What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Thank you Marc, and here some more inspiration

The Balkans, Folkloric music from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria.
16 pieces from 16 different labels assembled by Ellipsis Arts Records, a company based in the USA.
This CD was released in 1997.

I can be very short about this one. Marvelous, such a genial mix of all mentioned countries, well performed and recorded, and very authentic. If really interested I could make a list of all performers and the music they perform. I could not find a image of this CD. Money well spend.

[mc ukrneal]

All this Copland talk lately led me to whip out my symphony no.3 on DG with Bernstein conducting. I hadn't played this in several years at least. I had forgotten how special this was. A great symphony and a fantastic recording...

[AndyD.]

All this Copland talk lately led me to whip out my symphony no.3 on DG with Bernstein conducting. I hadn't played this in several years at least. I had forgotten how special this was. A great symphony and a fantastic recording...

I think that Copland is easily one of the top composers of the past 100 years. Just my opinion.

J.S. Bach BMV 1006 (Itzhak Perlman on EMI)

[Harry]

Prayer Music of Sikh.
In Bangra Sahib Temple, Delhi.
Live Recording 1988.

The teaching and prayer on the Basic Doctrine of Sikh.
The teaching and prayer on the Ture happiness.
The praise song by Ravidas the poet.
The teaching and prayer on the necessity of Guru.
The praise song of Guru Gobind Singh.

I have no idea who the performers are, since the bookley is in Japanese. The music however is inspiring.

[AndyD.]

Bartok Sonata for Solo Violin (Ivry Gitlis)

My first time hearing this: mesmerizing.

[karlhenning]

Bartok Sonata for Solo Violin (Ivry Gitlis)

My first time hearing this: mesmerizing.

Most yummy!

[DavidRoss]

Any good?

Re. Rattie's BP Mahler 9:  It's well-recorded and well-played, the BP in fine form, but Rattie's direction doesn't suit my fancy.  It's too big and heavy-handed, with too much bombast and too little mystery and subtlety.  The style is more appropriate to early Mahler, IMO, and falls short of the otherworldly sensitivity the 9th requires.  As I said elsewhere, it makes me think of John Philip Sousa conducting Bruckner.

Others' mileage will doubtless vary.  Tony Duggan raved about this recording in his MusicWeb review, which persuaded me to purchase it in the first place, despite usually being underwhelmed by Rattle and despite respecting Duggan more than agreeing with him.  I've heard it now perhaps four or five times over the past year or two, and though there is much to admire in it (the orchestra is terrific!), for me it misses the music's soul.  For that I'll continue to turn to Bernstein or MTT.

Now playing, again:



I seem to have fallen in love with this music and this recording.  Sigh....

[Scarpia]

Yes, the Galleria is a spectacular one, both as performance and recording. But the end did not really move me. That's my main problem I've had with Von Karajan almost 'all my life': if humanity is wanted or asked, he's not really responding IMO.

I don't really know what it means for recorded music to have "humanity."  You didn't respond to it the way you wanted, and you attribute this to the music, rather than to yourself, or to some tangible aspect of the performance.

I've seen a few films of Karajan rehearsing orchestras, and when he speaks to the orchestra he refers often to technical details, and how they contribute to creating the right mood or emotional response in the listener.  I heard Karajan live on one occasion and it was without any doubt the most emotionally satisfying musical experience I can remember.  Unfortunately his recordings rarely seem to convey the results he achieved live, probably because he and his producers made it their goal to produce a "reference" recording rather than a duplicate of a live performance, which is a shame.

With regard to the finale of Beethoven's 9th, I don't have much to add.  The main emotion I feel when listening to it is extreme impatience for it to end.  Therefore I respond well the Karajan's relatively brisk tempo.   

The '77 cycle does contain a few of my favorite recordings, particularly the 5th, the buildup of momentum and power in the coda to the first movement is done brilliantly.  The 7th is also wonderful, although lately I've come to appreciate how the craggy brass sections of original instrument ensembles can breath more fire into the finale.

[AndyD.]

Bartok 1st sonata for violin and piano (Kremer and Argerich)

Really enjoying the piano violin interaction, both performancers are really "into" it.

There's a point in the middle of the 3rd movement, where the piano part could have been played pizzicato on another violin.

[Scarpia]

Bartok 1st sonata for violin and piano (Kremer and Argerich)

Really enjoying the piano violin interaction, both performancers are really "into" it.

There's a point in the middle of the 3rd movement, where the piano part could have been played pizzicato on another violin.

Reminds me of the opening of Shostakovich's viola sonata, where the viola plays pizzicato to accompany the melody from the piano.

[AndyD.]

Reminds me of the opening of Shostakovich's viola sonata, where the viola plays pizzicato to accompany the melody from the piano.

OO good idea! I've got the Creitz/Sarbu performance of that piece up on youtube, thanks!

[AndyD.]

Shostakovich's viola sonata (Creitz/ Sarbu)

First time with this piece, it's fascinating. I think I've hear the beginning of this somewhere before.

[bosniajenny]

All this Copland talk lately led me to whip out my symphony no.3 on DG with Bernstein conducting. I hadn't played this in several years at least. I had forgotten how special this was. A great symphony and a fantastic recording...

And here I am in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. However, I have a collection of Romanian and Albanian gypsy music gathered when resident in both countries. Unfortunately they are on tape casette only, and preservation is becoming an issue. Any ideas, anyone?

[Scarpia]

And here I am in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. However, I have a collection of Romanian and Albanian gypsy music gathered when resident in both countries. Unfortunately they are on tape casette only, and preservation is becoming an issue. Any ideas, anyone?

Playback the tapes and record to audio files using the line input on your computer audio interface or sound card.  There are a variety of free or commercial programs that will do this.  Then play the files on your computer or burn them to CD. 

[karlhenning]

Now playing, again:



I seem to have fallen in love with this music and this recording.  Sigh....

Great stuff! I love that recording, too, Dave.

[DavidRoss]

Great stuff! I love that recording, too, Dave.

Half the reason I visit this thread is to be reminded about music worth revisiting.  Next up:

[Scarpia]

I don't really know what it means for recorded music to have "humanity."  You didn't respond to it the way you wanted, and you attribute this to the music, rather than to yourself, or to some tangible aspect of the performance.

I've seen a few films of Karajan rehearsing orchestras, and when he speaks to the orchestra he refers often to technical details, and how they contribute to creating the right mood or emotional response in the listener.  I heard Karajan live on one occasion and it was without any doubt the most emotionally satisfying musical experience I can remember.  Unfortunately his recordings rarely seem to convey the results he achieved live, probably because he and his producers made it their goal to produce a "reference" recording rather than a duplicate of a live performance, which is a shame.

With regard to the finale of Beethoven's 9th, I don't have much to add.  The main emotion I feel when listening to it is extreme impatience for it to end.  Therefore I respond well the Karajan's relatively brisk tempo.   

The '77 cycle does contain a few of my favorite recordings, particularly the 5th, the buildup of momentum and power in the coda to the first movement is done brilliantly.  The 7th is also wonderful, although lately I've come to appreciate how the craggy brass sections of original instrument ensembles can breath more fire into the finale.

Boy, when you can say something good about Karajan and criticize Beethoven's 9th in the same post, and no one even bothers to eviscerate you, you know the site is dead.  Where is everybody?

[Subotnick]

Not the best version I've heard, but still enjoyable. Kalinnikov's 1st Symphony is a favourite of mine and a potential desert island disc.

[bosniajenny]

Playback the tapes and record to audio files using the line input on your computer audio interface or sound card.  There are a variety of free or commercial programs that will do this.  Then play the files on your computer or burn them to CD.

Thank you, Scarpia! I will face the challenge of technology with an open heart and mind!

[karlhenning]

Gerswhin
Rhapsody in Blue
Bob Malone, pf
The Bobs (vocal arrangement of the accompaniment by Richard Bob Greene, Amy Bob Engelhardt, and Dan Bob Schumacher)