Charles Koechlin(1867-1950)

[karlhenning]

May be the only Disney adaptation I like (though not as a substitute for the Ur-text). Louis Prima as the chief ourang-utan was an inspired bit of casting.

[jowcol]

? ...

Luke's suggestion of the piano suite Les heures persanes, though, is unarguably il Tabasco vero ... and I'm giving the orchestral version a spin tonight. (Curiously, the orchestral version runs almost ten minutes briefer than Kathryn Stott on the piano.)

To be honest, I didn't care for the Orchestral version of the Persian Hours nearly as much as the piano one.  And I'm definitely a fan of his orchestral works.

[karlhenning]

Yes, as a piano suite it has a specific character (and a compelling character, as I find it). As an orchestration . . . it is perhaps faceless exotica.

[Mirror Image]

To be honest, I didn't care for the Orchestral version of the Persian Hours nearly as much as the piano one.  And I'm definitely a fan of his orchestral works.

I agree the orchestrated version of The Persian Hours isn't as distinctive as his other orchestral works. This is another case where I think perhaps the composer should leave things alone, but The Persian Hours does have some fine moments of sonic tapestry.

[Mirror Image]

I'm really looking forward to examining The Jungle Book (with the Bedford recording I've got coming) under a pair of different lenses as I've become accustomed to Zinman's reading for awhile now.

[Mirror Image]

I'm still waiting on the Bedford Jungle Book to arrive. In the meantime, here's an excerpt from this cycle and the piece is called The Mediation of Purun Bhagat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAy-pMCJims&feature=BFa&list=PLD542D3E9E8843E53&index=6


P.S. Can anybody help with me these YouTube videos? I already have Flash uploaded on my computer and I have tried to insert this video using the flash button, but it won't do anything. Please help! Thanks.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'm still waiting on the Bedford Jungle Book to arrive. In the meantime, here's an excerpt from this cycle and the piece is called The Mediation of Purun Bhagat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAy-pMCJims&feature=BFa&list=PLD542D3E9E8843E53&index=6


P.S. Can anybody help with me these YouTube videos? I already have Flash uploaded on my computer and I have tried to insert this video using the flash button, but it won't do anything. Please help! Thanks.

This is the code (and for visibility's sake I have replaced the square brackets around [flash]http://and[/flash]). You have to remove watch? and replace it with a /. The = has to go too.


{flash=640,390}http://www.youtube.com/v/OAy-pMCJims{/flash}


I found the correct height and width by right-clicking on the YouTube vid and looking at the embedding code.




http://www.youtube.com/v/OAy-pMCJims

[Mirror Image]

Thanks so much Johan! I appreciate it!

Now let me try!

http://www.youtube.com/v/ctPTaigcRTE

[Mirror Image]

YES! It worked finally! Thanks again, Johan!

[Lethevich]

Ahh, with your avatar alongside that post I envisaged the elderly Koechlin trying to get to grips with the complexities of forum markup code

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

YES! It worked finally! Thanks again, Johan!

You're welcome, MI. It took me some figuring out, but I like solving problems!

[karlhenning]

I agree the orchestrated version of The Persian Hours isn't as distinctive as his other orchestral works.

And yet, musically, I think it a finer accomplishment than Fabricius . . . .

[Mirror Image]

And yet, musically, I think it a finer accomplishment than Fabricius . . . .

The Jungle Book (the complete cycle), Le buisson ardent, Chant funebre a la memoire des jeunes femmes defuntes, and Vers la Voûte étoilée are my favorite works by Koechlin right now. I do like Le Docteur Fabricius though and think it has some absolute gorgeous moments that help redeem the work for me.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



This is a great performance so far! I'm on Les Bandar-Log right now and it's a played with great authority. Prior to this work, I heard The Law of the Jungle and this is taken a little bit faster than Zinman, but is still effective and well-performed. Next up will be the Three Poems. Iris Vermillion reprises her role on soprano.

[Mirror Image]

More Koechlin videos:

Le buisson ardent

http://www.youtube.com/v/zdSqHvtT03E

I prefer Holliger's recording on Hanssler, but Segerstam's is adequately performed and will give listeners at least a glimpse of the kind of depth this work possesses. This is one of my favorite Koechlin works.

[Mirror Image]

Everything I have of Koechlin I have liked. His music is in fact very easy to like which makes his neglect a bit strange. Maybe the fact that it does not leave you pondering nor humming the tunes means he pleases neither end of the spectrum.

I find his songs and chamber works especially pleasing.

Yes, I agree that Koechlin is very easy to like, but his neglect is unjust. He's yet another example of a composer being pushed out of the way to make room for the more well-known composers. I have turned several people onto Koechlin's music, in particular, a young composer friend who simply adores the music. Now, he can cherish his music for the rest of his life and will probably introduce Koechlin to people who don't know about him, thus, creating ripple effect. I feel that I've done my job here. I can only talk about this work or that work so much and describe it the best way I can, but the reality is Koechlin's music speaks for itself as so many great composer's music does. People don't need to analyze it to death. It is music that one simply lets wash over them. Music they can escape with. Not many composers have left me with this kind of feeling, which is why Koechlin has become one of my absolute favorite composers. It took a year or so to come back to his music and I'm glad I did. Now, I'm just one sick puppy.

[TheGSMoeller]

I am familiar with Koechlin to a point, but do not own any recordings. From what I've heard I have really enjoyed. What would be a great recording, almost sort of an introductory recording to Koechilin's works.
I have a habit of starting with orchestral pieces and moving to chamber works later when I first discover a composer, if that helps in your recommendations.

Thanks in advance, friends.

[Mirror Image]

I am familiar with Koechlin to a point, but do not own any recordings. From what I've heard I have really enjoyed. What would be a great recording, almost sort of an introductory recording to Koechilin's works.
I have a habit of starting with orchestral pieces and moving to chamber works later when I first discover a composer, if that helps in your recommendations.

Thanks in advance, friends.

Since Koechlin's sound-world is unique and multifaceted, I would recommend starting with The Jungle Book. I would go with the complete cycle with David Zinman and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orch. on RCA. It's a 2-CD set, but it is also out-of-print, so see if you can't track down a copy on the used market. From here, I would then explore the Hanssler Classic recordings with Holliger and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony. Happy listening.

[Mirror Image]

but his writing for the orchestra is above average, I think.

Could you please elaborate on this?

[Mirror Image]

Well, I think I said what I wanted, in that I think he understands orchestral color so that he can create beautiful effects with how he combines the instruments, and what registers he uses with his placement of the various notes of a chord.   A chord that to begin with is somewhat undefined in many instances.  And his colors will shift, similar to a kaleidoscope, the chord moves subtly across different groups of instruments and slowly a new color emerges - it is all very finely done and it is a skill that not all composers exhibit.

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