What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Mirror Image]

Checking my pulse.

[asin]B000026258[/asin]

Great recording! For me, this is still the best performance of this Minimalist masterpiece.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



A new acquisition. Listening to the Violin Concerto. Absolutely beautiful performance.

[Brian]

Dipping into the Bernstein Symphony Edition:

Bizet Symphony in C
*Diamond Symphony No. 4
*Copland Organ Symphony (with E. Power Biggs)
Copland Symphony No. 3

*pieces I've never heard before

[Brian]

It's suddenly occurring to me that, like so many phenomenal English television shows get remade for American audiences on American networks, Copland's Third Symphony is the shitty American remake of Vaughan Williams' Fifth.

How wrong am I for thinking that?

[PaulR]

.[asin]B000I5YVLG[/asin]
Symphony #3

[Wakefield]

Yesterday I was watching this video:

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

IMO, a wonderful, colossal interpretation of this first movement.

[Mirror Image]

It's suddenly occurring to me that, like so many phenomenal English television shows get remade for American audiences on American networks, Copland's Third Symphony is the shitty American remake of Vaughan Williams' Fifth.

How wrong am I for thinking that?

Yeah, I'm not sure if I agree that it's a "shitty American remake of RVW's 5th," but I do agree that it's not a very impressive work or at least to these ears. I tend to like Copland works like the Piano Concerto, Clarinet Concerto, Billy the Kid, and Appalachian Spring more than I do his symphonies (he wrote three of them: Organ Symphony, Dance Symphony, Symphony No. 3).

Edit: But then again this is coming from a guy who thinks more highly of William Schuman than of Copland. I also like David Diamond much more than Copland. Barber too for that matter. This said, I do think highly of Copland, but haven't really made a secure connection with his music.

[Brian]

Yeah, I'm not sure if I agree that it's a "shitty American remake of RVW's 5th," but I do agree that it's not a very impressive work or at least to these ears. I tend to like Copland works like the Piano Concerto, Clarinet Concerto, Billy the Kid, and Appalachian Spring more than I do his symphonies (he wrote three of them: Organ Symphony, Dance Symphony, Symphony No. 3).

I just enjoyed the Organ Symphony, though not loved it; but you should know that there are really five symphonies!

[Mirror Image]

I just enjoyed the Organ Symphony, though not loved it; but you should know that there are really five symphonies!

Interesting, I forgotten about the Short Symphony. Didn't know Symphony No. 1. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard it.

[Octave]

Great recording! For me, this is still the best performance of this Minimalist masterpiece.

That ECM edition is indeed great, and I prefer some of the movements ("pulses"?) above any other I've heard.  But this one is for me the crowning recording to date, apparently learned by the Hungarian group by ear, before the score was disseminated by Reich, or even particularly finalized.  Reich himself gave it big thumbs up in an interview he did with Pitchfork, of all publications, just a couple-few years ago.  IIRC, the ECM is a slower yet shorter (which works to major advantage, frequently), but the Amandinda recordings is just burnin'.  BY the ~36-minute mark, I find myself needing to be walking while listening to it.

I regret that Hungaroton discs are commanding such crazy price now!  Too bad.

[asin]B00018D3LO[/asin]
Steve Reich: MUSIC FOR EIGHTEEN MUSICIANS - LIVE IN BUDAPEST (Amadinda Perc. Ensemble et al - Hungaroton)

also an alternate ASIN: B00011MK2E

[Mirror Image]

That ECM edition is indeed great, and I prefer some of the movements ("pulses"?) above any other I've heard.  But this one is for me the crowning recording to date, apparently learned by the Hungarian group by ear, before the score was disseminated by Reich, or even particularly finalized.  Reich himself gave it big thumbs up in an interview he did with Pitchfork, of all publications, just a couple-few years ago.  IIRC, the ECM is a slower yet shorter (which works to major advantage, frequently), but the Amandinda recordings is just burnin'.  BY the ~36-minute mark, I find myself needing to be walking while listening to it.

I regret that Hungaroton discs are commanding such crazy price now!  Too bad.

[asin]B00018D3LO[/asin]
Steve Reich: MUSIC FOR EIGHTEEN MUSICIANS - LIVE IN BUDAPEST (Amadinda Perc. Ensemble et al - Hungaroton)

also an alternate ASIN: B00011MK2E

Interesting, Octave. The price certainly is a turn-off though. I will say, however, that I have yet to hear a performance that has moved me like Reich's first recording on ECM. I didn't much care for Reich's remake on Nonesuch, the Ensemble Modern did little for me, and there's one more I own, but I can't remember the performers, but it didn't do much for me either.

[mc ukrneal]

It's suddenly occurring to me that, like so many phenomenal English television shows get remade for American audiences on American networks, Copland's Third Symphony is the shitty American remake of Vaughan Williams' Fifth.

How wrong am I for thinking that?

Totally. I have always found it quite good and really, don;t see much analogy with RVW #5 or with any RVW really. There is nothing second rate about Copland. It does not suffer in comparison.  Perhaps you will find some background material useful: http://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Copland_Symphony3.pdf

[Coopmv]

It's suddenly occurring to me that, like so many phenomenal English television shows get remade for American audiences on American networks, Copland's Third Symphony is the shitty American remake of Vaughan Williams' Fifth.

How wrong am I for thinking that?

Not exactly an endorsement for Copland ...     

[Gold Knight]

Franz Schubert--Symphony No.3 in D Major, D200, Symphony No.5 in B-Flat Major, D485 and Symphony No.8 in B Minor, D759 {"Unfinished"}. All three works are performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the stick of Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Ludwig Van Beethoven--Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op.36 and Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67 {"Fate"}, both featuring the George Szell led Cleveland Orchestra.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

[asin]B0015DM3BA[/asin]

Listening to Symphony No. 2. A great work IMHO.

[Gold Knight]

On Spotify:

Gustav Mahler--Symphony No.6 in A Minor {"Tragic"}, featuring the Berliner Philharmoniker led by Claudio Abbado.

[listener]

GRIEG:  Norwegian Dances, op. 35    Symphonic Dances, op. 64
Lyric Suite, op. 54
Gothenburg Symphony Orch. /Neeme Järvi
HOLDRIDGE:  Violin Concerto no.2,    Scenes of Summer
Ballet Fantasy for Strings and Harp    2 scenes from 'Lazarus and His Beloved'
Grand Waltz for Strings,  Andante for Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra     Los Angeles String Orchestra      Glenn Dicterow, violin
Lee Holdridge, cond.

[Octave]

Re: Steve Reich MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS:

Interesting, Octave. The price certainly is a turn-off though. I will say, however, that I have yet to hear a performance that has moved me like Reich's first recording on ECM. I didn't much care for Reich's remake on Nonesuch, the Ensemble Modern did little for me, and there's one more I own, but I can't remember the performers, but it didn't do much for me either.

I agree with you about those others!  In fact, Reich himself publicly deprecated the Ensemble Modern recording, fwiw.

[Mirror Image]

In fact, Reich himself publicly deprecated the Ensemble Modern recording, fwiw.

It doesn't surprise me. I read someone's comment where they said the Ensemble Modern's playing was 'mechanical.' I couldn't agree more. This isn't a work that's supposed to sound robotic with no feeling whatsoever.

[dyn]

Denys Bouliane - Douze Tiroirs de Demi-vérités pour Alléger Votre Descente

i'm not sure what to think of this guy's music yet. haven't heard enough of it. there are a lot of things that remind me of other things but i can't say for sure what those other things might be >.>