Schoeck Treatment

[Mandryka]

Schoeck is an very hit-or-miss composer for me. Above all I treasure his tone poem for string orchestra Sommernacht, an utterly magical work which evokes its subject matter perfectly. In its deeply atmospheric string writing it rather reminds me of one of Kurt Atterberg's slow movements, but overlaid with a bit more harmonic complexity. I also enjoy the Penthesilea Suite (must hear the whole opera) and the vocal work Besuch in Urach from this fine disc:



His String Quartet in C major, Op. 37 is also a definite winner in my book with its memorably noble opening theme. Now, for the stuff I'm not so fond of! Last night I tried listening to his highly-esteemed song cycle Elegie for baritone and chamber orchestra (CPO recording) and was only able to make it about halfway through before turning it off. I recognize that it very well may be a "great" work (considering how many glowing reviews I've read of it), but it's simply not to my taste, being predominantly slow in tempo and rather depressing in mood. Well, I guess I'm overall not the greatest fan of Germanic song cycles, so it's worth taking my opinion with a rather large grain of salt! Also, his Violin Concerto Quasi una fantasia was a major disappointment to me. I didn't sense much of the passionate romantic longing (for violinist Stefi Geyer) that apparently inspired the work, and I found much of the thematic material undistinguished and lacking in contrast. His Cello Concerto is more interesting but not indispensable either. So yeah, regardless of my reactions to individual works, Schoeck is definitely an interesting figure who's quite difficult to pigeonhole stylistically!

I don't think that depressing is quite the right word for the Elegie. Nostalgic maybe, contemplative and introverted. Some songs are positibely chirpy - Waldlied for example.

[Luke]

I remember enjoying Elegie to some extent, but I have vague memories of it. It's not a work one wants to hear on a regular basis.

Speak for yourself!     I will happily put it on Repeat. But then it chimes with me to an unusual extent. OTOH I find Schoeck's instrumental works pretty forgettable stuff - it takes all sorts I suppose!

[Mandryka]

The Schoeck op 37 quartet. This Amar Quartet performance is gentle, elegant, charming, lyrical - the Swiss gentleman's quartet.

Well, I don't think one can have too much Schoeck, so I approve. 

Hope you're well.

[Den glemte sønnen]

Schoeck is an very hit-or-miss composer for me. Above all I treasure his tone poem for string orchestra Sommernacht, an utterly magical work which evokes its subject matter perfectly. In its deeply atmospheric string writing it rather reminds me of one of Kurt Atterberg's slow movements, but overlaid with a bit more harmonic complexity. I also enjoy the Penthesilea Suite (must hear the whole opera) and the vocal work Besuch in Urach from this fine disc:



His String Quartet in C major, Op. 37 is also a definite winner in my book with its memorably noble opening theme. Now, for the stuff I'm not so fond of! Last night I tried listening to his highly-esteemed song cycle Elegie for baritone and chamber orchestra (CPO recording) and was only able to make it about halfway through before turning it off. I recognize that it very well may be a "great" work (considering how many glowing reviews I've read of it), but it's simply not to my taste, being predominantly slow in tempo and rather depressing in mood. Well, I guess I'm overall not the greatest fan of Germanic song cycles, so it's worth taking my opinion with a rather large grain of salt! Also, his Violin Concerto Quasi una fantasia was a major disappointment to me. I didn't sense much of the passionate romantic longing (for violinist Stefi Geyer) that apparently inspired the work, and I found much of the thematic material undistinguished and lacking in contrast. His Cello Concerto is more interesting but not indispensable either. So yeah, regardless of my reactions to individual works, Schoeck is definitely an interesting figure who's quite difficult to pigeonhole stylistically!

For the record, I love the Elegie. Such a subtly, multi-hued work full of distilled beauty. I suppose one does have to like German/Austrian lieder, but I wouldn't see why this would be a prerequisite of course. An enjoyable work is enjoyable regardless --- anyway, I understand where you're coming from. And a big YES to that SQ. I need to revisit it some juncture.

Oh and that disc on the Musiques Suisses label you have pictured is gorgeous. Another one I should revisit! So much music, so little time!

[San Antone]

I count Schoeck among my top tier favorite composers based on two works, Elegie and Nocturno. 

There are a handful of classical works which resonate so strongly with my temperament that I never tire of listening to them and make a point to find new recordings.

Elegie
Nocturno
Duruflé Requiem
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms

Not sure how much of a coincidence it is that all of these are vocal works.

[ritter]

The discussion on words vs. music has been moved here.