What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Brian]

In case you need a home addition, I'm your man.

What can you do for dorm rooms? 

Another proof that Bach's organ works:

Indeed, if it had been broken we can only imagine what would have happened!

[Bulldog]

What can you do for dorm rooms? 

Shelves.

[Conor71]

Sibelius: Tapiola, Op. 112

[greg]

Prokofiev: Russian Overture (Martinon)

A pretty decent work, I have to say.

[karlhenning]

Prokofiev: Russian Overture (Martinon)

A pretty decent work, I have to say.

Yes, better than I remembered it!

[Antoine Marchand]

Mozart - Piano Concertos Nos. 18 & 20
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Richard Goode (piano)
Recorded June 1996 at the Manhattan Center, New York City
Nonesuch Records

Great performances on modern instruments: Goode plays one of the most virile and youthful Mozarts that I can recall, excellently accompanied by the high-spirited Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Strongly recommended.

[greg]

Yes, better than I remembered it!

And then I listened to the October Cantata.
What an incredible piece of music!  No words for it...
One of his best, I think, and that's saying a lot.

[Que]

Good morning.



Q

[Lethevich]

Edit: I'm not into the symphony. It has new age disease, with endless thick organ-style chords masquerading as meaning - it's elevated by its own pomposity. The simplicity is intentional, of course, but the content does not make up for it. I guess it's easy listening, but you can do that with good music too ;__:

[Christo]

Maiden-Listen Mondays!:
I heard this symphony live in Tallin in 1993.)

We were both in Tallinn in the same year then, my first visit tot Estonia btw. But I was there in July - only heard some folk music in the `Estonia' hall, no classical concert. 

[springrite]

Edit: I'm not into the symphony. It has new age disease, with endless thick organ-style chords masquerading as meaning - it's elevated by its own pomposity. The simplicity is intentional, of course, but the content does not make up for it. I guess it's easy listening, but you can do that with good music too ;__:

You summed it up well. I actually like the City of Light symphony. But it is the kind of thing that's nice to have ONCE, not over and over again in numerous works. I mean, 4:33 is great but only for the first time.


Now listening: Marcello Cello Sonatas (Anthony Pleeth)

[The new erato]

Edit: I'm not into the symphony. It has new age disease, with endless thick organ-style chords masquerading as meaning - it's elevated by its own pomposity. The simplicity is intentional, of course, but the content does not make up for it. I guess it's easy listening, but you can do that with good music too ;__:

I don't know this disc. But I have a couple of discs of Hovhaness, and you sum up my impressions very well. See also sprinrites comments. Quite simplistic and monotonous music, depending on occasional effects to make an impression; and I never have felt the need to revisit the composer further than my couple of discs, despite the  occasional positive notes on this board. Nothing wrong with simplicity, but whereas I often find Part's simplicity moving and spiritual, I have found Hovhaness simply superficial and boring. Perhaps I need to revisit, but I'm not tempted.

[The new erato]

Last night: Ives 4th Symphony on Hyperion. I was always confused by this symphony, but not after this performance. Breathtakingly beautiful in spectacular sound. Hyperion have done a marvelous job of clarifying the various layers of sound in this complex music, and the final chorus based on "Nearer my God, to thee" is goosebumps material. Really amazing disc.

[mc ukrneal]

Here is some wonderful music (Dvorak Symphony no 6 with Cleveland Orchestra under Dohnanyi):


I was lucky enough to have heard this over the weekend in Vienna. So tuneful!

[Lethevich]

I listened to Hovhaness' first symphony as well. It began promisingly, in a Hollywood epic style, but I was frustrated to find that this one also had no content and ended swiftly with little occuring. I'll keep plugging away with him as I had a more successful experience with one piece a while ago: The Mystery of the Holy Martyrs - a series of tiny little pieces which passed by very pleasantly.

Another issue I have with the Naxos recording is that the sound on the symphony is a little creaky due to them cheaping out and licencing an older recording. With plush music like this, it could be greatly benefitted by modern sound (such as Rautavaara receives with Ondine).

Last night: Ives 4th Symphony on Hyperion. I was always confused by this symphony, but not after this performance. Breathtakingly beautiful in spectacular sound. Hyperion have done a marvelous job of clarifying the various layers of sound in this complex music, and the final chorus based on "Nearer my God, to thee" is goosebumps material. Really amazing disc.

Thanks. I have major Ives issues, but perhaps this cycle could cure them.

[The new erato]

Thanks. I have major Ives issues, ...

Like "Gee, how did he think of that?" or "How strange this must have sounded to his contemporaries" or "How brave;" rather than "How good!"?

Yeah; except for some things, I often feel like that about Ives. But at least he mostly is an interesting listen at least.

[Florestan]

[mc ukrneal]

Ooooooh!  Oooooooh! I've ordered this! How do you like it?

[Florestan]

Ooooooh!  Oooooooh! I've ordered this! How do you like it?

I'm hooked! It's excellent.

[karlhenning]

Listening to these again, most toothsome:
Schoenberg
Drei Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, Opus 49
Zwei Canons für gemischten Chor
Drei deutsche Volkslieder bearbeitet für gemischten Chor
BBC Singers
Boulez

Schoenberg – Pierre Boulez Edition II 6 CDs