What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Sid]

Vytautas Barkauskas (b. 1931)
Sun, tone poem for orchestra (1983/1995)
Concerto for viola and chamber orchestra (1981) - dedicated to Yuri Bashmet
Symphony No. 5 (1986)
Konzertstuck fur Orchester No. 2 (1994/1996)

Yuri Bashmet, viola
Robertas Servenikas, conductor
Jouzas Domarkas, conductor (in Konzertstuck only)
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
(Avie)

Barkauskas is a contemporary Lithuanian composer. I got this disc for $5 a year ago at a weekend market. Judging from the pieces on this disc, Barkauskas loves harpsichords and ostinatos.

The opening track, Sun, reminds me a bit of Sculthorpe's Sun Musics in it's beginning. An ostinato quickly develops, which is passed around from the harpsichord to the woodwinds, percussion and brass. The rhythm constantly changes. This is a brilliant orchestral showpiece.

The viola concerto has a prominent part for the harpsichord, which accompanies the viola in many passages. The viola playing at it's highest register in the opening cadenza makes me think of whale-songs. There is turbulence in this music (the high glissandos of the orchestra) and also darkness. The work ends peacably, with first the harpsichord playing a repeated phrase, then joined by the viola. There is a feeling here of time standing still, not unlike that of the final movement of Arvo Part's Tabula Rasa.

The 5th symphony was written in 1986, at the time of the Chernobyl disaster. In the cd notes, Barkauskas talks of the anger he felt at how the Soviet government handled the crisis, which he saw as a metaphor how they dealt with Eastern Europe. I don't really hear this programmatic element in the music. Basically this symphony is like a journey of an ostinato. It is similar in scope, but not style, to Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. Indeed, I wouldn't have blamed Barkauskas if he'd given this work the same title. I particularly like the 4th movement, were a rhythm starts with the harpsichord and vibraphone. It is taken up by the orchestra and has the brutal overtones of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Towards the end of the movement, there is this crazy guitar riff played by an amplified bass guitar. Then the movement ends with what sounds like a string quartet, and continues on into the final movement, which has a very chamber like feel.

To end the disc, we have a work called Konzertstuck for Orchestra No. 2. This time, there is no harpsichord, which I kind of miss having listened to the other works. Like the opener, this is a virtuoso piece for full orchestra.

This is the only music I have heard from this composer. It definitely is a value for money disc (I see that it's not too expensive now at the usual online retailer). In 75 minutes, you get a great opener, a concerto, a symphony and an "encore." Perfect. At some stage I think I will buy the other disc on this label Avie devoted to some of Barkauskas' other works. All up, a great listen. His music reminds me a bit of Schnittke, Penderecki and even Bernstein (the brilliant orchestration, and a sense of theatricality) but he definitely has his own unique style...

[mahler10th]

Hey John, no worries......I just listened to this piece for the first time yesterday, and I was really, really impressed with the music!

Thank you Ray.  Taking a liking to Schoenberg is a shock for me, but there must be something in it if we both heard it for the 1st time within 24 hours of each other, and both liked it.  Well, I thought I must have been off colour, but perhaps not!  I guess its time to dig out more Schoenberg...
etc

[Brahmsian]

Thank you Ray.  Taking a liking to Schoenberg is a shock for me, but there must be something in it if we both heard it for the 1st time within 24 hours of each other, and both liked it.  Well, I thought I must have been off colour, but perhaps not!  I guess its time to dig out more Schoenberg...
etc

The music of Schoenberg is quite easy to enjoy (at least of the little amount I have heard thus far).  Contrary to Teresa's opinion, his music is not evil, and Herr Schoenberg is not actually the son of Satan.

Try the Chamber Symphonies, the Violin Concerto (still warming up to this one a bit) or Verklarte Nacht.  All wonderful pieces, and I know there are hundreds of Schoenberg fans dying to recommend us a lot more of his music.  Pelleas und Melisande is also quite nice!

I find Berg's music even more easily 'digestable'.   

[Mirror Image]

Thank you Ray.  Taking a liking to Schoenberg is a shock for me, but there must be something in it if we both heard it for the 1st time within 24 hours of each other, and both liked it.  Well, I thought I must have been off colour, but perhaps not!  I guess its time to dig out more Schoenberg...
etc

I like Schoenberg's music, but not all of it, of course. In recent months, I've become fascinated by his Piano Concerto, which seems to be quite underrated. Obviously, I don't have a problem with 12-tone music but more or less how it's represented/organized and what kind of emotional impact it has or what the work is trying to convey to the listener. This is not meant to disrespect Schoenberg, but I sometimes feel that his music is a bit cold and detached from emotion, but many works have proven to me to go straight to the heart. Berg, on the other hand, wore his heart on his sleeve, but he was still innovative in his usage of the 12-tone style. Webern, I can take or leave, but he composed some remarkable little gems. Such concise construction in his music where every note is considered.

[abidoful]

Pelleas und Melisande is also quite nice!

It's not nice, my friend. That just sort of misplaced expression if you ask me, Schoenbergs P&M probably being the longest Symphonic Poem ever written.

[Que]

[asin]B000WPJ7F2[/asin]

A stunning organ disc... Good morning!

Q

[Opus106]

Que, does the notes to the disc provide any clue as to why the detail from the portrait of Nicholas Kratzer was used on the cover?

[Harry]

A recent acquisition that makes me very happy. This is good music any time.  Well performed and recorded too


[asin]B0036BCCA6[/asin]

[Que]

Must be a nice disc, Harry. I missed out on that one  - I tried to gather sufficient amount of discs in the Abeille sale. When I finally had my list of 16 complete, which included this particular disc, some items were already sold. So I gave up. Anyway, their sale was rather dissapointing this year.

Now listening:

[asin]B000086EN3[/asin]

Q

[Harry]

Must be a nice disc, Harry. I missed out on that one  - I tried to gather sufficient amount of discs in the Abeille sale. When I finally had my list of 16 complete, which included this particular disc, some items were already sold. So I gave up. Anyway, their sale was rather dissapointing this year.

Now listening:

[asin]B000086EN3[/asin]

Q

Yes admitted, Abeille was not as good as last year, still I managed to get about 60 CD'S out of their sale, 10 less as I ordered, because they where sold out too, mainly because you could not get on their website the first day of sale. Anyway this Uccellini disc was one of the treasures I found. That said I am just opening the third box from Abeille that came in just 5 minutes ago, and all I ordered is in it. Mwahhhhhh

[Harry]

A disc that was on the first batch of the Abeille sale, and which is very good indeed, marvellously played, and really well recorded.
A fine acquisition to my collection


Antonin & Pavel Vranicky.
Sextets for Flute, Oboe and String Quartet.
Jana Brozkova, Oboe.
Jiri Valek, Flute.
Stamic Quartet.

From AV Sextet No. 7 in G major.
From PV Sextet No. 3,4,6.


[asin]B0001NPU56[/asin]

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Enescu's Second Symphony is one of the things I have come to love during my leave of absence here. An incredibly rich work. In the final movement inspiration is so great, the whole edifice all but turns into one big and glorious improvisation. Hair-raising.

[Que]

New acquisition.

Q

[Harry]

Came in this morning, a very cheap box with the Sinfonia Concertanti, composed by Johann Christian Bach. Played by the Budapest Strings, conducted by Karoly Botvay. really tastefully done, approachable performances, keeping strict to the Baroque style and never overdoing it in terms of undue vibrato or too much legato on the strings. All solo parts are equally well done, ornamented with a lot of taste, ensemble playing is exemplary, so for my money this box is quite successful.  Sound is mellow, yet detailed, front to back is awesome too. I'd say go for it, if you like the music! Have the CPO recordings too, and they compare very favourably. Some of the Capriccio sets are OOP, as this one, others are sold for very high prices, so I guess I am lucky with volume one.

CD I, containing the following concerti:
T. 287/2-289/4-284/6-284/4.

[Florestan]

Beethoven

Appasionata

Gulda

OMG! Take no prisoners!... and then some.

[Florestan]

[asin]B00000140J[/asin]

[Harry]

I am duly impressed by the well known Manuel Vilas, and did not know of the existence of a soprano called Isabel Monar. But despite her somewhat doubtful  pedigree in this kind of music, she does well, with vibrato at a minimum, natural warmth, and a clear diction, but you feel that she is inexperienced at the style of singing, which results sometimes in some bland passages and too feisty a approach, thereby missing the gentler nature of the music,  but I guess this being the first volume she will pick up some notions of perfecting her abilities. Sound is absolutely fine, and both are well placed in the acoustic. Looking forward to the second volume.


[asin]B004DIPL7W[/asin]

[Florestan]

[karlhenning]

I was listening to some music, and was struck by it, thinking it was great.  And it was, but it turns out to be by a composer I tend to avoid because of his atonal antics.
Schoenberg - 5 Pieces for Orchestra

There must be something wrong with me....

Hey John, no worries......I just listened to this piece for the first time yesterday, and I was really, really impressed with the music!

Good on you both!

[mahler10th]

Enough said...my wee flat is braking up to this played loud.