What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Benji]

Listening today:



Arnold - Symphony No.4. National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland - Andrew Penny.

Spicy, fruity dance rhythms mixed in with Arnold's usual receipe of dissonant gestures and banal tunes (still not entirely convinced about the marching band bit - it stands out in so much relief it just feels like rude interruption, but then perhaps that was the point). It certainly does encompass an awful lot; Mahler would have approved. And it has a corker of a slow movement.



Moeran - Symphony in G minor, and Sinfonietta. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - David Lloyd Jones.

From one English composer to another, this time one who reminds me an awful lot of Sibelius. The influence is immediately obvious and peristant throughout both works (especially the woodwind and strings in the 2nd and 4th movements - could easily be mistaken for late Sibelius), but they are just so perfectly crafted that it doesn't feel at all like pastiche. That said, the work could not be mistaken for anything but the work of an English composer, and there are at times echoes of Vaughan Williams (the London Symphony in Moeran's Symphony, and the RVW's Pastoral in the Sinfonietta) and Walton (3rd movement of the Symphony).

Comparisons and similarties aside, the music is rather beautiful and dramatic. Definitely worth picking up to explore, most especially if, like me, you can't get enough VW, Sibelius and Walton. 



Sibelius - Symphony No.5. San Francisco Symphony - Herbert Blomstedt.

And, of course, then on to the Grand Old Finn himself.

[Coopmv]

Now playing SACD2 from this set ...

[Christo]

Holst was incapable of writing music which did not charm and seduce. Total hug-music.

We share many preferences indeed, Holst certainly among them. 

(But I wouldn't opt for this recording, one of the weaker in the rich Hickox catalogue, imo)

[Papy Oli]

Good evening all 

going through this one :

[George]

Good evening all 

going through this one :

His Mahler 6 is off the hook! You heard that one, papy?

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD6 from this set ...

[Lethevich]

We share many preferences indeed, Holst certainly among them. 

(But I wouldn't opt for this recording, one of the weaker in the rich Hickox catalogue, imo)

Hmm, is there an alternative disc with a few of the same works on it? The disc sounded nice to me, but it would be good to compare it to something else.

[Christo]

Hmm, is there an alternative disc with a few of the same works on it? The disc sounded nice to me, but it would be good to compare it to something else.

AFAIK, some of the best performances are still to be found in the Lyrita series, often available cheaply, these days. I'm thinking especially of these two:

             

[Elgarian]

Arrived this morning, and now playing, with a nod and a wink to Harry - without whom, I wouldn't have owned this incredible bargain box.

Never thought there'd be a day when I'd find myself listening to Mozart played on a fortepiano with such pleasure. Just listening now to the first of these sonatas (KV 379): the first movement leads off with such a haunting tune that it's a great place to start. I'm surprised how intimate the fortepiano sounds - I expected to have a barrier to overcome with its plinkety-plonkness, but no - no trouble at all. It and the violin complement each other perfectly, partly I suppose because the music itself is ingenious, but also because the performances seem to me to be spirited, vital, and deliciously integrated. I can't imagine this working half so well on non-period instruments.

So this first sonata concludes, gorgeously, delightfully informally and so heartwarmingly. There are 14 more. What a feast lies here. Cheers Harry.

[schweitzeralan]

Listening today:



Arnold - Symphony No.4. National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland - Andrew Penny.

Spicy, fruity dance rhythms mixed in with Arnold's usual receipe of dissonant gestures and banal tunes (still not entirely convinced about the marching band bit - it stands out in so much relief it just feels like rude interruption, but then perhaps that was the point). It certainly does encompass an awful lot; Mahler would have approved. And it has a corker of a slow movement.



Moeran - Symphony in G minor, and Sinfonietta. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - David Lloyd Jones.

From one English composer to another, this time one who reminds me an awful lot of Sibelius. The influence is immediately obvious and peristant throughout both works (especially the woodwind and strings in the 2nd and 4th movements - could easily be mistaken for late Sibelius), but they are just so perfectly crafted that it doesn't feel at all like pastiche. That said, the work could not be mistaken for anything but the work of an English composer, and there are at times echoes of Vaughan Williams (the London Symphony in Moeran's Symphony, and the RVW's Pastoral in the Sinfonietta) and Walton (3rd movement of the Symphony).

Comparisons and similarties aside, the music is rather beautiful and dramatic. Definitely worth picking up to explore, most especially if, like me, you can't get enough VW, Sibelius and Walton. 



Sibelius - Symphony No.5. San Francisco Symphony - Herbert Blomstedt.

And, of course, then on to the Grand Old Finn himself.

The Moeran is a quintessential masterpiece.  I  never tire of it.

[Christo]

Reminded of it by the Scandinavian and Finnish composers thread: Alf Hurum, Symphony D Minor   (1927)

         

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which arrived 2 days ago ...

[Harry]

Arrived this morning, and now playing, with a nod and a wink to Harry - without whom, I wouldn't have owned this incredible bargain box.

Never thought there'd be a day when I'd find myself listening to Mozart played on a forte piano with such pleasure. Just listening now to the first of these sonatas (KV 379): the first movement leads off with such a haunting tune that it's a great place to start. I'm surprised how intimate the forte piano sounds - I expected to have a barrier to overcome with its plinkety-plonkness, but no - no trouble at all. It and the violin complement each other perfectly, partly I suppose because the music itself is ingenious, but also because the performances seem to me to be spirited, vital, and deliciously integrated. I can't imagine this working half so well on non-period instruments.

So this first sonata concludes, gorgeously, delightfully informally and so heartwarmingly. There are 14 more. What a feast lies here. Cheers Harry.

So that means I am in for a treat. Knew that of course. But I am happy that you like it. Its indeed a well recorded set, with perfectly matching instruments.

[George]

Now playing CD1 from this set, which arrived 2 days ago ...

Is that the LvB, Schumann or a mixed composer CD?

[Coopmv]

Is that the LvB, Schumann or a mixed composer CD?

George,

CD1-CD8 are the complete LvB PS's.  CD9 includes works of Schubert, Chopin and Brahms.  CD10 includes works of Brahms and Schumann.  CD11-CD13 are all works of Schumann.  CD14 includes works of Schumann, Franck, Brahms, Liszt and Stravinsky.  CD15 is made up of interview with Yves Nat plus his own compositions.

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 from this set.  The SQ is actually decent with pretty good piano tone IMO ...

[Lethevich]

Concertos/Hickox

[Scarpia]

Now playing CD2 from this set.  The SQ is actually decent with pretty good piano tone IMO ...

Is there a copyright date for the remastering job?  I have the Nat/Beethoven set from 1990 or so but EMI wasn't doing such a great job of transferring analog recordings to CD in those days.

[SonicMan46]

Shosty Symphonies w/ Kitajenko - probably my third (at least) post on this box set - can't listen to more that one or two of these works every few days; just so personal to this composer - BUT today finished up the entire set and am totally impressed; of course, difficult to recommend an entire compilation of these works by a single conductor (I own this one + Barshai) - both are uniformly good! I'm 'speechless' and this will be a keeper for me - 

[Coopmv]

Is there a copyright date for the remastering job?  I have the Nat/Beethoven set from 1990 or so but EMI wasn't doing such a great job of transferring analog recordings to CD in those days.

The back of the box says P (in circle) 1930 - P (in circle) 1956.  It looks like it was 2006 EMI Music France.