I could not find the previous Taneyev topic, so here is a new one.
Allow me to comment on the new CD with the Taneyev Symphonies 1 and 3 now available on CHANDOS with Polyansky conducting.
The First Symphony is a student work apparently composed when Tchaikovsky was advising Taneyev. The work begins rather powerfully, with a memorable dramatic theme. This movement, along with the last, makes the symphony worthwhile: they connect nicely, while I found the slow movement much too abrupt, and the scherzo repetitious, giving in perhaps to Tchaikovsky's tendency to overdo the antiphony.
The Third Symphony is a mature work, and while unfortunately not in the same league thematically as the Second and Fourth Symphonies it still is worthwhile, if only for the last two movements. There is a struggle in the opening movements, as if a very slightly Russified Schumann or Schubert were struggling against the vapors, trying to clear the mind, and then finally obtaining a Romanovian Enlightenment in the slow movement and finale.
If you are skeptical of Taneyev, this CD might only confirm your skepticism, so better to go to the other 2 symphonies first. If you are a devotaneyev already, yes, you must buy this! 0:)
I need some help with Taneyev SQs,... ha, his chamber music in general!
Northern Flowers has released 5 Vols. of the TaneyevQuartet's cycle, which, I don't think has ever been available.
Taneyev wrote his first SQ the same year Brahms wrote his Op.67. The student then later wrote 1 + 2 more large scale works before beginning his cycle proper in 1890.
d minor (1876; not counted)
Eb (1880)
C, A (1883)
No1 (Bb minor; 1890)
No.2 (C; 1895)
No.3 (d minor; 1896)
No.4 (a minor; 1899)
No.5 (A; 1903)
No.6 (Bb; 1906)
unfinished (c minor; 1911)
All I know is that all are big big pieces, and, of course, taneyev's reputation here is that of being the Russian heir to Brahms, or, haha, the Russian Brahms. I've heard he's not the most humable composer ever, preferring to work out his mvmts in utmost rigorous style. Apparently, No.2 is alone on Vol.5, so, I wonder if it's larger than the rest, a super monster? No.3 is in two mvmts (in d minor; second mvmt variations,...que Myaskovsky No.3!).
I know they get progressively more "whatever", but I wonder WHAT kind of a minor the a minor quartet is. Is it dark, or just rigorous? Is there a particularly awesome SQ? Or beautiful? Are the all just so good you have to get all (please no ::))? What is the dillio of these works, yo?
And, while we're at it, I had the Piano Quintet a long time ago. I must have found it too much at the time. Then there's the Piano Trio in D that's supposed to be the big thing. And, there's a Piano Quartet in there somewhere. Anyone interested here?
Seriously, don't make me check out these SQs on my own!! :-*
oh, and btw- Cato,... would you be averse to changing the thread title to something, uh...more,. uh,...noble? ::) :-[ :-* Taneyev's Trudging Turgidness?? Taneyev's Tarmac? Taneyev's Tea Time? Taneyev's Tinkle Room?
I think the thread title is brilliant as it is. 8)
PS. Unfortunately, I can't help you with the string quartets. Any relevant answers are eagerly anticipated.
The CD below is excellent (the Overture is a great work - very powerful stuff) - I also like symphonies 2 and 4.
I'm a Taneyev's fan and have nearly all his chamber works.On his SQ, No.1 and 2 (not his first and second composed) are my favorites. Have also his string quintet and his string trios. All are from very good to extraordinary IMHO. And do not forget his huge Suite
for violin and orch.
I really like this composer's m ???usic, but what the heck are "twirbling tones" and how do you make a tent out of them?
??? ??? ??? ???
Quote from: Superhorn on February 22, 2010, 06:50:42 AM
I really like this composer's m ???usic, but what the heck are "twirbling tones" and how do you make a tent out of them?
??? ??? ??? ???
I am so happy to see a new
Taneyev CD: perhaps some hungry Russian group will put together a performance of the complete
Oresteia.
"Twirble" is a combination of "Warble" and "Twitter" and you make a tent of them by listening to
Taneyev...
in your mind !!! :o
Yes, a Taneyev thread!! Finally. :)
Quote from: vandermolen on February 19, 2010, 01:28:14 AM
The CD below is excellent (the Overture is a great work - very powerful stuff) - I also like symphonies 2 and 4.
Oh gosh, I LOVE this CD of orchestral works as well, vandermolen! Highly recommend it.
Quote from: snyprrr on February 18, 2010, 08:40:59 PM
I need some help with Taneyev SQs,... ha, his chamber music in general!
Based on this disc of chamber music played by an all-star group, Taneyev is a composer I'd like to hear more of:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518X49E6G3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
That massive piano quintet is pretty darn impressive.
Quote from: Grazioso on March 10, 2010, 04:26:45 AM
Based on this disc of chamber music played by an all-star group, Taneyev is a composer I'd like to hear more of:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518X49E6G3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
That massive piano quintet is pretty darn impressive.
I had the massive PQ on Arabesque (Penguin recommendation), but, I suppose I couldn't handle Taneyev at the time (many moons). I currently inch ever closer to buying one of the SQ discs. I think I remember hearing the Piano Trio on Chandos LP also, but have no recollection.
That DG disc has quite a lineup. I suppose, noting, that Taneyev isn't known for his tunes, that picking a particular masterpiece of his chamber works is a daunting task. I remember getting the PQ because of the fervent Penguin advocacy, and being a bit underwhelmed (probably, it didn't sound like Shosty, so it must have sucked! :o :P). I am more attuned to knotty and thorny meditations now.
Is the PQ the masterpiece, or do we seek another?(angel smiley)
Quote from: snyprrr on March 10, 2010, 05:35:31 PM
I had the massive PQ on Arabesque (Penguin recommendation), but, I suppose I couldn't handle Taneyev at the time (many moons). I currently inch ever closer to buying one of the SQ discs. I think I remember hearing the Piano Trio on Chandos LP also, but have no recollection.
That DG disc has quite a lineup. I suppose, noting, that Taneyev isn't known for his tunes, that picking a particular masterpiece of his chamber works is a daunting task. I remember getting the PQ because of the fervent Penguin advocacy, and being a bit underwhelmed (probably, it didn't sound like Shosty, so it must have sucked! :o :P). I am more attuned to knotty and thorny meditations now.
Is the PQ the masterpiece, or do we seek another?(angel smiley)
I strongly recommend you to try the SQ# 1 and # 3 by Carpe Diem String Quartet, on the Naxos label. One of my favorite discs. They've also just release SQ# 2 and # 4 on Naxos (only available on-line digital currently - the CD won't be out next year).
Or buy all of the Northern Flowers recordings!
I love Taneyev's chamber works. I have the Northern Flowers recordings of all the String Quartets, and the performances are outstanding; nothing against the Carpe Diem on Naxos, but Northern Flowers easily bests the newer contenders. Also have the 2-cd Quintets set on Northern Flowers that is also a must-have.
Another great disc is from the Barbican Piano Trio on Dutton Epoch - an excellent Piano Trio in D major and FANTASTIC Piano Quartet in E major. For the Piano Trio alone, I find the Borodin superlative.
Although I'm in the minority, I do not care much for the DG all-star disc having the Piano Trio and Quintet. I find the playing lacks a coherent vision and the tension is also lacking. Yes, there's plenty of virtuosity, but most of it sounds self-serving.
NOTE TO SELF:
Taneyev fans will not relent in their insistence that you aquire ALL!! STOP. Greatest fears realized! STOP.
He equally deserves the same recognition as any other top tier Russian composer, in my opinion.
Quote from: snyprrr on March 11, 2010, 10:43:28 AM
NOTE TO SELF:
Taneyev fans will not relent in their insistence that you aquire ALL!! STOP. Greatest fears realized! STOP.
"ALL" is a good word. STOP
Quote from: vandermolen on February 19, 2010, 01:28:14 AM
The CD below is excellent (the Overture is a great work - very powerful stuff) - I also like symphonies 2 and 4.
Let me rave about the
Taneyev NAXOS CD recommended last month by
Mynheer Vandermolen!
NAXOS 8.570584 with the Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra with Thomas Sanderling. (They are quite good!)
It contains two excerpts from the
Oresteia opera: a 20-minute overture :o with one of the greatest openings for a musical story ever heard: you are instantly transported back into the prehistorical darkness of the tale. The Entr'acte from Act III is also included, which contains some fine music to counterbalance the overture.
Two overtures -
Overture in D minor and an
Overture on a Russian Theme are delightfully engaging, as is an early
Adagio in C major. The latter overture has a marvelous theme used in a dialogue among the woodwinds at around the 11 minute mark. Wistfully charming! 0:)
Two short works are also included: a 5-minute cantata on a poem by Pushkin, which is not just Russian
Gebrauchsmusik, and of interest to
Karl Henning a clarinet
Canzona!5 Stars all the way, Dudes! 8)
It's off a-shopping I go . . . .
Quote from: Cato on March 23, 2010, 06:55:29 AM
Let me rave about the Taneyev NAXOS CD recommended last month by Mynheer Vandermolen!
NAXOS 8.570584 with the Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra with Thomas Sanderling.
Thank you, gentlemen both! I found it at F.Y.E.! Huzzah!
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on March 23, 2010, 09:38:59 AM
Thank you, gentlemen both! I found it at F.Y.E.! Huzzah!
That is surprising, since most such places have one
Bach for Beginners, one
Baby Mozart, and one
Beethoven Fifth Symphony.
And maybe a
Pavarotti compilation, or even better,
Mantovani and His Orchestra. :o
Here in the city with the largest university in America, we have a good number of "super bookstores" with CD's, but the Classical selection can be
el crappo profundo as they say in Spanish. 0:)
That FYE would have
Taneyev is really great!
My favorite single disc in my entire classical music collection, is the Volume II newly released string quartets recording by Carpe Diem SQ on Naxos, which includes Taneyev's 2nd and 4th string quartets.
I was so taken away by the music, I felt like someone had just punched me so hard in the stomach and I had a hard time catching my breath. I was so moved and touched by this music, that the next day I phoned the Carpe Diem String Quartets and left them a message to say thank you for the beautiful performances of these two fascinated and breathtaking string quartets. I've often been in email correspondence with Carpe Diem's gorgeous Viola player, Korine Fujiwara.
Yes, it isn't a misprint. On first listen, this CD became my most prized single disc in my entire classical music collection. The Adagios of these quartets are so gorgeous. I really loved Carpe Diem's Volume I release of Taneyev's 1 & 3 quartets, and did not think they could top that disc. Yet, they did top it, and quite easily. I would not be surprised if this disc not only wins multiple "Best Chamber Music Disc of 2011", but also overall "Best Classical Music Disc of 2011".
[asin]B004KDO2XO[/asin]
Just listened to the first movement of Taneyev's String Quartet No. 3 on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoIAgU4GwQU&feature=related). Very impressive.
I really love his Piano Trio. One of the great Romantic piano trios, I think.
Quite a recommendation for the String Quartets II and IV!
Many thanks for the comments!
Yes, the Piano Trio is an all-around fave, and chamber music is normally not my thing. But Taneyev convinces me that at least his chamber music should be my thing! The CD with this from Pro Arte also offers the Alexander Tcherepnin Trio.
We await The Oresteia: Amazon lists one used copy for $125.00!!!
From what I have heard, Taneyev string quartets remind me of Borodin's works in the same genre. The Carpe Diem quartet performance are fine, but rather straight-laced. There is another cycle by the Taneyev Quartet on Northern Flowers. I have their recordings of the Boris Tchaikovsky quartets and if those appeal I may defect from Carpe Diem for future Taneyev quartet recordings.
Quote from: Cato on April 12, 2011, 08:43:31 AM
Quite a recommendation for the String Quartets II and IV!
Many thanks for the comments!
Yes, the Piano Trio is an all-around fave, and chamber music is normally not my thing. But Taneyev convinces me that at least his chamber music should be my thing! The CD with this from Pro Arte also offers the Alexander Tcherepnin Trio.
This Odeon Trio recording is my favorite recording so far of the Taneyev (I have it on Lp). I also have the Pletnev et al. on DG and the Northern Flowers. I don't like the piano playing on the Northern Flowers. I'd like to have the Odeon on CD, but rather than spend $25 to get the CD, I wonder if I should try one of the other available recordings, which as far as I can find out are:
Borodin Trio (Chandos, and Brilliant Classics, I think)
Mendelssohn Piano Trio (Centaur)
Barbican Piano Trio (Dutton)
Röhn (?) Piano Tro (Calig)
Moscow Piano Trio (Chant du Monde)
Roslavets Trio (Vista Vera)
Quote from: Bulldog on March 11, 2010, 08:58:03 AM
I love Taneyev's chamber works. I have the Northern Flowers recordings of all the String Quartets, and the performances are outstanding; nothing against the Carpe Diem on Naxos, but Northern Flowers easily bests the newer contenders. Also have the 2-cd Quintets set on Northern Flowers that is also a must-have..................
Don - forgot to comment on your post above about these
Northern Flowers recordings - looking on Amazon, there are about 9 or so total discs of
Taneyev's Chamber Works on this label, and they are not inexpensive! We must get
Harry to contact his pals at
Brilliant to get these into a slim box! ;) ;D Dave
About the piano trio, you should explore Oistrakh's trio recording.
Quote from: Taneyev on April 12, 2011, 04:15:43 PM
About the piano trio, you should explore Oistrakh's trio recording.
I see that it's on YouTube.
http://www.earsense.org/chamberbase/works/detail/?pkey=485
I'm bumping this for Karl's review on a recent purchase. No pressure, Karl. :D 8)
I myself, have just ordered the Sanderling/Naxos recordings of Taneyev's Symphonies 1-4. No word yet from Amazon on when delivery date is set.
I've finally been introduced to Tanayev earlier this week on the radio, his music is pretty darned good. :)
Quote from: DavidW on August 04, 2011, 12:54:14 PM
I've finally been introduced to Tanayev earlier this week on the radio, his music is pretty darned good. :)
Was it the Suite for violin and orchestra? I think I remember you mentioning it earlier. I've only heard that piece once, but liked it quite a bit.
Quote from: ChamberNut on August 04, 2011, 01:05:08 PM
Was it the Suite for violin and orchestra? I think I remember you mentioning it earlier. I've only heard that piece once, but liked it quite a bit.
Yuppers. Someday when I'm done with my backlog of cds I will listen to some Tanayev through streaming. :)
Quote from: DavidW on August 04, 2011, 01:06:52 PM
Yuppers. Someday when I'm done with my backlog of cds I will listen to some Tanayev through streaming. :)
Not to ignore the orchestral music, but head straight for the chamber music. Gems galore!! 8)
Goal for 2012: Make this the most posted on composer thread, and overtake Havergal Brian! :D
Seriously, Taneyev rocks! 8)
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 28, 2011, 08:53:01 AM
Goal for 2012: Make this the most posted on composer thread, and overtake Havergal Brian! :D
Seriously, Taneyev rocks! 8)
8) Dude! 8)
Brian is just a punk compared to
Taneyev!
And
Taneyev is a certified, verified,
Weiningerian genius!!! Whereas
Brian is just some countrified, small-potatoes, rhinestone
Liberacean genius.
(That should guarantee some activity :-* Toodles!)
Quote from: Cato on October 28, 2011, 09:25:47 AM
8) Dude! 8) Brian is just a punk compared to Taneyev!
And Taneyev is a certified, verified, Weiningerian genius!!! Whereas Brian is just some countrified, small-potatoes, rhinestone Liberacean genius.
(That should guarantee some activity :-* Toodles!)
All the
Brian and English composer enthusiasts will soon be swarming in the
Tent! 8)
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 28, 2011, 09:42:10 AM
All the Brian and English composer enthusiasts will soon be swarming in the Tent! 8)
We need a high-pressure campaign on e.g. NAXOS or Melodiya to offer a complete recording of the
Oresteia and a set with the
String Quartets!
And to make sure NAXOS keeps releasing Taneyev CD's, all of you chamber music people! Hear ye!
TANEYEV'S Violin Sonata!
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/Feb10/Taneyev_sonata_8557804.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Taneyev-Violin-Sonata-Piano-Music/dp/B002N5KEC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1319854426&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Taneyev-Violin-Sonata-Piano-Music/dp/B002N5KEC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1319854426&sr=1-1)
I regret spending money on such composers like Rodrigo when I should have invested in Taneyev, my favorite Russian composer. What's worse, now that Naxos has got a somewhat respectable Taneyev catalog, the prices are up. So, I only have these:
8.570336 Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3
8.570527 Suite de concert - Ioann Damaskin
Quote from: Cato on October 28, 2011, 06:02:15 PM
We need a high-pressure campaign on e.g. NAXOS or Melodiya to offer a complete recording of the Oresteia and a set with the String Quartets!
Well, Carpe Diem SQ is going to record all the string quartets on Naxos (I've been in contact with Carpe Diem's ravishing violist, Korine Fujiwara).
And yes, I hope that someone records (both on CD and DVD) the entire
Oresteia opera. The gargantuan Oresteia Overture is simply one of the best opera overtures I've ever heard, and yes - that includes even Wagner! :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 29, 2011, 07:04:46 AM
And yes, I hope that someone records (both on CD and DVD) the entire Oresteia opera. The gargantuan Oresteia Overture is simply one of the best opera overtures I've ever heard, and yes - that includes even Wagner! :)
I'll agree with you Ray! The Oresteia Overture is pure magic! I certainly do hope someone records the whole opera, I would be really excited about hearing it!
Quote from: Cato on October 28, 2011, 06:21:02 PM
And to make sure NAXOS keeps releasing Taneyev CD's, all of you chamber music people! Hear ye!
TANEYEV'S Violin Sonata!
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/Feb10/Taneyev_sonata_8557804.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Taneyev-Violin-Sonata-Piano-Music/dp/B002N5KEC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1319854426&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Taneyev-Violin-Sonata-Piano-Music/dp/B002N5KEC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1319854426&sr=1-1)
The wish list keeps a-growing.
I have just heard - for the first time - The Taneyev Quartet performing, or attempting to perform, the Eighth and Ninth Quartets of Sergei Taneyev.
This is not the edition I have, but here is a newer picture of what they are selling:
(http://www.ruslania.com/pictures/big/4607053326536.jpg)
If you want to hear wavering microtones in these quartets, as if Taneyev had cosmically pre-channeled Bartok and maybe Penderecki, then this is the CD for you! :o
There are spots in the slow movement of the Eighth Quartet where I thought an Alois Haba quartet had been spliced in suddenly!
Apparently intonation is a problem with the group on these recordings: I found some reviews complaining about the same thing on other quartets.
Let's hope the new NAXOS survey of Taneyev Quartets will not show similar unintended experiments in quarter-tones! ;D
There is a right and a wrong way to twirble, forsooth!
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 08:15:46 AM
I have just heard - for the first time - The Taneyev Quartet performing, or attempting to perform, the Eighth and Ninth Quartets of Sergei Taneyev.
This is not the edition I have, but here is a newer picture of what they are selling:
(http://www.ruslania.com/pictures/big/4607053326536.jpg)
If you want to hear wavering microtones in these quartets, as if Taneyev had cosmically pre-channeled Bartok and maybe Penderecki, then this is the CD for you! :o
There are spots in the slow movement of the Eighth Quartet where I thought an Alois Haba quartet had been spliced in suddenly!
Apparently intonation is a problem with the group on these recordings: I found some reviews complaining about the same thing on other quartets.
Let's hope the new NAXOS survey of Taneyev Quartets will not show similar unintended experiments in quarter-tones! ;D
Although I am enjoying the new Naxos series, it can't compete with the Taneyev Quartet concerning expressiveness.
Quote from: Bulldog on November 16, 2011, 09:05:39 AM
Although I am enjoying the new Naxos series, it can't compete with the Taneyev Quartet concerning expressiveness.
I will admit that there is at times raw energy in the playing, but Wow! To hear those intonation problems is very distracting!
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 09:36:47 AM
I will admit that there is at times raw energy in the playing, but Wow! To hear those intonation problems is very distracting!
I just didn't notice those problems to the degree that you experienced. I'll check it out within a few days.
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 09:36:47 AM
I will admit that there is at times raw energy in the playing, but Wow! To hear those intonation problems is very distracting!
I have their Myaskovsky Cycle, and, I sense a supernatural quality in their playing, which I think you've interpreted... is it a vibrato issue, or... uncle uncle
> cross post <
The Wikipedia article on the Tchaikovsky a minor Trio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_(Tchaikovsky)) is quite interesting.Quote from: Wiki Wiki[Tchaikovsky] put the finishing touches to the Trio by 9 February (the score is annotated "Rome 28 January-9 February 1882"), and sent it to his publishers on 11 February, asking that Sergei Taneyev appear as piano soloist at the first performance. Taneyev, the cellist Wilhelm Fitzenhagen and the violinist Jan Hřímalý were given access to the score, and they made a number of suggestions for improvement, which Tchaikovsky accepted.
There was a private performance at the Moscow Conservatory on 23 March, the first anniversary of Nikolai Rubinstein's death, with the above-named soloists, but Tchaikovsky was still in Italy at the time. He returned to Russia in April and heard the Trio for the first time, at another private performance, after which he made further changes. These included inserting a break before the Andante coda and substantially rewriting the piano part of the Finale. Taneyev also rewrote Variation VIII himself, a change that Tchaikovsky approved.
Quote from: snyprrr on November 16, 2011, 07:46:23 PM
I have their Myaskovsky Cycle, and, I sense a supernatural quality in their playing, which I think you've interpreted... is it a vibrato issue, or... uncle uncle
???????????????????????
Okay, no, it is not a vibrato issue by any means. It is an actual sliding off the note into quarter-tone territory several times. I know nothing of their
Myaskovsky cycle.
Quote from: karlhenning on November 17, 2011, 08:43:44 AM
> cross post <
The Wikipedia article on the Tchaikovsky a minor Trio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_(Tchaikovsky)) is quite interesting.
Thanks
Karl, for the
Tchaikovsky Trio information!
Quote from: karlhenning on November 17, 2011, 08:43:44 AM
> cross post <
The Wikipedia article on the Tchaikovsky a minor Trio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_(Tchaikovsky)) is quite interesting.
I wonder how much of the fugue was Tchaikovsky's contribution. It's so unlike him to write such a thing. ;D
Quote from: Opus106 on November 17, 2011, 08:35:55 PM
I wonder how much of the fugue was Tchaikovsky's contribution. It's so unlike him to write such a thing. ;D
Tchaikovsky wrote a wonderful, effective fugue in the opening movement of his
Orchestral Suite No. 1 :)
And what of the famous fugato passage in the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture, hmm?
Quote from: karlhenning on November 18, 2011, 04:52:41 AM
And what of the famous fugato passage in the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture, hmm?
Hmm, I did not know there was a fugato passage, thanks
Karl! 8)
The Passacaglia is another form that I really enjoy, and Taneyev wrote a wonderful one in his Piano Quintet!
Don't talk about things I haven't heard or works about which I don't remember much! >:( So 2.5 fugues in how many pieces? I think it would still classify as 'unlike him'. ;D ;) In any case, let's talk about Taneyev and his contributions to the trio.
Quote from: Opus106 on November 18, 2011, 05:16:12 AM
Don't talk about things I haven't heard or works about which I don't remember much! >:( So 2.5 fugues in how many pieces? I think it would still classify as 'unlike him'. ;D ;) In any case, let's talk about Taneyev and his contributions to the trio.
Well, Nav, I'll agree that Tchaikovsky did not often compose contrapuntally; I contest the idea, though, that this rarity implies that the fugue in the Trio must to any degree have been someone else's work : )
Quote from: karlhenning on November 18, 2011, 05:20:38 AM
I contest the idea, though, that this rarity implies that the fugue in the Trio must to any degree have been someone else's work : )
The fugue is the eighth variation quoted in the Wiki article. As I said, I would like to know the relative amount of contributions from both men. That Taneyev, as someone who was known to write (and teach) a lot of contrapuntal stuff, might have had a greater influence is what I suppose. In fact, while reading the Wiki quote I didn't even remember where the fugue occurs in the work, but seeing ST's name associated with reworking the variation, I simply guessed that it would be the fugue -- and I was proved right. :)
Quote from: Opus106 on November 18, 2011, 05:40:35 AM
. . . In fact, while reading the Wiki quote I didn't even remember where the fugue occurs in the work, but seeing ST's name associated with reworking the variation, I simply guessed that it would be the fugue -- and I was proved right. :)
Good on you, Nav!
My impression is that Tchaikovsky and Brahms had roughly similar views on counterpoint. They respected the great contrapuntalists of the past, but did not often feel that it served their own musical purposes.
I came across this CD on Amazon while checking for new CD's: it is not new, but perhaps fans do not know about it.
[asin]B0009VKR8K[/asin]
Anyway, an Mp3 download for under $7.00 is available.
Quote from: Bulldog on November 16, 2011, 09:05:39 AM
Although I am enjoying the new Naxos series, it can't compete with the Taneyev Quartet concerning expressiveness.
Expressiveness is not exactly one of Taneyev's strongest points, so i can see that being a problem.
http://www.youtube.com/v/I6gnEAtsUIs&feature=plcp
Someone has placed a Byelorussian State Opera performance of Taneyev's The Oresteia.
Quote from: Cato on April 11, 2012, 03:27:42 PM
I came across this CD on Amazon while checking for new CD's: it is not new, but perhaps fans do not know about it.
[asin]B0009VKR8K[/asin]
Anyway, an Mp3 download for under $7.00 is available.
I've had this CD for a few years and find it exceptional (especially the Quartet performance).
Quote from: Sammy on June 13, 2012, 09:08:43 AM
I've had this CD for a few years and find it exceptional (especially the Quartet performance).
Many thanks for the mini-review!
Memo to NAXOS and other companies: More
Taneyev!We are still waiting for
The Oresteia.
WOW!!!! :)
Put on a life jacket and full scuba gear and oxygen tank. Warning: You will drown in a great big sea of Russian blood!! This is so amazing. My first listen to these Taneyev works. WOW!!! The more and more I hear 'first listens' for Taneyev, it just gets better and better.
I can't wait to listen to this again and once again battle the Russian Blood Sea!!
I'm starting to feel like I need to buy every single Taneyev recording in existence! ;D :D
PS - In case I didn't make myself clear - I really, really love this CD! :D 8)
[asin]B001F4YGW8[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on August 28, 2012, 05:13:55 PMI can't wait to listen to this again and once again battle the Russian Blood Sea!!
What? Taneyev the ripper? The question now is 'will I ever be able to listen to Taneyev again without having that revolting image come to mind. Not for a while.
Quote from: Scarpia on August 28, 2012, 05:44:05 PM
What? Taneyev the ripper? The question now is 'will I ever be able to listen to Taneyev again without having that revolting image come to mind. Not for a while.
Oops! :D In my uber enthusiasm, I ended up making it sound revolting, when in fact I was trying for the opposite effect. :-[ :)
If you really LOVE Russian chamber music that actually sounds like Russian chamber music, then you'll like that String Trios disc. :D
Quote from: ChamberNut on August 28, 2012, 05:49:39 PM
Oops! :D In my uber enthusiasm, I ended up making it sound revolting, when in fact I was trying for the opposite effect. :-[ :)
If you really LOVE Russian chamber music that actually sounds like Russian chamber music, then you'll like that String Trios disc. :D
I have that string trio disc (it turned up at Berkshire for cheap) but haven't listened to it yet.
Quote from: ChamberNut on August 28, 2012, 05:13:55 PM
WOW!!!! :)
Put on a life jacket and full scuba gear and oxygen tank. Warning: You will drown in a great big sea of Russian blood!! This is so amazing. My first listen to these Taneyev works.
WOW!!! The more and more I hear 'first listens' for Taneyev, it just gets better and better.
I'm starting to feel like I need to buy every single Taneyev recording in existence! ;D :D
Taneyev can be an addicting drug! 0:)
And even though you are a chamber nut, the symphonies are not to be missed, especially #2 and #4. And do not miss the
Oresteia excerpts available.
Quote from: Cato on August 30, 2012, 05:09:03 PM
Taneyev can be an addicting drug! 0:)
And even though you are a chamber nut, the symphonies are not to be missed, especially #2 and #4. And do not miss the Oresteia excerpts available.
I'm way ahead of you, Cato. I have those! :) The
Oresteia overture is amazing! Would love to see a full-scale production, available on CD and DVD.
Ahead of the Twirbling Curve
I really, really want all the Taneyev String Quartet recordings of Taneyev's chamber works on the Northern Flowers label. Was hoping they would come down in price....but alas. :(
Time to bite the bullet and spend!! :D
Earth to Cato: We have got to seriously haul ass if we plan on Taneyev's thread to overtake Havergal Brian's as the most posted 'Composer Thread' in the 'Composer Discussion' forum. 8) ;D
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 28, 2012, 03:35:37 PM
I really, really want all the Taneyev String Quartet recordings of Taneyev's chamber works on the Northern Flowers label. Was hoping they would come down in price....but alas. :(
Time to bite the bullet and spend!! :D
It is Christmas time: will this be an example of "self-gifting" ? 0:)
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 28, 2012, 03:56:49 PM
Earth to Cato: We have got to seriously haul ass if we plan on Taneyev's thread to overtake Havergal Brian's as the most posted 'Composer Thread' in the 'Composer Discussion' forum. 8) ;D
Ain't that the truth! ;D
Maybe we should claim that the
Miaskovsky symphonies were actually composed by
Taneyev! Such crankery would crank up the computers here!
Quote from: Cato on November 28, 2012, 04:01:34 PM
It is Christmas time: will this be an example of "self-gifting" ? 0:)
Indeed ~ ChamberNut has been a good boy all year.....time for a huge reward! :)
Twirble on, dudes!
I've just pulled the trigger at Amazon.ca, Cato. (re: Northern Flowers 5 volumes Taneyev Quartet recordings)
3 of them shall arrive before December 24th! 8)
Carpe Diem Quartet's Volume 3 (quartets 5 and 7) is now available for streaming on Naxos Music Library, but it says a CD release will come later.
Quote from: Brian on November 30, 2012, 12:57:07 PM
Carpe Diem Quartet's Volume 3 (quartets 5 and 7) is now available for streaming on Naxos Music Library, but it says a CD release will come later.
Sweet! Thanks for that update, Brian! :)
Quote from: Brian on November 30, 2012, 12:57:07 PM
Carpe Diem Quartet's Volume 3 (quartets 5 and 7) is now available for streaming on Naxos Music Library, but it says a CD release will come later.
That CD will go to my shopping list! I have recently purchased the first 2 volumes and enjoing them a great deal. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 28, 2012, 04:21:14 PM
I've just pulled the trigger at Amazon.ca, Cato. (re: Northern Flowers 5 volumes Taneyev Quartet recordings)
3 of them shall arrive before December 24th! 8)
Excellent decision. Although the Carpe Diem discs are quite fine, the Taneyev Quartet's performances are more incisive.
Quote from: Sammy on December 01, 2012, 08:01:34 AM
Excellent decision. Although the Carpe Diem discs are quite fine, the Taneyev Quartet's performances are more incisive.
You are the reason I pulled the trigger, Don! :) I know you love the Taneyev Q's performances. I'm pretty sure I will to, plus they are Sergei Taneyev chamber works, so I can't possibly go wrong!
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 01, 2012, 01:25:57 PM
You are the reason I pulled the trigger, Don! :) I know you love the Taneyev Q's performances. I'm pretty sure I will to, plus they are Sergei Taneyev chamber works, so I can't possibly go wrong!
Please do get back with opinions. I have long hesitated with Taneyev. I would like just one quartet.
What if it just reminds you of Schoenberg, eh? ; )
Quote from: Sammy on December 01, 2012, 08:01:34 AM
Excellent decision. Although the Carpe Diem discs are quite fine, the Taneyev Quartet's performances are more incisive.
The Carpe Diem Quartet is based here in Ohio, so I am just a little biased! ;D But here is what I thought last year of one of the Taneyev Quartet performances:
Chamber Nut: you will need to tell me if you hear the same problems when your set arrives!
Possibly a bad pressing?
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 08:15:46 AM
I have just heard - for the first time - The Taneyev Quartet performing, or attempting to perform, the Eighth and Ninth Quartets of Sergei Taneyev.
This is not the edition I have, but here is a newer picture of what they are selling:
(http://www.ruslania.com/pictures/big/4607053326536.jpg)
If you want to hear wavering microtones in these quartets, as if Taneyev had cosmically pre-channeled Bartok and maybe Penderecki, then this is the CD for you! :o
There are spots in the slow movement of the Eighth Quartet where I thought an Alois Haba quartet had been spliced in suddenly!
Apparently intonation is a problem with the group on these recordings: I found some reviews complaining about the same thing on other quartets.
Let's hope the new NAXOS survey of Taneyev Quartets will not show similar unintended experiments in quarter-tones! ;D
Quote from: snyprrr on December 02, 2012, 10:50:14 AM
Please do get back with opinions. I have long hesitated with Taneyev. I would like just one quartet.
Get them both, at once, Snypps. However, if you can only get one set, do go with the Taneyev Quartet ensemble on Northern Flowers.
*Must have chamber music.* and also *I can't believe Taneyev isn't considered in the Pantheon of the other great composers* (a-la 'I can't believe it's not butter'!) ;D
Seriously, purchase!! 8)
Can you guys help me out on these Taneyevs?
I have:
the Melodia Taneyev: Quintet op.16,
the Melodia Taneyev: Quartett No.7 1880, by Oucharec, Loeclii, Solovjev, Levizon,
the Melodia Taneyev: Ioann Damaskin Cantate on Tolstoy by Yurlov Repub. Acad. Russian Chorus
the Melodia Taneyev: Violin & Cello Concerto No.2 op.5,
Sort of these records:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=11076844%40N00&q=taneyev&m=text (http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=11076844%40N00&q=taneyev&m=text)
Are there any tips on listening with these?
Thanks.
Yay, Volume II and Volume IV of Taneyev's complete string quartets (Northern Flowers, Taneyev SQ) has finally arrived, after a long wait!!
That means I now have all five volumes, and ready to listen to all of them afresh.
May have to postpone my Shostakovich symphonies and Dvorak binges until I gorge myself completely in all my Taneyev discs! ;D :D
'Tis the month for more Twirbling Tones!! 8)
Huzzah, Ray! Reminds me, I need to revisit the quartet disc I've got . . . .
Just about run through the Taneyev SQ cycle again, on the Northern Flowers label. I, like Don, think very highly of the passionate performances.
Top notch sound and perfect playing? Perhaps not, but the performances are wonderful, and I think bring out the Romantic Russian of Taneyev's music. It has been said many times, but it is no exaggeration. Taneyev, his signature stamp completely original, evokes a feeling of yes...a Russian Brahms or Bach. Always blossoming with beautiful melodies, themes and rhythms, but always with some restraint. Never full blown let her rip Romanticism, like Tchaikovsky (and I love that too!) :)
Having said that, I love that Carpe Diem SQ is recording the complete cycle on Naxos. I would not want to be with either set! :)
What is the opposite of reverb, in music? Is it: 'preverb'? :D
I detect some 'preverb' on a few occasions in the Taneyev SQ Northern Flowers recordings. In the Scherzo movement of the 7th quartet, I believe. Just after the slow introduction, and just before the start of the lively tarantella-rhythm theme.
Probably just a recording oversight by the sound engineers.
I just received the following CD:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vwwWga+vL._SL500_SS500_.jpg)
The Suite is perhaps better known for the violin.
The Canzona is a most expressive gem, and was originally intended for a clarinet, according to the notes. I was charmed by the opening bars and stayed that way throughout the work.
Another CD on Amazon also offers the Canzona for cello, plus a host of other works: it has 2 5-star reviews:
[asin]B00004RGDN[/asin]
And YouTube offers this (the "Cincinnati Philharmonia" is the student orchestra of the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati):
http://www.youtube.com/v/16-XajrlPWU
Quote from: ChamberNut on January 27, 2013, 03:59:18 PM
Just about run through the Taneyev SQ cycle again, on the Northern Flowers label. I, like Don, think very highly of the passionate performances.
Top notch sound and perfect playing? Perhaps not, but the performances are wonderful, and I think bring out the Romantic Russian of Taneyev's music. It has been said many times, but it is no exaggeration. Taneyev, his signature stamp completely original, evokes a feeling of yes...a Russian Brahms or Bach. Always blossoming with beautiful melodies, themes and rhythms, but always with some restraint. Never full blown let her rip Romanticism, like Tchaikovsky (and I love that too!) :)
Having said that, I love that Carpe Diem SQ is recording the complete cycle on Naxos. I would not want to be with either set! :)
So, which SQ should I start off with?,... just one please. I'm not as prone to ST as most, I need 'the clincher'.
Used copies of the Odeon Trio recording that I mentioned much earlier in the thread have come way down in price. It seems that prices in the Amazon Marketplace have come down overall, and I wonder if this is due to any Amazon policy changes.
[asin]B000274SUE[/asin]
The Wikipedia article on Taneyev includes the introductory clause, While Taneyev lacked an original creative gift . . . ouch! I say, ouch, son!
In line with snypsss's query . . . looks like string quartets nos. 7 through 9 are actually earlier works, FWIW.
Quote from: snyprrr on February 25, 2013, 06:56:37 AM
So, which SQ should I start off with?,... just one please. I'm not as prone to ST as most, I need 'the clincher'.
OK, if I can only recommend just one quartet, I say try the
4th in A minor, Op.11And you can try either the Carpe Diem SQ on Naxos and Taneyev SQ on Northern Flowers.
Quote from: karlhenning on February 25, 2013, 08:36:25 AM
The Wikipedia article on Taneyev includes the introductory clause, While Taneyev lacked an original creative gift . . . ouch! I say, ouch, son!
Obviously written by a Yale man! 0:)
Quote from: karlhenning on February 25, 2013, 08:36:25 AM
The Wikipedia article on Taneyev includes the introductory clause, While Taneyev lacked an original creative gift . . . ouch! I say, ouch, son!
Definitely the opposite of what I believe. :o If anything, he lacked a good 'promoter' for his music?
Oh well, it was decades, if not nearly a century, before Schubert's name became etched in stone.
Quote from: ChamberNut on February 25, 2013, 08:58:30 AM
OK, if I can only recommend just one quartet, I say try the 4th in A minor, Op.11
And you can try either the Carpe Diem SQ on Naxos and Taneyev SQ on Northern Flowers.
ok, that the one then! ;)
Report when you may, O snypsss.
Thanks to a snow day, I revisited all 4 of Taneyev's symphonies (Polyansky on CHANDOS with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra).
I mentioned elsewhere (March is Russian Symphony Month) that the notes for the CD with Symphonies I and III are rather insistent on letting us know the various things wrong with Taneyev, thereby preventing him from being a major composer. This trashing attitude is also seen in the CD with Symphonies II and IV: "Unfolding against a single reiterated call, (the slow movement's main theme) is hardly memorable... The absence of fantastic scherzo, which every other Russian composer of the 19th century seems to have tapped successfully (gives way to) a stout and steaky finale..."
The annotator is "David Nice." He also complains about Taneyev's orchestration, but does like the ending of the Fourth Symphony. $:)
I later cranked up the Overture and Entracte to Taneyev's opera The Oresteia. That overture is proof enough that Taneyev was indeed a major composer!
Quote from: Cato on March 06, 2013, 01:26:04 PM
Thanks to a snow day, I revisited all 4 of Taneyev's symphonies (Polyansky on CHANDOS with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra).
I mentioned elsewhere (March is Russian Symphony Month) that the notes for the CD with Symphonies I and III are rather insistent on letting us know the various things wrong with Taneyev, thereby preventing him from being a major composer. This trashing attitude is also seen in the CD with Symphonies II and IV: "Unfolding against a single reiterated call, (the slow movement's main theme) is hardly memorable... The absence of fantastic scherzo, which every other Russian composer of the 19th century seems to have tapped successfully (gives way to) a stout and steaky finale..."
The annotator is "David Nice." He also complains about Taneyev's orchestration, but does like the ending of the Fourth Symphony. $:)
I later cranked up the Overture and Entracte to Taneyev's opera The Oresteia. That overture is proof enough that Taneyev was indeed a major composer!
I concur, Cato! :)
FWIW, when I first heard Symphonies 1 and 3, I wasn't very impressed, but I think it is that Chandos/Polyansky recording. :( It made a greater, and favourable impact with Sanderling/Novosibirsk.
You'll find a bit of Taneyev poo-pooing even in some of the liner notes on the Taneyev SQ/Northern Flowers label. Only slightly, but in some instances. I think there is (or was a conspiracy) to keep Taneyev as a secret. :laugh: I'd say his name honestly belongs in the 'Mighty Ten' of all-time great Russian/former Soviet state composer.
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 06, 2013, 03:16:33 PMI think there is (or was a conspiracy) to keep Taneyev as a secret. :laugh:
This is how I feel about Delius. I think critics, scholars, and historians like to bash on composers who, while maybe not immediately appealing to their own ears, were different and had singular ideas about music in general.
Back to Taneyev, I just finished listening to his
Oresteia Overture and I had forgotten what a damn fine work this is. I'm listening to
Symphony No. 4 right now. Fantastic! Both performances are from the Jarvi/Philharmonia recording on Chandos.
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 06, 2013, 03:46:46 PM
This is how I feel about Delius. I think critics, scholars, and historians like to bash on composers who, while maybe not immediately appealing to their own ears, were different and had singular ideas about music in general.
Back to Taneyev, I just finished listening to his Oresteia Overture and I had forgotten what a damn fine work this is. I'm listening to Symphony No. 4 right now. Fantastic! Both performances are from the Jarvi/Philharmonia recording on Chandos.
Thumbs up! :) Yes, the Oresteia Overture is one of his finest orchestral works. I wish there would be a modern recording of his full
Oresteia opera. I'm sure there will be someday!!
Hmm, I'll have to check out the Jarvi/Chandos recording for that one. I'd say Symphony No. 4 is currently my favourite of Taneyev's.
I do promise at some point this year, I will explore some of Delius' music. And I know exactly who to turn to for recommendations!! ;D
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 06, 2013, 03:53:24 PM
Thumbs up! :) Yes, the Oresteia Overture is one of his finest orchestral works. I wish there would be a modern recording of his full Oresteia opera. I'm sure there will be someday!!
Hmm, I'll have to check out the Jarvi/Chandos recording for that one. I'd say Symphony No. 4 is currently my favourite of Taneyev's.
I do promise at some point this year, I will explore some of Delius' music. And I know exactly who to turn to for recommendations!! ;D
Yeah, Ray. I'm really enjoying this Jarvi recording a lot. I have another one of his Taneyev recordings as well (the one with the violin and orchestra work
Suite de Concert with Mordkovitch on violin). I can't wait to dig into more of his music.
I'll be happy to give you plenty of Delius recommendations when that time comes. :) Until then, enjoy the Taneyev!
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 06, 2013, 04:31:56 PM
Yeah, Ray. I'm really enjoying this Jarvi recording a lot. I have another one of his Taneyev recordings as well (the one with the violin and orchestra work Suite de Concert with Mordkovitch on violin). I can't wait to dig into more of his music.
I'll be happy to give you plenty of Delius recommendations when that time comes. :) Until then, enjoy the Taneyev!
Does that recording include a Rimsky-Korsakov paired with it? If so, I think I have heard it. I don't yet have Taneyev's Suite de Concert. I'll have to remedy this (although I have heard it, and thought it sounded splendid indeed!)
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 06, 2013, 04:44:30 PM
Does that recording include a Rimsky-Korsakov paired with it? If so, I think I have heard it. I don't yet have Taneyev's Suite de Concert. I'll have to remedy this (although I have heard it, and thought it sounded splendid indeed!)
Yeah, Ray it's paired with with a Rimsky-Korsakov work. The
Suite de Concert is a beautiful work. It's been years since I've heard it.
While I think the performance of the Oresteia Overture on this CD is much too slow for the most part, the Adagio, the Overture on a Russian Theme, and the Canzona are highly recommended!
[asin]B0027DQHG4[/asin]
Quote from: Cato on March 06, 2013, 01:26:04 PM
I later cranked up the Overture and Entracte to Taneyev's opera The Oresteia. That overture is proof enough that Taneyev was indeed a major composer!
Hi Cato, which recording of the ORESTEIA Overture/Entracte were you referring to? I'm sure it was mentioned shortly earlier in the thread, but I am surely repeatedly missing it. A comment you made about the Naxos recording in a later post (just above) made me certain that that was not the one.
Quote from: Octave on March 21, 2013, 04:36:32 PM
Hi Cato, which recording of the ORESTEIA Overture/Entracte were you referring to? I'm sure it was mentioned shortly earlier in the thread, but I am surely repeatedly missing it. A comment you made about the Naxos recording in a later post (just above) made me certain that that was not the one.
Hi
Octave!
This is my preferred recording of the
Oresteia excerpts:
[asin]B000053SLJ[/asin]
Cheers, Cato, I'll try it out. I've heard not a note of Taneyev yet.
I'm also interested in the big Piano Quintet; I was planning on getting the COMPLETE QUINTETS on Northern Flowers (Taneyev Quartet et al), based on my last trawl through this thread. If there's a stronger recommendation, I'd love to know about it. I was under the impression that I might be better served skipping the famous quintet/trio disc w/Pletnev et al (DG) and getting that trio+ disc on Dutton and the string quartets and aforementioned quintets disc on Northern Flowers. Too bad that label is a bit on the spendy side!
Mm, that does look tasty, Cato!
Quote from: Cato on March 21, 2013, 05:28:07 PM
This is my preferred recording of the Oresteia excerpts:
[asin]B000053SLJ[/asin]
That's the first
Taneyev disc I head some 10 years ago (borrowed it from a friend). It blew me away and I became a fan of
Taneyev instantly! :P
Hey Ray, out in July!
(http://media.mdt.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/8/5/8573010.jpg)
Quote from: Brian on June 03, 2013, 06:07:27 PM
Hey Ray, out in July!
(http://media.mdt.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/8/5/8573010.jpg)
Excellent, thanks Brian! :)
Twirble on!
The first American performance of the complete
Oresteia is scheduled for this summer at the Bard SummerScape Festival outside New York City: Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra.
From a press release:
QuoteTaneyev's crowning achievement is undoubtedly his opera Oresteia (1887–94), which Stravinsky admired. Defying Russian operatic tradition, Taneyev turned to Greek antiquity, basing his libretto on Aeschylus's trilogy of dramas – Agamemnon, Choephori, and Eumenides – that chronicles the calamities befalling the accursed House of Atreus: the return of Agamemnon from the Trojan War, his murder, and his son Orestes's retribution on Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. Rimsky-Korsakov considered Oresteia "striking in its wealth of beauty and expressiveness"; as Telegraph critic and Russian music expert Geoffrey Norris observes:
"It is highly original. ... The music speaks with a strong individual voice; the classical subject made the work stand out at a time when Russian plots were de rigueur; and Taneyev shows genuine dramatic skill in bringing Aeschylus to the operatic stage."
Yet since its 1895 premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre, the opera has only rarely been performed in its entirety, even in concert form. Indeed, Bard's upcoming production represents the first time the complete opera will ever have been fully staged outside Russia. Returning to direct it is Thaddeus Strassberger, whose previous SummerScape opera productions are among Bard's most resounding success stories. Of his way with Meyerbeer, the Financial Times declared: "Les Huguenots in Bard's staging is a thriller from beginning to end. ... Five Stars." Similarly, of Schreker's The Distant Sound, the Wall Street Journal observed: "Strassberger's engrossing production reflected the experimental nature of the opera by seamlessly integrating period films and giving the show a modernist, distancing aura," while New York magazine named it one of the "Top Ten Classical Music Events of 2010." (As for last season's treatment of Chabrier's The King in Spite of Himself, this inspired a spate of positive press, as detailed further below.)
For the new production of Oresteia, Strassberger had his design team take inspiration from late 19th-century St. Petersburg...
See:
http://www.21cmediagroup.com/mediacenter/newsitem.php?i=1186 (http://www.21cmediagroup.com/mediacenter/newsitem.php?i=1186)
See:
http://fishercenter.bard.edu/calendar/event.php?eid=117644 (http://fishercenter.bard.edu/calendar/event.php?eid=117644)
Quote from: Cato on July 03, 2013, 10:30:40 AM
The first American performance of the complete Oresteia is scheduled for this summer at the Bard SummerScape Festival outside New York City: Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra.
That is excellent news,
Cato!
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 04, 2013, 04:20:18 AM
That is excellent news, Cato!
Yes! Unfortunately, family plans and school preparations will prevent us from going, even though we are only about two states away.
And so is any company planning on recording the performance? Some orchestras offer in-house CD's...
Yes this work is in the very eye or ear opening category that stays with you forever. The invention is totally riotous and the sheer vigour and originality really blows your head off. It makes a tremendous impression first hearing and if it doesn't quite materialize into great music this is very much his masterpiece, closely followed by the great chamber works...
This (apparently Russian) website offers one the opportunity to listen on-line to all sorts of composers, including Taneyev!
They have apparently downloaded the OLYMPIA recording of the opera, and will let you listen to it for free:
See:
http://classical-music-online.net/en/production/4095 (http://classical-music-online.net/en/production/4095)
(http://cdn.naxos.com/SharedFiles/images/cds/others/8.572421.gif)
Presently exploring the Fourth quartet, somewhat straightforward fare for the period.
Quote from: Cato on July 03, 2013, 10:30:40 AM
The first American performance of the complete Oresteia is scheduled for this summer at the Bard SummerScape Festival outside New York City: Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra.
Botstein did a good job on the Chandos recording of Foulds' World Requiem, so hopefully he'll do just as well with this other rarely heard piece of massiveness. And perhaps his Chandos links can come into play. (Has he recorded with any other labels?)
Taneyev's Fourth SQ of 1900 is somewhere between Stenhammer and Dvorak with dashes of Faure and Janacek; plenty more head than heart but indeed helps to fill the fin de siecle picture in.
The 80-90% copy paste of this quartet is lost on the Carpe Diem Quartet's enthusiasm and skill.
Quote from: Sean on July 12, 2013, 03:42:57 AM
The 80-90% copy paste of this quartet is lost on the Carpe Diem Quartet's enthusiasm and skill.
???Is that good or bad?? ???
It's both. Actually some of the more important quartets I alluded to were written after the Taneyev, which always muddies the waters doesn't it...?
Quote from: Sean on July 12, 2013, 03:42:57 AM
The 80-90% copy paste of this quartet is lost on the Carpe Diem Quartet's enthusiasm and skill.
One Taneyev is worth 30 Carpe Diems.
Sean learnt at an early stage that it was much easier to adopt an intellectual-sounding scorn, than to cultivate musical discernment.
Sounds like a good policy sometimes.
To say what one thinks or not, to be or not to be, that is the question.
To put in the boot when it needs it but also where nothing can be changed and all you do is wind others up, or don't say anything and stay meaninglessly polite...
Well sometimes you have to be, which Hamlet failed to do, but I'm not a prince of anything and can't change the world...
Maybe I'm going to join snyprrr...
(http://cdn.naxos.com/SharedFiles/images/cds/others/8.572421.gif)
This music got better across five listenings, some contrivance and corners unconvincingly turned but the control of skittishness and play in a secure fund of modest melody won me over in the end. The quartet sound like they've been playing it all their lives...
Also somewhat recalls Nielsen's mercurial Fourth of 1906, again a few years postdating the Taneyev...
Quote from: Sean on July 12, 2013, 12:27:51 PM
Also somewhat recalls Nielsen's mercurial Fourth of 1906, again a few years postdating the Taneyev...
You might get into some trouble with this sort of thinking in the academic world.
Quote from: North Star on July 12, 2013, 12:30:32 PM
You might get into some trouble with this sort of thinking in the academic world.
No problem, I've long since quit the fantasy of an interesting music academic environment to belong to- the whole system is totally corrupt.
The
Wall Street Journal has a mainly positive review of
Taneyev's Oresteia now at the Bard Festival in New York:
A few excerpts:
QuoteHow can you resist an opera that ends with a 50-voice chorus belting out "Slava [glory], Athena!"? Sergey Taneyev's "Oresteia" (1895) may not be a lost masterpiece, but conductor Leon Botstein and the Bard Festival gave this curious Russian-Greek hybrid a robust staging that made the most of its theatricality...
The chorus retains its central function in Greek tragedy, explaining and commenting on the plot, as well as challenging the principal characters. Its constant presence also adds to the Russian-ness of the experience, recalling works like "Boris Godunov," in which the chorus represents the suffering Russian people....
... the opera feels very Russian in its essence, inhabiting the late Romantic sound world of Tchaikovsky with a little Richard Wagner thrown in. However, Taneyev was prolix without enough bite: Some of the tunes are distinctive, and the orchestral and choral parts are imposing, but there's a lot of filler in the arias. The orchestra is big and brassy, and in the very bright acoustics of the Fisher Center the orchestra and chorus in full cry were sometimes hard to bear. Mr. Botstein led a potent, enthusiastic performance. .
For the entire review:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578635842420975424.html?KEYWORDS=Taneyev (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578635842420975424.html?KEYWORDS=Taneyev)
Taneyev - String Quartets # 5 and # 7 (Carpe Diem String Quartet - Naxos)
[asin]B00D2K1ZQS[/asin]
I must admit, and it pains me to do so, that the Vol. III release by Carpe Diem SQ is not quite as strong and convincing as their previous two volumes.
For SQ#5 and #7, I vastly do prefer the Taneyev SQ performance on Northern Flowers, even if the sound quality isn't the most pristine.
Well, I'm leaning more and more towards truly favouring the Taneyev String Quartet recordings of the string quartets, on the Northern Flowers label.
More and more, they are sounding better to me, and more expressive, than the current Carpe Diem SQ cycle on Naxos. I like the Carpe Diem work-in-progress cycle, just seem to be preferring the Taneyevs.
The Taneyev group's performance of String Quartet No. 4 in A minor, Op. 11 is so amazing. Such an incredible quartet, and the highlight for me, the gorgeous, expressive 3rd mvt. Adagio.
Listening to these 2 works, which are fast becoming my favourite (non-chamber) Taneyev works! :) These are Top Notch Taneyev (aka TNT!) :D
Taneyev
Cantata: Ioann Damaskin (John of Damascus), Op. 1 (1884)
Gnesin Academy Chorus
Suite de Concert for violin and orchestra, Op. 28 (1909)
Ilya Kaler, violin
Thomas Sanderling, conducting
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Naxos
[asin]B002IVRB92[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on February 03, 2014, 03:02:27 PM
Listening to these 2 works, which are fast becoming my favourite (non-chamber) Taneyev works! :) These are Top Notch Taneyev (aka TNT!) :D
Taneyev
Cantata: Ioann Damaskin (John of Damascus), Op. 1 (1884)
Gnesin Academy Chorus
Suite de Concert for violin and orchestra, Op. 28 (1909)
Ilya Kaler, violin
Thomas Sanderling, conducting
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Naxos
[asin]B002IVRB92[/asin]
Yes, these are excellent works and excellent performances!
Sanderling is becoming a
Taneyev specialist!
I was hoping that the performance this past summer of
The Oresteia at the Bard Festival (see above) would be appearing on a CD, but so far no announcement that I can find.
I did find this: the
Piano Concerto on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/v/4xEsI_mOysI
Quote from: Cato on February 03, 2014, 03:37:57 PM
I was hoping that the performance this past summer of The Oresteia at the Bard Festival (see above) would be appearing on a CD, but so far no announcement that I can find.
I did find this: the Piano Concerto on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/v/4xEsI_mOysI
Hmm, I still have a lot to learn (and listen to). Didn't realize Taneyev had composed a Piano Concerto. :D
this week on BBC3
quote
Composer of the Week: Taneyev
Throughout this week Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev, dubbed by Tchaikovsky as the Russian Bach.
Weekdays, 12:00pm, 6:30pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3
Quote from: Cato on February 03, 2014, 03:37:57 PM
I did find this: the Piano Concerto on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/v/4xEsI_mOysI
Not bad, Cato. Had my first listen to this last night. I was particularly impressed by the opening movement.
Did Taneyev help complete the orchestration of Tchaikovsky's 3rd Piano Concerto?
Going through all the Taneyev string Quartets (1-9) recorded by the Taneyev String Quartet, and 1-5 & 7 recorded by Carpe Diem String Quartet.
More and more, I am preferring the performances of the TSQ over the Carpe Diem performances. That being said, I enjoy both very much.
For the Carpe Diem cycle (in progress), I prefer in order:
Volume 2 (SQ 2 & 4)
Volume 1 (SQ 1 & 3)
Volume 3 (SQ 7 & 5)
Always enjoyed Vol. I and II, but was admittedly quite disappointed with their Volume III. I think it is their weakest effort. Not much passion or feeling in their playing. Just my opinion.
Many thanks for the review of the quartets! Carpe Diem is from Capital University here in Ohio, and I am gratified that they are pushing Taneyev on NAXOS.
Here is the WIkipedia story of Taneyev's role in the "Third Piano Concerto" of Tchaikovsky: it sounds similar to what I read about the piece decades ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._3_%28Tchaikovsky%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._3_%28Tchaikovsky%29)
Quote from: Cato on February 09, 2014, 10:33:45 AM
Here is the WIkipedia story of Taneyev's role in the "Third Piano Concerto" of Tchaikovsky: it sounds similar to what I read about the piece decades ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._3_%28Tchaikovsky%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._3_%28Tchaikovsky%29)
Very interesting Cato! :) Thanks for sharing that.
FWIW, I still have not heard Tchaikovsky's 2nd nor 3rd piano concertos. I'm sure I will explore them some day. :)
Bumping, in hopes of catching Snyprrr's attention in his current Russian binge quest!! :D
Quote from: ChamberNut on February 09, 2014, 10:43:03 AM
FWIW, I still have not heard Tchaikovsky's 2nd nor 3rd piano concertos. I'm sure I will explore them some day. :)
You must! They are both better than the first, especially the second, the cream of Tchaikovsky's concerto crop.
Quote from: ChamberNut on June 18, 2014, 07:00:16 AM
Bumping, in hopes of catching Snyprrr's attention in his current Russian binge quest!! :D
snypsss needs the twirbling!
Mini Taneyev binge - Sergei Saturday. ;D
First, some string quartets, then the Ioann Damaskin Cantata, then I'll sprinkle in some symphonies.
Listening to Symphony No. 1 and 3!
[asin]B0011YJORY[/asin]
Love that final movement in Symphony No. 1. The opening theme (which Stravinsky later paid homage to in Petrouchka), but even more, I love that 2nd theme. The 2nd theme, so lovely, starting initially with the clarinet, then repeated gorgeously by the strings. Later this theme appears in the coda in a more emphatic statement for the full orchestra. One fine example of the many Twirbling Tones! :)
Some yummy Taneyev, to start the morning! :)
[asin]B001F4YGW8[/asin]
In the mood for some Twirbling Tones! 8)
Taneyev
Symphony No. 1 in E minor
Symphony No. 3 in D minor
[asin]B0011YJORY[/asin]
Symphony No. 2 in B flat major
Symphony No. 4 in C minor
[asin]B002VCVWRU[/asin]
The symphonies are recommended to everyone! The
Second and
Fourth are the best of the four, but as
Chamber Nut has pointed out, the other two have their moments.
I was hoping that the performance of
The Oresteia last summer at the Bard Festival in New York state would have appeared for sale somehow, but so far nothing. I am not sure that it was in fact recorded, but it would seem hard to believe that it was not.
Here is a very detailed article and review:
http://newyorkarts.net/2013/09/sergey-taneyev-oresteia-bard/#.U_k8R0ik0y4 (http://newyorkarts.net/2013/09/sergey-taneyev-oresteia-bard/#.U_k8R0ik0y4)
One sentence unintentionally gives hope for a recording:
QuoteThis production of Oresteia will go on (to) the Mariinsky in the next few years, marking its return to its birthplace.
Hmm, wonder if it will, indeed?
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 07, 2014, 04:55:00 AM
Some yummy Taneyev, to start the morning! :)
[asin]B001F4YGW8[/asin]
yesss!
Did Naxos complete the SQs yet?
Quote from: snyprrr on August 25, 2014, 09:35:29 AM
yesss!
Did Naxos complete the SQs yet?
Nope. They've recorded 6 of the 9. The last release, Volume III, was a disappointment for me. :( I think Vol. I and II are very, very good. Overall, I prefer the Taneyev SQ performances.
Taneyev's Oresteia is now AVAILABLE! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
This is the performance from the Bard Festival in 2013 by the American Symphony Orchestra with Leon Botstein.
33 tracks to be downloaded: apparently regular CD's are not available yet.
See:
http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/ (http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/)
Quote from: ChamberNut on June 18, 2014, 07:00:16 AM
Bumping, in hopes of catching Snyprrr's attention in his current Russian binge quest!! :D
I thought Shosty's SQ 5 was a tribute to Taneyev, because it is such a highly wrought piece, with such rigorous development. Whaddaya think?
Quote from: Cato on October 21, 2014, 05:30:05 AM
Taneyev's Oresteia is now AVAILABLE! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
This is the performance from the Bard Festival in 2013 by the American Symphony Orchestra with Leon Botstein.
33 tracks to be downloaded: apparently regular CD's are not available yet.
See:
http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/ (http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/)
Well, I
am signed up at e-classical, and $6.99 is an excellent price for the asking . . . .
Quote from: karlhenning on October 21, 2014, 08:27:20 AM
Well, I am signed up at e-classical, and $6.99 is an excellent price for the asking . . . .
Great price indeed! So I assume this is a reputable firm! ;)
BUY THIS ALBUM!!!
http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/ (http://www.emusic.com/album/american-symphony-orchestra/taneyev-oresteia/14445842/)
Taneyev's Oresteia performed by Leon Botstein, the American Symphony Orchestra, and a Russian cast: Gorgeous, Riveting, Enchanting, Powerful, etc. etc. etc.
Why on earth this has not been turned into a CD I have no idea: but for c. $10.00 you can download this uncut c. 2 1/2 hour performance, and so far my computer and BOSE earphones are delivering great quality of sound.
The performance of the Overture is more detailed and powerful and exciting than Ashkenazy's or Sanderling's. And so far the opening 45 minutes are outstanding!!! The Russian singers - (I am listening without a libretto, just taking the music as music) - are conveying power and nuance of emotion. But one hears that in the orchestra as well right from the overture, which contains more detail and range and power than the performances by Ashkenazy and Sanderling.
For more convincing, here is a detailed review:
http://newyorkarts.net/2013/09/sergey-taneyev-oresteia-bard/ (http://newyorkarts.net/2013/09/sergey-taneyev-oresteia-bard/) (His opinions on the music and performance are on target: I cannot comment upon his opinions of the staging, costumes, etc. A DVD of that would be nice!)
Again, BUY THIS ALBUM! ;) Even if you do not like opera, I cannot imagine anyone being immune to the joys of the opening 45 minutes! (All I have heard so far ;D ).
Audio samples sounded very good, and I just downloaded this album. Thank you.
Quote from: Cato on December 26, 2014, 07:17:35 AM
The performance of the Overture is more detailed and powerful and exciting than Ashkenazy's or Sanderling's. And so far the opening 45 minutes are outstanding!!! The Russian singers - (I am listening without a libretto, just taking the music as music) - are conveying power and nuance of emotion. But one hears that in the orchestra as well right from the overture, which contains more detail and range and power than the performances by Ashkenazy and Sanderling.
Does it contain
Overture Op. 6?
Quote from: torut on December 26, 2014, 08:18:41 AM
Audio samples sounded very good, and I just downloaded this album. Thank you.
Does it contain Overture Op. 6?
Yes, the entire Opus 6
Overture opens the work!
Tell us what you think!
Well, I've not added to my Taneyev collection in a while and have just his chamber works @ the moment w/ the one shown below ordered a few days ago on the Northern Flowers label.
Now, I've not explored this composer's larger orchestral works, particularly the Symphonies - first, are these worth owning and as good as his chamber works? If so, there appears to be two main sets (2 CDs each): 1) Polyansky w/ Russian State SO; and 2) Sanderling w/ the Novosibirsk Academic SO - any comparative comments on these performances? Thanks - Dave :)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81mfzq3KrlL._SL1234_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pMj7N5%2BVL.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515IlZCUjDL.jpg)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on December 26, 2014, 10:14:56 AM
Well, I've not added to my Taneyev collection in a while and have just his chamber works @ the moment w/ the one shown below ordered a few days ago on the Northern Flowers label.
Now, I've not explored this composer's larger orchestral works, particularly the Symphonies - first, are these worth owning and as good as his chamber works? If so, there appears to be two main sets (2 CDs each): 1) Polyansky w/ Russian State SO; and 2) Sanderling w/ the Novosibirsk Academic SO - any comparative comments on these performances? Thanks - Dave :)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81mfzq3KrlL._SL1234_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pMj7N5%2BVL.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515IlZCUjDL.jpg)
I believe
Chamber Nut would recommend that version of the Quintets. I can recommend the
Polyansky performances of the symphonies: I have other CD's by
Sanderling and the Novosibirskers and they are fine, at times even excellent.
I am not a big fan of opera, and I listened to it just because it's Taneyev's work, but I enjoyed Oresteia throughout. It's a bold, tuneful composition, and the music itself grabbed me although I listened to it without text. The performance is excellent, especially the bass and the orchestra were impressive. The only reservation is the soprano who I sometimes had difficulties with, but still there are many beautiful moments.
Quote from: torut on December 27, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
I am not a big fan of opera, and I listened to it just because it's Taneyev's work, but I enjoyed Oresteia throughout. It's a bold, tuneful composition, and the music itself grabbed me although I listened to it without text. The performance is excellent, especially the bass and the orchestra were impressive. The only reservation is the soprano who I sometimes had difficulties with, but still there are many beautiful moments.
Yes, again I believe that the music is so strong that even non-opera listeners could find much of interest.
And at such a price (3 CD's of music for c. $10.00) for the download, this is the time to enjoy nearly 3 hours of marvelous music by
Taneyev.
Just saw this on Amazon: release is set for February 10th.
[asin] B00QMMPRVM[/asin]
Excellent performance of the Taneyev Piano Concerto: hard to believe he never composed a Finale, or another piano concerto!
https://www.youtube.com/v/4xEsI_mOysI
Quote from: Cato on February 04, 2015, 01:57:24 PM
Just saw this on Amazon: release is set for February 10th.
[asin] B00QMMPRVM[/asin]
Mmm, that looks dandy, Cato. :)
Haven't twirbled in awhile. :D
Quote from: Cato on February 04, 2015, 01:57:24 PM
Just saw this on Amazon: release is set for February 10th.
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/%20B00QMMPRVM.01.L.jpg)
One wishes those were the String Quartets... so that those terrible (in any case not-good-enough-) Naxos recordings could be replaced.
Quote from: jlaurson on July 04, 2015, 12:04:19 AM
One wishes those were the String Quartets... so that those terrible (in any case not-good-enough-) Naxos recordings could be replaced.
I'm just having major problems with Taneyev. ChamberNut says to try the A-minor String Quartet,... I'm just finding him too "wrought" for me, just all this dreariness, and exhaustion of listening,... I just can't get through a whole piece.
I used to have the Piano Quintet and I would have gladly just chucked it for Shostakovich....
I know I'm supposed to like Taneyev, and want to, but, aye, yea, "Russian Brahms", zzz zzz zzz zzz...
Do you have the cure, Jens?
Quote from: snyprrr on July 05, 2015, 12:18:17 PM
I'm just having major problems with Taneyev. ChamberNut says to try the A-minor String Quartet,... I'm just finding him too "wrought" for me, just all this dreariness, and exhaustion of listening,... I just can't get through a whole piece.
I used to have the Piano Quintet and I would have gladly just chucked it for Shostakovich....
I know I'm supposed to like Taneyev, and want to, but, aye, yea, "Russian Brahms", zzz zzz zzz zzz...
Do you have the cure, Jens?
Not as of yet, but I'm working on it. But I hear you, generally speaking. I feel that way about MANY composers.
Quote from: snyprrr on July 05, 2015, 12:18:17 PM
I'm just having major problems with Taneyev. ChamberNut says to try the A-minor String Quartet,... I'm just finding him too "wrought" for me, just all this dreariness, and exhaustion of listening,... I just can't get through a whole piece.
I used to have the Piano Quintet and I would have gladly just chucked it for Shostakovich....
I know I'm supposed to like Taneyev, and want to, but, aye, yea, "Russian Brahms", zzz zzz zzz zzz...
Do you have the cure, Jens?
Have you listened to the
Second or
Fourth Symphonies? Or
The Oresteia?
Quote from: Cato on July 06, 2015, 06:53:45 PM
Have you listened to the Second or Fourth Symphonies? Or The Oresteia?
Good recommendations. Is there a new commercial recording of the complete Oresteia opera? The overture is magnificent. Wagnerian in scope. No Russian Brahms here. :D
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 06, 2015, 07:45:36 PM
Good recommendations. Is there a new commercial recording of the complete Oresteia opera? The overture is magnificent. Wagnerian in scope. No Russian Brahms here. :D
YES! You must have missed it: not on CD, but available for a download, is an excellent performance with a mainly Russian cast and the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Leon Botstein:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp)
Quote from: Cato on July 07, 2015, 05:58:46 AM
YES! You must have missed it: not on CD, but available for a download, is an excellent performance with a mainly Russian cast and the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leon Botstein:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp)
Thanks for the link,
Cato. I will check it out when time permits. :)
Quote from: Cato on July 06, 2015, 06:53:45 PM
Have you listened to the Second or Fourth Symphonies? Or The Oresteia?
9
Quote from: karlhenning on September 15, 2015, 03:22:40 AM
Cato alert
Does anyone know if the recording is a re-release of this set from 30+ years ago?
http://boxset.ru/kolomizheva-taneyev-oresteia-2-cd-wavpack/ (http://boxset.ru/kolomizheva-taneyev-oresteia-2-cd-wavpack/)
Quote from: Cato on September 15, 2015, 05:09:41 AM
Does anyone know if the recording is a re-release of this set from 30+ years ago?
http://boxset.ru/kolomizheva-taneyev-oresteia-2-cd-wavpack/ (http://boxset.ru/kolomizheva-taneyev-oresteia-2-cd-wavpack/)
It's a reissue of a Melodiya recording conducted by Tatiana Kolomizheva - chances of it being a different recording are pretty slim, I think. 0:)
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 08:15:46 AM
I have just heard - for the first time - The Taneyev Quartet performing, or attempting to perform, the Eighth and Ninth Quartets of Sergei Taneyev.
This is not the edition I have, but here is a newer picture of what they are selling:
(http://www.ruslania.com/pictures/big/4607053326536.jpg)
If you want to hear wavering microtones in these quartets, as if Taneyev had cosmically pre-channeled Bartok and maybe Penderecki, then this is the CD for you! :o
There are spots in the slow movement of the Eighth Quartet where I thought an Alois Haba quartet had been spliced in suddenly!
Apparently intonation is a problem with the group on these recordings: I found some reviews complaining about the same thing on other quartets.
Let's hope the new NAXOS survey of Taneyev Quartets will not show similar unintended experiments in quarter-tones! ;D
Haha I just heard the spot you mean.
I'll be the first to admit I have a really high tolerance for the Taneyev Quartet—when they are in tune they're the best Russian quartet of their era. When they're not, it's mostly Vladimir Ovcharek. He's one of the most expressive and powerful fiddlers (and quartet leaders) I can think of; there's very few who can put a totally individual stamp on just one or two notes and imbue them with all kinds of meaning. His left hand also goes all over the place—presumably when his eyes mist over with tears so much that he can't see the fingerboard. Or whatever the actual reason is. :P Grigory Lutsky & Vissarion Soloviev have their moments as well, but are more secure for the most part, and then there's Josef Levinson. I've listened to most of the Taneyev Quartet recordings and I've never heard him so much as an eighth-tone out of pitch, except in very high passages where there's almost no space between the notes (eg listen to his ascent to the high F at the end of the movement—there's, like, three notes he slides into instead of hitting dead on, and the high F is maybe
slightly off, but that's it). If there's one person in the quartet who had perfect pitch I would have put money on him. He serves to anchor the ensemble; normally when the leader's out of tune
everyone goes out of tune, making the microtonality less noticeable, but instead the wrong notes are always highlighted because Levinson's on the right ones and therefore the ensemble corrects itself really quickly. (Except Vladimir. The
sexual tension between the two fuels all the dozens of great interpretations we've got from the ensemble, I think.)
Anyway that's background—when I heard the spot (for those following along it's bar 88, around 6:00ish) I was like "what the fuck? Was that a glitch, or just another of Vladimir's screw-ups?" and rewound. Then grabbed the score. Turns out, it's Grigory Lutsky, and it's the result of second-guessing the composer. Taneyev marks a held E-natural with a chromatic line sliding underneath, that fits easily on the A string. The implication is obviously to hold the open E and play the line on the A string—easy as. Instead, presumably fearing the open E will be too bright in the midst of Ovcharek's held Bb-G, Lutsky attempts to hold it as a stopped note on the A string and play the line on the D string, which is slightly riskier (still doable, though). Because violinists don't have 7 fingers, he plays two notes of the line in a row with the same finger (as a slide) and, at the same time, slides with the finger that's supposed to be holding the E. Then attempts to correct it whilst playing the rest of the line. Not good results (that sort of mistake is a result of under-rehearsal, or a last-minute change) and honestly, I don't know why it wasn't retaken.
Moral of the story: play what the composer wrote [when it's possible]!
"... play what the composer wrote" - even if it's Bruckner unable to make up his mind. ;)
Quote from: North Star on September 15, 2015, 05:21:10 AM
It's a reissue of a Melodiya recording conducted by Tatiana Kolomizheva - chances of it being a different recording are pretty slim, I think. 0:)
Apparently Melodiya is re-issuing
The Oresteia recording from 1965 with
Tatiana Kolomiytseva conducting the "Orchestra of the Belorussian State Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet" (Whew!).
[asin]B0155OPI6G[/asin]
Still hoping for the performance conducted by
Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra at the 2013 Bard Festival to be on CD: downloads are the only possibility now,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS?ie=UTF8&keywords=taneyev&qid=1458733026&ref_=sr_1_18&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011&s=dmusic&sr=1-18 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTT6TS?ie=UTF8&keywords=taneyev&qid=1458733026&ref_=sr_1_18&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011&s=dmusic&sr=1-18)
Quote from: Cato on March 23, 2016, 03:38:53 AM
[...] the "Orchestra of the Belorussian State Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet" (Whew!).
Ah, days of wine and logorrhœa! 8)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514b2X3WJhL.jpg)
The wonderful content of this CD has blown my mind. I'm not afraid to say this is a masterpiece. Heavenly choruses, impeccable orchestration, immaculate craftsmanship... In addition, John of Damascus is another stunner; I find certain parallelism with the Brahms' A German Requiem, which I admire a lot. Taneyev was an incredible and gifted composer, I like his music more and more.
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on September 18, 2017, 07:30:04 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514b2X3WJhL.jpg)
The wonderful content of this CD has blown my mind. I'm not afraid to say this is a masterpiece. Heavenly choruses, impeccable orchestration, immaculate craftsmanship... In addition, John of Damascus is another stunner; I find certain parallelism with the Brahms' A German Requiem, which I admire a lot. Taneyev was an incredible and gifted composer, I like his music more and more.
Interesting!
I have 'John of Damascus' coupled with Rachmaninov's 'The Bells' on DGG - must give it another listen.
I have to say though that, with the exception of one movement, I am not a great admirer of 'A German Requiem' by Brahms.
I like Taneyev's symphonies.
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on September 18, 2017, 07:30:04 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514b2X3WJhL.jpg)
The wonderful content of this CD has blown my mind. I'm not afraid to say this is a masterpiece. Heavenly choruses, impeccable orchestration, immaculate craftsmanship... In addition, John of Damascus is another stunner; I find certain parallelism with the Brahms' A German Requiem, which I admire a lot. Taneyev was an incredible and gifted composer, I like his music more and more.
I do not have this specific recording, but it looks like I should order it, as soon as the bank account allows! ;)
Check out the symphonies, especially #2 and #4!
Quote from: Cato on September 19, 2017, 03:17:38 AM
I do not have this specific recording, but it looks like I should order it, as soon as the bank account allows! ;)
Check out the symphonies, especially #2 and #4!
I have them, they are great, very satisfying to my ears.
Quote from: vandermolen on September 19, 2017, 02:52:08 AM
Interesting!
I have 'John of Damascus' coupled with Rachmaninov's 'The Bells' on DGG - must give it another listen.
I have to say though that, with the exception of one movement, I am not a great admirer of 'A German Requiem' by Brahms.
I like Taneyev's symphonies.
I intuited that, Jeffrey ;D
Taneyev's Fourth Symphony is a rather severe work (IMO) that indulges in neither the folksy exoticism of The Five nor the emotionalism of Tchaikovsky. It didn't move me greatly but has several powerful moments and I feel it would grow on me with repeated listening.
Quote from: kyjo on September 19, 2017, 01:16:21 PM
Taneyev's Fourth Symphony is a rather severe work (IMO) that indulges in neither the folksy exoticism of The Five nor the emotionalism of Tchaikovsky. It didn't move me greatly but has several powerful moments and I feel it would grow on me with repeated listening.
Yes, I believe it will! And of course not to be forgotten:
The Oresteia, a desert-island work!
I found this on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/v/LIV8UBRRLCI
Just made a great discovery in the form of Taneyev's Piano Quartet in E major. I had previously heard Taneyev's Fourth Symphony and one of his string quartets (can't remember which), neither of which made nearly as much of an impression on me as the Piano Quartet. It starts off in E flat major (!) with an imperious piano introduction, which eventually and brilliantly modulates to the home key of E major. The real heart of the work, though, is the exquisite slow movement, which features a lovely, memorable melody first played by the violin and later played by the whole ensemble at the climax. This is goosebump-inducing stuff! The finale is a bit long-winded perhaps, but ends quietly and movingly with a recollection of the theme from the slow movement. Really special music indeed! Now I must listen to the Piano Quintet and Piano Trio...
https://youtu.be/pu5SnoMuzKU
Quote from: kyjo on May 20, 2018, 01:24:30 PM
Just made a great discovery in the form of Taneyev's Piano Quartet in E major. I had previously heard Taneyev's Fourth Symphony and one of his string quartets (can't remember which), neither of which made nearly as much of an impression on me as the Piano Quartet. It starts off in E flat major (!) with an imperious piano introduction, which eventually and brilliantly modulates to the home key of E major. The real heart of the work, though, is the exquisite slow movement, which features a lovely, memorable melody first played by the violin and later played by the whole ensemble at the climax. This is goosebump-inducing stuff! The finale is a bit long-winded perhaps, but ends quietly and movingly with a recollection of the theme from the slow movement. Really special music indeed! Now I must listen to the Piano Quintet and Piano Trio...
https://youtu.be/pu5SnoMuzKU
If you have followed this topic, you will know that I highly recommend
Taneyev's only opera,
The Oresteia, which you might want to check out, although chamber-music taste does not necessarily intersect with liking opera. :D
The
Fourth Symphony is a favorite, along with the
Second .
Allow me to recommend the quartets: e.g.
[asin]B004KDO2XO[/asin]
Quote from: Cato on May 20, 2018, 01:42:29 PM
If you have followed this topic, you will know that I highly recommend Taneyev's only opera, The Oresteia, which you might want to check out, although chamber-music taste does not necessarily intersect with liking opera. :D
The Fourth Symphony is a favorite, along with the Second .
Allow me to recommend the quartets: e.g.
[asin]B004KDO2XO[/asin]
Thanks, Cato! I'll be sure to explore more Taneyev in the near future. What do you think of the lovely Piano Quartet?
The Piano Quintet is Taneyev's largest non-operatic work, lasting about 50 minutes, & probably is one of Taneyev's most characteristic and original works. The Trio is more overtly Brahmsian and "classicised", and I think somewhat less memorable.
I also enjoy the two string quintets (especially no.1 in G) and the sixth and last string quartet (nos.7-9 were in fact written before no.1)
The Piano Trio was my delightful introduction to Taneyev.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81uWHDu1L7L._SL1439_.jpg)
And on CD:
[asin] B000274SUE[/asin]
...Oops, I already mentioned this 8 pages and 7 years ago.
Quote from: kyjo on May 20, 2018, 05:02:13 PM
Thanks, Cato! I'll be sure to explore more Taneyev in the near future. What do you think of the lovely Piano Quartet?
In my earlier years, I was no big fan of chamber music: solo piano works were something of an exception (
Beethoven and
Scriabin sonatas,
Franck's Piano Quintet,
Bartok's Sixth Quartet, Ravel's, and
Borodin's Second Quartet.In later years, I began to open my ears to more things, and the
Taneyev chamber music was a logical choice: yes, the
Piano Quartet is one of those works which produces the epic, produces a universe of swirling, yes even twirbling ;) emotions! Its story, whatever it might be, is one of scaling mountains and chasing angels. 0:)
One of the people commenting on YouTube compares it to the
Borodin Second Quartet, and another says to listen to the audience's reaction at the end of this performance! Their reaction "says it all" !
https://www.youtube.com/v/pu5SnoMuzKU
Quote from: Cato on May 21, 2018, 02:21:07 PM
In my earlier years, I was no big fan of chamber music: solo piano works were something of an exception (Beethoven and Scriabin sonatas, Franck's Piano Quintet, Bartok's Sixth Quartet, Ravel's, and Borodin's Second Quartet.
In later years, I began to open my ears to more things, and the Taneyev chamber music was a logical choice: yes, the Piano Quartet is one of those works which produces the epic, produces a universe of swirling, yes even twirbling ;) emotions! Its story, whatever it might be, is one of scaling mountains and chasing angels. 0:)
One of the people commenting on YouTube compares it to the Borodin Second Quartet, and another says to listen to the audience's reaction at the end of this performance! Their reaction "says it all" !
https://www.youtube.com/v/pu5SnoMuzKU
Speaking of angels, I just noticed that the heavenly coda of the Piano Quartet is marked "Moderato serafico" - how fitting! :)
Quote from: kyjo on May 21, 2018, 05:47:18 PM
Speaking of angels, I just noticed that the heavenly coda of the Piano Quartet is marked "Moderato serafico" - how fitting! :)
0:) Amen! 0:)
I have been revisiting At the Reading of a Psalm via the performance by...
[asin]B0002XMEO0[/asin]
Just a marvelous work!
I placed this earlier under
What Are You Listening To Now?, and want to add another anecdote about
Taneyev from a memoir by composer
Nicolai Tcherepnin:
I have just yesterday found a memoir written by composer
Nicolai Tcherepnin (1873-1945) shortly before his death. It has several anecdotes about
Sergei Taneyev:
e.g.
Quote
I also remember that I caught sight of Taneyev and his constellation* at one of the Moscow Philharmonic rehearsals of my symphonic poem, "Narcissus and Echo" and hastened to greet him with the usual "Venite adoremus " at the intermission and to ask him what impressions he had of my music. "Yes, well, as for the music, Nikolai Nikolaevich," he answered, "there was so much noise that I must confess I didn't notice it." I must say that this judgement was offensive to me and was scarcely merited or accurate. Be that as it may, my poem recently received the Glinka award and those conferring it to me had the right, no less than Taneyev, to lay claim to strict and scrupulous musical taste and to responsibility in evaluating new Russian musical compositions. Perhaps Taneyev said this, so to speak, "ad usum delphini," (in order not to tempt the little ones) As for me personally, I always regarded Taneyev's music with a reverent awe and an involuntary, deliberate respect. It moved me only a little. As a conductor, I gladly included in my concert programs his very "Apollonian" little "Apollo's temple in Delphi" (an entr'acte from his stage work The Oresteia) -- with its beautiful, serene, heliac music and delightful orchestration.
* i.e. apparently
Taneyev had a constant retinue of students around him.
A few years before the above,
Tcherepnin had composed a cantata as part of a graduation requirement, a work which
Taneyev had recommended for publication. And so...
Quote
Thereafter, Taneyev always showed an interest in my composing and conducting activities. Did he like my music? I do not know; I do not think so . . . Perhaps my graduation cantata, in which he had shown such interest and affection, pleased him more than any of my other works. When Belaieff published an excerpt from the cantata ("Chant de Sapho," for soprano, women's chorus and orchestra, op. 5), I gratefully dedicated it to Sergei Ivanovich.
Once, during one of Sergei Ivanovich's trips to Petersburg, my wife invited him to have lunch with us after one of the symphony rehearsals. Immediately upon arrival, he went over to the piano, on which happened to be the score of the first two movements of my "String Sextet in F-minor" on which I was then working. Glancing over the score, Sergei Ivanovich immediately proceeded to play through it, not for five or ten minutes, but, almost maliciously, for practically an hour, since both these movements were very long. Having played through them once, Sergei Ivanovich proceeded to do so a second time. In the meantime, the dishes had cooled, been reheated and burned. When he had finally finished painstakingly playing both movements, he got up from the piano. It turned out we had only a quarter of an hour left for lunch before he had to leave to meet the theater director in connection with a performance of his "Orestes"*, and I had to hurry off to my pupils at the Conservatory. So we had, in a real sense, also "played through" our lunch, to the utmost aggravation of our thoughtful, hospitable, kindly hostess, who had hoped to entertain the well-known Russian composer and pianist who was her old friend and an admirer of her mother's talents.
* i.e.
Taneyev's opera
The Oresteia
I just found this on YouTube: a television performance of the Cantata John of Damascus which Taneyev designated his Opus 1.
https://www.youtube.com/v/V1hA4qHk_IU
Quote from: Cato on July 14, 2019, 10:45:50 AM
I just found this on YouTube: a television performance of the Cantata John of Damascus which Taneyev designated his Opus 1.
https://www.youtube.com/v/V1hA4qHk_IU
Great find, Cato! That's a great work!
Re-listening to the thoroughly impressive 4th Symphony under Järvi (Chandos). My goodness, what a work!!! A masterpiece of supreme greatness. The 4 movements are so consistent, masterfully written and memorable, one of the most remarkable Russian symphonies of early 20th Century. A work that goes from dark to light with a majestic ending. Taneyev at the height of his powers.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 26, 2020, 11:57:28 AM
Re-listening to the thoroughly impressive 4th Symphony under Järvi (Chandos). My goodness, what a work!!! A masterpiece of supreme greatness. The 4 movements are so consistent, masterfully written and memorable, one of the most remarkable Russian symphonies of early 20th Century. A work that goes from dark to light with a majestic ending. Taneyev at the height of his powers.
I think that the 2nd and 4th symphonies are terrific.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 26, 2020, 12:08:09 PM
I think that the 2nd and 4th symphonies are terrific.
Precisely those are my favorites by him as well. Then the No. 3 and No. 1 (4, 2, 3, 1).
String Works et al - Taneyev Quartet vs. Carpe Diem SQ?
Hi All - just coming around to re-listen to my Taneyev collection, have only a half dozen CDs (and would like to cull and add - have some duplications). Present collection includes: 1) String Quartets, first 2 volumes w/ Carpe Diem; 2) Complete Quintets w/ the Taneyev Quartet; 3) Complete String Trios, own both the Belcanto Strings & the Leopold Trio - could cull out one; and 4) Piano Quintet & Trio w/ Repin (duplicated in other recordings owned).
In perusing Amazon USA today, I saw that Northern Flowers is now offering a 10-disc box w/ the Taneyev Quartet at the great price!
SO, having many who have posted back and forth for years in this thread about the opening challenge above and w/ Carpe Diem now having 5 Naxos Volumes (not sure if more have been released?), which group is favored - attached are reviews of the first 3 Carpe Diem SQ recordings w/ comparison to the others - seems like a 'coin flip' for the reviewers? Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._SY355_.jpg)
Quote from: vandermolen on February 26, 2020, 12:08:09 PM
I think that the 2nd and 4th symphonies are terrific.
Two Symphonies I need to revisit. I believe I haven't listened to these in 15 years! :o
(
I have Valeri Polyansky on Chandos )
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2020, 11:06:37 AM
String Works et al - Taneyev Quartet vs. Carpe Diem SQ?
Hi All - just coming around to re-listen to my Taneyev collection, have only a half dozen CDs (and would like to cull and add - have some duplications). Present collection includes: 1) String Quartets, first 2 volumes w/ Carpe Diem; 2) Complete Quintets w/ the Taneyev Quartet; 3) Complete String Trios, own both the Belcanto Strings & the Leopold Trio - could cull out one; and 4) Piano Quintet & Trio w/ Repin (duplicated in other recordings owned).
In perusing Amazon USA today, I saw that Northern Flowers is now offering a 10-disc box w/ the Taneyev Quartet at the great price!
SO, having many who have posted back and forth for years in this thread about the opening challenge above and w/ Carpe Diem now having 5 Naxos Volumes (not sure if more have been released?), which group is favored - attached are reviews of the first 3 Carpe Diem SQ recordings w/ comparison to the others - seems like a 'coin flip' for the reviewers? Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._SY355_.jpg)
A great price for that box set. I certainly have been considering it, Dave. I'm not really familiar with Taneyev's style. Some have called him the 'Russian Brahms' is that a far statement?
He's like a Russian Brahms/Beethoven in my view. Music expertly crafted with certain academic stamp. The Piano Quintet in G minor is one of his several masterpieces.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 26, 2020, 11:57:28 AM
Re-listening to the thoroughly impressive 4th Symphony under Järvi (Chandos). My goodness, what a work!!! A masterpiece of supreme greatness. The 4 movements are so consistent, masterfully written and memorable, one of the most remarkable Russian symphonies of early 20th Century. A work that goes from dark to light with a majestic ending. Taneyev at the height of his powers.
Thoroughly agree! I have no idea why I wasn't too impressed by this symphony the first time I listened to it several years ago. I'm sure glad I revisited it recently! And I simply couldn't imagine a better recording than by Järvi and the Philharmonia on Chandos - the timpani player deserves special mention for his thunderous and commandingly prominent playing. And the accompanying
Oresteia Overture is, if anything, even more magnificent. Truly a desert island disc!
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 28, 2020, 12:26:37 PM
He's like a Russian Brahms/Beethoven in my view. Music expertly crafted with certain academic stamp. The Piano Quintet in G minor is one of his several masterpieces.
It's an apt comparison, but only up to a point I think. His greatest works, such as the Piano Quintet, Piano Quartet, 4th Symphony, and
Oresteia Overture, are more harmonically advanced than most things Brahms and Beethoven wrote (to my ears), as well as being quite individual in style with their marriage of Russian and Germanic influences.
Quote from: Mirror Image on May 28, 2020, 12:18:58 PM
A great price for that box set. I certainly have been considering it, Dave. I'm not really familiar with Taneyev's style. Some have called him the 'Russian Brahms' is that a far statement?
Hi
John - well, that moniker was mentioned in one or several of the reviews in my previous attachment - found a different take HERE (https://www.gavindixon.info/Sergei_Taneyev.htm) w/ the title:
SERGEI TANEYEV: TCHAIKOVSKY'S HEIR OR THE RUSSIAN BACH?, since Taneyev was interested in counterpoint - personally, I would not use either comparison - but take a look at the link for some more insight on his style(s) and relationships w/ the Russian composer's of the times - he was quite a substantial presence and more than I had realized. Dave :)
Quote from: Mirror Image on May 28, 2020, 12:18:58 PM
I'm not really familiar with Taneyev's style.
Complexity is one term I'd use. Taneyev was an expert on counterpoint and his music is less accessible to the
masses and that's one reason he is much less known than his teacher Tchaikovsky and pupil Rachmaninov.
Thanks to all for your feedback! 8)
Quote from: kyjo on May 28, 2020, 01:09:18 PM
Thoroughly agree! I have no idea why I wasn't too impressed by this symphony the first time I listened to it several years ago. I'm sure glad I revisited it recently! And I simply couldn't imagine a better recording than by Järvi and the Philharmonia on Chandos - the timpani player deserves special mention for his thunderous and commandingly prominent playing. And the accompanying Oresteia Overture is, if anything, even more magnificent. Truly a desert island disc!
One of the best Taneyev CDs indeed.
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2020, 11:06:37 AM
String Works et al - Taneyev Quartet vs. Carpe Diem SQ?
Hi All - just coming around to re-listen to my Taneyev collection, have only a half dozen CDs (and would like to cull and add - have some duplications). Present collection includes: 1) String Quartets, first 2 volumes w/ Carpe Diem; 2) Complete Quintets w/ the Taneyev Quartet; 3) Complete String Trios, own both the Belcanto Strings & the Leopold Trio - could cull out one; and 4) Piano Quintet & Trio w/ Repin (duplicated in other recordings owned).
In perusing Amazon USA today, I saw that Northern Flowers is now offering a 10-disc box w/ the Taneyev Quartet at the great price!
SO, having many who have posted back and forth for years in this thread about the opening challenge above and w/ Carpe Diem now having 5 Naxos Volumes (not sure if more have been released?), which group is favored - attached are reviews of the first 3 Carpe Diem SQ recordings w/ comparison to the others - seems like a 'coin flip' for the reviewers? Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._SY355_.jpg)
The Taneyev Quartet recordings are certainly not perfect, but imo they are far ahead of the Carpe Diem recordings in terms of quality. The Taneyevs bring to everything they play a great sense of style, a very lived-in quality, and frequent intonation problems; the Carpe Diems are somewhat more technically secure individually, but the ensemble doesn't sound as good together & the performances do sound slightly unidiomatic when compared to the Taneyevs (although not in isolation).
These quartets are difficult works generally, comparable to the late Beethovens in technical demands if nothing else, and I think are still awaiting a technically perfect modern recording—it would be an ideal project for e.g. the Quatuor Danel, St. Petersburg Quartet or Borodin Quartet, or another such ensemble with deep experience in Russian music, but no such ensemble has displayed any interest so far. I think the Taneyevs are currently the way to go, but hope that situation may change in the future with some group laying down a more fully recommendable reference set.
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2020, 01:41:24 PM
Hi John - well, that moniker was mentioned in one or several of the reviews in my previous attachment - found a different take HERE (https://www.gavindixon.info/Sergei_Taneyev.htm) w/ the title: SERGEI TANEYEV: TCHAIKOVSKY'S HEIR OR THE RUSSIAN BACH?, since Taneyev was interested in counterpoint - personally, I would not use either comparison - but take a look at the link for some more insight on his style(s) and relationships w/ the Russian composer's of the times - he was quite a substantial presence and more than I had realized. Dave :)
Quote from: 71 dB on May 28, 2020, 01:47:34 PM
Complexity is one term I'd use. Taneyev was an expert on counterpoint and his music is less accessible to the masses and that's one reason he is much less known than his teacher Tchaikovsky and pupil Rachmaninov.
Thanks for the link and comments. Have been considering the Northern Flowers
Complete Chamber Music box. I mainly tend to more modern Russian composers, but I love counterpoint and Taneyev consequently appeals.
Quote from: T. D. on September 30, 2020, 12:15:34 PM
Thanks for the link and comments. Have been considering the Northern Flowers Complete Chamber Music box. I mainly tend to more modern Russian composers, but I love counterpoint and Taneyev consequently appeals.
Well, I bought the box about the time of my last post - just checked Amazon and same price, i.e. $36.98 USD for 10 CDs, packaged in paper sleeves and put into a compact box w/ a short booklet - Dave :)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on September 30, 2020, 01:18:05 PM
Well, I bought the box about the time of my last post - just checked Amazon and same price, i.e. $36.98 USD for 10 CDs, packaged in paper sleeves and put into a compact box w/ a short booklet - Dave :)
Do you like it? :) I noticed the price has been stable. Some intonation problems mentioned just above, which I could probably deal with.
Quote from: T. D. on September 30, 2020, 01:53:01 PM
Do you like it? :) I noticed the price has been stable. Some intonation problems mentioned just above, which I could probably deal with.
Much earlier in this topic, I mentioned intonation problems with this group:
Quote from: Cato on November 16, 2011, 08:15:46 AM
I have just heard - for the first time - The Taneyev Quartet performing, or attempting to perform, the Eighth and Ninth Quartets of Sergei Taneyev.
This is not the edition I have, but here is a newer picture of what they are selling:
(http://www.ruslania.com/pictures/big/4607053326536.jpg)
If you want to hear wavering microtones in these quartets, as if Taneyev had cosmically pre-channeled Bartok and maybe Penderecki, then this is the CD for you! :o
There are spots in the slow movement of the Eighth Quartet where I thought an Alois Haba quartet had been spliced in suddenly!
Apparently intonation is a problem with the group on these recordings: I found some reviews complaining about the same thing on other quartets.
Let's hope the new NAXOS survey of Taneyev Quartets will not show similar unintended experiments in quarter-tones! ;D
Whoa, thanks for that. I only saw the intonation comments on this page.
I enjoy microtonal SQs and own a number of recordings incl. the Haba series (Stamitz Qt) and Ben Johnston series (Kepler Qt complete, various other groups).
But maybe I should stick to microtonal recordings that reflect the underlying scores. ;)
Quote from: T. D. on September 30, 2020, 02:35:46 PM
Whoa, thanks for that. I only saw the intonation comments on this page.
I enjoy microtonal SQs and own a number of recordings incl. the Haba series (Stamitz Qt) and Ben Johnston series (Kepler Qt complete, various other groups).
But maybe I should stick to microtonal recordings that reflect the underlying scores. ;)
Yes! In the 1970's I wanted to be a part of what I thought would be a wave of interest in quarter-tone or third-tone music, thanks to developments in the new "synthesizer." 8) ;)
Yet, as you say,
unintended microtonal intonation in a traditional style is just a wrong note!
I thought I would check on Taneyev news and found this from 2019:
Quote
"Pianist and composer Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev was such a good teacher that musicians continue to learn from him. This week's performance by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will demonstrate why.
Artistic director and pianist Wu Han will be performing the "Russian Mastery" program with violinists Arnaud Sussmann and Alexander Sitkovetsky, violist Matthew Lipman and cellist Nicholas Canellakis in Cabell Hall Auditorium as part of the Tuesday Evening Concert Series.
The program includes Taneyev's "Quintet in G minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Cello, Op. 30," which Wu Han calls "humongous. Every part of it. It's like a concerto for all the instruments.
"I just fell in love with it. It has so many details and is so inventive," she said. "It has so much imagination."
If you've ever wondered why Taneyev's music isn't performed as frequently, Wu Han and her colleagues can offer a good idea why.
"It's really, really hard, and I thought, 'I'm going to conquer it,'" she said. "It took me a good six years. I can now do a tour with it."
For the complete article:
https://dailyprogress.com/entertainment/challenging-piano-quintet-composers-legacy-at-heart-of-russian-mastery-concert/article_c887f1b2-45df-11e9-8a1b-3bb557ec50db.html (https://dailyprogress.com/entertainment/challenging-piano-quintet-composers-legacy-at-heart-of-russian-mastery-concert/article_c887f1b2-45df-11e9-8a1b-3bb557ec50db.html)
Has anyone heard this cpo collection of chamber music with piano?
(https://img.discogs.com/LWCOEqtdaLeIVTaXyXxB6Rer5Lg=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12551477-1537461145-3481.jpeg.jpg)
Seems well-regarded. I recently got this excellent recording of Piano Quintet + Piano Trio
(https://img.discogs.com/eUVk9Ords0l_QaviCz9jvLcOLbA=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6096529-1411032486-8577.jpeg.jpg)
and the cpo seems like a good way to get the Piano Quartet with some (not unwelcome) duplication.
Well, I've only heard the Piano Quartet from the CPO CD and I can say it is quite good, both recording and performance.
"twirbling" - ::)
Is this some slang from the great unwashed masses?
...are...you OK? Changing the Lyatoshynsky title, complaining about this one, having a little go at me in the Lajtha thread...
Quote from: T. D. on October 21, 2020, 04:49:51 PM
Has anyone heard this cpo collection of chamber music with piano?
(https://img.discogs.com/LWCOEqtdaLeIVTaXyXxB6Rer5Lg=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12551477-1537461145-3481.jpeg.jpg)
Seems well-regarded. I recently got this excellent recording of Piano Quintet + Piano Trio
(https://img.discogs.com/eUVk9Ords0l_QaviCz9jvLcOLbA=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6096529-1411032486-8577.jpeg.jpg)
and the cpo seems like a good way to get the Piano Quartet with some (not unwelcome) duplication.
The CPO recording of the Piano Quartet is the finest available, to my ears. It's worth getting the set just for that. A brief side-by-side comparison of the two recordings of the Quintet revealed the DG one as superior, though the CPO is by no means poor at all.
Quote from: kyjo on October 22, 2020, 07:26:43 AM
The CPO recording of the Piano Quartet is the finest available, to my ears. It's worth getting the set just for that. A brief side-by-side comparison of the two recordings of the Quintet revealed the DG one as superior, though the CPO is by no means poor at all.
Thank you. The highlighted (emphasis added) sentence is exactly what it boils down to.
Listening to this marvelous disc for the third time (since yesterday). Hint, hint - There are a few free ones for grab (just shipping) in the Buy, Sell, Swap thread. ;) I have my own copy that just arrived.
This completes the 5 disc volume of the Carpe Diem String Quartet recordings of the Taneyev string quartets. Just a superb endeavour. This volume 5 disc includes the 8th string quartet and the second string quintet.
I also have the Taneyev Quartet recordings on the Northern Flowers label. From the 1970's. They are wonderful performances indeed, but the recorded sound isn't great, compared to the wonderfully recorded Naxos Carpe Diem set.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODE4OTAwNy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0ODEwNDE4Njh9)
Quote from: amw on May 28, 2020, 03:54:43 PM
The Taneyev Quartet recordings are certainly not perfect, but imo they are far ahead of the Carpe Diem recordings in terms of quality. The Taneyevs bring to everything they play a great sense of style, a very lived-in quality, and frequent intonation problems; the Carpe Diems are somewhat more technically secure individually, but the ensemble doesn't sound as good together & the performances do sound slightly unidiomatic when compared to the Taneyevs (although not in isolation).
You seem to have the same opinion in the Taneyev vs. Carpe Diem discussion as Don (Bulldog/Sammy) had regarding the two sets. I have both and am quite torn as to which I actually prefer. I think the Carpe Diem is a lot higher quality of a performance than what you make of it, but I do agree that perhaps the Taneyev SQ performances are a little more idiomatic (Russian blooded sounding). However, the sound quality of the Taneyev SQ set is definitely a detriment. I honestly wouldn't want to be without either set and happy to have both. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 01, 2021, 06:34:08 AM
You seem to have the same opinion in the Taneyev vs. Carpe Diem discussion as Don (Bulldog/Sammy) had regarding the two sets. I have both and am quite torn as to which I actually prefer. I think the Carpe Diem is a lot higher quality of a performance than what you make of it, but I do agree that perhaps the Taneyev SQ performances are a little more idiomatic (Russian blooded sounding). However, the sound quality of the Taneyev SQ set is definitely a detriment. I honestly wouldn't want to be without either set and happy to have both. :)
Amen! Mentioned earlier, the Taneyev S.Q. also occasionally has lapses in intonation, of which two seemed to veer into territory inhabited by
Alois Haba! 8) (I do not recall the exact spots, and they are packed away right now for our future move to a new house.) I thought perhaps it was a manufacturing issue, or that my CD player was not at the right speed.
Revisiting this marvelous disc after I am sure (a long time since I last listened to). No reason for it whatsoever, as it is soaringly beautifully played music. Perhaps, as Andrei stated, more Taneyev letting loose more than his usual. Perhaps, he had had a few glasses of fine vodka whilst writing these particular compositions. 8) Highly, highly recommended disc.
Taneyev
String Trio in E flat major, Op. 31 (1910-11)
String Trio in B minor (1913)
String Trio in D major (1879-80)
(https://img.discogs.com/x1MT3QX6ec6S7FvrhsfdqBx2dbY=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-8057229-1454317909-4173.jpeg.jpg)
Yes! The best recordings of such works. Yesterday I revisited the String Trio in E flat major. A very fine and good-humored piece of music with some echoes of Beethoven in the 1st movement, mostly. Taneyev's music is expertly written, well-crafted and compelling.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 16, 2021, 02:41:05 PM
Yes! The best recordings of such works. Yesterday I revisited the String Trio in E flat major. A very fine and good-humored piece of music with some echoes of Beethoven in the 1st movement, mostly. Taneyev's music is expertly written, well-crafted and compelling.
Yes, much more light hearted than the rather somber B minor incomplete Trio on this disc, the final piece of chamber music he wrote.
And my favourite piece, surprisingly, is the early D major trio on this disc.
It's a splendid disc all around.
Cross-posted from the "What are you listening to...." thread.
I'm joining the Taneyev symphonies party, as it has been awhile since I listened to these. I know I am in the minority, but the 1st symphony is my favourite of the symphonies. Recognize the theme (Russian folk song) in the final movement, used by Stravinsky in Petruska (Tableau IV)?
Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1874)
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on May 26, 2021, 05:03:30 AM
Cross-posted from the "What are you listening to...." thread.
I'm joining the Taneyev symphonies party, as it has been awhile since I listened to these. I know I am in the minority, but the 1st symphony is my favourite of the symphonies. Recognize the theme (Russian folk song) in the final movement, used by Stravinsky in Petruska (Tableau IV)?
Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1874)
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
Interesting! I've admittedly never even listened to the 1st Symphony, having been put off by some negative reviews. I'll give it a listen!
The 4th is simply unbeatable to me, by far his most accomplished example in the genre. The Chandos recording of it is a real stunner.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
Well, after re-acquainting myself with the four symphonies, it is clear that Number 1 and 2 are the ones I vastly prefer. I just find them more tuneful, melodic and less stuffy and stodgy.
1,2,4,3 in order of preference. I like the 4th, I just don't love it like the 1st and 2nd. The 3rd is still a miss for me.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on May 27, 2021, 07:24:59 AM
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
Well, after re-acquainting myself with the four symphonies, it is clear that Number 1 and 2 are the ones I vastly prefer. I just find them more tuneful, melodic and less stuffy and stodgy.
1,2,4,3 in order of preference. I like the 4th, I just don't love it like the 1st and 2nd. The 3rd is still a miss for me.
Have you heard the Philharmonia/Jarvi recording of the 4th on Chandos?
Quote from: kyjo on May 27, 2021, 08:26:27 PM
Have you heard the Philharmonia/Jarvi recording of the 4th on Chandos?
Admittedly, I have not Kyle. My first exposure (over ten years ago) to the Taneyev symphonies were through Polyansky, and it was not my cup of tea, I'm afraid. :-\
I do however, really enjoy the Sanderling/Novosibirsk recordings.
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2020, 11:06:37 AM
String Works et al - Taneyev Quartet vs. Carpe Diem SQ?
Hi All - just coming around to re-listen to my Taneyev collection, have only a half dozen CDs (and would like to cull and add - have some duplications). Present collection includes: 1) String Quartets, first 2 volumes w/ Carpe Diem; 2) Complete Quintets w/ the Taneyev Quartet; 3) Complete String Trios, own both the Belcanto Strings & the Leopold Trio - could cull out one; and 4) Piano Quintet & Trio w/ Repin (duplicated in other recordings owned).
In perusing Amazon USA today, I saw that Northern Flowers is now offering a 10-disc box w/ the Taneyev Quartet at the great price!
SO, having many who have posted back and forth for years in this thread about the opening challenge above and w/ Carpe Diem now having 5 Naxos Volumes (not sure if more have been released?), which group is favored - attached are reviews of the first 3 Carpe Diem SQ recordings w/ comparison to the others - seems like a 'coin flip' for the reviewers? Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._SY355_.jpg)
Bumping this for Aligreto (Fergus). :)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2020, 11:06:37 AM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._SY355_.jpg)
Well, I pulled the trigger and just purchased this box set via Amazon Canada, even though I already have the quartet individual discs with the Taneyev SQ. So, I already have half this box. However, the price was quite good so I felt it was the right thing to do. :D
Here are the contents on the ten discs:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71SikIajhWL._AC_SL1200_.jpg)
Listening to:
String Quartet # 3 in D minor, Op. 7 (1896)
String Quartet # 8 in C major (1883)
Wonderful performances, even though the sound/recording quality isn't as great as the Carpe Diem SQ, it does not detract from the enjoyment whatsoever.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91PWPMqPCpL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Taneyev's Symphonies - Sanderling on Naxos vs. Polyansky on Chandos - at present, I own a lot of Taneyev's chamber works but not a symphony set - there has been a LOT of discussion of these works in this thread and in the listening one, especially recently. The sets below are the complete ones usually discussed. There is a nice short but not critical discussion on MusicWeb HERE (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2014/Dec14/Taneyev_GTK.htm).
From our members' posts, Sanderling seems to be the favorite, but in the last few days, I've read a dozen or so reviews of these recordings (attached for those interested) - some of the comments, 'Taneyev was not a great symphonist', 'his orchestral composing is a mishmash of styles', 'Sanderling is a stodgy conductor', 'Naxos sound is poorer that Chandos', and many other comments, positive and negative - maybe a future set will bash all of these complaints? If I had to summarize these reviews, the conclusion is a 'coin flip' based on availability, price, performance and sound.
At present, I'm listening to a Spotify playlist of these 4 recordings and am enjoying both, and owning 2 vs. 4 CDs is not a big deal for space (although 2 is better for me) - so just curious for those who have listened to both conductors in these symphonies, are the differences that great? Thanks - Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71iaRGO%2BC%2BL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bGw%2BLEM5L.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kknaDnZWL.jpg)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2021, 08:28:06 AM
Taneyev's Symphonies - Sanderling on Naxos vs. Polyansky on Chandos - at present, I own a lot of Taneyev's chamber works but not a symphony set - there has been a LOT of discussion of these works in this thread and in the listening one, especially recently. The sets below are the complete ones usually discussed. There is a nice short but not critical discussion on MusicWeb HERE (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2014/Dec14/Taneyev_GTK.htm).
From our members' posts, Sanderling seems to be the favorite, but in the last few days, I've read a dozen or so reviews of these recordings (attached for those interested) - some of the comments, 'Taneyev was not a great symphonist', 'his orchestral composing is a mishmash of styles', 'Sanderling is a stodgy conductor', 'Naxos sound is poorer that Chandos', and many other comments, positive and negative - maybe a future set will bash all of these complaints? If I had to summarize these reviews, the conclusion is a 'coin flip' based on availability, price, performance and sound.
At present, I'm listening to a Spotify playlist of these 4 recordings and am enjoying both, and owning 2 vs. 4 CDs is not a big deal for space (although 2 is better for me) - so just curious for those who have listened to both conductors in these symphonies, are the differences that great? Thanks - Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71iaRGO%2BC%2BL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bGw%2BLEM5L.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kknaDnZWL.jpg)
Hi Dave,
If I were to recommend a "complete set", I would definitely say Sanderling/Naxos, over Polyansky/Chandos. My first exposure to Taneyev symphonies (a long time ago) was with Polyansky, and it honestly didn't make a very good impression. But, those are my own impressions. :)
However, there seems to be a lot more recordings of the 4th symphony, and in this particular symphony....it seems Neeme Jarvi is really highly touted. I can't speak to it myself as I haven't heard it, but it seems to be well received. And, it is coupled with the great Oresteia Overture.
So in conclusion, my recommendation: Sanderling/Naxos, but perhaps get Jarvi for the 4th and overture as well. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on May 28, 2021, 08:34:16 AM
Hi Dave,
If I were to recommend a "complete set", I would definitely say Sanderling/Naxos, over Polyansky/Chandos. My first exposure to Taneyev symphonies (a long time ago) was with Polyansky, and it honestly didn't make a very good impression. But, those are my own impressions. :)
However, there seems to be a lot more recordings of the 4th symphony, and in this particular symphony....it seems Neeme Jarvi is really highly touted. I can't speak to it myself as I haven't heard it, but it seems to be well received. And, it is coupled with the great Oresteia Overture.
So in conclusion, my recommendation: Sanderling/Naxos, but perhaps get Jarvi for the 4th and overture as well. :)
Thanks
Ray - I've been leaning toward Sanderling for a while, but now listening to Polyansky on headphones and not bad at all. Jarvi was mentioned a number of times for the 4th symphony in the reviews I attached, so will take a look on Amazon. Dave :0
Quote from: OrchestralNut on May 28, 2021, 08:34:16 AM
Hi Dave,
If I were to recommend a "complete set", I would definitely say Sanderling/Naxos, over Polyansky/Chandos. My first exposure to Taneyev symphonies (a long time ago) was with Polyansky, and it honestly didn't make a very good impression. But, those are my own impressions. :)
However, there seems to be a lot more recordings of the 4th symphony, and in this particular symphony....it seems Neeme Jarvi is really highly touted. I can't speak to it myself as I haven't heard it, but it seems to be well received. And, it is coupled with the great Oresteia Overture.
So in conclusion, my recommendation: Sanderling/Naxos, but perhaps get Jarvi for the 4th and overture as well. :)
Yes!
Many thanks for the interesting discussion of the symphonies!
Speaking of
The Oresteia, incredible and sad to say that
Leon Botstein's wonderful recording of the opera from c. 8 years ago is still not available on a CD set! Mp3 download only!
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81A0j2vUtaL._SS500_.jpg)
Through the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now subscribed to this thread. I had not, until very recently, heard a note of the music of Taneyev. I had recently, through the good graces of another fellow member, been given a recommendation for the following CD:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
I, very soon afterwards, bought that CD and I was immediately attracted to and engrossed by this music. Here is a cross post from the Listening Thread of my initial reactions to listening to that CD:
Quote
Symphony No. 1 [T. Sanderling]: This is new music for me. My first impression is that it is very lyrical but quite deliberate and emphatic music, without being assertive or overbearing, and it can be quite thrilling and engaging. It is packed full of big themes throughout the work. Taneyev has a very unique voice and musical language and the orchestration is excellent. I like the musical language and the musical style of this work. What a remarkable and mature work from an eighteen year old man.
Symphony No. 4 [T. Sanderling]: This is a wonderful sound world; a composer with a distinct voice of his own and he has wonderful things to say. The musical language is very accessible and very appealing and engaging. This is music that is very assertive and is making a very big statement. The orchestration is wonderful. The performances are appropriately ardent. This is a really terrific, free flowing work that is very well presented here. The music just constantly flows. The final movement is really just a joy to hear!
As a further consequence of the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now purchased the following CD....
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
....with the Jarvi version of No. 4 to follow as it has also been recommended to me.
I also have no doubt that the Chamber Music will duly follow ;)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on May 28, 2021, 08:28:06 AM
Taneyev's Symphonies - Sanderling on Naxos vs. Polyansky on Chandos - at present, I own a lot of Taneyev's chamber works but not a symphony set - there has been a LOT of discussion of these works in this thread and in the listening one, especially recently. The sets below are the complete ones usually discussed. There is a nice short but not critical discussion on MusicWeb HERE (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2014/Dec14/Taneyev_GTK.htm).
From our members' posts, Sanderling seems to be the favorite, but in the last few days, I've read a dozen or so reviews of these recordings (attached for those interested) - some of the comments, 'Taneyev was not a great symphonist', 'his orchestral composing is a mishmash of styles', 'Sanderling is a stodgy conductor', 'Naxos sound is poorer that Chandos', and many other comments, positive and negative - maybe a future set will bash all of these complaints? If I had to summarize these reviews, the conclusion is a 'coin flip' based on availability, price, performance and sound.
At present, I'm listening to a Spotify playlist of these 4 recordings and am enjoying both, and owning 2 vs. 4 CDs is not a big deal for space (although 2 is better for me) - so just curious for those who have listened to both conductors in these symphonies, are the differences that great? Thanks - Dave :)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71iaRGO%2BC%2BL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bGw%2BLEM5L.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kknaDnZWL.jpg)
FWIW, in contrast to our
Ray, I enjoy the
Polyansky very well.
Quote from: aligreto on May 30, 2021, 06:32:31 AM
Through the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now subscribed to this thread. I had not, until very recently, heard a note of the music of Taneyev. I had recently, through the good graces of another fellow member, been given a recommendation for the following CD:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
I, very soon afterwards, bought that CD and I was immediately attracted to and engrossed by this music. Here is a cross post from the Listening Thread of my initial reactions to listening to that CD:
As a further consequence of the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now purchased the following CD....
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
....with the Jarvi version of No. 4 to follow as it has also been recommended to me.
I also have no doubt that the Chamber Music will duly follow ;)
If I could locate that chamber music box, I'd reel it in.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on May 30, 2021, 10:31:03 AM
If I could locate that chamber music box, I'd reel it in.
I am glad that you approve, Karl 8)
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on May 30, 2021, 10:31:03 AM
If I could locate that chamber music box, I'd reel it in.
Good idea.
I just did.
[Asin]B07WW3SL67[/asin]
Quote from: JBS on May 30, 2021, 06:19:35 PM
Good idea.
I just did.
[Asin]B07WW3SL67[/asin]
Thanks, Comrade!
The tent is buzzing lately! :)
Quote from: aligreto on May 30, 2021, 06:32:31 AM
Through the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now subscribed to this thread. I had not, until very recently, heard a note of the music of Taneyev. I had recently, through the good graces of another fellow member, been given a recommendation for the following CD:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2MjI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
I, very soon afterwards, bought that CD and I was immediately attracted to and engrossed by this music. Here is a cross post from the Listening Thread of my initial reactions to listening to that CD:
As a further consequence of the welcome intervention of OrchestralNut I have now purchased the following CD....
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
....with the Jarvi version of No. 4 to follow as it has also been recommended to me.
I also have no doubt that the Chamber Music will duly follow ;)
I hope you thoroughly enjoy the exploration. :)
I am sure that I will :)
The waiting is the difficult part ;)
Quote from: aligreto on May 31, 2021, 04:48:15 AM
I am sure that I will :)
The waiting is the difficult part ;)
8)
I am listening now to Taneyev's 6th string quartet (his latest string quartet), as string quartets 7-9 were earlier unpublished works. Taneyev SQ with the performance. Top notch chamber music!
I'll probably have another listen to Symphony No. 2 and 4 today, as I just seem to be in the mood for his music lately.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on May 31, 2021, 04:56:42 AM
8)
I am listening now to Taneyev's 6th string quartet (his latest string quartet), as string quartets 7-9 were earlier unpublished works. Taneyev SQ with the performance. Top notch chamber music!
I'll probably have another listen to Symphony No. 2 and 4 today, as I just seem to be in the mood for his music lately.
I have been revisiting
The Oresteia and again find great pleasure in every minute!
https://www.youtube.com/v/imp6YQ5VbG4
Quote from: Cato on June 02, 2021, 06:36:44 AM
I have been revisiting The Oresteia and again find great pleasure in every minute!
https://www.youtube.com/v/imp6YQ5VbG4
Nice! :) I've decided to listen to all 9 string quartets (Taneyev SQ) over the last couple of days. Listening to number 1 (which is actually the 4th quartet in chronology). Highly lyrical piece.
Aligreto (Fergus) alert! :D
Quote from: OrchestralNut on June 02, 2021, 06:53:35 AM
Nice! :) I've decided to listen to all 9 string quartets (Taneyev SQ) over the last couple of days. Listening to number 1 (which is actually the 4th quartet in chronology). Highly lyrical piece.
Aligreto (Fergus) alert! :D
Thank you for keeping me in the loop 8)
Just landed: I didn't realize that "8 Quartets" is a typo until I was reading through the booklet ... Hello, what's this Quartet № 9 about?
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on June 21, 2021, 03:07:25 PM
Just landed: I didn't realize that "8 Quartets" is a typo until I was reading through the booklet ... Hello, what's this Quartet № 9 about?
Wonderful, Karl! I got mine about three weeks ago and I have listened to all but one disc! It really is a splendid chamber music set. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on June 22, 2021, 05:30:42 AM
Wonderful, Karl! I got mine about three weeks ago and I have listened to all but one disc! It really is a splendid chamber music set. :)
Just eating it right up,
Ray!
Well, I have completed my travels across this entire set, and I do want to say that it is mostly superlatively fantastic.
As it is mostly terrific, I will just mention a few exceptions:
One of my favourite Taneyev works is the early String Trio in D major (1880). The performance here unfortunately pales in comparison to the magnificent performance by the Leopold String Trio on Hyperion. I highly recommend that one, I think it is a superior performance, with the proper tempi and pace to bring out the Slavic/Russian flavours in their greatest impact.
My least favourite work by Taneyev is the Viola Quintet in C major, Op. 16. And this performance doesn't change that. :P Especially the grating 1st movement. I just don't understand it, nor enjoy the piece overall, I'm afraid. It's thumbs down all the way around from me. :(
One particular piece that deserves special mention for outstanding performance is the Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30, with Tamara Filder on piano accompanying the Taneyev SQ. OH MY, is this superb!! What a performance, and it outdoes the great Dream Team ensemble performance of Pletnev, Imai, Gringolts, Repin, and Harrell on the DG label.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._AC_SL1200_.jpg)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71SikIajhWL._AC_SL1200_.jpg)
Interesting, Ray!
Thanks Ray for your comments! :) I also have the Leopold String Trio recording, so would like to compare the two to better appreciate your thoughts. Dave
Quote from: OrchestralNut on June 23, 2021, 11:40:30 AM
My least favourite work by Taneyev is the Viola Quintet in C major, Op. 16. And this performance doesn't change that. :P Especially the grating 1st movement. I just don't understand it, nor enjoy the piece overall, I'm afraid. It's thumbs down all the way around from me. :(
Is the dislike perhaps due to the odd quasi-microtonal tuning or - simple intonation - problems?
Listeners commenting on YouTube have noticed it as well:
https://www.youtube.com/v/jI0bzsu43AA
vs.
(The Middle Movements are missing.)
https://www.youtube.com/v/LqvlbNS8mxg&list=RDkp9H9N_Ya9Q&index=3
https://www.youtube.com/v/kp9H9N_Ya9Q&list=RDkp9H9N_Ya9Q&index=1
Any change of heart? 0:)
P.S. I found the missing movements as performed by the Ohio group Carpe Diem:
https://www.youtube.com/v/vw6VPrA_Et0
https://www.youtube.com/v/A1-yNNTteMU
It is nothing to do with the recording. I just don't like the piece (especially the 1st movement). :-\
Quote from: OrchestralNut on June 24, 2021, 08:34:46 AM
It is nothing to do with the recording. I just don't like the piece (especially the 1st movement). :-\
Okay! Still, not a bad percentage overall! ;)
Quote from: Cato on June 24, 2021, 09:31:30 AM
Okay! Still, not a bad percentage overall! ;)
No doubt about it. :D
Quote from: Cato on June 24, 2021, 09:31:30 AM
Okay! Still, not a bad percentage overall! ;)
Verily.
Taneyev: Symphony No. 2 [Sanderling]
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
This is my first listen to this work. This is a completed and edited version presented by Vladimir Blok [1977]. I do not know how this edition compares with other versions, obviously, or even if there are indeed any others. It sounds like a very good and organic presentation to me.
I particularly like the opening of this work. I also like the change in mood from the pensive to the more up beat at around 3:30 mins. This tone pervades the rest of the opening movement which moves along with a very nice forward momentum, helped a lot by those sweeping strings. The opening movement, unifyingly, comes full circle and ends just like it began.
The slow movement has some wonderful music and the orchestral textures and sonorities are, once again, wonderful. Still, it is the weakest part of the entire work as this is the section, apparently, to which Taneyev paid the least attention, which is a great pity. This shows, unfortunately, as it labours in places.
The third movement bursts into life and proclaims itself with excitement and exuberance. It immediately has an impact and one can feel the gifted hand of the composer at work and crafting something totally rounded, complete, engaging and appealing. Why did he not have the conviction to complete this work?
The orchestration is wonderful. I like his scoring overall but especially that for the wind instruments.
Today will be disc 10 of this lovely set:
Quote from: aligreto on July 02, 2021, 06:07:38 AM
Taneyev: Symphony No. 2 [Sanderling]
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
This is my first listen to this work. This is a completed and edited version presented by Vladimir Blok [1977]. I do not know how this edition compares with other versions, obviously, or even if there are indeed any others. It sounds like a very good and organic presentation to me.
I particularly like the opening of this work. I also like the change in mood from the pensive to the more up beat at around 3:30 mins. This tone pervades the rest of the opening movement which moves along with a very nice forward momentum, helped a lot by those sweeping strings. The opening movement, unifyingly, comes full circle and ends just like it began.
The slow movement has some wonderful music and the orchestral textures and sonorities are, once again, wonderful. Still, it is the weakest part of the entire work as this is the section, apparently, to which Taneyev paid the least attention, which is a great pity. This shows, unfortunately, as it labours in places.
The third movement bursts into life and proclaims itself with excitement and exuberance. It immediately has an impact and one can feel the gifted hand of the composer at work and crafting something totally rounded, complete, engaging and appealing. Why did he not have the conviction to complete this work?
The orchestration is wonderful. I like his scoring overall but especially that for the wind instruments.
Thanks for sharing your thorough thoughts and analysis. I too particularly love the opening movement of this symphony, and the contrast between the pensive introduction to the transition into exuberance.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 02, 2021, 06:25:36 AM
Thanks for sharing your thorough thoughts and analysis. I too particularly love the opening movement of this symphony, and the contrast between the pensive introduction to the transition into exuberance.
Thank you, my friend, your encouragement in my new found odyssey has been both positive and gratifying. ;)
Well, I have completed my first survey of the Chamber Music box, and thoroughly rewarding it was!
Taneyev: Symphony No. 4 [T. Sanderling]
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
This is my first time to hear this work. From the opening bars, one immediately feels that one is in for something special here. And so it proves as the movement and the work progresses. What strikes one immediately is the quality of the craftsmanship of the writing, scoring and orchestration skills that are employed.
The forward momentum drive of the opening movement is wonderful; I really like how it sweeps along effortlessly. So also is the excitement, tension and drama employed. The slow, second movement, is a wonderful contrast to the first in terms of tempo and tone. It opens as wonderfully lyrical and poignant. It continues in this vein with some disconcerting passages in the lower register strings, proving colour, variety and interest. The orchestration, once again, is wonderful and the strings from this ensemble sound really gorgeous in this warm recording. The Scherzo sounds lively and vital and I really like the scoring for the wind instruments. This is a quirky and exciting, but a very compelling piece of musical composition. I really like it. The general sweep of the final movement is exhilarating in its constant, forceful drive, and it is well driven here. Once again, the orchestration is really excellent and effective. The drive to the conclusion is very effective and satisfying.
This is a really terrific work and, if you have not heard it yet, I strongly recommend that you do so immediately!! I cannot recommend it highly enough!!
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 03, 2021, 01:03:23 PM
Well, I have completed my first survey of the Chamber Music box, and thoroughly rewarding it was!
I will be embarking upon the Chamber Music voyage soon and I am looking forward to it with anticipation and excitement.
Quote from: aligreto on July 07, 2021, 06:09:39 AM
Taneyev: Symphony No. 4 [T. Sanderling]
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
This is my first time to hear this work. From the opening bars, one immediately feels that one is in for something special here. And so it proves as the movement and the work progresses. What strikes one immediately is the quality of the craftsmanship of the writing, scoring and orchestration skills that are employed.
The forward momentum drive of the opening movement is wonderful; I really like how it sweeps along effortlessly. So also is the excitement, tension and drama employed. The slow, second movement, is a wonderful contrast to the first in terms of tempo and tone. It opens as wonderfully lyrical and poignant. It continues in this vein with some disconcerting passages in the lower register strings, proving colour, variety and interest. The orchestration, once again, is wonderful and the strings from this ensemble sound really gorgeous in this warm recording. The Scherzo sounds lively and vital and I really like the scoring for the wind instruments. This is a quirky and exciting, but a very compelling piece of musical composition. I really like it. The general sweep of the final movement is exhilarating in its constant, forceful drive, and it is well driven here. Once again, the orchestration is really excellent and effective. The drive to the conclusion is very effective and satisfying.
This is a really terrific work and, if you have not heard it yet, I strongly recommend that you do so immediately!! I cannot recommend it highly enough!!
Fergus, I have a difficult time deciphering if you like the work or not? Lol ;)
You have a better impression than I do. I "like" the 4th, but don't love it. I do prefer it to the 3rd, but I vastly prefer the 1st and 2nd symphonies.
I'm fully aware that I am the oddball here and in the minority as most people acknowledge the 4th symphony as his best symphony (critics and listeners alike).
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 07, 2021, 06:40:51 AM
You have a better impression than I do. I "like" the 4th, but don't love it. I do prefer it to the 3rd, but I vastly prefer the 1st and 2nd symphonies.
I'm fully aware that I am the oddball here and in the minority as most people acknowledge the 4th symphony as his best symphony (critics and listeners alike).
Not for a minute, Ray.
To me, everything in terms of craftsmanship, musical language and orchestration simply let him here, Symphonically. For me it was a natural progression with an inevitable result. That does not take away from the quality of the preceding Symphonies for me.
Now, will I think the same in one month's time or one year's time? Who knows. :)
Quote from: aligreto on July 07, 2021, 06:09:39 AM
Taneyev: Symphony No. 4 [T. Sanderling]
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/719XHekahiL._SX355_.jpg)
This is my first time to hear this work. From the opening bars, one immediately feels that one is in for something special here. And so it proves as the movement and the work progresses. What strikes one immediately is the quality of the craftsmanship of the writing, scoring and orchestration skills that are employed.
The forward momentum drive of the opening movement is wonderful; I really like how it sweeps along effortlessly. So also is the excitement, tension and drama employed. The slow, second movement, is a wonderful contrast to the first in terms of tempo and tone. It opens as wonderfully lyrical and poignant. It continues in this vein with some disconcerting passages in the lower register strings, proving colour, variety and interest. The orchestration, once again, is wonderful and the strings from this ensemble sound really gorgeous in this warm recording. The Scherzo sounds lively and vital and I really like the scoring for the wind instruments. This is a quirky and exciting, but a very compelling piece of musical composition. I really like it. The general sweep of the final movement is exhilarating in its constant, forceful drive, and it is well driven here. Once again, the orchestration is really excellent and effective. The drive to the conclusion is very effective and satisfying.
This is a really terrific work and, if you have not heard it yet, I strongly recommend that you do so immediately!! I cannot recommend it highly enough!!
Thanks for your positive Review - I own that Disc but I haven't gotten around to listening to it yet: I will try to get to it soon upon your recommendation. :)
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 7 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27344fc1513c1f73fc77d4af501)
I am reliably informed by another member who is far more knowledgeable regarding this composer's music i.e. Ray aka OrchestralNut, that the String Quartets Nos. 7, 8 & 9 were early works and not published in his lifetime. As I have a penchant for listening chronologically to such a cycle I begin my Taneyev Chamber Music journey with these early works predating the published String Quartets Nos. 1-6.
String Quartet No. 7 has a relatively straightforward musical language but I find the music to be charming, lyrical and engaging. The slow movement is particularly attractive and appealing. One can hear the composer probing and experimenting somewhat with the language and the voices. Taneyev obviously had very high musical standards not to have published this work: I think that it is very fine.
Quote from: aligreto on July 14, 2021, 01:56:53 AM
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 7 [Taneyev Quartet]
I am reliably informed by another member who is far more knowledgeable regarding this composer's music i.e. Ray aka OrchestralNut, that the String Quartets Nos. 7, 8 & 9 were early works and not published in his lifetime. As I have a penchant for listening chronologically to such a cycle I begin my Taneyev Chamber Music journey with these early works predating the published String Quartets Nos. 1-6.
String Quartet No. 7 has a relatively straightforward musical language but I find the music to be charming, lyrical and engaging. The slow movement is particularly attractive and appealing. One can hear the composer probing and experimenting somewhat with the language and the voices. Taneyev obviously had very high musical standards not to have published this work: I think that it is very fine.
Excellent to read this, Fergus. I'm glad you are starting the SQ journey and appreciate you sharing your impressions.
From the *self-proclaimed Vice President of the Taneyev Society, Good Music Guide Chapter.
*Pending approval from the President and CEO, Leo (Cato) ;D
Incidentally Fergus, do you hear the recording glitch in the Scherzo movement of the 7th quartet? You will notice the faint echoing of the theme prior to the theme actually being played. Around the 37 second mark, and in the subsequent repeats as well.
My favourite movements of the 7th quartet are the 3rd and final movements.
It bodes well if you like the 7th, Fergus, as the 8th and 9th already show marked improvements and then a fairly huge leap forward with the 1st in B flat minor.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 03, 2021, 01:03:23 PM
Well, I have completed my first survey of the Chamber Music box, and thoroughly rewarding it was!
Karl,
Might I ask what were some of standouts for you, in particular? Or are more repeated listens required to make this assessment?
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 05:03:05 AM
Excellent to read this, Fergus. I'm glad you are starting the SQ journey and appreciate you sharing your impressions.
Thank you for the gift of these works and your continued encouragement in this wonderful odyssey 8)
QuoteFrom the *self-proclaimed Vice President of the Taneyev Society, Good Music Guide Chapter.
*Pending approval from the President and CEO, Leo (Cato) ;D
You are too modest, my friend ;)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 06:23:20 AM
Incidentally Fergus, do you hear the recording glitch in the Scherzo movement of the 7th quartet? You will notice the faint echoing of the theme prior to the theme actually being played. Around the 37 second mark, and in the subsequent repeats as well.
I must be honest, Ray, and say that I did not notice anything. This must mean that it is a minor flaw or that, given age, my hearing is deteriorating ;D
Quote from: aligreto on July 14, 2021, 07:50:08 AM
I must be honest, Ray, and say that I did not notice anything. This must mean that it is a minor flaw or that, given age, my hearing is deteriorating ;D
If you listened on headphones, you might be able to hear it.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 09:00:35 AM
If you listened on headphones, you might be able to hear it.
Will try that later, Ray.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 06:34:26 AM
Karl,
Might I ask what were some of standouts for you, in particular? Or are more repeated listens required to make this assessment?
In this inaugural survey,
Ray, the immediate takeaways were the
Pf Quintet, the
Pf Quartet, the late trios and the string quintets. I do need to go back and unpack the quartets so that I can better assess for your query (I should have answered similarly if you had asked after the
Holmboe or
Weinberg quartets, e.g.), though I did indeed find the whole box an aural delight.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 15, 2021, 06:51:37 AM
In this inaugural survey, Ray, the immediate takeaways were the Pf Quintet, the Pf Quartet, the late trios and the string quintets. I do need to go back and unpack the quartets so that I can better assess for your query (I should have answered similarly if you had asked after the Holmboe or Weinberg quartets, e.g.), though I did indeed find the whole box an aural delight.
Excellent, thank you Karl for the feedback and glad you enjoyed the box set as a whole. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 15, 2021, 07:09:20 AM
Excellent, thank you Karl for the feedback and glad you enjoyed the box set as a whole. :)
Thanks for keeping the Tent's tones twirbling, VP
Ray!
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 06:23:20 AM
Incidentally Fergus, do you hear the recording glitch in the Scherzo movement of the 7th quartet? You will notice the faint echoing of the theme prior to the theme actually being played. Around the 37 second mark, and in the subsequent repeats as well.
I still cannot hear it, Ray, but I am unconcerned about this. Perhaps you wore it out through constant playing before you sent me the CD. ;D
Quote from: aligreto on July 15, 2021, 02:36:15 PM
I still cannot hear it, Ray, but I am unconcerned about this. Perhaps you wore it out through constant playing before you sent me the CD. ;D
Ha ha! 🤣 Perhaps, regardless of whether you hear it or not, it most definitely doesn't affect the performance or enjoyment of the work.
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 8 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273fd0dde5fd682abc63816da81)
I really like the opening bars of the first movement on the lower register strings. The music is exciting, always lyrical and very appealing. This theme and tone continue throughout the movement but there is plenty of variation and variety to keep one's interest continually alive. The music is well driven with great energy. The slow movement has some very beguiling and poignant music with simply wonderful harmonic and contrapuntal writing. It is laden with a wonderful depth of intensity of emotion. This is very compelling string quartet writing. The third movement, Minuetto, is charming and elegant but it is also robust in its delivery. The Finale is buoyant, intense and optimistic in tone.
Once again I cannot understand why Taneyev never published this work. To my ear, this sounds like mature and wonderfully innovative and exciting string quartet writing by any standard.
Quote from: aligreto on July 16, 2021, 04:23:33 AM
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 8 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273fd0dde5fd682abc63816da81)
I really like the opening bars of the first movement on the lower register strings. The music is exciting, always lyrical and very appealing. This theme and tone continue throughout the movement but there is plenty of variation and variety to keep one's interest continually alive. The music is well driven with great energy. The slow movement has some very beguiling and poignant music with simply wonderful harmonic and contrapuntal writing. It is laden with a wonderful depth of intensity of emotion. This is very compelling string quartet writing. The third movement, Minuetto, is charming and elegant but it is also robust in its delivery. The Finale is buoyant, intense and optimistic in tone.
Once again I cannot understand why Taneyev never published this work. To my ear, this sounds like mature and wonderfully innovative and exciting string quartet writing by any standard.
You share very similar thoughts and impressions here as I do, Fergus.
It is simply a real head scratcher as to why he did not publish his first three quartets (No. 7-9) as they are of high quality.
While the 7th quartet saw my favourite movements 3rd and 4th, the 8th quartet sees the flip side of the 1st and 2nd movements being my favourites.
In particular, a very heartfelt and gripping slow movement.
The 3rd movement minuet definitely seems to draw inspiration from Mozart.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 16, 2021, 05:09:25 AM
The 3rd movement minuet definitely seems to draw inspiration from Mozart.
I understand that Taneyev shared his reverence for Mozart with one of his teachers, Peter Tchaikovsky.
Quote from: aligreto on July 16, 2021, 07:03:03 AM
I understand that Taneyev shared his reverence for Mozart with one of his teachers, Peter Tchaikovsky.
Yes, that's absolutely correct!
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 9 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://www.classicalmusicshopaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/NFPMA9936.jpg)
What a wonderful opening this work has. It is lusciously lyrical and is filled with wonderfully joyous passages. The tone becomes a little darker and more poignant as the movement progresses but the cycle comes full circle. It is still richly rewarding and satisfying music. The slow movement is divine, plaintive lament with a rich tapestry of harmonies throughout. The scherzo is a bit of a contradiction for me; it is simultaneously both lively and tame. I really like this juxtaposition. The final movement is also very fine and I really like the counterpoint writing. That certain level of poignancy that pervades this work is evident here also along with good tension and excitement and I find it to be very attractive and appealing music.
Whatever he may have thought about String Quartets Nos. 7 & 8 Taneyev was simply nuts not to have published this work. I would really like to know his reasons for not doing so.
Quote from: aligreto on July 17, 2021, 12:20:24 PM
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 9 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://www.classicalmusicshopaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/NFPMA9936.jpg)
What a wonderful opening this work has. It is lusciously lyrical and is filled with wonderfully joyous passages. The tone becomes a little darker and more poignant as the movement progresses but the cycle comes full circle. It is still richly rewarding and satisfying music. The slow movement is divine, plaintive lament with a rich tapestry of harmonies throughout. The scherzo is a bit of a contradiction for me; it is simultaneously both lively and tame. I really like this juxtaposition. The final movement is also very fine and I really like the counterpoint writing. That certain level of poignancy that pervades this work is evident here also along with good tension and excitement and I find it to be very attractive and appealing music.
Whatever he may have thought about String Quartets Nos. 7 & 8 Taneyev was simply nuts not to have published this work. I would really like to know his reasons for not doing so.
I'm on holidays at the moment, but just taking a few minutes during morning coffee to say that I appreciated you sharing thoughts and impressions on the 9th quartet. It's definitely one of my favourites of the nine quartets, with the Scherzo being the favourite Scherzo of the group of nine. :)
Had Taneyev lived a longer full life, I suspect he might have reconsidered and end up publishing these three quartets.
And now, the published 1-6 await your ears. ;D
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 18, 2021, 03:19:14 AM
And now, the published 1-6 await your ears. ;D
I can't wait!
Enjoy your holiday, Ray :)
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 1 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91-OYsQ3QlL._SS500_.jpg)
I really like the forlorn lament that is the opening movement. It is filled with poignancy and emotional power. The writing is superb. The same powerful emotional tone pervades the second movement and the harmonies are simply glorious; such superb writing. The third movement is terrifically exciting as the music sweeps along in a flurry. Did Taneyev only write sublime slow movements? The fourth movement would definitely suggest so! The final movement is filled with light hearted buoyancy, gaiety and fun which is a wonderful contrast in tone to finish with; a note of optimism, perhaps?
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 2 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LDoAAOSwletg8N8l/s-l500.jpg)
I really like the opening sequence. A keen sense of excitement pervades throughout the first movement. This is based on a solid foundation of strong melodic and harmonic writing. I particularly like the cello voice here. There is a bit more of a dark, menacing, threatening tone in the scherzo. The trio section is wonderful and is a fine contrast. This time I am appreciating the viola work. The music in the slow movement is always very intense. A sense of poignancy also pervades the music. The occasional use of particular recurring themes also adds to the degree of tension. This is very fine string quartet writing. The final movement bursts into a dance-like jaunt. It is filled with energy, excitement and it is well driven.
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 3 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273fd0dde5fd682abc63816da81)
This is a two movement work. Two words immediately come to mind on hearing the opening movement in terms of style i.e. contemplative and conversational. I find this style of presentation to be very engaging, particularly in Chamber Music. The music is sometimes intense as the voices engage argumentatively with one another. The form of the final movement is a theme and a set of variations. The main theme is beguiling and the variations are inventive, intriguing and very entertaining.
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 4 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91-OYsQ3QlL._SS500_.jpg)
I really like the tone that is set from the opening bars. The relatively sparse opening gradually unfolds revealing a wonderful tapestry of sound. This sonic world is very exciting and engaging. The lower register strings have great presence and are quite engaging and intriguing. The music in the first movement is very intriguing and it is often well driven. The relatively short second movement is wonderfully whimsical and flitting. The third, slow movement is a wonderful exercise in harmonic and contrapuntal writing. It delivers very engaging and atmospheric music. The final movement is very exciting and interesting in its musical language. There is wonderful tension and excitement in the movement and it is very well executed and driven by the ensemble. Like the rest of work the inherent lyricism does not suffer as a result of the progressive musical language. The performances throughout the work are indeed always compelling and sometimes exquisite.
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 5 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27344fc1513c1f73fc77d4af501)
The opening of the first movement is wonderfully light and charming. There is the sound of a certain naivete about it but the underlying harmonies belie this initial impression. Anyway, simplicity is good as far as I am concerned. However, the musical language becomes more involved and demanding as the movement progresses. The slow movement is very engaging in the opening encounter of a question and answer session and subsequently the conversational aspect of the work. I am particularly drawn to the cello line. The third movement is quite beguiling and I like its light hearted tone. There is a drive in the final movement that is both energetic and exciting. This is not overtly forceful but rather a muted intensity that is both intriguing and enjoyable. There is also a constant sense of elegance throughout this presentation.
Quote from: aligreto on August 22, 2021, 01:58:47 AM
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 5 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27344fc1513c1f73fc77d4af501)
The opening of the first movement is wonderfully light and charming. There is the sound of a certain naivete about it but the underlying harmonies belie this initial impression. Anyway, simplicity is good as far as I am concerned. However, the musical language becomes more involved and demanding as the movement progresses. The slow movement is very engaging in the opening encounter of a question and answer session and subsequently the conversational aspect of the work. I am particularly drawn to the cello line. The third movement is quite beguiling and I like its light hearted tone. There is a drive in the final movement that is both energetic and exciting. This is not overtly forceful but rather a muted intensity that is both intriguing and enjoyable. There is also a constant sense of elegance throughout this presentation.
You're finishing this Taneyev traversal, aren't you? The 6th one is only missing, right? This is a cycle I definitely need to revisit any soon. His expert craftsmanship, mastery of counterpoint and harmony into these stunning works are worth revisitation.
Taneyev: String Quartet No. 6 [Taneyev Quartet]
(https://www.classicalmusicshopaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/NFPMA9936.jpg)
I like the staccato opening of this work. It creates a sense of tension. However we soon transcend into a gloriously lyrical passage which prevails for the duration of the movement. I really like the musical language. I find it to be very engaging. All of this lends to a slightly disconcerting but quite engaging tone. The slow movement is a wonderful combination of all of the above but also coupled with, and augmented by, a strong sense of poignancy. The harmonies/dissonances are wonderful. One becomes completely absorbed by and immersed in this very emotional, atmospheric and intense music. The dancing rhythms of the third movement are a massive contrast to the intensity of the slow movement. One is having one's spirit lifted here. There are some dark clouds in this sunny sky but the ebullient and buoyant feelings dominate. The final movement is a busy, interesting and engaging piece of music. It is drawing together strands of what has gone before and weaves them into a suitable summary and conclusion. I find my ear being drawn, once again, to the viola and cello lines throughout this music.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on August 22, 2021, 04:18:19 PM
You're finishing this Taneyev traversal, aren't you? The 6th one is only missing, right? This is a cycle I definitely need to revisit any soon. His expert craftsmanship, mastery of counterpoint and harmony into these stunning works are worth revisitation.
As you can see I have recently completed the cycle. It has been a thoroughly wonderful and illuminating odyssey. I can only endorse your desire to revisit this amazing music. Happy listening.
I still have the Trios to look forward to.
Quote from: aligreto on September 04, 2021, 08:12:34 AM
As you can see I have recently completed the cycle. It has been a thoroughly wonderful and illuminating odyssey. I can only endorse your desire to revisit this amazing music. Happy listening.
I still have the Trios to look forward to.
So happy to hear this, Fergus. It has been wonderful to read your thorough impressions of each quartet!
I do hope you'll also equally enjoy the string trios. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on September 05, 2021, 03:13:48 AM
I do hope you'll also equally enjoy the string trios. :)
I have no doubt that I will enjoy them, Ray, and I am very much looking forward to them. :)
Somehow I only have String Quartets 1-4 and the first to 2 versions (Naxos and Olympia).
I just stopped buying the Naxos volumes after the first two, perhaps because Naxos started to become harder to buy at very low prices. Now Brexit makes online shopping even worse so they can keep their stinking discs and sell them to billionaires. I am too poor for this game!
Listened to the Naxos volume 3 of String Quartets on Spotify. No. 7 is pretty impressive. $:)
I kind of forgot Taneyev when I discovered Weinberg, but I am rediscovering...
Taneyev: String Trio in D major [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
This is a very fine chamber work. The forces employed are obviously minimal but the effect produced is wonderfully expansive. I am already familiar with the composer's musical language so I am very comfortable here. This is constantly exciting, lyrical and engaging music and music making. The opening movement is a noble affair and I find it to be continually engaging and continually delivering fresh musical ideas. The Scherzo is suitably frisky and exciting movement with a suitably contrasting and engaging Trio section. The slow movement is a wonderful contrast in its tone and mood. Both the musical lines and the harmonies are wonderfully engaging. The final movement is a very fine piece of string trio writing; each voice is equally prominent and the ensemble delivers it very well.
I have been listening to Taneyev again, re-discovering the music. Suite de concert Op. 28 for example is pretty epic work. 0:) Taneyev knew how to be epic. Some Bachian counterpoint and people are "blown away". ;D
It is crazy how much in the shadows of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov this composer has been, but finally in the 21st century he is getting recognition for his strong craftsmanship.
I need to revisit those String Trios (have the MDG Belcanto Strings disc).
Quote from: aligreto on September 11, 2021, 05:11:13 AM
Taneyev: String Trio in D major [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
This is a very fine chamber work. The forces employed are obviously minimal but the effect produced is wonderfully expansive. I am already familiar with the composer's musical language so I am very comfortable here. This is constantly exciting, lyrical and engaging music and music making. The opening movement is a noble affair and I find it to be continually engaging and continually delivering fresh musical ideas. The Scherzo is suitably frisky and exciting movement with a suitably contrasting and engaging Trio section. The slow movement is a wonderful contrast in its tone and mood. Both the musical lines and the harmonies are wonderfully engaging. The final movement is a very fine piece of string trio writing; each voice is equally prominent and the ensemble delivers it very well.
Wonderful to hear that you enjoyed it, Fergus. :)
As I have already mentioned to you, this early string trio is currently my favourite Taneyev chamber work. And I find that the Leopolds give it just the right pacing!
Quote from: 71 dB on September 11, 2021, 05:52:08 AM
I have been listening to Taneyev again, re-discovering the music. Suite de concert Op. 28 for example is pretty epic work. 0:) Taneyev knew how to be epic. Some Bachian counterpoint and people are "blown away". ;D
It is crazy how much in the shadows of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov this composer has been, but finally in the 21st century he is getting recognition for his strong craftsmanship.
I need to revisit those String Trios (have the MDG Belcanto Strings disc).
Suite de concert is a mighty fine work, Poju. I will have to give it a listen as it has been awhile since I have heard it. :)
Taneyev: String Trio in E flat major [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
Once again, I am surprised at how expansive the sound world is here given the forces employed. The music of the opening movement is wonderful. It is lyrical, well driven, thoughtful and expansive. It is also exciting and it is very well presented by the ensemble. The scherzo is a wonderfully exciting affair and it is something of an exercise in perpetual movement, constantly driven but not in a harsh way. The slow movement is a wonderful exercise in both poignancy and serenity. The harmonies and counterpoint are both wonderful in this movement. This is magnificent music. I particularly like the final movement. It rounds off the work very admirably in a vibrant and very interesting and engaging way.
Quote from: 71 dB on September 11, 2021, 05:52:08 AM
I have been listening to Taneyev again, re-discovering the music. Suite de concert Op. 28 for example is pretty epic work. 0:) Taneyev knew how to be epic. Some Bachian counterpoint and people are "blown away". ;D
It is crazy how much in the shadows of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov this composer has been, but finally in the 21st century he is getting recognition for his strong craftsmanship.
I need to revisit those String Trios (have the MDG Belcanto Strings disc).
It was great that you did go back and reacquaint yourself with the music of Taneyev. I am only new to his music and it has been a revelation for me. If you enjoyed his string quartets you will definitely enjoy the trios.
Quote from: aligreto on September 18, 2021, 05:45:46 AM
It was great that you did go back and reacquaint yourself with the music of Taneyev. I am only new to his music and it has been a revelation for me. If you enjoyed his string quartets you will definitely enjoy the trios.
Well, I am glad that you have experienced this revelation named Taneyev. 0:) His music has been "one of the best kept secrets of Russian music." I discovered his music maybe 15 years ago when I borrowed the Ondine CD of the Concert Suite/Entr'acte/Oresteya Overture. I was blown away. I collected half dozen CDs of his music, but they were very expensive and at that time there were not so many releases to begin with. Naxos was just beginning their Taneyev project for example. My wallet re-directed my attention to composers whose music was cheaper and more available... :P
Quote from: 71 dB on September 18, 2021, 08:27:05 AM
Well, I am glad that you have experienced this revelation named Taneyev. 0:) His music has been "one of the best kept secrets of Russian music." I discovered his music maybe 15 years ago when I borrowed the Ondine CD of the Concert Suite/Entr'acte/Oresteya Overture. I was blown away. I collected half dozen CDs of his music, but they were very expensive and at that time there were not so many releases to begin with. Naxos was just beginning their Taneyev project for example. My wallet re-directed my attention to composers whose music was cheaper and more available... :P
A well kept secret indeed and I am certainly late to the party but my conversion was immediate and complete.
Quote from: aligreto on September 18, 2021, 05:43:22 AM
Taneyev: String Trio in E flat major [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
Once again, I am surprised at how expansive the sound world is here given the forces employed. The music of the opening movement is wonderful. It is lyrical, well driven, thoughtful and expansive. It is also exciting and it is very well presented by the ensemble. The scherzo is a wonderfully exciting affair and it is something of an exercise in perpetual movement, constantly driven but not in a harsh way. The slow movement is a wonderful exercise in both poignancy and serenity. The harmonies and counterpoint are both wonderful in this movement. This is magnificent music. I particularly like the final movement. It rounds off the work very admirably in a vibrant and very interesting and engaging way.
It is another high quality and highly lyrical composition, Fergus. It feels like I am repeating myself. ;D
Quote from: aligreto on September 18, 2021, 10:24:55 AM
A well kept secret indeed and I am certainly late to the party but my conversion was immediate and complete.
Better late than never. Perhaps not so much the case with Taneyev, but I have my fair share of being late to a party. ;D
Quote from: OrchestralNut on September 18, 2021, 01:12:15 PM
It is another high quality and highly lyrical composition, Fergus. It feels like I am repeating myself. ;D
No problem, Ray. If you are repeating yourself that might be because, like me, you are running out of superlatives. ;)
Quote from: 71 dB on September 18, 2021, 01:23:59 PM
Better late than never. Perhaps not so much the case with Taneyev, but I have my fair share of being late to a party. ;D
I have a similar problem with many of the composers listed by members on these boards but it is fun catching up.
Quote from: aligreto on September 19, 2021, 02:05:55 AM
I have a similar problem with many of the composers listed by members on these boards but it is fun catching up.
Before coming to this board back in 2008 I believe I thought I am a semi-expert on classical music (because I sort of am compared to people around me), but here I feel like a newbie who knows almost nothing despite of having listened to classical music for a quarter of a century! ;D
Quote from: 71 dB on September 19, 2021, 02:16:01 AM
Before coming to this board back in 2008 I believe I thought I am a semi-expert on classical music (because I sort of am compared to people around me), but here I feel like a newbie who knows almost nothing despite of having listened to classical music for a quarter of a century! ;D
Hey, you are not alone there but discovery is half of the fun particularly if it is someone like Taneyev.
Quote from: 71 dB on September 19, 2021, 02:16:01 AM
Before coming to this board back in 2008 I believe I thought I am a semi-expert on classical music (because I sort of am compared to people around me), but here I feel like a newbie who knows almost nothing despite of having listened to classical music for a quarter of a century! ;D
The concept of the expert is something of an illusion, I think. The more I discover, the more obvious it is to me just how little I know. This forum has taught me so much, not least the necessity of humility in the face of genuinely knowledgeable people. I love it.
Quote from: foxandpeng on September 19, 2021, 06:12:34 AM
The concept of the expert is something of an illusion, I think. The more I discover, the more obvious it is to me just how little I know. This forum has taught me so much, not least the necessity of humility in the face of genuinely knowledgeable people. I love it.
Well said :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on July 14, 2021, 05:03:05 AM
Excellent to read this, Fergus. I'm glad you are starting the SQ journey and appreciate you sharing your impressions.
From the *self-proclaimed Vice President of the Taneyev Society, Good Music Guide Chapter.
*Pending approval from the President and CEO, Leo (Cato) ;D
You are hereby APPROVED ! 8)
I had a few minutes tonight and decided to stop by quickly!
Having retired from teaching in June, I have been punished with constant work, usually physical, involving preparing our house for sale and then preparing for our move to a new/old house.
Let's just say that almost every day brings another problem or crisis, which demands our work, our money, or (usually) both.
The result is that I am rarely on the computer for much of anything.
Allow me to recommend this
Taneyev work:
https://www.youtube.com/v/iHP1cy6bm3I&list=OLAK5uy_mqmcaOOV3cEkP-OAINkV8qY08FeI6duc0
Taneyev: String Trio in B minor [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
I really like the beguiling and somewhat wistful opening to the first movement. What strikes me from the beginning of this movement is that this work is very conversational in nature; argumentative even. The tone is sombre; serious even. The tone and the mood is dark, intense and melancholic. The music has a great spirited presence nonetheless. Once again, there is a beguiling and somewhat wistful opening theme. The variations are always interesting, engaging and exciting in their varietal contrast and appeal. Once again, I find the music to be rather expansive given the forces employed.
The performances of the Leopold String Trio are powerful, engaging, expansive and revealing throughout the performances on this CD.
Quote from: Cato on September 20, 2021, 06:39:15 PM
Allow me to recommend this Taneyev work:
https://www.youtube.com/v/iHP1cy6bm3I&list=OLAK5uy_mqmcaOOV3cEkP-OAINkV8qY08FeI6duc0
Thank you for that.
Quote from: aligreto on September 25, 2021, 06:53:27 AM
Taneyev: String Trio in B minor [Leopold String Trio]
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rfUAAOSwPSNfYorv/s-l1600.jpg)
I really like the beguiling and somewhat wistful opening to the first movement. What strikes me from the beginning of this movement is that this work is very conversational in nature; argumentative even. The tone is sombre; serious even. The tone and the mood is dark, intense and melancholic. The music has a great spirited presence nonetheless. Once again, there is a beguiling and somewhat wistful opening theme. The variations are always interesting, engaging and exciting in their varietal contrast and appeal. Once again, I find the music to be rather expansive given the forces employed.
The performances of the Leopold String Trio are powerful, engaging, expansive and revealing throughout the performances on this CD.
This completes your opening journey into Taneyev's chamber music. There is more to explore my friend! :)
Quote from: Cato on September 20, 2021, 06:39:15 PM
You are hereby APPROVED ! 8)
I had a few minutes tonight and decided to stop by quickly!
Having retired from teaching in June, I have been punished with constant work, usually physical, involving preparing our house for sale and then preparing for our move to a new/old house.
Let's just say that almost every day brings another problem or crisis, which demands our work, our money, or (usually) both.
The result is that I am rarely on the computer for much of anything.
Allow me to recommend this Taneyev work:
https://www.youtube.com/v/iHP1cy6bm3I&list=OLAK5uy_mqmcaOOV3cEkP-OAINkV8qY08FeI6duc0
Thank you for sharing. I'll have to check this out, as I don't believe I have heard this particular work before! :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on September 25, 2021, 02:35:03 PM
This completes your opening journey into Taneyev's chamber music. There is more to explore my friend! :)
Cheers, Ray. I look forward to further exciting explorations of this very fine composer. :)
(https://melody.su/upload/resize_cache/iblock/46f/1024_99999_1/46fe2705be3baac51ca2abff30b1e831.jpg)
I had forgot how wonderful John of Damascus is! A sort of mini-Russian-Requiem. Something ancient, solemn and spiritual inhabits this work. Svetlanov is no rushing along the orchestra, that pace does accentuate the noble spirit of this piece.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 20, 2022, 06:07:22 PM
[img width=480 height=426]https://melody.su/upload/resize_cache/iblock/46f/1024_99999_1/46fe2705be3baac51ca2abff30b1e831.jpg[/img]
I had forgot how wonderful John of Damascus is! A sort of mini-Russian-Requiem. Something ancient, solemn and spiritual inhabits this work. Svetlanov is no rushing along the orchestra, that pace does accentuate the noble spirit of this piece.
Amen!And in that vein...
Allow me to recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/v/CIYP1xzVF64
For those of you in the New York City area: Be there or be a trapezoid! 8)
https://americansymphony.org/2021-2022/taneyev-reading-of-a-psalm/ (https://americansymphony.org/2021-2022/taneyev-reading-of-a-psalm/)
Leon Botstein conducted a performance some years ago of
Taneyev's marvelous opera
The Oresteia.
Coincidentally, I listened to symphonies 1 and 3 yesterday:
(https://i.discogs.com/Vgh-6rr6uOxZlbtFUqtPJkgzxbfnzJ2vdk-1fyeKXLs/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:498/w:500/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTgwNTU3/MDktMTQ1NDI3NjA4/MC01ODAwLmpwZWc.jpeg)
Quote from: André on July 01, 2022, 02:36:14 PM
Coincidentally, I listened to symphonies 1 and 3 yesterday:
(https://i.discogs.com/Vgh-6rr6uOxZlbtFUqtPJkgzxbfnzJ2vdk-1fyeKXLs/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:498/w:500/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTgwNTU3/MDktMTQ1NDI3NjA4/MC01ODAwLmpwZWc.jpeg)
Yay Team
Taneyev! 8)
My favorite is the
Second, followed closely by the
Fourth, but the
First and
Third have great moments, and
Polyansky and his Russian crew sail through both works with enthusiasm!
Quote from: Cato on July 01, 2022, 05:10:37 PMYay Team Taneyev! 8)
My favorite is the Second, followed closely by the Fourth, but the First and Third have great moments, and Polyansky and his Russian crew sail through both works with enthusiasm!
I'm having a binge on Romantic Russian symphonies, so yet another perilous tower of CDs presents itself ripe for imminent collapse. Starting with Taneyev on Chandos. These are better performances than they're sometimes given credit for and are well-recorded, but nobody plays this repertoire now: it's well worth getting to know (No.2 was my introduction to Taneyev back in the LP days, and it is such a gorgeous work).
(https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIP.4lMWj8PDfch87rgJSLryGQHaHa&w=250&h=250&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&pid=3.1&rm=2)
(https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIP.WLfcuPMbi-wBbzmLNq0P_QHaHa&w=250&h=250&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&pid=3.1&rm=2)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Glazunov and Lyapunov are lined up. Tchaikovsky can wait on the subs-bench for the moment. I'm still stuck on Taneyev, so therefore not advancing much further into Russian scribbles until I have the mental capacity to remember what I've just listened to (some hope of that). No.2 is a truly great work with such memorable tunes and with all the thrills and spills of Glazunov's No.5. I never understand why Taneyev got the reputation as a "boring academic" when the evidence roundly refutes it...
Quote from: Albion on February 21, 2023, 06:14:50 AMI'm having a binge on Romantic Russian symphonies, so yet another perilous tower of CDs presents itself ripe for imminent collapse. Starting with Taneyev on Chandos. These are better performances than they're sometimes given credit for and are well-recorded, but nobody plays this repertoire now: it's well worth getting to know (No.2 was my introduction to Taneyev back in the LP days, and it is such a gorgeous work).
(https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIP.4lMWj8PDfch87rgJSLryGQHaHa&w=250&h=250&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&pid=3.1&rm=2)
(https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIP.WLfcuPMbi-wBbzmLNq0P_QHaHa&w=250&h=250&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&pid=3.1&rm=2)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Glazunov and Lyapunov are lined up. Tchaikovsky can wait on the subs-bench for the moment. I'm still stuck on Taneyev, so therefore not advancing much further into Russian scribbles until I have the mental capacity to remember what I've just listened to (some hope of that). No.2 is a truly great work with such memorable tunes and with all the thrills and spills of Glazunov's No.5. I never understand why Taneyev got the reputation as a "boring academic" when the evidence roundly refutes it...
I would say Taneyev is my third favourite Russian composer after Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.
And I do absolutely love the 2nd Symphony, it's my favourite of the four.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on February 21, 2023, 06:21:20 AMI would say Taneyev is my third favourite Russian composer after Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.
And I do absolutely love the 2nd Symphony, it's my favourite of the four.
No.2 is just bloody glorious, and Polyansky delivers. My prospective listening also includes Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Steinberg, Prokofiev and Shostakovich (doing the rounds again, since my memory is so shot) so I may well be dead by the time I get through it all...
::)
Quote from: Albion on February 21, 2023, 08:46:51 AMNo.2 is just bloody glorious, and Polyansky delivers. My prospective listening also includes Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Steinberg, Prokofiev and Shostakovich (doing the rounds again, since my memory is so shot) so I may well be dead by the time I get through it all...
::)
I am not very familiar with the Polyansky performances of the symphonies, although I think I may have sampled them well over a decade ago. I have the Sanderling performances.
I have so many new purchased recordings to listen to that have arrived over the last few weeks....but I am taking a break to revisit this fabulous set, as I had a hankering for Taneyev:
Now listening to Disc 4 of this set:
String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 19 (1905)
String Quartet No. 9 in A major (1883)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._AC_SL1200_.jpg)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on March 30, 2023, 06:43:43 AMI have so many new purchased recordings to listen to that have arrived over the last few weeks...
Taneyev has a great voice, as have Lyapunov, Liadov and Glazunov but they're
never heard in concert or recital. Even Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov are rarely programmed now beyond a few works apiece. There's no hope for Glinka, Borodin or Balakirev... ::)
Quote from: Albion on March 31, 2023, 12:03:03 PMTaneyev has a great voice, as have Lyapunov, Liadov and Glazunov but they're never heard in concert or recital. Even Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov are rarely programmed now beyond a few works apiece. There's no hope for Glinka, Borodin or Balakirev... ::)
If you keep throwing additional Russians at me, I'm never going to get out of their reach. Four names there who are almost undiscovered for me, aside from Taneyev who I know poorly. Even the four I know, need much revisiting.
Taneyev is fairly high on my 'to do' list, however.
Quote from: foxandpeng on March 31, 2023, 01:02:01 PMTaneyev is fairly high on my 'to do' list, however.
How happy I am to hear this,
Danny! :)
Quote from: foxandpeng on March 31, 2023, 01:02:01 PMIf you keep throwing additional Russians at me, I'm never going to get out of their reach. Four names there who are almost undiscovered for me, aside from Taneyev who I know poorly. Even the four I know, need much revisiting.
Taneyev is fairly high on my 'to do' list, however.
Allow me to recommend something for this season of Lent and Easter: an cantata full of excitement, as well as mysticism!
Quote from: foxandpeng on March 31, 2023, 01:02:01 PMIf you keep throwing additional Russians at me, I'm never going to get out of their reach. Four names there who are almost undiscovered for me, aside from Taneyev who I know poorly. Even the four I know, need much revisiting.
Taneyev is fairly high on my 'to do' list, however.
Tell me about it: one of the innumerable CD towers in my bedroom (to which I am confined, for health rather than legal reasons) is Russian (Glinka through to Shostakovich) and threatens to collapse at any time. There is just so much gorgeous repertoire which is totally ignored. I'll be found dead underneath a pile of plastic and simply be shovelled off along with the same.
DO seriously give Taneyev a try, especially symphonies 2 and 4, both are splendid and the Chandos disc is good as there is. I gave up caring about how much stuff (CDs, scores and books) I have years ago when I started to become increasingly immobile and now I just add to the general chaos to the point where I can't bloody find anything. I recently discovered Bax buried with Sullivan, Biber, Poulenc, Tovey, Scott, John Adams and Tchaikovsky (not that I could excavate any of it without causing terminal injury)... ::)
Quote from: Cato on March 31, 2023, 01:16:46 PMAllow me to recommend something for this season of Lent and Easter: an cantata full of excitement, as well as mysticism!
Thank you, Cato. This fits a variety of interest areas for me!
Quote from: Albion on March 31, 2023, 01:31:45 PMTell me about it: one of the innumerable CD towers in my bedroom (to which I am confined, for health rather than legal reasons) is Russian (Glinka through to Shostakovich) and threatens to collapse at any time. There is just so much gorgeous repertoire which is totally ignored. I'll be found dead underneath a pile of plastic and simply be shovelled off along with the same. DO seriously give Taneyev a try, especially symphonies 2 and 4, both are splendid and the Chandos disc is good as there is. I gave up caring about how much stuff (CDs, scores and books) I have years ago when I started to become increasingly immobile and now I just add to the general chaos to the point where I can't bloody find anything. I recently discovered Bax buried with Sullivan, Biber, Poulenc, Tovey, Scott, John Adams and Tchaikovsky (not that I could excavate any of it without causing terminal injury)... ::)
Haha. That made me laugh.
I'm happily overwhelmed by the sheer breadth and volume of discoveries yet to be made. I'm more than happy to continue the exploration, and Taneyev is most certainly in my sights. Thanks for the specific recs.
I do wish I had more than one set of ears, however.
Quote from: foxandpeng on March 31, 2023, 01:52:53 PMHaha. That made me laugh.
I'm happily overwhelmed by the sheer breadth and volume of discoveries yet to be made. I'm more than happy to continue the exploration, and Taneyev is most certainly in my sights. Thanks for the specific recs.
I do wish I had more than one set of ears, however.
My bedroom resembles the old HMV in Oxford Street, only not so organised and compressed into a 6x10 foot space. Everything (over 5000 CDs) is just piled up randomly, most of it on the floor, under the bed and on my desk. I have no clue where most things are now, but I know that I have them somewhere...
Quote from: Albion on March 31, 2023, 02:45:23 PMMy bedroom resembles the old HMV in Oxford Street, only not so organised and compressed into a 6x10 foot space. Everything (over 5000 CDs) is just piled up randomly, most of it on the floor, under the bed and on my desk. I have no clue where most things are now, but I know that I have them somewhere...
This encourages me.
First recent listen to Taneyev 2 and 4 just now.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 01, 2023, 05:39:23 PMThis encourages me.
;D
First recent listen to Taneyev 2 and 4 just now.
I don't have this Naxos series, but I have very fond memories of the cantata "John of Damascus" from the LP days and would like to revisit it. What's your impression of these Sanderling performances and the recording quality? If they're good, I'll probably buy the box and then probably lose it under another heap of CDs...
I am neither a fox or a peng, but I can put in a very good word for all the Sanderling/Naxos recordings for Taneyev. I have all of them, including the symphonies, Damascus cantata, Suite for violin and orchestra, Oresteia Overture, etc.
All wonderful performances that I return to repeatedly, and in my opinion, great recorded sound.
Strong recommedation from the Nut.
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 03:58:32 AMI don't have this Naxos series, but I have very fond memories of the cantata "John of Damascus" from the LP days and would like to revisit it. What's your impression of these Sanderling performances and the recording quality? If they're good, I'll probably buy the box and then probably lose it under another heap of CDs...
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 03, 2023, 04:07:07 AMI am neither a fox or a peng, but I can put in a very good word for all the Sanderling/Naxos recordings for Taneyev. I have all of them, including the symphonies, Damascus cantata, Suite for violin and orchestra, Oresteia Overture, etc.
All wonderful performances that I return to repeatedly, and in my opinion, great recorded sound.
Strong recommedation from the Nut.
Yeah, I like what I hear. The quality of the recording seems really good to my untrained ear. I always prefer sound that feels pretty immersive and immediate over something that sounds as though it is coming from 'over there'.
As to whether these are better than the Polyansky that I have heard, I'm not really sure. Sounds good to me, though 😁
As much as I do enjoy Taneyev's symphonies and other orchestral works, I am more drawn to his chamber music. I feel this is where he excelled.
Quote from: Albion on March 31, 2023, 01:31:45 PMTell me about it: one of the innumerable CD towers in my bedroom (to which I am confined, for health rather than legal reasons) is Russian (Glinka through to Shostakovich) and threatens to collapse at any time. There is just so much gorgeous repertoire which is totally ignored. I'll be found dead underneath a pile of plastic and simply be shovelled off along with the same. DO seriously give Taneyev a try, especially symphonies 2 and 4, both are splendid and the Chandos disc is good as there is. I gave up caring about how much stuff (CDs, scores and books) I have years ago when I started to become increasingly immobile and now I just add to the general chaos to the point where I can't bloody find anything. I recently discovered Bax buried with Sullivan, Biber, Poulenc, Tovey, Scott, John Adams and Tchaikovsky (not that I could excavate any of it without causing terminal injury)... ::)
Good to find someone with an equally chaotic 'filing system'. My old office at the school where I used to teach looked like the 'Steptoe and Son' junk shop, consisting of 100s of old history books and magazines, a large collection of obsolete VHS videos, old exam papers, maps, photographs and a papier-maché owl, presented to me by one of the pupils. One day the Deputy Head appeared in my office telling me that the Headmistress had asked him to instruct me to tidy up my office, adding that the school would help me, for example (and this is quite genuine) by 'hiring a skip'. I expect that the same fate is in store for my CD collection one day.
Now listening to this excellent performance of the Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30, featuring Tamara Fidler on the piano with the Taneyev String Quartet. The 3rd movement Largo featuring a Passacaglia never fails to move me!
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71X4hHRuUbL._AC_SL1200_.jpg)
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk4NDgyMy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NDN9)
@foxandpeng Some other chamber music recommendations (although I highly recommend the Northern Flowers/Taneyev Quartet box set above):
The Naxos Carpe Diem Quartet recordings of the complete string quartets are also quite good, and they were my introduction into the composer. Overall, I do prefer the performances of the Taneyev SQ, but the sound here on the Naxos is better.
These two CDs:
The Leopold Trio are fantastic here!
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk3NjM5MS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NjQ3NTg4Njl9)
This includes the Piano Quintet and Piano Trio.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzNzgzNi4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0NjQ3OTU4NDR9)
Something to keep in mind. Although Taneyev wrote 9 string quartets, the numbering is misleading.
Basically, the order of composition is:
7,8,9,1,2,3,4,5,6
Quote from: vandermolen on April 03, 2023, 04:36:36 AMGood to find someone with an equally chaotic 'filing system'. My old office at the school where I used to teach looked like the 'Steptoe and Son' junk shop, consisting of 100s of old history books and magazines, a large collection of obsolete VHS videos, old exam papers, maps, photographs and a papier-maché owl, presented to me by one of the pupils. One day the Deputy Head appeared in my office telling me that the Headmistress had asked him to instruct me to tidy up my office, adding that the school would help me, for example (and this is quite genuine) by 'hiring a skip'. I expect that the same fate is in store for my CD collection one day.
;D ;D ;D
When they find me buried underneath a mountain of CDs, DVDs, books, scores, overflowing ashtrays, empty lager cans and tins of Heinz Big Soup they'll probably just consign me to the skip as well...
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 03, 2023, 06:02:59 AM@foxandpeng
Some other chamber music recommendations (although I highly recommend the Northern Flowers/Taneyev Quartet box set above):
The Naxos Carpe Diem Quartet recordings of the complete string quartets are also quite good, and they were my introduction into the composer. Overall, I do prefer the performances of the Taneyev SQ, but the sound here on the Naxos is better.
These two CDs:
The Leopold Trio are fantastic here!
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk3NjM5MS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NjQ3NTg4Njl9)
This includes the Piano Quintet and Piano Trio.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzNzgzNi4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0NjQ3OTU4NDR9)
Thank you for these. String quartets and string trios on the list! I did very briefly poke the SQs a while ago, but got distracted by a passing badger or something, so didn't give them the attention they deserve.
My SQ 'to do' list is growing... Myaskovsky, Simpson, Taneyev...
I hear good things about the Taneyev. Thank you for the actual order, too 🙂
Quote from: vandermolen on April 03, 2023, 04:36:36 AMGood to find someone with an equally chaotic 'filing system'. My old office at the school where I used to teach looked like the 'Steptoe and Son' junk shop, consisting of 100s of old history books and magazines, a large collection of obsolete VHS videos, old exam papers, maps, photographs and a papier-maché owl, presented to me by one of the pupils. One day the Deputy Head appeared in my office telling me that the Headmistress had asked him to instruct me to tidy up my office, adding that the school would help me, for example (and this is quite genuine) by 'hiring a skip'. I expect that the same fate is in store for my CD collection one day.
I was waiting for your reaction on Albion's home storage problem, as I know you were struggling also with space and chaos. Did a lot of grinning about this, since my collection is super organized, so all is safe, no chance of collapsing CD piles, or CD's I cannot find. Just go on a 2 months holiday and let me organize your home. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Harry on April 03, 2023, 06:17:31 AMI was waiting for your reaction on Albion's home storage problem, as I know you were struggling also with space and chaos. Did a lot of grinning about this, since my collection is super organized, so all is safe, no chance of collapsing CD piles, or CD's I cannot find. Just go on a 2 months holiday and let me organize your home. ;D ;D ;D
I'm also like you, Harry, in that I am immensely organised, even though I am a hoarder of all things musical, literary, glossy or collectable. I know where it all is, I just have too much of it. Apart from CDs. I got rid of those a while ago because it was just unmanageable. My primary challenge is too many books.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 03, 2023, 04:07:07 AMI am neither a fox or a peng, but I can put in a very good word for all the Sanderling/Naxos recordings for Taneyev. I have all of them, including the symphonies, Damascus cantata, Suite for violin and orchestra, Oresteia Overture, etc.
All wonderful performances that I return to repeatedly, and in my opinion, great recorded sound.
Strong recommedation from the Nut.
That's a great help to know, thanks for the assessment! The set is now in my Amazon basket awaiting the next payday...
;)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81h23S7NDqL._AC_SX569_.jpg)
...can't wait to hear "John of Damascus" again.
;D
Quote from: Harry on April 03, 2023, 06:17:31 AMI was waiting for your reaction on Albion's home storage problem, as I know you were struggling also with space and chaos. Did a lot of grinning about this, since my collection is super organized, so all is safe, no chance of collapsing CD piles, or CD's I cannot find. Just go on a 2 months holiday and let me organize your home. ;D ;D ;D
I now adopt a policy that whatever happens to be reasonably near the top of a pile has a chance of being listened to, and if that pile happens to fall over I may find something of interest amongst the resulting debris...
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 06:34:15 AMThat's a great help to know, thanks for the assessment! The set is now in my Amazon basket awaiting the next payday...
;)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81h23S7NDqL._AC_SX569_.jpg)
...can't wait to hear "John of Damascus" again.
;D
I now adopt a policy that whatever happens to be reasonably near the top of a pile has a chance of being listened to, and if that pile happens to fall over I may find something of interest amongst the resulting debris...
Glad to hear you have added it to the pending basket! :) Looks like Harry and Foxandpeng need to visit you as well as vandermolen for organizational services! ;)
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 06:28:50 AMI'm also like you, Harry, in that I am immensely organised, even though I am a hoarder of all things musical, literary, glossy or collectable. I know where it all is, I just have too much of it. Apart from CDs. I got rid of those a while ago because it was just unmanageable. My primary challenge is too many books.
O well I am happy there is also someone on GMG that is as organized as I am. :) :) :)
I was an hoarder of CD'S but since I bought a streamer, that problem is over also.
I just culled out a lot of CD"s and gave them away, so there is light at the end of the tunnel ;D
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 03, 2023, 06:39:33 AMGlad to hear you have added it to the pending basket! :) Looks like Harry and Foxandpeng need to visit you as well as vandermolen for organizational services! ;)
That, together with the Reger orchestral set on DG and the Respighi set on Brilliant Classics, so that's the rent blown and another week of soup.
I'm intrigued by the reference on the Naxos to
Symphony No.2 being "completed and edited by Vladimir Blok" - there's no reference to this on the Chandos recording as far as I can see. Is this of any relevance?
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 06:52:45 AMThat, together with the Reger orchestral set on DG and the Respighi set on Brilliant Classics, so that's the rent blown and another week of soup.
I'm intrigued by the reference on the Naxos to Symphony No.2 being "completed and edited by Vladimir Blok" - there's no reference to this on the Chandos recording as far as I can see. Is this of any relevance?
I've just read on the Naxos site that
Despite Tchaikovsky's encouragement to finish the symphony, Taneyev did not complete it. Although the Introduction and Allegro and Finale were finished, the second movement was only partially scored, and not a single musical idea for the Scherzo survives. The Soviet musician Vladimir Blok edited the first and last movements of the symphony and orchestrated the Andante, which was published and given its première in 1977.So that's all well and good...
;D
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 06:52:45 AMThat, together with the Reger orchestral set on DG and the Respighi set on Brilliant Classics, so that's the rent blown and another week of soup.
I'm intrigued by the reference on the Naxos to Symphony No.2 being "completed and edited by Vladimir Blok" - there's no reference to this on the Chandos recording as far as I can see. Is this of any relevance?
Yes, this symphony is considered "unfinished". Taneyev has substantially finished the first and final movements, although Blok did some editing. The Andante second movement was orchestrated by Blok. The symphony is in only three movements since Taneyev never completed the scherzo and there is nothing that survives from the scherzo. I believe both the Chandos and Naxos are the exact same versions though.
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 07:12:50 AMI've just read on the Naxos site that
Despite Tchaikovsky's encouragement to finish the symphony, Taneyev did not complete it. Although the Introduction and Allegro and Finale were finished, the second movement was only partially scored, and not a single musical idea for the Scherzo survives. The Soviet musician Vladimir Blok edited the first and last movements of the symphony and orchestrated the Andante, which was published and given its première in 1977.
So that's all well and good...
;D
You beat me to the race. ;D
Quote from: Harry on April 03, 2023, 06:43:30 AMO well I am happy there is also someone on GMG that is as organized as I am. :) :) :)
I was an hoarder of CD'S but since I bought a streamer, that problem is over also.
I just culled out a lot of CD"s and gave them away, so there is light at the end of the tunnel ;D
Same journey here about 4 years ago. I did rip all my CDs to HD before they went to Oxfam, however, even though I almost exclusively stream. My downloads, rips and YouTube grabs do get used where there is no streaming alternative. I also have inordinate amounts of downloads courtesy of Albion's hard work elsewhere. He is a star.
It does mean that all my listening comes through my phone and headphones now, barring Sonos plays through the house when I can convince my poor wife to endure listening to 'that dreadful tuneless rubbish/lift music/depressing banging'.
She particularly loves PMD. Oh, yes.
Taneyev is almost acceptable.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 03, 2023, 07:14:57 AMYes, this symphony is considered "unfinished". Taneyev has substantially finished the first and final movements, although Blok did some editing. The Andante second movement was orchestrated by Blok. The symphony is in only three movements since Taneyev never completed the scherzo and there is nothing that survives from the scherzo. I believe both the Chandos and Naxos are the exact same versions though.
Blok clearly did an amazingly idiomatic job with the slow movement. Personally, I don't really think that the second symphony needs a scherzo...
;)
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 07:26:07 AMSame journey here about 4 years ago. I did rip all my CDs to HD before they went to Oxfam, however, even though I almost exclusively stream. My downloads, rips and YouTube grabs do get used where there is no streaming alternative. I also have inordinate amounts of downloads courtesy of Albion's hard work elsewhere. He is a star.
It does mean that all my listening comes through my phone and headphones now, barring Sonos plays through the house when I can convince my poor wife to endure listening to 'that dreadful tuneless rubbish/lift music/depressing banging'.
She particularly loves PMD. Oh, yes.
Taneyev is almost acceptable.
I'll bet she's partial to a bit of Birtwistle's "Gawain" and Tippett's "The Vision of St Augustine" for a spot of relaxation from the air-splitting horror of Taneyev. Mosolov's "Iron Foundry" always gets me through the washing-up in double-quick time, since that's what it sounds like as I drop pans and smash crockery on a regular basis and it masks the din that I create at the sink...
;D
.
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 07:55:26 AMI'll bet she's partial to a bit of Birtwistle's "Gawain" and Tippett's "The Vision of St Augustine" for a spot of relaxation from the air-splitting horror of Taneyev. Mosolov's "Iron Foundry" always gets me through the washing-up in double-quick time, since that's what it sounds like as I drop pans and smash crockery on a regular basis and it masks the din that I create at the sink...
;D
Loves it. Searle, Bent Sørensen, Nørgård... all the good boys.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 08:23:41 AMLoves it. Searle, Bent Sørensen, Nørgård... all the good boys.
OT
Pettersson's 12th Symphony 'The Dead in the Marketplace' always goes down well here. ::)
Quote from: vandermolen on April 03, 2023, 08:45:38 AMOT
Pettersson's 12th Symphony 'The Dead in the Marketplace' always goes down well here. ::)
;D
Better than "The Undead at Tesco" which is what I often experience - I've written a suite: 1. "Two Geriatrics Fight Over Getting the Largest Cucumber" (Allegro confrontando); 2. "Whoops, I've Knocked Over a Pile of Spaghetti Hoops and Cleared Off Leaving Someone Else to Clear Up the Mess" (Scherzo confusiando); 3. "I Can't Find the Constipation Tablets" (Largo con molto); 4. "Accosted for Trying to Nick Items Through the Self-Service Checkout" (Allegro doloroso). Soon to be premiered by somebody or other, pending my release on bail...
Sergei Taneyev
Complete String Quartets
String Quartet 1
Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers
I almost feel a little guilty in suggesting that while this is accessible and attractive music, it is, dare I say, almost too accessible and attractive? I seem to remember thinking this last time I played this set. It is obviously very engaging, but it somehow lacks bite and challenge. I may be simply needing a change of gear after spending such a long time in music from a period that isn't my first love.
Perseverance needed.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 04:45:54 PMSergei Taneyev
Complete String Quartets
String Quartet 1
Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers
I almost feel a little guilty in suggesting that while this is accessible and attractive music, it is, dare I say, almost too accessible and attractive? I seem to remember thinking this last time I played this set. It is obviously very engaging, but it somehow lacks bite and challenge. I may be simply needing a change of gear after spending such a long time in music from a period that isn't my first love.
Perseverance needed.
Can anything be too accessible and attractive? After all, Bantock has fallen foul of this accusation (Dave Hurwitz, who I greatly admire, loathes him for no apparent reason other than to promote the equally wonderful Bax)? Some composers are just "easy on the ear" and you've got to mix the rough with the smooth: a varied diet is always a healthier proposition, with a tin of pea and ham soup here and a Vindaloo there. I remember sitting through Tippett's "King Priam" given by Opera North in the 1990s and thinking "when are they going to hand out the bloody razor blades?" then I went away and heard it again and thought "I should really know this" not that anybody pays it any attention now. As our lives are now, "accessible and attractive" is just fine if it gets you through the next day without calamity...
;D
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 05:25:27 PMCan anything be too accessible and attractive? After all, Bantock has fallen foul of this accusation (Dave Hurwitz, who I greatly admire, loathes him for no apparent reason other than to promote the equally wonderful Bax)? Some composers are just "easy on the ear" and you've got to mix the rough with the smooth: a varied diet is always a healthier proposition, with a tin of pea and ham soup here and a Vindaloo there. I remember sitting through Tippett's "King Priam" given by Opera North in the 1990s and thinking "when are they going to hand out the bloody razor blades?" then I went away and heard it again and thought "I should really know this" not that anybody pays it any attention now. As our lives are now, "accessible and attractive" is just fine if it gets you through the next day without calamity...
;D
You could well be correct. Change of pace required temporarily, I think.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 05:38:09 PMYou could well be correct. Change of pace required temporarily, I think.
Good luck. I tried to change pace decades ago and went into reverse gear, taking out several small trees and a neighbour's conservatory...
;D
Quote from: Albion on April 03, 2023, 09:00:33 AM;D
Better than "The Undead at Tesco" which is what I often experience - I've written a suite: 1. "Two Geriatrics Fight Over Getting the Largest Cucumber" (Allegro confrontando); 2. "Whoops, I've Knocked Over a Pile of Spaghetti Hoops and Cleared Off Leaving Someone Else to Clear Up the Mess" (Scherzo confusiando); 3. "I Can't Find the Constipation Tablets" (Largo con molto); 4. "Accosted for Trying to Nick Items Through the Self-Service Checkout" (Allegro doloroso). Soon to be premiered by somebody or other, pending my release on bail...
OT
I liked the, apparently true, story of the man who, when paying for his groceries, was insulted when the person on the check-out held up his bank notes to the light, in order to check they were not forgeries. He took his revenge by testing every coin, given to him in change, by banging it on the counter and then testing it with his teeth.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 04:45:54 PMSergei Taneyev
Complete String Quartets
String Quartet 1
Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers
I almost feel a little guilty in suggesting that while this is accessible and attractive music, it is, dare I say, almost too accessible and attractive? I seem to remember thinking this last time I played this set. It is obviously very engaging, but it somehow lacks bite and challenge. I may be simply needing a change of gear after spending such a long time in music from a period that isn't my first love.
Perseverance needed.
Having another go at this, this morning. Hoping it will feel less bland and pedestrian than it did yesterday. I appreciate that frame of mind can affect listening, so new ears today.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 03, 2023, 04:45:54 PMSergei Taneyev
Complete String Quartets
String Quartet 1
Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers
I almost feel a little guilty in suggesting that while this is accessible and attractive music, it is, dare I say, almost too accessible and attractive? I seem to remember thinking this last time I played this set. It is obviously very engaging, but it somehow lacks bite and challenge. I may be simply needing a change of gear after spending such a long time in music from a period that isn't my first love.
Perseverance needed.
Hmmm, interesting Danny. For those who struggle with Taneyev's music, it tends to be because they view the music as stuffy and academic. Which I don't get at all?
Perhaps I could suggest trying the Piano Quintet, one of the String Trios or the String Quintet No. 2, a rare piece of Taneyev's that I have not enjoyed to date. Maybe you could make sense of it! 🙂
Quote from: OrchestralNut on April 04, 2023, 02:21:12 AMHmmm, interesting Danny. For those who struggle with Taneyev's music, it tends to be because they view the music as stuffy and academic. Which I don't get at all?
Perhaps I could suggest trying the Piano Quintet, one of the String Trios or the String Quintet No. 2, a rare piece of Taneyev's that I have not enjoyed to date. Maybe you could make sense of it! 🙂
I will certainly give the Trios and Quintet a go.
I'm not sure whether it is just me, my friend. I'm listening to SQs 1 and 4 as we speak, and they feel like the sort of inoffensive background music I would choose when entertaining friends over food and wine, rather than music I would want to hear alone. It feels like cultural wallpaper.
Who am I to be so dismissive? Good grief.
Perhaps you might need some 'fresh air' from all of the Russian music you have been absorbing yourself in recently. I could not live without Russian music, but even I have to break away from it now and then. :D
Having said all this, it is perfectly fine if the quartets aren't grabbing you. I am still very confident some of his music will! 🙂
Quote from: vandermolen on April 04, 2023, 12:18:28 AMOT
I liked the, apparently true, story of the man who, when paying for his groceries, was insulted when the person on the check-out held up his bank notes to the light, in order to check they were not forgeries. He took his revenge by testing every coin, given to him in change, by banging it on the counter and then testing it with his teeth.
;D ;D ;D
When my dad passed away he had accumulated so much small coinage that I had to get a shopping trolley and wheel it into Tesco to feed it into one of those machines which sorts it and gives you a receipt to take to customer services. It clattered and banged for about three hours as it processed about twenty years worth of 1ps and 2ps, deafening anybody within a twenty meter radius - when a staff-member came up and asked how long I would be making this din I simply shrugged my shoulders and shovelled a whole load more in...
Allow me to assure those who might not like the quartets that his opera The Oresteia is one of the best works in his catalogue!
Unfortunately, the one recording from many decades ago (I am told) has cuts.
The uncut performance from c. 10 years ago, with Leon Botstein conducting the American Symphony Orchestra with some excellent Russian singers is not on CD's, for some inexplicable reason!
You can download it from various services e.g.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5gSaK9PR4T9Aa4PzFzxKgF (https://open.spotify.com/album/5gSaK9PR4T9Aa4PzFzxKgF)
Amazon also offers it:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOTT6TS/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=OResteia+Taneyev&link_code=qs&qid=1680621598&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-9 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOTT6TS/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=OResteia+Taneyev&link_code=qs&qid=1680621598&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-9)
Marvelous work!
Quote from: Cato on April 04, 2023, 07:21:38 AMAllow me to assure those might not like the quartets that his opera The Oresteia is one of the best works in his catalogue!
Unfortunately, the one recording from many decades ago (I am told) has cuts.
The uncut performance from c. 10 years ago, with Leon Botstein conducting the American Symphony Orchestra with some excellent Russian singers is not on CD's, for some inexplicable reason!
You can download it from various services e.g.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5gSaK9PR4T9Aa4PzFzxKgF (https://open.spotify.com/album/5gSaK9PR4T9Aa4PzFzxKgF)
Amazon also offers it:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOTT6TS/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=OResteia+Taneyev&link_code=qs&qid=1680621598&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-9 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOTT6TS/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=OResteia+Taneyev&link_code=qs&qid=1680621598&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-9)
Marvelous work!
Have not heard the opera itself, but the Oresteia Overture is a firecracker! :)
Quote from: vandermolen on April 04, 2023, 12:18:28 AMOT
I liked the, apparently true, story of the man who, when paying for his groceries, was insulted when the person on the check-out held up his bank notes to the light, in order to check they were not forgeries. He took his revenge by testing every coin, given to him in change, by banging it on the counter and then testing it with his teeth.
I shared this story, and a fellow musician friend responded: Oh for Pete's sake, it's just part of their job. What a petty fool to get upset about it. I can attest to this. Here in the US, there is an ink which shows a different color on a counterfeit bill. When I worked in the MFA gift shop, we had such pens at the register, and the manager required us to verify any large bill.
Quote from: Karl Henning on April 04, 2023, 10:28:50 AMI shared this story, and a fellow musician friend responded: Oh for Pete's sake, it's just part of their job. What a petty fool to get upset about it. I can attest to this. Here in the US, there is an ink which shows a different color on a counterfeit bill. When I worked in the MFA gift shop, we had such pens at the register, and the manager required us to verify any large bill.
Fair enough but I can still understand the shopper's reaction.
Taneyev's SQs contain some fine music, but overall can't quite escape the feeling of being rather "academic" in places. The real "red meat" of Taneyev's output IMO is to be found in his magnificent Piano Quintet, Piano Quartet, the Suite de Concert for violin and orchestra, Symphony no. 4, and the Oresteia Overture (the latter two must be heard in the N. Jarvi/Philharmonia recording on Chandos). If only these compositions had survived from Taneyev's pen, it would be enough for me to consider him a great composer!