Charles Koechlin(1867-1950)

[Karl Henning]

I don't think I marked before that all these works are on the early side (pre-Op. 65 . . . not that there is magic in that number, it's just that somehow Les heures persanes has become The Reference Point for me : )

[Karl Henning]

Yes, the Hanssler recordings of Koechlin are quite fine...

Separately . . . a colleague of mine formerly here in Boston has moved (back, really, as her family are yet there) to Cleveland.

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.

But . . . what if the painter is a woman? : )

[Karl Henning]

BTW - I just listened to the Piano Quintet & SQ No.3 - re-read the notes; both works were a reflection of the composer's experiences/feelings about WWI - different from his other composing (dissonance, anger, joys, etc.) - plus, the movement names in the PQ are evocative - The Obscure Wait of What Shall be...; The Enemy Attack - The Wound; Consoling Nature; Finale - The Joy.  Not sure that short snippets will help much on deciding a purchase?  Dave   P.S. - there is a quoted Fanfare review HERE!

The Quintet is lovely. Thanks for your patient advocacy, Dave (and Greg)!

[SonicMan46]

The Quintet is lovely. Thanks for your patient advocacy, Dave (and Greg)!

WHEW! Glad that you liked the piece & the recording - Dave

[Karl Henning]

And the Wind Septet: excellent.

Of course, you could argue that he got on my good side right away, with a solo clarinet opening movement (Monodie). But he had the sensitivity to know that you cannot go wrong, starting with clarinet solo!

[snyprrr]

Well, as both you gents bespeak the Opp. 72 & 80 so heartily . . . .

PULL THE TRIGGER KARL, PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!!!

And the Wind Septet: excellent.

Of course, you could argue that he got on my good side right away, with a solo clarinet opening movement (Monodie). But he had the sensitivity to know that you cannot go wrong, starting with clarinet solo!

Don't I have that 'Septet' on BIS? checking... mm, I think I must have sold it.

[Karl Henning]

PULL THE TRIGGER KARL, PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!!!

Dude, that trigger was yesterday's news! : )

[not edward]

The Guardian's Andrew Clements is enthusiastic about a recent chamber music issue:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jun/05/koechlin-quintet-quartet-lavaud-antigone

(I think he must have been one of the earlier critics to get aboard the Koechlin bandwagon.)

[Karl Henning]

Nice (if brief) review. How much of the huge catalogue has he had a chance to o'erlook, do you suppose? Is he out on something of a limb, asserting that it's undervalued?

[milk]

The Guardian's Andrew Clements is enthusiastic about a recent chamber music issue:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jun/05/koechlin-quintet-quartet-lavaud-antigone

(I think he must have been one of the earlier critics to get aboard the Koechlin bandwagon.)

Well, after getting this recording I've been on something of a Koechlin binge. I've just purchased these (and while I haven't
waded through them all yet, the samples, and what I've heard so far, sounded extremely promising):



Two of these I purchased after reading this review on musicweb:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Koechlin_chamber.htm

I hope this isn't mostly redundant. I've looked through this forum and I haven't caught a mention of all of these.

[cilgwyn]

Well, after getting this recording I've been on something of a Koechlin binge. I've just purchased these (and while I haven't
waded through them all yet, the samples, and what I've heard so far, sounded extremely promising):



Two of these I purchased after reading this review on musicweb:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/July13/Koechlin_chamber.htm

I hope this isn't mostly redundant. I've looked through this forum and I haven't caught a mention of all of these.

No,it isn't. Thank you,'milk'! Most posts tend to favour his orchestral music. This is very useful,as is the link to the cd reviews,which I hadn't read.
More please!

[milk]

No,it isn't. Thank you,'milk'! Most posts tend to favour his orchestral music. This is very useful,as is the link to the cd reviews,which I hadn't read.
More please!
[/quote]
Oh that's great. The reviewer is a bit negative on the sound quality of the Lissy but I don't notice it (though my praise goes out to him - Byzantion - whoever he is). All three of these are really enjoyable. I think the Antigone Quartet with Sarah Lavaud performing the Piano Quintet has been mentioned here but that is really stunning music. I don't want to leave out the Naxos release of the piano version of Les heures persanes by Ralph van Raat. This recording is very reasonably priced on amazon, itunes (on CD or download) etc. But I know that's also been mentioned here. One thing I'm curious about is Koechlin's vocal music. I wonder what it's like and if it's any good.   

[milk]

No,it isn't. Thank you,'milk'! Most posts tend to favour his orchestral music. This is very useful,as is the link to the cd reviews,which I hadn't read.
More please!

I made a bit of a mistake here. This reviewer is right. Listening to this on headphones today I find that this reviewer is right and that op. 64 is quite marred by the sound of huffing and puffing. It is too bad as the violin sonata is wonderful music. If anyone has a recommendation for another recording of the violin sonata, I'm interested.

[milk]

This is a rerelease with a slightly different title. It's welcome given the technical flaws in the Lissy recording of the violin sonata.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, that does look interesting.  But then, I have a proprietary interest in viola sonatas 

[milk]

Thanks, that does look interesting.  But then, I have a proprietary interest in viola sonatas 

I thought you were a clarinetist. There is also Steven Dann & James Parker as another option on the viola piece. I've been enjoying
Koechlin quite a bit these last few months.

[Karl Henning]

I am indeed a clarinetist, but I have composed a Viola Sonata 

I think I shall cue up the chamber arrangement of Paysages et marines . . . .

[milk]

I am indeed a clarinetist, but I have composed a Viola Sonata 

I think I shall cue up the chamber arrangement of Paysages et marines . . . .

I'm not sure I value his viola sonata as highly as some of his other chamber works but I'm still trying. The Parker/Dann recording is interesting because it also contains debuts of two viola peices: one by de Bréville and the other by Tournemire. I might also mention I'm liking the recording of Koechlin's cello works by Bruns/Ishay. It's grabbed me more than the one by Mats Lidström & Bengt Forsberg. By the way, I notice some of your choral works are up on youtube. They look interesting. Any chance some of your chamber works might appear?

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, yes, I've had in mind to hoist some of those up onto YouTube.

[snyprrr]

All this Frenchiness of course brings up Koechlin. Has there been discussion about simply all those solo wind suites that one can find on CPO? Horn, bassoon, oboe, flute,... are they all the somewhat same recycled music, or is each one distinct. Solos, duos, trios,... aye aye aye!! Don't even include 'with piano', haha!!

Those String Quartet/Piano Quintet cds were pretty impressive.