1 and 2. They're thoroughly imbued with the spirit of folk music (specifically Irish), but don't shy away from some darker, more turbulent passages, especially in the central section of No. 1. Closing out the disc is the haunting Nocturne for solo baritone, chorus, and orchestra. Its dreamy style is rather close to Delius, but with generally more direction and immediacy than that composer, in my opinion of course.

Needless to say, the performances by the Ulster Orchestra under Handley are gloriously idiomatic and full-blooded, and they are served excellently by the Chandos sonics (which I sometimes find over-reverberant, but not here).

[Symphonic Addict]

I certainly don't agree with Hurwitz all the time, and I do think his "trashing" of certain recordings is usually overly exaggerated. But it's his enthusiastic videos about lesser-known repertoire like the above one that place him firmly on my "good side". There's no denying that his videos are giving this music the wider exposure it so richly deserves!

A good point. This is the kind of videos I do watch from his channel with significant enjoyment. I skip his Bruckner/Mahler/Beethoven stuff or the videos talking about topics unconnected to music by less-overexposed composers most of the time.

Was just listening to this fantastic disc:



While it may be true that nothing else Moeran wrote quite reaches the epic inspirational heights of the great G minor Symphony, it would be our loss to forget his "smaller" works. The Serenade in G major, in 8 relatively brief movements, is a delightful neo-Renaissance confection along the lines of, say, Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances. Moeran judiciously spices things up with piquant harmonies and boisterous brass writing throughout. (His orchestral writing is a horn player's dream!) Next comes the relatively early and less memorable mini-tone poem, In the Mountain Country, followed by the substantial orchestral Rhapsodies nos. 1 and 2. They're thoroughly imbued with the spirit of folk music (specifically Irish), but don't shy away from some darker, more turbulent passages, especially in the central section of No. 1. Closing out the disc is the haunting Nocturne for solo baritone, chorus, and orchestra. Its dreamy style is rather close to Delius, but with generally more direction and immediacy than that composer, in my opinion of course.

Needless to say, the performances by the Ulster Orchestra under Handley are gloriously idiomatic and full-blooded, and they are served excellently by the Chandos sonics (which I sometimes find over-reverberant, but not here).

I don't know most of those works well, but the Serenade in G major is a peach. Lovely piece.

[Irons]

I certainly don't agree with Hurwitz all the time, and I do think his "trashing" of certain recordings is usually overly exaggerated. But it's his enthusiastic videos about lesser-known repertoire like the above one that place him firmly on my "good side". There's no denying that his videos are giving this music the wider exposure it so richly deserves!

Yes, credit where credit is due.