Recent posts

#1

The Diner / Re: Astronomy

Last post by relm1 - Today at 05:36:17 AM

Yes, that's another reason I didn't make any huge effort to take anything with me: it was my first total eclipse, and I just wanted mostly to take it all in, including the twilit ambiance on the ground and the 360º sunset effect.

BTW I can see assuming that the naked-eye prominences were solar flares - there were plenty of prominences visible elsewhere on the Sun's limb through the Sun and H-alpha filters, but they were NOT visible during totality because (evidently) they didn't reach up to the altitude of the ones you photographed. The fact that this one extended well above the Moon does support the idea that they might have been solar flares. But they didn't reach high into the corona, and their strong H-alpha coloring (the pinkish color is from the H-alpha emission line of hydrogen) suggests that they were lower altitude, less violent prominences (though they might have been surge prominences).

Your photo shows something I didn't notice during the eclipse: the corona appears to be missing just to the left of the brightest prominence. A coronal hole, would be my guess - a window through which the solar wind streams out.

Interesting that there were many more prominences visible in H-A then with the eyes.  I recall seeing texture in the corona.  You could see gaps and details, just something I considered an example where pictures don't do it justice.  In pictures you don't get the dynamic range your eyes see.  How vibrant the reds were of those prominences just doesn't come through.  I'm also experimenting with processing techniques so might find a way to capture the best elements of multiple images into a single frame. 

#2

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: Musical depictions of the ...

Last post by Dima - Today at 05:33:05 AM

Thank you for this special additional information. Do you prefer the original version from 1851 (4 movements / dedication to Liszt) or is it the version in seven movements (additions from 1863 and 1880) that is more important? What are the main shortcomings of the existing recorded versions? What would be an "ideal" recording?

I found this interesting text (1994) at the site of the American Symphony Orchestra , written by Carol Reynards:

https://americansymphony.org/concert-notes/symphony-no-2-in-c-major-op-42-ocean/

I'm listening to Ghedini's Marinaresca e baccanale - a very memorable and original "seapiece"!

Instead of many words about positive and negative aspects of existing recording I prefer to present after my research the recording that is close to ideal in the sample version above: https://web.ligaudio.ru/mp3/%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B0%D0%BD%2042%20dmg%20record

It is one of the greatest symphony of all time, not only on the theme of sea voyage. You can fell how reveals the essence of music if you have time to listen to the record. As an introduction to listening you may listen to my story about symphony on youtube. Anton Rubinstein was satisfied only with 7 part version.
Вut I have made 4 parts version recording only because other parts you can find in rather fine variants (and my version won't be very different) and then put it all
together. For example I did't make another interpretation of the
"Sea storm" part from 7 part version, but I remastered
sound in it, so it sounded now better here: https://vimeo.com/794959033
And as a bonus track - it's Adagio from 6 part version of Ocean symphony with Richard Kapp, Westphalian Symphony Orchestra (it was digitized by me from LP, it was never released on CD): https://web.ligaudio.ru/mp3/kapp%20rubinstein

Here I start translation of my words with auto translation:
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A lot changes the size of the orchestra - Rubinstein's works are very often performed either in a reduced or the smallest possible orchestra - on a residual principle, but I've already tested that without a significantly enlarged orchestra (with more emphasis on the bass - with increased group of cellos and double basses), the music won't sound properly.
You can listen how the symphony will sound with an increased orchestra - in my post  - there I not only worked on the interpretation but also simulated such sound. Just look how grand sound now the 4-th part. In the first part - Rubinstein imitates choral masses in the orchestra - without a large orchestra, it doesn't make an impression. In the second part, there are already not choirs, but individual human voices are heard. There are things I wanted to share with conductors, but I didn't want to overload the message with details.

By the way, I'll share a draft of my thoughts about 7-part version of Symphony "Ocean" (I have not published it because I only posted a 4-movement version on the forum):

"While listening to Symphony 'Ocean' - and I think what a grand symphony, but only 4 movements. For a young man of 22, 4 movements is quite good - everyone writes like that. But for Anton Rubinstein, whom we know, 4 movements are not serious, and Anton Grigoryevich added 2 movements after 12 years, and then another one after several more years. And then he said to the publisher: "Now I'm satisfied".
The symphony is truly grandiose - there is no image of water, as they would have done  impressionists.
Each part has its own view on the man facing the elemental force of nature - just philosophical meaning of musical ideas is so profound that even their extract inspires respect. And if you listen to music  not in parts, but all parts together in one sitting, and not in unsuccessful recordings, but may be prepared with the help of technology, then the impression is clear - it's poweful."
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#3

Composer Discussion / Re: Mozart

Last post by Madiel - Today at 05:31:07 AM

Stockhausen fans are a vanishingly rare subspecies and I'd probably want to document the encounter.

This is supposed to be a Mozart thread. Also, I'd like some sleep before I fly to Spain tomorrow. Goodnight.

#4

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Traverso - Today at 05:24:06 AM

Nikhil Banerjee

It was a great loss for all those who care about Indian classical music when the Chhanda Dhara label ceased to exist.
The result is that these recordings are now often offered for very high prices.
Banerjee believed that music was not just an art form, but an alternative path to spirituality.
No compromises about the length or duration of the raga, as in ancient India these concerts at the various courts often lasted even much longer.In this case the duration of this raga is 57 minutes.

CD 1

#5

Composer Discussion / Re: Mozart

Last post by steve ridgway - Today at 05:05:29 AM

Well that won't happen, unless it is from a Stockhausen fiend that is mocking you for listening to Bach!

I don't think there'd be any problem as long as an appropriate ring modulator was employed .

[Messiaen: Le Loriot]

#6

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by steve ridgway - Today at 04:51:59 AM

Messiaen: Le Loriot; Yvonne Loriod (1st recording)

Note that the words Loriot and Loriod in French sound much the same, since the final consonant is not sounded.  And this music, which must have been in Messiaen's mind for over 10 years since he first encountered the young pianist, is probably as much about the person as it is about the bird.

The bird itself is pictured on the original LP cover image (below).  Now picture the scene at the premiere performance of the complete Catalogue in 1959, which Loriod/Loriot performed entirely from memory as was her habit - seated at the piano wearing a yellow gown with black sleeves ...


Messiaen, Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Loriod, Vega

Wow, doing all that from memory is most impressive  .

#7

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Spotted Horses - Today at 04:22:44 AM

That opened the door for solo keyboard Bach for me.  Even when I had eliminated my cd collection thinking I would stream only... I actually still kept that box set!  I also have her in the chamber music, Art of the Fugue and some arrangements.  All exquisite!

And now she is doing it all a second time, creating the dilemma, "which version is better?"! I find no clear answer.

Her Faure disc is also great!

#8

The Diner / Re: The football (soccer) thre...

Last post by springrite - Today at 04:20:21 AM

Almost forgot to celebrate  St. Totteringham's Day!

#9

The Diner / Re: Last Movie You Watched

Last post by Madiel - Today at 03:58:53 AM

I am in the middle of watching the Korean film "Decision to Leave". A Korean policeman investigating a man's death becomes obsessed with the much younger Chinese widow.

It's very quirky, but somehow that is intriguing me rather than annoying me. One of the most striking things is people appearing in scenes together when they're actually in different places, but one is observing or thinking about the other.

#10

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by vandermolen - Today at 03:50:15 AM

Holst: 'The Perfect Fool' Ballet Suite and now..
Bax: Tintagel
LSO George Weldon

I enjoy every work on this CD and all the performances. George Weldon seems to have had a somewhat troubled life and IMO deserves more appreciation: