I recently introduced to this wonderful piece on WFMT. They were playing the Fritz Reiner recording, which includes on disk, pieces from Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Any thoughts on this recording?
http://www.amazon.com/Hovhaness-Mysterious-Mountain-Alan/dp/B000003FMX
Perhaps, some other reccomendations?
That's pretty much the reference. It was the first time that a major orchestra performed and recorded his work and it was a breakthrough for Hovhaness's career (after Copland and Bernstein were so mean to him and called his music "ghetto music"). Gerard Schwarz with the Seattle SO is another good choice, but Reiner has hardly been bettered.
Another vote for the Reiner recording. (I don't recall hearing the Seattle one.) A very striking piece, from a very unusual compositional voice.
--Bruce
Schwarz must have made more than one recording of this work then. I have this one:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00008PROE.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_AA240_.jpg)
Hardly what I would call a knockout. Maybe I'll seek out the Reiner.
Well look no further than the more than excellent Naxos recordings and licensed ones. Good value and good recordings.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on April 18, 2007, 08:56:24 AM
Schwarz must have made more than one recording of this work then. I have this one:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00008PROE.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_AA240_.jpg)
Hardly what I would call a knockout. Maybe I'll seek out the Reiner.
I meant this one:
(http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000006ZD.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_V44436286_AA240_.jpg)
I haven't listened to it in a long time, but it doesn't reach Reiner's level.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on April 18, 2007, 08:56:24 AM
Schwarz must have made more than one recording of this work then. I have this one:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00008PROE.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_AA240_.jpg)
Hardly what I would call a knockout. Maybe I'll seek out the Reiner.
I like the recording a great deal; my quarrel is more with the composer, in that all the pieces blur together . . . .
Quote from: karlhenning on April 18, 2007, 09:07:05 AM
I like the recording a great deal; my quarrel is more with the composer, in that all the pieces blur together . . . .
I think it's hard to put a success all-Hovhaness program together. Many of his music sound so-alike. A great conductor will most likely take great care to differentiate these similar pieces, which Schwarz failed to do.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on April 18, 2007, 09:13:02 AM
I think it's hard to put a success all-Hovhaness program together. Many of his music sound so-alike.
Yes, which is one reason the
I Fiamminghi disc is such a success, I think (http://www.amazon.com/Hovhaness-Celestial-Other-Orchestral-Works/dp/B000003D0V/ref=sr_1_2/002-7979366-0336018?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176916647&sr=1-2). The variety of works and textures helps a lot.
All the pieces on the
Schwarz disc are pleasant to listen to, but
Hovhaness's Muse seemed to sing to him in much the same tone, whenever it was a matter of an orchestral work inspired by a mountain 8)
Quote from: karlhenning on April 18, 2007, 09:07:05 AM
I like the recording a great deal; my quarrel is more with the composer, in that all the pieces blur together . . . .
That's true of the majority of his works, but a few have quite a bit of character. Have you heard his Cello Concerto?
Quote from: O Mensch on April 18, 2007, 09:21:50 AM
That's true of the majority of his works, but a few have quite a bit of character. Have you heard his Cello Concerto?
They do indeed, and no, I have not yet heard the
Cello Concerto.
Quote from: karlhenning on April 18, 2007, 09:19:53 AM
All the pieces on the Schwartz disc are pleasant to listen to, but Hovhaness's Muse seemed to sing to him in much the same tone, whenever it was a matter of an orchestral work inspired by a mountain 8)
Isn't the guy's name
Schwarz and not
Schwartz. I am not the official spelling police but since you had it in bold...
Thanks, I've corrected it in my post.
I love what I heard of this composer, and could happily listen all evening without fatigue really, to music of his hand.
Each work has for me a individuality, and is clearly distinguishable from other works composed by him.
Quote from: karlhenning on April 18, 2007, 09:22:51 AM
They do indeed, and no, I have not yet heard the Cello Concerto.
You should. There is a very fine and inexpensive recording with Starker with some stuning contributions from the Seattle SO's trombone section.
Quote from: Steve on April 18, 2007, 08:30:48 AM
I recently introduced to this wonderful piece on WFMT. They were playing the Fritz Reiner recording, which includes on disk, pieces from Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Any thoughts on this recording?
http://www.amazon.com/Hovhaness-Mysterious-Mountain-Alan/dp/B000003FMX
Perhaps, some other reccomendations?
Mount St. Helens (Symphony No. 50), which I think is one of 20th century's greatest symphonies.
Quote from: O Mensch on April 18, 2007, 09:21:50 AM
That's true of the majority of his works, but a few have quite a bit of character. Have you heard his Cello Concerto?
Karl, is your scuffle with the composer due to his undifferetiated works, or the amorphous (melting-pot) nature of this piece? I am interested in tyring the Schwarz. What where you fond of? Sonics, tone, articulation, tempi?
reiner/cso for me. i heard the seattle once and enjoyed it also.
dj
Look no further than
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000JSAT.01-AK2BFM54U2G6G._SCLZZZZZZZ_V43696483_AA130_.jpg)
The Hovhaness Collection Vol. 2 on Delos, which includes Mysterious Mountain and the much better Mount St. Helens symphony. Another excellent symphony by this composer is Celestial Gate.
Quote from: Steve on April 18, 2007, 06:13:42 PM
Karl, is your scuffle with the composer due to his undifferetiated works, or the amorphous (melting-pot) nature of this piece?
The former; I do enjoy the character of both pieces . . . if I like Tweedledee, how shall I dspise Tweedledum? ;)
Quote from: BorisG on April 18, 2007, 01:20:55 PM
Mount St. Helens (Symphony No. 50), which I think is one of 20th century's greatest symphonies.
Another vote for this. I think it is Hovhannes masterpiece, but I also like Symphony 1 "Exile" No 11 "All Men are brothers" (kind of appropriate at the moment), Odysseus Symphony, St Vartan Symphony and Meditations on Orpheus. The critics are quite snooty about Hovhannes ("atmosphere not argument, like film music" etc) but I think it deserves more serious consideration. I suspect that his music will last. the Japanese compose yoshimatsu (many Chandos CDs) is not dissimilar (and also written off by many critics) but it means more to me than music by a lot of more highly rated contemporary composers.
I'm going and say it....someone needs to say it!
Hovhaness is the American version of Vivaldi. >:D
Quote from: johnQpublic on April 19, 2007, 04:20:50 PM
I'm going and say it....someone needs to say it!
Hovhaness is the American version of Vivaldi. >:D
There was no need at all my friend to do that, for it is simply not true.
Read the scores, before you write something down like that. :)
Anyway, I think that "atmosphere not argument" is a valid aesthetic to pursue, and in the hands of a master can be great art. So that phrase of itself does not at all dismiss Hovhaness.
Quote from: Steve on April 18, 2007, 08:30:48 AM
I recently introduced to this wonderful piece on WFMT. They were playing the Fritz Reiner recording, which includes on disk, pieces from Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Any thoughts on this recording?
http://www.amazon.com/Hovhaness-Mysterious-Mountain-Alan/dp/B000003FMX
Perhaps, some other reccomendations?
Superb performance but inferior recording sonics.