Shostakovich String Quartets

[Brahmsian]

Just a note that I have heard several ensembles play the quartets, and I hear no such matter of "insufficiency" on the part of the Emersons.

And now, back to your regularly infused caffeine . . . .

I will truly have to give the Emersons another try in the DSCH quartets.  I've LOVED everything else I've heard by ESQ, that it was strange that I didn't connect with them for the Shosty quartets.

[George]

Just a note that I have heard several ensembles play the quartets, and I hear no such matter of "insufficiency" on the part of the Emersons.

Many of the reasons I don't like the Emersons LvB make me think that they'd be a fine match for Shostakovich's music. 

[Karl Henning]

snypsss is sure tireless in his floggings . . . .

[Brahmsian]

snypsss is sure tireless in his floggings . . . .

Indeed, and/or tireless....period! 

[mn dave]

The Emersons is the set I own.

[Jay F]

I get stuck on 9 too.

9 and 10 are 'brothers', yet there are many differences. 10 is more 'Classical', with four movements nevermind, haha!!

For now, I am going to stick with #9. I have three versions: Jerusalem, Emerson, and Fitzwilliam. I'm not going to say which I prefer, as I honestly don't know. But I remember thinking how I wished the Jerusalem would complete the cycle. I play the Jerusalem version most on CD (as opposed to listening at the computer), partly because the Emerson set is nearly impossible to remove from its slipcase.

I'm wondering how you will take to the 11th. It's only 15 minutes... but, yea, it may confuse... I forget how daunting these can be for the newbie. There's really no way around the complexity- but it's good to get at least a few under your belt so at least you know, "Hey, that's NOT the 9th!"

In good time. In good time.

Again, which are the ones you're familiar with at this point?

I've listened to 7, 12, and now 9 this week.

Again, the thing with the Emerson is, if that's all you know, you won't be missing anything, but as soon as you hear the GMG Official Approved Recording of any particular work, you will see- but, for the time being, I'm not going to say anything particularly negative about the Emerson. For me they do best in 7-11, 15, 1,... the more 'delicate', 4, 5, 6- you may eventually want more folksy interpretations (the Fitzzies around not really folksy either- they are very dark, in a curious way- they are growing on me).

I like the Emerson. But I like a lot of newer versions of things a lot of people dismiss, e.g., Paul Lewis' Beethoven.

Like 2 and 3- I frankly don't think any version other than Borodin/EMI-Bovine should be allowed. It's the only place one gets these in Perfect Performance, Together, and Decent Melodiya Sound.. St. P also have a 2-3- if the playing is as good as the Borodin, it may contend.

I'm not up to 2 or 3 yet.

I tend to be pretty brutal when critiquing Shosty SQs. We are reaching glut level, and there needs to be some weeding out done- FOR THE LOVE OF THE NEWBIE!!- so you all don't tread this road alone.

My personal mission here is to steer people away from the Obvious Choice (Emerson) because I always seem to believe there is a dark horse out there waiting to be claimed.

I'm not averse to other versions. The Emerson versions are simply what I came upon first, after hearing their excellent Beethoven. It is extremely possible the Jerusalem Quartet will be my favorite, though. I'm at the last movement of their #9, and it is hard to imagine something better.

ETA: I'm now on the Emerson first movement of #9. How sinuous. Astringent. Lovely. Sad. I'm glad I don't have to pick just one.

[snyprrr]

tHERE's a video on YT of an ELECTRIC!!!! 12th... yes!!, it sounds like King Crimson playing the 12th!! it's a hoot! (TheDailyBeethoven) is the person

Can some kind soul please Post it for everyone's enjoyment? This OS wo

[Sergeant Rock]

tHERE's a video on YT of an ELECTRIC!!!! 12th... yes!!, it sounds like King Crimson playing the 12th!! it's a hoot! (TheDailyBeethoven) is the person

Can some kind soul please Post it for everyone's enjoyment? This OS wo

https://www.youtube.com/v/mKSWt1hZd_8


Sarge

[Jay F]

tHERE's a video on YT of an ELECTRIC!!!! 12th... yes!!, it sounds like King Crimson playing the 12th!! it's a hoot! (TheDailyBeethoven) is the person

Can some kind soul please Post it for everyone's enjoyment? This OS wo

https://www.youtube.com/v/mKSWt1hZd_8


Sarge

I couldn't take it past 12:39. If this is what King Crimson sounds like, I realize anew why I have never bought a King Crimson album.

[Sergeant Rock]

I couldn't take it any longer than 12:39.

You lasted three times longer than I did 

Sarge

[North Star]

You lasted three times longer than I did 

Sarge

You lasted twice as long as I did 

[Karl Henning]

Dudes, I am not doing the math

[snyprrr]

I couldn't take it past 12:39. If this is what King Crimson sounds like, I realize anew why I have never bought a King Crimson album.

Yea... sorry... I didn't make it that far either!

oy vey indeed!

No, but that is about what some prog rock sounds like from the '70s- dreary dreary dreary!!! "I'm going to be SO serious and create a kick ass 'Song'!" ayeayeaye

Dudes, I am not doing the math

When I said 'awesome' I guess I should have stated I meant 'awesome', as in 'terrible'! What? you didn't like the drums?




anyhoo- I watched the Emerson video of them playing 12 (2nd mvmt). Sweet- but again- missing the hysteria...

I THINK THAT 12 SHOULD BE

a) the 1st mvmt needs to be played like it sounds, like a 'Classical' work, with the band playing in the "old" style- nice and sweet and wotnot

b) BUUUT- the 2nd mvmt needs to be played as if it were a completely different work. There needs to be grit and grime and blood and glass shards and ugliness.


I don't know any performance that does this. Maybe they're still scared of the 2nd mvmt? It's quite a massive mvmt- the Emerson were truly putting all their concentration into every bar- they're getting a bit older too, eh? the days pass...




I picked up the Amati (Divox) for 12, but they play it a bit too professional for me. Again, I missed the utter angsty delirium. They're very smooth- reminding me of the Mandelring samples- they play great but I don't hear the oppression.

Maybe the Shostakovich Quartet was the best I heard before? But, Borodin/Bovine is maybe my First Choice right now- love to hear Taneyev... I really liked the Sorrel samples

You lasted three times longer than I did 

Sarge

I'd still love to hear your comparison, of any SQ, between Mandelring and Pacifica. Consistently I have been enjoying the Pacifica's samples a lot more- they seem to have a little more personality in their 'acoustic', whereas the Mandelring seem to have an ultra clean, sheen, sheer, scrubbed sound. eh?

[Sergeant Rock]

I'd still love to hear your comparison, of any SQ, between Mandelring and Pacifica. Consistently I have been enjoying the Pacifica's samples a lot more- they seem to have a little more personality in their 'acoustic', whereas the Mandelring seem to have an ultra clean, sheen, sheer, scrubbed sound. eh?

I need to buckle down and do my Bruckner 6 homework (for the blind comparison). But I'll see if I can do some Mandel/Pacifica comparison next week.

Sarge

[snyprrr]

I need to buckle down and do my Bruckner 6 homework (for the blind comparison). But I'll see if I can do some Mandel/Pacifica comparison next week.

Sarge

It's like a death march pace here! whew- no time to sweat!


I'm going to Premiere SQ No.1 tonight. I recall it has a fairy-tale 'Andante', but little else. Of course, I do somewhat consider it separate from the the rest- well, the whole Early SQ... up to 6, maybe- he had so many micro-phases... anyhow-


btw- my Mahler craze last one listen-through to the Abbado/Berlin 7th. I wonder if I can get a Supreme Bruckner Recommends- the only B I ever had was that cheap (Szell?, Walter?) SONY 9th. sure, it was fine... anyhow, not necessarily the 9th- you'll really have to grab me with Bruckner- you know how I get- I'm going to need Transcendentalism of the Highest Order- I know you've got ideas)

[snyprrr]

No.1 op.49

The 1st mvmt has never done much for me- a lot of busy C Major... eh. Help? The 2nd, however, has that 'Russian' minor-key sound, and the 'Molto allegro' is a whirlwind at under 2mins. The Finale has a wonderful DSCH-cum-LvB rustic folk zest that is over as I finish.

Frankly, it is what it is, and I guess that's that. It's that little thing you have after dinner,... or the preparation, an appetizer. I'm ashamed as only if I hear it milked and Hollywood do I respond; if I hear a more 'authentic' performance, I'm like, eh- but this one on SONY by the St. Petersburg (with the caged bird on the cover- awful!!- deserves a spot in the other thread) sounds like Early LvB- fresh, rustic, quick, over. I CAN see how a Dissonance Fearer might even find No.1 a little too much out of their comfort zone (surely the 1st mvmt. of No.2 is)- I don't know- any 'Mozart only' people out there?

I want to go on and on- but there's just nothing to say about 1. Who's that new guy a&w?- have you heard 1 yet?

I mean- it's not the Greatest SQ in Under 15mins- or 13... 12?...

[amw]

I wonder if I can get a Supreme Bruckner Recommends

From Sarge? I'm pretty sure this is the only answer

[asin]B0000246CT[/asin]

I've never actually heard any of these, unless there's one of them in the Bruckner comparison, but it's an easy prediction.

[amw]

I want to go on and on- but there's just nothing to say about 1. Who's that new guy a&w?- have you heard 1 yet?

if you mean me? I didn't think much of 1 when I heard it on St Petersburg/Hyperion, though it plays an important role as the "fluff" between the tough-as-nails performances of the Piano Trio & Quintet. I'm listening to the Taneyev Quartet's performance now which feels somewhat as though I'm hearing it for the first time, and is much more to my taste, even though the timings are almost identical (the only difference is the first movement, 4:01 for St P vs. 4:43 for Taneyev; it really benefits from the slower tempo I think.)

[George]

From Sarge? I'm pretty sure this is the only answer

[asin]B0000246CT[/asin]

Strongly seconded!

[snyprrr]

if you mean me? I didn't think much of 1 when I heard it on St Petersburg/Hyperion, though it plays an important role as the "fluff" between the tough-as-nails performances of the Piano Trio & Quintet. I'm listening to the Taneyev Quartet's performance now which feels somewhat as though I'm hearing it for the first time, and is much more to my taste, even though the timings are almost identical (the only difference is the first movement, 4:01 for St P vs. 4:43 for Taneyev; it really benefits from the slower tempo I think.)

Oh, so you got the Taneyev's 1/2/4?- or just on the YouTube? It seems they have such a certain way (very old fashioned) that they make all the works sound somewhat different than all the rest (maybe the Beethoven have that same 'old' style too?)

It IS amazing how timings can be identical, but the 'profile' of the performance is totally different... slackness, tightness, sweetness, sourness...

Tell me what you think of Taneyev's 4th (if you really got that disc)


No mail todAy