What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[MN Dave]

Then get a new iPod or delete your current iPod's music and replace it with classical music.

Yes, well, later I'll be able to do that. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #1 F sharp minor




Sarge

[Lethevich]

I bought the disc last year on the advice of Vandermolen, or Sara, or yourself....or all three. Haven't given it a proper listen though. Starting with the Elegy now.

Possibly Christo/Jezetha too - his relative popularity on the forum is hardly surprising, though: Truscott is Havergal Brian without the fanbase If we keep following this to the logical extent, the next GMG fad will be for a composer with no finished works.

What do you think about Rawsthorne's music, Lethe?

It's always refreshing. At times his orchestral music feels almost as far as tonality can go in terms of tumult and momentum without in some way embracing serialism, but then there are other moments where conventional tunes appear (such as in the Symphonic Studies). I most admire him for two reasons:

1. His great way with structuring large-scale pieces (either single movement or more), although sometimes this can place him at a disadvantage given that all his symphonies and concertos tend to follow a certain template. He is a composer that if you get "lost" in his music it's simply because it's too rambunctious rather than structurally flawed.
2. Despite writing music in a prickly style, it's not really all for shock and effect - it's highly internalised and as a result even though it's tough music there is also great integrity to his work, as well as moments of surprising (abstract) personal involvement for such an urbane composer. His affinity with the variation form and motivic development point towards a well-considered compositional approach and an interest in refinement over novelty.

I do feel, however, that his self-imposed limits - however effective - restrict his appeal and overall claim to great notability, as do his quite small output. For example, it's a shame that such an accomplished pianist wrote so little solo piano music.

[Brahmsian]

...in the mood

Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker

Gergiev
Kirov Orchestra
Philips

[Opus106]

...in the mood

Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker

Gergiev
Kirov Orchestra
Philips

Just saw one half of the Swan Lake on TV, on Sunday (the other half is scheduled for the coming Sunday). Hadn't seen a ballet before. The timing couldn't have been better, as I'm considering getting a DVD. Given the suites, I prefer Swan Lake slightly more than The Nutcracker.

[Brahmsian]

Just saw one half of the Swan Lake on TV, on Sunday (the other half is scheduled for the coming Sunday). Hadn't seen a ballet before. The timing couldn't have been better, as I'm considering getting a DVD. Given the suites, I prefer Swan Lake slightly more than The Nutcracker.

Navneeth, you must get the complete ballet, for all three Tchaikovsky.  Is there a ballet organization in your city?  Swan Lake is just so wonderful, and the suite omits so much of the great music.  Nutcracker suite covers a lot more, but still the complete ballet music is recommended there too.

If you can get the Nureyev and Fonteyn DVD of Swan Lake, give it a shot.  It's an older production and video quality isn't A-1, but it is a magnificent performance by the dancers, and it has my favorite of the Swan Lake endings. 

If so, or if one comes on tour, do go to a live ballet performance.  It is fantastic (mainly for the music), but the decor and dance add a lot to the great music! 

[Mirror Image]

It's always refreshing. At times his orchestral music feels almost as far as tonality can go in terms of tumult and momentum without in some way embracing serialism, but then there are other moments where conventional tunes appear (such as in the Symphonic Studies). I most admire him for two reasons:

1. His great way with structuring large-scale pieces (either single movement or more), although sometimes this can place him at a disadvantage given that all his symphonies and concertos tend to follow a certain template. He is a composer that if you get "lost" in his music it's simply because it's too rambunctious rather than structurally flawed.
2. Despite writing music in a prickly style, it's not really all for shock and effect - it's highly internalised and as a result even though it's tough music there is also great integrity to his work, as well as moments of surprising (abstract) personal involvement for such an urbane composer. His affinity with the variation form and motivic development point towards a well-considered compositional approach and an interest in refinement over novelty.

I do feel, however, that his self-imposed limits - however effective - restrict his appeal and overall claim to great notability, as do his quite small output. For example, it's a shame that such an accomplished pianist wrote so little solo piano music.

Having digested a lot of Berg, Schoenberg, Webern, Varese, among others over the course of a year or so, Rawsthorne sounds quite conventional in comparison. I think he's a very interesting composer and today I'm going to tackle some of his other music like the concerti and hopefully the disc with the Symphonic Studies, Oboe Concerto, and Cello Concerto will arrive today. I can hear a tune here and there, like for example, the big tune in the third movement of Symphony No. 2 titled Country Dance. Very clever movement.

[Opus106]

Navneeth, you must get the complete ballet, for all three Tchaikovsky.  Is there a ballet organization in your city?  Swan Lake is just so wonderful, and the suite omits so much of the great music.  Nutcracker suite covers a lot more, but still the complete ballet music is recommended there too.

If you can get the Nureyev and Fonteyn DVD of Swan Lake, give it a shot.  It's an older production and video quality isn't A-1, but it is a magnificent performance by the dancers, and it has my favorite of the Swan Lake endings. 

If so, or if one comes on tour, do go to a live ballet performance.  It is fantastic (mainly for the music), but the decor and dance add a lot to the great music! 

I don't think there is a Ballet in the whole country; at least, I'm not aware of any. (I'll have to google it. ) Thanks for the recommendations.

[Brahmsian]

I don't think there is a Ballet in the whole country; at least, I'm not aware of any. (I'll have to google it. ) Thanks for the recommendations.

For CD Swan Lake, I can strongly recommend Richard Bonynge with the National Philharmonic Orchestra.  There is a thread on GMG for Tchaikovsky's ballet recording recommendations, for both CD and DVD.  I'm sure a quick search will pop it up.

I still have to get Sleeping Beauty into my collection! 

[The new erato]

Playing:



Re Tchaikovsky ballets: Get them complete with Ansermet on Brilliant. Major bargain.

[Opus106]

Re Tchaikovsky ballets: Get them complete with Ansermet on Brilliant. Major bargain.

Thanks. I'm however in tow of the tutu.

[Mirror Image]

Re Tchaikovsky ballets: Get them complete with Ansermet on Brilliant. Major bargain.

It may be a major bargain, but how is the audio quality?

[listener]

Werner Jacob at the Stieffel organ, St.Alexander Church, Rastatt (1824/25 -1731 (sic.))
BACH Prelude & Fugue in D,  WALTHER Concerto after Albinoni
.... and the Schaxel organ, Evangelische Kirche, Allmannsweier (c.1804)
FROBERGER, DAQUIN, PACHELBEL
.....J.A. Silbermann organ, Arlesheim Cathedral  (1759-61)
CORRETTE  Messe  du 8. ton, BACH Toccata and Fugue in d, Sonata 6 in G, MUFFAT Toccata undecima
discs 4 & 5 from this set  (great German pressings, 20 page full-size (12x12 inches) book with pictures and notes)

[MN Dave]

Pandora's Symphonic Radio through my iPhone and computer speakers.

[The new erato]

It may be a major bargain, but how is the audio quality?

Slightly variable, but very good at best. Prime time analogue recordings. Your mileage may of course vary.

[Opus106]

Pandora's Symphonic Radio through my iPhone and computer speakers.

So what do you make of the Na'vi's music?

[MN Dave]

So what do you make of the Na'vi's music?

The what now? I'm already onto Baroque radio...

[prémont]

Werner Jacob at the Stieffel organ, St.Alexander Church, Rastatt (1824/25 -1731 (sic.))
BACH Prelude & Fugue in D,  WALTHER Concerto after Albinoni
.... and the Schaxel organ, Evangelische Kirche, Allmannsweier (c.1804)
FROBERGER, DAQUIN, PACHELBEL
.....J.A. Silbermann organ, Arlesheim Cathedral  (1759-61)
CORRETTE  Messe  du 8. ton, BACH Toccata and Fugue in d, Sonata 6 in G, MUFFAT Toccata undecima
discs 4 & 5 from this set  (great German pressings, 20 page full-size (12x12 inches) book with pictures and notes)

In 1972 - I think - this box was my first introduction to the sound of Andreas and Johann Andreas Silbermann organs. A tremendous set for its time. It also constituted the beginning of what would become Werner Jacob´s complete Bach organ integral played on almost every important type of North European baroque organ.

[Henk]

Sibelius - S. 3
> movements 1 and 2 I find rather dull, the 3th movement is more interesting.
Bax - Irish Landscape; Overture: Work in progress
> I like this overture.

I'm listening to late-romantic music again one can notice.

 

[karlhenning]

You find Sibelius's Third Symphony dull?