What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[madaboutmahler]

I endorse this message! RVW's symphonies are, in my opinion, the finest British symphonies ever composed. Each one is so different from the next and all of them have had such a deep impact on me.

I thought you would John!
I am really looking forward to continuing to listen to the Vaughan Williams symphonies - the only one that I know really is no.5. I don't think that before today I had heard no.6 in full - although I did know the first movement very well. I was amazed by it, almost speechless - what an absolutely excellent piece! I think I might listen to no.7 next - I have been particularly excited about this once for quite a while...

(* pounds the table *)

I'll join in the pounding. This is an absolutely brilliant recording.

[Lethevich]

Yis, the London symphony is far too... symphonic for a programme (other than after the fact, as some have tried) to work with it. Rather than offering pictoralism, it's gorgeously developmental throughout. Such restraint from the composer, and all the better for it.

I think I might listen to no.7 next - I have been particularly excited about this once for quite a while...

A random shot in the dark - if you ever encounter it in a library or somewhere, George Lloyd's 4th symphony may greatly appeal to you.

[Karl Henning]

Regardless of what you thought, this comes from the composer. We can either accept what he says or not. I accept A London Symphony as absolute music because the symphony, or any symphony of RVW's for that matter, does not need a program. It stands on it's own just fine without anything attached to it.

Thank you for not addressing my points.

[madaboutmahler]

A random shot in the dark - if you ever encounter it in a library or somewhere, George Lloyd's 4th symphony may greatly appeal to you.

Thank you for the recommendation - I shall look out for it.

[Karl Henning]

Yis, the London symphony is far too... symphonic for a programme (other than after the fact, as some have tried) to work with it. Rather than offering pictoralism, it's gorgeously developmental throughout. Such restraint from the composer, and all the better for it.

Well observed.

My point (which, to be sure, no person other on the planet is obliged to consider, I understand that) is that in the world of music generally, and in the case of Vaughan Williams's second symphony in particular, a flat binary either-it's-program-music-or-it's-absolute-music is nextdoor to useless, and the actual question is richer and more engaging.

[Papy Oli]

Bach - Goldberg Variations
Pieter-Jan Belder - Harpsichord

Off the Bach Edition / Brilliant

[BobsterLobster]

I was watching a piano recital at Bellas Artes (the main concert hall in Mexico City) a couple of hours ago, we were in the middle of Chopin 2nd piano sonata just before the recapitulation of the funeral march theme, and one hell of a strong earthquake shook us about, plaster fell from the ceiling, and then the funeral march theme started. The whole audience was somewhat freaked out, and the pianist must have been as well, because he stopped playing while most of the audience ran out! Nature sure has a sense of humour and incredible timing.

Wow, tough crowd... guess I needed to slag off Mahler or comment on an obscure symphony.

[Opus106]

Wow, tough crowd... guess I needed to slag off Mahler or comment on an obscure symphony.

Yes. The 'quake should have coincided with a hammer blow from the 6th.

[Sergeant Rock]

Encore performance of Elgar 2: Haitink conducting the Philharmonia




Sarge

[Coopmv]

Encore performance of Elgar 2: Haitink conducting the Philharmonia




Sarge

So the former British speaker company KEF had something to do with this recording.  KEF is now a Chinese company.

[Sergeant Rock]

Wow, tough crowd... guess I needed to slag off Mahler or comment on an obscure symphony.

Dude, you should have included a picture to make your post stand out from the crowd 

Seriously, your earthquake post is between large pictures of Rihm and Bruckner. I confess I skimmed right past you without noticing your post (an avatar would help: surely you can find an appropriate lobster pic  ).

Anyway, glad you're safe. That will surely be one of your most memorable concerts, and a great story to tell at dinner parties.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

So the former British speaker company KEF had something to do with this recording.  KEF is now a Chinese company.

That explains the very un-British interpretation 

Sarge

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD8, the last CD from the following set for a first listen ...

[Coopmv]

That explains the very un-British interpretation 

Sarge

I imagine this recording was probably made at least 20 years ago.  At the time, KEF was still British owned ...

[Sergeant Rock]

I imagine this recording was probably made at least 20 years ago.  At the time, KEF was still British owned ...

Closer to 30 ....released in 1984.

Sarge

[Coopmv]

Closer to 30 ....released in 1984.

Sarge

I have a good number of Haitink's recordings on EMI.  I surely would like to get his Beethoven cycle with the RCO on Philips, which is now OOP.

[BobsterLobster]

Dude, you should have included a picture to make your post stand out from the crowd 

Seriously, your earthquake post is between large pictures of Rhim and Bruckner. I confess I skimmed right past you without noticing your post (an avatar would help: surely you can find an appropriate lobster pic  ).

Anyway, glad you're safe. That will surely be one of your most memorable concerts, and a great story to tell at dinner parties.

Sarge

Ha, I thought classical music listeners don't need pictures... just look at most of the CD covers!

[Sergeant Rock]

... just look at most of the CD covers!

  ...yeah, we have a thread devoted to pictorial horrors.

Sarge

[stingo]

First time through (and am liking what I'm hearing)

[asin]B00000JMYM[/asin]

CAGE Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (1946-1948)
Boris Berman, piano

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD7 from the following set for a first listen ...