Nikolay Miaskovsky (1881-1950)

[foxandpeng]

I'm beginning to get a grip of those symphonies which I'd be happy to put in the category of excellent and really good. Some way to go before being too definite about that, or even to attempt any sort of order of favourites, but making an initial list after hearing all the symphonies through more than three times, seems appropriate. I've heard some far more than that, but I don't feel like an utter novice with NYM any longer.

How about these to begin:

Excellent - 6, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
Very Good - 12, 8, 5, 7, 14, 15, 17

Others not listed are really worthwhile - they simply haven't pushed ahead of these, yet. I don't believe there are any poor symphonies in the whole cycle. Analysis still ongoing!

Copied from WAYLT:

Nikolai Myaskovsky
Wartime Music 1941-1945 Volume 1
Symphony 24
Alexander Titov
St Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra
Northern Flowers


Not much to distinguish this from the Svetlanov or the Yablonsky, really. Not in a bad way, because 24 is excellent in all, but my ear isn't strongly inclined to one or other recordings.

More educated ears may be able to suggest differently?

Edit: Continuing with 25 on the same disc/stream, because why not?

[vandermolen]

I'm beginning to get a grip of those symphonies which I'd be happy to put in the category of excellent and really good. Some way to go before being too definite about that, or even to attempt any sort of order of favourites, but making an initial list after hearing all the symphonies through more than three times, seems appropriate. I've heard some far more than that, but I don't feel like an utter novice with NYM any longer.

How about these to begin:

Excellent - 6, 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
Very Good - 12, 8, 5, 7, 14, 15, 17

Others not listed are really worthwhile - they simply haven't pushed ahead of these, yet. I don't believe there are any poor symphonies in the whole cycle. Analysis still ongoing!

Copied from WAYLT:

Nikolai Myaskovsky
Wartime Music 1941-1945 Volume 1
Symphony 24
Alexander Titov
St Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra
Northern Flowers


Not much to distinguish this from the Svetlanov or the Yablonsky, really. Not in a bad way, because 24 is excellent in all, but my ear isn't strongly inclined to one or other recordings.

More educated ears may be able to suggest differently?

Edit: Continuing with 25 on the same disc/stream, because why not?

Interesting list Danny. I largely agree with your choices although I'd put 17 (and possibly 15) in the excellent category and No.3 in the 'very good' list. I must re-listen to 20 and 26 as it's been ages since I heard them. Also I must fish out those Northern Flowers recordings.

[foxandpeng]

Interesting list Danny. I largely agree with your choices although I'd put 17 (and possibly 15) in the excellent category and No.3 in the 'very good' list. I must re-listen to 20 and 26 as it's been ages since I heard them. Also I must fish out those Northern Flowers recordings.

My list is still very much a work in progress. I anticipate not only a fair bit of movement, but also hope to understand which might be my favourites. For instance, I haven't really connected with 21, despite the enthusiasm of almost everyone else. I don't know why that is yet.

Haven't even pondered the NYM SQs at this point, but want to take a run at the Simpson cycle before I attempt that.

[vandermolen]

My list is still very much a work in progress. I anticipate not only a fair bit of movement, but also hope to understand which might be my favourites. For instance, I haven't really connected with 21, despite the enthusiasm of almost everyone else. I don't know why that is yet.

Haven't even pondered the NYM SQs at this point, but want to take a run at the Simpson cycle before I attempt that.

Try the SQ 13 if nothing else Danny - one of NYM's finest.

[foxandpeng]

Try the SQ 13 if nothing else Danny - one of NYM's finest.

Maybe I should keep it all under the same umbrella and press on with NYM while I have some ongoing enthusiasm and traction with his work. I still have lots of stamina for him, so all good.

It's funny - exploring Myaskovsky has opened up lots of Russian composers that I either don't know, or haven't prodded for such a long time. Very positive journey.

[vandermolen]

Maybe I should keep it all under the same umbrella and press on with NYM while I have some ongoing enthusiasm and traction with his work. I still have lots of stamina for him, so all good.

It's funny - exploring Myaskovsky has opened up lots of Russian composers that I either don't know, or haven't prodded for such a long time. Very positive journey.

Shebalin and Popov come to mind.

[foxandpeng]

Shebalin and Popov come to mind.

Popov, I know a little. Shebalin not so much. New goals 😁

[foxandpeng]

Shockingly, I didn't hate the inclusion of the choral section in the Stankovsky version of Myaskovsky 6. Perhaps because it was so short, but even so, I thought it was ok.

I don't know yet how I feel about the recording as a comparison to Svetlanov, but carrying on into 8 from the same forces.

[foxandpeng]

Nicolai Miaskovsky
Complete String Quartets
SQ 1 and 2
Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers

Following several days of exploration in Taneyev's SQs, it's probably time for me to go with the Myaskovsky SQs. So long since I heard these, that it feels like completely unfamiliar ground. Nevertheless, the difference between these and the Taneyev is significant: the Myaskovsky are far less obvious as background music and require much closer listening.

Very different to the symphonies, whose obvious melodies and roots in Romanticism are clear, these SQs open with a far more challenging voice. So far, so good.

[vandermolen]

New release:

[foxandpeng]

New release:

Hurray.

Thank you

[vandermolen]

Hurray.

Thank you

The samples on the Presto website sound v good Danny. Also I prefer the spelling Miaskovsky/Miaskowsky to Myaskovsky 
We need a recording of 'Kremlin at Night'.

[foxandpeng]

The samples on the Presto website sound v good Danny. Also I prefer the spelling Miaskovsky/Miaskowsky to Myaskovsky 
We need a recording of 'The Kremlin at Night'.

I'm assuming that the former would have been his own preference?

I don't think I have seen one at all on Spotify, but I am guessing that is because one isn't available at all!

[vandermolen]

I'm assuming that the former would have been his own preference?

I don't think I have seen one at all on Spotify, but I am guessing that is because one isn't available at all!

There's one on You Tube I think.

PS Here it is:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=myaskovsky+the+kremlin+at+night&view=detail&mid=DA604B1104CC7530547BDA604B1104CC7530547B&FORM=VIRE

The recording quality is pretty bad but I think that it is a very fine/atmospheric score.

[foxandpeng]

There's one on You Tube I think.

PS Here it is:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=myaskovsky+the+kremlin+at+night&view=detail&mid=DA604B1104CC7530547BDA604B1104CC7530547B&FORM=VIRE

The recording quality is pretty bad but I think that it is a very fine/atmospheric score.

Thank you, sir!

[vandermolen]

Thank you, sir!

[J]

There's a disc of Songs with Piano accompaniment issued some time ago by Toccata Classics (first in a series) that can be heard on YouTube.  I feel kind of lukewarm towards them on first listen, but good to see Myaskovsky's vocal music being given some attention. 

[vandermolen]

There's a disc of Songs with Piano accompaniment issued some time ago by Toccata Classics (first in a series) that can be heard on YouTube.  I feel kind of lukewarm towards them on first listen, but good to see Myaskovsky's vocal music being given some attention. 

I have that CD but I don't think that I've ever played it!
I wish that someone would do 'Kremlin at Night' and 'Kirov is With Us'.

[J]

A CPO cycle of the Symphonies (to follow the Cello release) would be most welcome.

What are the odds?

[Roy Bland]

A CPO cycle of the Symphonies (to follow the Cello release) would be most welcome.

What are the odds?

What orchestra do you choose?