What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Lilas Pastia]

Jean Cras: the orchestral works, as 2-cd Timpani set



Quite magnificent works that really grow on one with repeated hearings. The 'La Mer' - like work titled Journal de bord is a masterpiece. Cras was a carreeer naval officer. He became Major Gewneral of the port of Brest, and Rear-Admiral. Not surprisingly, there is a strong sense of space, movement, and colour. Most of his works were composed at sea, often during his night shifts (Journal de bord). Debussyan influence runs strong, but it's Pelléas and Nocturnes rather than La Mer or Images that come to mind. But Cras was very much his own man. This set also features his highly original Piano Concerto. Warmly recommended, esp. since it's not too expensive

[The new erato]

And particularly with Timpani being on offer at mdt now......

Thanks for breaking my wallet.

[Keemun]

In a rare moment of solo piano listening:  Scriabin: 24 Preludes (Mikhail Pletnev) 

[Wanderer]

Of course. Oh, BTW, did you read that fantastic article on global warming in Penthouse?

A very environmentally conscious publication. It only takes a quick glance at the magazine to realize that global warming is already upon us.

[Harry]

Christoph Schaffrath,

Trios & Sonatas.
Epoca Barocca.
CPO super budget price.

If you hear the first notes of the trio sonata in G minor for Viola & Oboe, you are certain that this disc is a winner.
The music is of a high order, and very inventive and lively. Not a note superfluous here, and all is very well played on authentic instruments. I have more recordings from this group that are good, but this one tops them all, in performance and recording.

[Opus106]

In a rare moment of solo piano listening:  Scriabin: 24 Preludes (Mikhail Pletnev) 

I almost bought a CD with Horowitz playing those. And some etudes, too.

[Dundonnell]

Jean Cras: the orchestral works, as 2-cd Timpani set



Quite magnificent works that really grow on one with repeated hearings. The 'La Mer' - like work titled Journal de bord is a masterpiece. Cras was a carreeer naval officer. He became Major Gewneral of the port of Brest, and Rear-Admiral. Not surprisingly, there is a strong sense of space, movement, and colour. Most of his works were composed at sea, often during his night shifts (Journal de bord). Debussyan influence runs strong, but it's Pelléas and Nocturnes rather than La Mer or Images that come to mind. But Cras was very much his own man. This set also features his highly original Piano Concerto. Warmly recommended, esp. since it's not too expensive

Who? What? How have I missed this?

Thank you

[springrite]

Who? What? How have I missed this?

Thank you

You are NOT Harry. You are allowed to miss a couple of them each year. 


Now listening: Schwantner: Aftertones of Infinity

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

And particularly with Timpani being on offer at mdt now......

Thanks for breaking my wallet.

Who? What? How have I missed this?

Thank you

Thirded. I had never heard of the man, either...

[Harry]

You are NOT Harry. You are allowed to miss a couple of them each year. 


Now listening: Schwantner: Aftertones of Infinity

Even worse, I missed this one too, but I may be excused, for not being quite on board of the vessel called greed for the unknown. God, I sound like Fox Mulder from the X Files. Forgive me Scully.

[Wanderer]

Jean Cras: the orchestral works, as 2-cd Timpani set



Quite magnificent works that really grow on one with repeated hearings. The 'La Mer' - like work titled Journal de bord is a masterpiece. Cras was a carreeer naval officer. He became Major Gewneral of the port of Brest, and Rear-Admiral. Not surprisingly, there is a strong sense of space, movement, and colour. Most of his works were composed at sea, often during his night shifts (Journal de bord). Debussyan influence runs strong, but it's Pelléas and Nocturnes rather than La Mer or Images that come to mind. But Cras was very much his own man. This set also features his highly original Piano Concerto. Warmly recommended, esp. since it's not too expensive

Very interesting...
Thanks for the heads-up! 

[Bulldog]

Thirded. I had never heard of the man, either...

Cras has been on my radar for a few years now, but I haven't yet acquired any of his music (although I have heard some of it).

[Keemun]

I almost bought a CD with Horowitz playing those. And some etudes, too.

They're nice works. 

[Que]

CPE Bach.
Six Symphonies for String and continuo.
WQ 182/H 657-662.

Kammerorchester <<Carl Philipp Emauel Bach>> Helmuth Haenchen.
Capriccio recording 1985-1986.

Well played and recorded, these are wonderful works to listen to. So much energy and compassion. A renewal and life confirming experience it is for me. Detailed and again well considered interpretations that can stand alongside the best.

Harry, is this HIP?    Looks mighty tempting, especially at the price at jpc.

Q

[Que]

      ~click picture for samples~

Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds in Es, op. 16 and his Symphony nr. 2 in D, op. 36, rewritten by Beethoven for piano quartet and piano trio respectively.

Van Swieten Society - Franc Polman and Igor Ruhadze, violin; Bernadette Verhagen, Viola; Job ter Haar, cello, Bart van Oort, fortepiano.
Recorded: 27-28-29 June, 2007. Quintone Q08003, July 2008.

"The new CD of the Van Swieten Society, "Beethoven's Beethoven" features two chamber music works by Beethoven in arrangements of the composer himself. Beethoven's enormous popularity during his early years in Vienna is reflected by the large number of arrangements he made of his own works which were so popular that the public couldn't get enough of them. This purely practical manner of approaching a score was nothing special for Beethoven and his contemporaries; however, according to Beethoven, this process was best done by the master himself or someone as good as the master because there are important compositional decisions to be made, such as: which parts are integral to the score and which can be omitted, and perhaps most importantly for the piece to be played well, which passages are idiomatic for the new chamber ensemble and which much be reconfigured in order to make them so.

With this CD the Van Swieten Society has made a rare historical instrument recording of these two beautiful but (in this form) relatively little known chamber music masterworks."

Q

[bhodges]

Cool cover on that Beethoven disc, Que! 

--Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Christoph Schaffrath, Trios & Sonatas.  Epoca Barocca.  CPO super budget price.

If you hear the first notes of the trio sonata in G minor for Viola & Oboe, you are certain that this disc is a winner.
The music is of a high order, and very inventive and lively. Not a note superfluous here, and all is very well played on authentic instruments. I have more recordings from this group that are good, but this one tops them all, in performance and recording.

Hi Harry - just getting back online @ the lunch hour - looks like you already received this recording - I've given this disc just one listening, but agree w/ my initial impressions, which you have further expanded upon - for those interested in period instruments performances of chamber works from this Baroque-early Classical transitional era, the music & these musicians are indeed a joy!   

[Harry]

Harry, is this HIP?    Looks mighty tempting, especially at the price at jpc.

Q

Its a mix Que, but the playing is alway stylish, and within the parameters of the authentic performance style.
For the price its a absolute steal. Only the flute concertos are worth the price.

[The new erato]

      ~click picture for samples~

Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds in Es, op. 16 and his Symphony nr. 2 in D, op. 36, rewritten by Beethoven for piano quartet and piano trio respectively.

Van Swieten Society - Franc Polman and Igor Ruhadze, violin; Bernadette Verhagen, Viola; Job ter Haar, cello, Bart van Oort, fortepiano.
Recorded: 27-28-29 June, 2007. Quintone Q08003, July 2008.
Q

Looks very interesting, but where to aquire this label?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Cras has been on my radar for a few years now, but I haven't yet acquired any of his music (although I have heard some of it).

Good radar. How did you hear of him?