Andre Jolivet

[pjme]

with the Brno orchestra / Jilek

Heurté (abrupt, clashing...)
Fluide
Vigoureux

[pjme]

Percurama / Jean Thorel
and in Grafenegg with Colin Currie conducting

[Symphonic Addict]

Jolivet is a tremendously compelling composer who will not appeal much to those seeking comfort or singable tunes. Listening to his Symphony No. 3 on the recording below could scare some listeners, but it shouldn't, it is music with pourpose and not completely forbidding. This is irregular, chaotic, abrasive, unpredictable and, at times, riotous music that often reflects a ritualistic quality helped by the robust percussión section. I'm surprised by the quality of this live recording, very clear, in great sound, and the performance is just smoking (the composer conducting). Recommended for the adventurous listener.

[pjme]

Jolivet is a tremendously compelling composer

at times, riotous music that often reflects a ritualistic quality

Agreed. 
For me, the first cello concerto remains a favorite as it demostrates so well Jolivets ability to combine austere, yet rich lyricism with  rythmical intensity. His music is full of singable tunes...
I have a great version of the third symphony conducted by Antal Dorati/French Nat. Orch. . A couple of years ago (2012) , Pascal Rophé and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales  performed the work
https://www.overgrownpath.com/2012/01/alive-with-sound-of-andre-jolivets.html

[André]

Jolivet is a tremendously compelling composer who will not appeal much to those seeking comfort or singable tunes. Listening to his Symphony No. 3 on the recording below could scare some listeners, but it shouldn't, it is music with pourpose and not completely forbidding. This is irregular, chaotic, abrasive, unpredictable and, at times, riotous music that often reflects a ritualistic quality helped by the robust percussión section. I'm surprised by the quality of this live recording, very clear, in great sound, and the performance is just smoking (the composer conducting). Recommended for the adventurous listener.

I think you can describe his 1st symphony like this, too. I have a few Jolivet discs, but have not heard his 3rd symphony. Thanks !

[Symphonic Addict]

Agreed.
For me, the first cello concerto remains a favorite as it demostrates so well Jolivets ability to combine austere, yet rich lyricism with  rythmical intensity. His music is full of singable tunes...
I have a great version of the third symphony conducted by Antal Dorati/French Nat. Orch. . A couple of years ago (2012) , Pascal Rophé and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales  performed the work
https://www.overgrownpath.com/2012/01/alive-with-sound-of-andre-jolivets.html

We are in agreeement on Jolivet at least!

Most of the works I've heard so far have proven to be pretty substantial and, quite often, challenging, including the cello concertos. The way he used dissonances appeals to my tastes, something I don't feel with other modern-contemporary composers.

[Symphonic Addict]

I think you can describe his 1st symphony like this, too. I have a few Jolivet discs, but have not heard his 3rd symphony. Thanks !

His three orchestral symphonies and the Symphony for strings share this acerbic yet engrossing quality that keeps me returning to them from time to time.

[André]

Cross-posted from the WAYL thread:



Jolivet's first symphony (1953) is a classically built work (4 movements, 25 minutes, with standard italian tempo markings). All attempts at finding anything 'classical' about it end there, I think. Its 4 movements are packed thick with ideas, mostly of the surging, motoric, acerbic kind. The orchestration is quite dense (3-3-3-3-4-4-3-1, timpani, harp, strings) and used unsparingly. Prokofiev's Scythian Suite sounds airy and balletic in comparison.

OK, I'm exaggerating a bit (barely). The fact is that this is a dense, action-packed score, full of bright colours and pounding rythms. Despite all the dissonance and drive, it is resolutely tonal and tightly held together. Just don't expect french elegance or refinement.

Conductor Georges Tzipine is an old hand at that kind of thing. He was a masterful conductor of the french repertoire of his time: Schmitt, Roussel, Honegger, Milhaud, Ibert etc. I've never heard anything by him that didn't sound totally committed. He was the kind of conductor who believed the work at hand was a masterpiece. The orchestra play like demons (great wind section) and the stereo sound is very fine.

The coupling is from an unknown french russian (or ukrainian?)émigré composer and is written in a more abstract, dissonant idiom. There is a prominent piano part. Marius Constant conducts with precision.

Worth listening to for the Jolivet symphony. This particular performance can be found on YT

[Symphonic Addict]

Neat review on your namesake's work, André. I cannot see the recording you mentioned, though (I'll check it out on YouTube).

[pjme]

Some of these recordings (the first symphony, the flute concerto and the Ritual dances) date back to 1966, when Jolivet visited the URSS Union of composers and conducted the Moscou radio orchestra.
The second cello concerto was recorded in Paris in 1969.
It is good to hear another take on the pianoconcerto - even if Entremont/Jolivet and Descaves/Bour remain my favorites.
Danish composer Herman D.Koppel recorded it with the Danish Radio Orch/Tuxen (probably ca 1960) - a fine performance marred by technical problems.


Dutch pianist Daniel Waeyenberg (he knew jolivet) perfomed the concerto with Haitink and the Koncertgebouw orchestra.
https://archive.org/details/cd_french-composers-vol-2_louis-durey-henri-martelli-jean-rivier-hen

[KevinP]

Working my way through this set:



and realising I've found my newest rabbit hole.

[pjme]

Excellent! 

[KevinP]

Now this set:



The Suite Petite of 1947 is jarringly melodic, though pleasantly so. Also very French--not in the sense of Berlioz, Milhaud, Poulenc, etc., but in that it could accompany Parisian street scenes in a movie.

As for Chant de Linos, this is a rare case where I prefer the later arrangement/transcription--not that the original duet version isn't great.

[Symphonic Addict]

A good set that, but one that suffers from a so-so sound quality.