What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Charles]

How is this?  I heard it years ago in its LP incarnation, but haven't heard it in decades.

--Bruce

Bruce, I will only comment on the Ruggles for the time being because I have yet to get to the Piston and must revisit the Ives (which I will later).

Let me just tell you that the Ruggles is terrific ... I really really enjoy this piece. I have Dohnanyi conducting it on Decca as well but I don't recall how great it is. Anyway as to this MTT version I feel he shapes the piece effectively .. it roars, it snarls and builds wonderful drama. When I listen to it I imagine the orchestra fully 'digging in' to their respective instruments and moving to the shapes of the musical phrases. It's a bit 'scary' but superb. I love it when I hear an orchestra fully invested into a work, it's a rewarding experience for the listener and for me grabs my attention. This is one example. And BTW sounds nothing like fellow American composer Ives. If I was to describe one composer as 'muscular' it would certainly have to be Ruggles.

Looking forward to the Piston and back to the Three Places in New England.

Charles

[Charles]

I will never forget the first day I heard that CD. I had just had a fight w/my girlfriend and she left. I put this one pretty loud and it just sounded Soooooo good! Like the end of the world.

Ha!  yes, I can relate to some extent.  You made a good choice if you went straight to Sun-Treader!

Charles

[Harry]

Another Dane who is a worthy successor to Nielsen is Herman Koppel.   In fact his Symphony #1 follows on so naturally from Nielsen #6, that the composer went so far as to try to suppress it, as being too derivative of CN.

But no such worries about this one, which gets a lot of airplay here:


In fact I think I'll go give it another spin right now...

Most interesting, I am on to it!

[Choo Choo]

Most interesting, I am on to it!

Harry, the whole cycle (7 symphonies on 4 CDs) is worth hearing.  #2 is another special favourite of mine.

Not everywhere stocks them, though - and before you buy from JPC (if you're thinking of buying) can I suggest you try the DaCapo website?  I was able to get all the disks supposedly OOP at the retailers - AND it was way cheaper than paying list price at e.g. JPC, even with the currency conversion.

[Choo Choo]

I should perhaps mention, as a warning, that if you order from DaCapo they will most likely include a copy of their current catalogue - an attractive glossy little production that has the most amazing wallet-emptying properties (I've found.)

[SonicMan46]

Last night & at lunch this afternoon:

Louis Spohr (1784-1859) - Violin Concertos - part of the 6-CD box set from CPO w/ Ulf Hoelscher on violin & Christian Frohlich conducting the Rundfunk-SO Berlin; excellent performances & sound - good review here.

Franz Krommer (1759-1831) - Oboe Quartet & Quintets w/ Nancy King on the oboe + strings, including two violas; wonderfully played & recorded - quite pleasant oboe chamber works - notes on the Naxos Website

Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) - Guitar & Fortepiano, Complete Works - w/ Massimo Palumbo (fortepiano) & Leopoldo Saracino (guitar); both instruments from the early 1820s, so yes HIP!  This is an 8-CD Brilliant Box Set - I've just gone through the first disc only - superb playing & sound recording; the guitar and the 'lighter' fortepiano blend beautifully (not sure these would work well w/ a modern piano) - did not really WANT 8 CDs, but the cost was just $23 at BRO (BOY, can't be that combo - Brilliant + BRO!); check out this review on Music Web - 

   

[Harry]

Harry, the whole cycle (7 symphonies on 4 CDs) is worth hearing.  #2 is another special favourite of mine.

Not everywhere stocks them, though - and before you buy from JPC (if you're thinking of buying) can I suggest you try the DaCapo website?  I was able to get all the disks supposedly OOP at the retailers - AND it was way cheaper than paying list price at e.g. JPC, even with the currency conversion.

I will take your excellent suggestion in consideration!
I always think of buying my friend.

[Harry]

I should perhaps mention, as a warning, that if you order from DaCapo they will most likely include a copy of their current catalogue - an attractive glossy little production that has the most amazing wallet-emptying properties (I've found.)

O, that is a smart idea, a bit like the JPC courier. Has the same effect!
Da Capo is the next company on my list, I will purchase, I mean a considerable amount of cd's from them.
O dear I mix things up I think!

[Harry]

Last night & at lunch this afternoon:


Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) - Guitar & Fortepiano, Complete Works - w/ Massimo Palumbo (fortepiano) & Leopoldo Saracino (guitar); both instruments from the early 1820s, so yes HIP!  This is an 8-CD Brilliant Box Set - I've just gone through the first disc only - superb playing & sound recording; the guitar and the 'lighter' fortepiano blend beautifully (not sure these would work well w/ a modern piano) - did not really WANT 8 CDs, but the cost was just $23 at BRO (BOY, can't be that combo - Brilliant + BRO!); check out this review on Music Web - 

   

I found the Carulli box to be excellent value for little money. There is not much recorded from this composer, but 8 cd's is much. But the price was indeed super budget.

[Haffner]

I always think of buying my friend.

Who, you Harry? Not you  !

[karlhenning]

And with Harry, to think is to act! 

[Harry]

And with Harry, to think is to act! 

Well at least I think about it!

[Harry]

Who, you Harry? Not you  !

Well in the case of music, Andy, always.

[Don]

I always think of buying my friend.

Aren't buying CDs good enough for you?

[Harry]

Aren't buying CDs good enough for you?

Nope, thinking about buying them is part of the fun before buying them.

[George]

Nope, thinking about buying them is part of the fun before buying them.

All kidding aside, IMO this can become a real problem. 

[uffeviking]

Last night, an excellent recital by soprano Karita Mattila and pianist Martin Katz,
--Bruce

I just turned green here, of course, now that I finally got around to reading your post about this special concert. Had to wade through a pile of CD cover photos!

Bruce, its the Mericanto and Madetoya songs you only mentioned in passing. I love both of those composers, could you elaborate just a wee bit more; but if these composers are not your cup of tea, I take it that Karita's voice captivated you, no matter what she sang! 

[Danny]

[Harry]

All kidding aside, IMO this can become a real problem. 

Yes George if you let it become a problem, but I am level headed, so don't worry, I know how far I can reach, and I never overstep the boundaries.

[bhodges]

I just turned green here, of course, now that I finally got around to reading your post about this special concert. Had to wade through a pile of CD cover photos!

Bruce, its the Mericanto and Madetoya songs you only mentioned in passing. I love both of those composers, could you elaborate just a wee bit more; but if these composers are not your cup of tea, I take it that Karita's voice captivated you, no matter what she sang! 

Lis, I had never heard anything by either of these composers (to my knowledge).  The brief selections Mattila chose were excellent, especially the two Madetoja works that ended the first half, "Luulit, ma katselin sua" ("You Thought I Was Watching You") and "Tule kanssani" ("Take My Hand"), both with soaring vocal lines and pleasant texts.  I enjoyed the two Merikanto pieces, too, but the Madetoja grabbed me more on first hearing.  I would eagerly hear more by either of these composers.  Feel free to suggest away!   

PS, Mattila was great.  I was a bit surprised to find many empty seats in Carnegie's balcony (where I prefer to sit, for sound) but maybe there was something else going on in town last night.  But still, given her reputation I would have expected more bodies.  Perhaps the program was a little offbeat for your normal recital crowd, but yes, she was completely captivating.  She's also quite theatrical, when she chooses to be, e.g., in the final Turina song, "Las locas por amor" ("Frantic for love"), she was doing a few little tango steps next to the piano -- very amusing.

--Bruce