What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[karlhenning]

Joining the bewigged party this morning:

[ChamberNut]

Good afternoon all .

Bruckner 5, Jochum/Staatskapelle Dresden

Novi, you've just made the listening decision very easy for me this morning!     

[Opus106]

It is a very funny line, agreed.....but is it fair on the Swiss?

Never mind him. The Swiss gave us Federer, and an office for Einstein to spend some spare time mulling over stuff.

Currently listening (as much as I can) to the wonderful

BWV 232
Suzuki and Team

[SonicMan46]

Charpentier, Marc-Antoine (1643-1704) - Lecons de Tenebres w/ Gerard Lesne & Il Seminario Musicale - first of my ordered discs from the last issue of Fanfare - review HERE; recordings made in the early 90s and offered by Virgin Classics at their usual bargain price (2-CD set for $12 on Amazon) - absolutely beautiful & mediative music w/ wonderful singing. 

[mozartsneighbor]

It is a very funny line, agreed.....but is it fair on the Swiss?

Not entirely fair perhaps... the Swiss also:
1. make excellent chocolates
2. have been providing discreet banking services which come in handy a) if you are involved in embezzlement b) if your net worth is above a couple of million and you find that whole having-to-pay-taxes thing a bit inconvenient c) or if you are a dictator putting away a bit of your country's money for a rainy (coup) day
3. but the definite proof for me that the Swiss have contributed something worthwhile to civilization: Frank Martin

[Dundonnell]

Not entirely fair perhaps... the Swiss also:
1. make excellent chocolates
2. have been providing discreet banking services which come in handy a) if you are involved in embezzlement b) if your net worth is above a couple of million and you find that whole having-to-pay-taxes thing a bit inconvenient c) or if you are a dictator putting away a bit of your country's money for a rainy (coup) day
3. but the definite proof for me that the Swiss have contributed something worthwhile to civilization: Frank Martin

I shall forgive them a lot in return for Frank Martin

[mozartsneighbor]

I shall forgive them a lot in return for Frank Martin

Amen!
(now listening to: Frank Martin, Piano Quintet (1919), Die Kammermusiker Zürich)

[Que]

Joining the bewigged party this morning:

Oh, wow!

Now:



Q

[Bulldog]

Bach - French Suites played by Keith Jarrett on harpsichord (ECM).  Very smooth performances with no variation in tempo for each movement.  Not interesting at all.

[Kullervo]

Nielsen - String Quartets 1 and 2 (Oslo SQ)

[ChamberNut]

Coleridge-Taylor

Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1**

The Nash Ensemble
Hyperion

**I'll come right out and say it - This is my absolute favorite chamber work for piano and strings, period.  No exceptions. 

I simply cannot understand why this wouldn't be in the "standard repertoire" or "established canon" of chamber music.

I urge anyone to listen to this once, and dare to disagree!   

[SonicMan46]

Coleridge-Taylor  Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1**  The Nash Ensemble Hyperion

**I'll come right out and say it - This is my absolute favorite chamber work for piano and strings, period.  No exceptions. 

Stimulated by Ray's comments - now listening to my own CD - any other recommendations from this composer?   

[Sef]

Love this.....

Symphony 1 and 2 also. Dark and brooding.

[Bulldog]

Coleridge-Taylor

Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1**

The Nash Ensemble
Hyperion

**I'll come right out and say it - This is my absolute favorite chamber work for piano and strings, period.  No exceptions. 

I simply cannot understand why this wouldn't be in the "standard repertoire" or "established canon" of chamber music.

I urge anyone to listen to this once, and dare to disagree!   

I have this cd and did listen to it once - was not impressed.  No idea what will happen with future hearings.

[Brian]

Coleridge-Taylor

Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1**

The Nash Ensemble
Hyperion

**I'll come right out and say it - This is my absolute favorite chamber work for piano and strings, period.  No exceptions. 

I simply cannot understand why this wouldn't be in the "standard repertoire" or "established canon" of chamber music.

I urge anyone to listen to this once, and dare to disagree!   

I will very happily take up that challenge 

Dave, I've listened to Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto - don't recall the outer movements too well, but the slow movement was meltingly beautiful, one of those true bits of musical magic that I've never forgotten.

[The new erato]

I shall forgive them a lot in return for Frank Martin

That is SO true....and I can't understand why new release lists aren't overflowing with Martin releases!

[greg]

Dr.Evil: Symphony#Evil

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I've listened to Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto - don't recall the outer movements too well, but the slow movement was meltingly beautiful, one of those true bits of musical magic that I've never forgotten.

Brian - thanks for the comments above; after Ray's post, I went to Amazon just to see 'what other' C-T discs may be available - a couple w/ the Violin Concerto were listed; the one below received some excellent comments - don't know the other composer - may be my next indulgence into this composer, who died too young!     Dave

[donaldopato]

Since I'll be participating in an an Anti Proposition 8 rally tomorrow, I am getting in a protest mood:



Marc-Andre Hamelin Hyperion 67077

Protest music at its best!

[Moldyoldie]

Schmidt: Symphony No. 4
Vienna Philharmonic
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1
Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta, cond.
DECCA
Franz Schmidt's Symphony No. 4 of 1933, written in the wake of the death of the composer's daughter, is undoubtedly his masterpiece -- an incredibly inspired extrapolation of this composer's symphonic style which I like to describe as being sort of ultra-legato Bruckner; i.e., many lines of melody and harmony undulating and intersecting unbroken in a most unique, constantly flowing Late Romantic expression. To appreciate this composer and the special beauties of this symphony in particular, the listener must allow its unbroken lines to wash over them and its ultimate logic to culminate in its own time -- patience is rewarded. I've yet to hear another recording of this work -- more recent ones I know of are from Franz Welser-Möst, Neeme Järvi, and Fabio Luisi -- but the presumptuous feeling here is it really isn't necessary as conductor Zubin Mehta and the Vienna Philharmonic seemingly convey the work's full measure and the warm, early '70s analog recording is exemplary. [Please tell me if you disagree!]

On another musical plateau altogether is the appended Chamber Symphony No. 1 of Arnold Schoenberg, composed in 1906. It often hints of unabashed atonality, and at least to these ears, is not as immediately appealing. (FWIW, I'm a fan of Verklärte Nacht) However, it can reward committed listening when heard in isolation and with an intellectual bent toward its purposely revolutionary means of musical expression. The players here are members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, again under Zubin Mehta, who make a dedicated and modestly convincing case for the work.