There, have at it!!
String Quartets 1-3 (Balanescu Quartet; Ardo)
I think this is the only real proper Nyman disc I have, technically it's a 'classic'... I mean, you know, at the time it was something somewhat different. The 1st was written for the Ardittis (main reason for purchase) and has a Beatles-meet-Shankar sound that is somewhat appealing.
Now, since I don't have it here, I get 2 and 3 mixed up, but, the latest one is in the 'slow' Minimalist mode, which makes it more pleasing and less overtly 'annoying' (for those who have small tolerance for the meat-and-potatoes of Minimalism). Overall, if I had to compare Glass's Kronos disc with this, then it's no challenge at all: I'd heartily go with the Glass. Glass's SQs seem so much more organic, perhaps only his first two have that 'typical' Glass/Nyman feel, whereas Nyman seems to prefer staying in that 'endless' place.
Sure, I've enjoyed the SOUNDTRACKS, which, I suppose, is what makes this type of music utilitarian: it certainly works as expectant mood music for Thrillers and such- but, check out Klaus Sch. and Tangerine Dream too... I always say (I don't) that you have to...
I'll put it this way- anything that's in Nyman's book (is it 'New Sounds'?) should ALL fall into the same category: Minimalism is just a technique- I just don't see how it is a means to any end (that END happened around 1981!!).
If you've noticed, Minimalism ISN"T ubiquitous anymore. The '70s are gone. 'Logan's Run' has been supplanted. time to move on!
WHAAAT??? You didn't like 'Nyman's Hymen'??????? How quietly you do your dirty business, ahhhh!!! :laugh:
I do believe the two Nyman CDs (Song book and... another one) are the only two CDs that I have owned for more than a year (more than 10, actually), without listening to.
I forgot why I have it. Maybe it was 99c or was a freebie from BMG?
Quote from: springrite on February 20, 2014, 07:15:06 AM
I do believe the two Nyman CDs (Song book and... another one) are the only two CDs that I have owned for more than a year (more than 10, actually), without listening to.
I forgot why I have it. Maybe it was 99c or was a freebie from BMG?
This Thread's not going to go well, is it? :laugh:
Quote from: snyprrr on February 20, 2014, 07:19:31 AM
This Thread's not going to go well, is it? :laugh:
It will be fine, I've have around 15-20 Nyman discs to discuss. Give me some time.
Quote from: snyprrr on February 20, 2014, 07:10:58 AM
WHAAAT??? You didn't like 'Nyman's Hymen'??????? How quietly you do your dirty business, ahhhh!!! :laugh:
Didn't want to engage you in front of everyone. I was doing you a favor. 0:) $:)
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on February 20, 2014, 07:29:38 AM
Didn't want to engage you in front of everyone. I was doing you a favor. 0:) $:)
8)
Always the gentleman. 8)
I will say that Nyman's MGV, or Musique à Grande Vitesse is one of my favorite pieces of music.
A sheep from goats moment. Here is a section of Mozart 252 by Nyman -- with a little help from WAM. I am starting it the section listing prices. This section lasts about 3 minutes. I expect many will hate it, you are warned. To me this is amongst the most viscerally exciting 3 minutes in all music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HDPzBBU5RcQ#t=549
Here is an arrangement sans list and in a performance by a youth orchestra of accordions (!!) A bit ragged, but when do you see such dedication and fun from a youth group fun playing Webern? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LAv8kVhR4U
Here it is again in several versions prefaced with, well I won't insult you by saying what. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bna5xlwdvBU
Enjoy or cringe!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on February 20, 2014, 07:33:07 AM
I will say that Nyman's MGV, or Musique à Grande Vitesse is one of my favorite pieces of music.
A man of taste and discernment I see.
Here is the last section. You miss the way it builds on and uses themes from the first bit of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOrD-OPgCMA
Quote from: Ken B on February 20, 2014, 10:14:50 AM
A sheep from goats moment. Here is a section of Mozart 252 by Nyman -- with a little help from WAM. I am starting it the section listing prices. This section lasts about 3 minutes. I expect many will hate it, you are warned. To me this is amongst the most viscerally exciting 3 minutes in all music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HDPzBBU5RcQ#t=549
Here is an arrangement sans list and in a performance by a youth orchestra of accordions (!!) A bit ragged, but when do you see such dedication and fun from a youth group fun playing Webern? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LAv8kVhR4U
Here it is again in several versions prefaced with, well I won't insult you by saying what. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bna5xlwdvBU
Enjoy or cringe!
Mumsy might like that. ::) :laugh:
It's funny, y'jknow, there IS a 'dark side' to Minimalism. We always think of Glass and Nyman, but oy!, Andriessen... and even Usto-lady, and others, make Minimalism PAINFUL!! Recently I was wondering if I had to relive a fragment over and over- even if it was the best fragment of all time- would you be able to handle it forever?
Quote from: snyprrr on February 20, 2014, 05:16:24 PM
Mumsy might like that. ::) :laugh:
It's funny, y'jknow, there IS a 'dark side' to Minimalism. We always think of Glass and Nyman, but oy!, Andriessen... and even Usto-lady, and others, make Minimalism PAINFUL!! Recently I was wondering if I had to relive a fragment over and over- even if it was the best fragment of all time- would you be able to handle it forever?
Vertov Sounds by Nyman. Gotta say, not a favourite. Or Noises Sounds and Sweet Airs , which is.
The "Essential" Nyman might be just that, some of his best writing can be found in scores for Greenaway...
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/21/ezuru5e5.jpg)
A few other top recs from my collection (sorry, short on time and energy so not as much commentary this evening)...
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/21/4e3aba9a.jpg). (http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/21/uvu3uqe4.jpg). (http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/21/amaba3yv.jpg)
An hour of Nyman on Q2: http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/michael-nyman-awesome/ (http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/michael-nyman-awesome/)
"Why is Michael Nyman so awesome? Is it because he writes whatever he wants, unfettered by trend or dogma? Is it because he chooses beautiful harmonies, but is always searching for that new chord? Or is it just that his music is so damn groovy? Whatever it is it all adds up to be just to the tastes of the Brothers Balliett.
Let's spend the afternoon listening to some rarely heard Nyman works. From his travels to India we'll hear his collaboration with electric mandolin virtuoso U. Shrinivas, called Compiling the Colors. Wicked groovy. For virtuoso brass, we'll hear the decidedly un-Cageian For John Cage. And to showcase his masterful vocal writing, Profit and Loss, featuring contralto Hillary Summers and bass Andrew Slater."
Quote from: 7/4 on February 21, 2014, 06:05:42 AM
Let's spend the afternoon listening to some rarely heard Nyman works. From his travels to India we'll hear his collaboration with electric mandolin virtuoso U. Shrinivas, called Compiling the Colors. Wicked groovy. For virtuoso brass, we'll hear the decidedly un-Cageian For John Cage. And to showcase his masterful vocal writing, Profit and Loss, featuring contralto Hillary Summers and bass Andrew Slater."
For John Cage is an exciting piece. There's a nice little writing that Nyman himself wrote about the piece in his website... (http://www.michaelnyman.com/music/recordings/show/time-will-pronounce)
"
The project title, Canons, chorales and waltzes, was rejected since there was only one canon (the opening passage for trumpets), a number of chorale-like sequences, but no true chorales and only one genuine waltz (the central group of flugelhorm sols -apart from a fake waltz over which the trumpet canon is superimosed towards the end of the piece). The following day I read in the newspaper the John Cage had died -on the day I finished composing. For this reason, but mainly because John Cage was the most revolutionary musical thinker of the twentieth century, this piece is dedicated to him. His influence on my music may be perceived under the very un-Cageian surface: though stylistically there may be little in For John Cage that may have been to his taste, I hope he would at least have appreciated its diversity and its non-simultaneous puliplicity. Texturally, the larger ten-instrument ensemble is broken down into constantly-changing smaller ensembles, while in performance an (almost) regular pulse of crotchet = 60 controls (or frees) material of diverse shapes, motion, dynamics and harmonic rhythm."
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/2a/d6/8cd3124128a0652f590a4010.L._SX300_.jpg)
For John Cage can be found on the album
Time Will Pronounce from Argo records. This is a well varied collection of Nyman's music, there is a piece featuring countertenor James Bowman along with Fretwork, the title track with the Trio of London, and a piece for harpsichord performed by Virginia Black.
Miranda from Prospero's Books, the original soundtrack version and re-recorded for The Essential Michael Nyman album. The essential version features a little better audio quality and a clearer balance, also adding female voices to the mix which is an amazing touch...
http://www.youtube.com/v/g_8GebaFTFk http://www.youtube.com/v/wDyagMH0ftY
Nyman's music translates well when transcribed for different instrumentation. Perfect example, Motion Trio (3 accordions) performing Miranda along with the composer on piano and Nigel Barr on trombone. The studio version is a bit faster, and the trombone is more audible, but nothing beats the excitement of a live performance...
http://www.youtube.com/v/OTOaBELoLeg http://www.youtube.com/v/viomyLw9p4w
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on February 27, 2014, 12:13:37 PM
Miranda from Prospero's Books, the original soundtrack version and re-recorded for The Essential Michael Nyman album. The essential version features a little better audio quality and a clearer balance, also adding female voices to the mix which is an amazing touch...
http://www.youtube.com/v/g_8GebaFTFk http://www.youtube.com/v/wDyagMH0ftY
Nyman's music translates well when transcribed for different instrumentation. Perfect example, Motion Trio (3 accordions) performing Miranda along with the composer on piano and Nigel Barr on trombone. The studio version is a bit faster, and the trombone is more audible, but nothing beats the excitement of a live performance...
http://www.youtube.com/v/OTOaBELoLeg http://www.youtube.com/v/viomyLw9p4w
An exceptional piece I think, showing how minimalism can do despair without heavy handed wailing noises.
There's a lesson here: Give up on Stockhausen, you've got Nyman now.
>:D
Quote from: Ken B on February 27, 2014, 12:26:21 PM
There's a lesson here: Give up on Stockhausen, you've got Nyman now.
>:D
Ha! You trouble maker. :D
But I do agree. ;)
I can't say I am a big fan, however, I thought Nyman's score for Gattaca to be spot-on and I listen to the soundtrack with pleasure. Wish this film had done better at the box office - I thought it one of the best sci-fi films I'd seen in a long time. Plus, Gore Vidal was in it - what could be wrong with that? What else of Nyman's should I listen to?
Quote from: ZauberdrachenNr.7 on February 28, 2014, 08:13:38 AM
I can't say I am a big fan, however, I thought Nyman's score for Gattaca to be spot-on and I listen to the soundtrack with pleasure. Wish this film had done better at the box office - I thought it one of the best sci-fi films I'd seen in a long time. Plus, Gore Vidal was in it - what could be wrong with that? What else of Nyman's should I listen to?
The Essential Michael Nyman Band and the Wonderland soundtrack which is more Gattaca like. Both can be sampled on youtube.
Ken, your pal is composer of the week on BBC Radio 3!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kt5nk/episodes/guide
Quote from: EigenUser on March 25, 2014, 05:29:04 PM
Ken, your pal is composer of the week on BBC Radio 3!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kt5nk/episodes/guide
That's great! Thanks for the info, Eigen. :)
Quote from: EigenUser on March 25, 2014, 05:29:04 PM
Ken, your pal is composer of the week on BBC Radio 3!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kt5nk/episodes/guide
Way cool. Thanks Nate for the heads up.
Once upon a time Gramophone slammed Nyman all the time, when they deigned to notice him, which wasn't often. One review called him "not even a composer". I'd like him just for that!
I've considered M.G.V., Musique à Grand Vitesse a favorite piece of mine, from any composer, since the first time I heard it back in the mid 90s. The final region, The 5th Region, is some of the most mystical and awe-inspiring music I've ever heard, it conjures up such grand visions in my mind. Of course the preceding 25 minutes is essential for gathering steam into the 5th Region, but I would still like to post it. This is still the only recording made of M.G.V., as far as I know, which was originally released on Argo but later reissued on MN Records...
http://www.youtube.com/v/IOrD-OPgCMA
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 25, 2014, 06:45:14 PM
I've considered M.G.V., Musique à Grand Vitesse a favorite piece of mine, from any composer, since the first time I heard it back in the mid 90s. The final region, The 5th Region, is some of the most mystical and awe-inspiring music I've ever heard, it conjures up such grand visions in my mind. Of course the preceding 25 minutes is essential for gathering steam into the 5th Region, but I would still like to post it. This is still the only recording made of M.G.V., as far as I know, which was originally released on Argo but later reissued on MN Records...
http://www.youtube.com/v/IOrD-OPgCMA
Indeed. Superb, one recording.
Odds the Seattle label will be that adventurous?
Listening to the first interview. Playing 3rd quartet now as part of it. Seems ideal for EigenUser.
Quote from: Ken B on March 25, 2014, 06:59:10 PM
Indeed. Superb, one recording.
Odds the Seattle label will be that adventurous?
Listening to the first interview. Playing 3rd quartet now as part of it. Seems ideal for EigenUser.
:)
How so?
Quote from: EigenUser on March 25, 2014, 07:13:14 PM
:)
How so?
Crazy beautiful, unusual sonorities, intense. A Bartokian bit of minimalism if ever there were one.
And begging to be transcribed for mandolin and tuba ;) :laugh:
Quote from: Ken B on March 27, 2014, 10:34:45 PM
We live in the golden age of the accordion. For Monkey Greg and EigenUser, a rough recording but hot damn what music
Youtube.com/watch?v=A25PCwPkZac
Studio recording of the same piece with just 3 accordions and piano
youtube.com/watch?v=Ri_bNZyMd30
And ...
This is mislabelled. It is Cornfield from Prospero's Book. From nothing Nyman conjures a rapturous wail of grief
youtube.com/watch?v=p-bb_vtOExA
Re: the last link: do you know if it's the original recording used in the film (and/or released on the OST album), or is this a newer rearrangement?
Quote from: Octave on March 27, 2014, 10:57:18 PM
Re: the last link: do you know if it's the original recording used in the film (and/or released on the OST album), or is this a newer rearrangement?
I think its the original.
Last before bed http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hnMujCyCByk
Quote from: Ken B on March 27, 2014, 10:34:45 PM
This is mislabelled. It is Cornfield from Prospero's Book. From nothing Nyman conjures a rapturous wail of grief
youtube.com/watch?v=p-bb_vtOExA
It looks like "Cornfield" might have been reproduced exactly on the MAN ON WIRE soundtrack, as that latter was a selection of Nyman pieces from elsewhere; I am not sure why it was retitled "Passage de L'Egalité". I notice that the timing of the "two" pieces seems to be identical.
I'm having computer trouble and can't properly compare them.
Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs
A piece that requires a little bit of stamina, but the reward is well worth it. I now think it's Nyman's best opera, again using The Tempest for its source, it's filled with intricate vocal writing and familiar instrumental shifts between pulsing rhythms that easily turn tranquil and lyrical in between two measures. A good example of the orchestral shifting can be heard in The Fringed Curtains Of Thine Eye (15:49), and how the soloists (soprano, contralto and tenor) compliment each other in the track Sometime Like Apes (29:45).
http://www.youtube.com/v/4a4dJbKQfAs
More info can be found on Nyman's website...
Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs (http://michaelnyman.com/music/recordings/show/noises-sounds-and-sweet-airs)
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 28, 2014, 06:31:55 PM
Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs
A piece that requires a little bit of stamina, but the reward is well worth it. I now think it's Nyman's best opera, again using The Tempest for its source, it's filled with intricate vocal writing and familiar instrumental shifts between pulsing rhythms that easily turn tranquil and lyrical in between two measures. A good example of the orchestral shifting can be heard in The Fringed Curtains Of Thine Eye (15:49), and how the soloists (soprano, contralto and tenor) compliment each other in the track Sometime Like Apes (29:45).
http://www.youtube.com/v/4a4dJbKQfAs
More info can be found on Nyman's website...
Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs (http://michaelnyman.com/music/recordings/show/noises-sounds-and-sweet-airs)
God I love this. My favorite part is earlier, tracks 4, 5
Please please don't throw me in the bryar patch said Brer Rabbit.I wouldn't suggest this to EigenUser as the textures are pretty dense, not a good place to start with Nyman.
>:D
Quote from: Ken B on March 28, 2014, 06:42:18 PM
God I love this. My favorite part is earlier, tracks 4, 5
Please please don't throw me in the bryar patch said Brer Rabbit.
I wouldn't suggest this to EigenUser as the textures are pretty dense, not a good place to start with Nyman.
>:D
:laugh: :P
I actually don't like opera very much (again, the singing). No, not even
"Le Grand Macabre" :o !
Quote from: EigenUser on March 28, 2014, 07:13:29 PM
:laugh: :P
I actually don't like opera very much (again, the singing). No, not even "Le Grand Macabre" :o !
It's not really opera. But singing? Non-stop.
Have you ever had Dutch licorice? This is like the 7p of Nyman licorice.
Gave up on the "Noises, Sounds, and Sweet Airs". Not the music, but the singing. BUT -- I am listening to Nyman's "Piano Concerto". I can tell that he wrote for films too (didn't he?).
Quote from: EigenUser on March 28, 2014, 07:25:42 PM
Gave up on the "Noises, Sounds, and Sweet Airs". Not the music, but the singing. BUT -- I am listening to Nyman's "Piano Concerto". I can tell that he wrote for films too (didn't he?).
Yes the PC was assembled from a film score. His most popular piece, one of the best selling records in classical music, but not one of his best.
Quote from: Ken B on March 28, 2014, 07:27:53 PM
Yes the PC was assembled from a film score. His most popular piece, one of the best selling records in classical music, but not one of his best.
I love
The Piano Concerto, up there with
Noises and
MGV, but regarding film scores he did better than The Piano. His Peter Greenaway scores are great, and outside of those I've always found some brilliance in
Six Days, Six Nights. Also, there are sections from
The Claim that are breathtakingly gorgeous.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 28, 2014, 07:34:38 PM
I love The Piano Concerto, up there with Noises and MGV, but regarding film scores he did better than The Piano. His Peter Greenaway scores are great, and outside of those I've always found some brilliance in Six Days, Six Nights. Also, there are sections from The Claim that are breathtakingly gorgeous.
Energetic 3rd movement!
I still think that I prefer the more enigmatic label of minimalism dished-up by Reich ("The Desert Music" and "Music for 18 Musicians") and some Adams ("
SHAKER LOOPS" and "Short Ride in a Fast Machine"), but Nyman is pretty good! To me it's more interesting than Glass, I think.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 28, 2014, 07:34:38 PM
I love The Piano Concerto, up there with Noises and MGV, but regarding film scores he did better than The Piano. His Peter Greenaway scores are great, and outside of those I've always found some brilliance in Six Days, Six Nights. Also, there are sections from The Claim that are breathtakingly gorgeous.
There's that section in The Claim where he moves from one big climax to another with the fifes. Astonishing. Nothing like that can possibly work, but it does! He's doing something there he does in a few pieces, like MGV. I cannot explain it but I can recognize it.
Maybe someone like Nate could bury himself in the score and figure just how it's done ... ;)
A 20 minute documentary about a student orchestra learning two Nyman symphonies.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A25PCwPkZac (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A25PCwPkZac)
A page from this months Gramophone magazine, some info on already released albums, reissues and announcement of a few future releases...
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/26/edyhu7a3.jpg)
I've been enjoying Balanescu Quartet - String Quartets 1 - 3 and Michael Nyman for Yohji Yamamoto. I've had the Kiss on vinyl for years.
Not too impressed with the Piano. :D
Quote from: 7/4 on May 31, 2014, 04:30:21 AM
Not too impressed with the Piano. :D
The soundtrack? Have you listen to
The Piano Concerto, based on the music? I actually don't listen to the soundtrack often, but rather The Piano Concerto, uses the best parts of the score and combines them into a seamless 4 movement piece. The piano acts more as an extension of the orchestra rather than a featured soloist, it's a fascinating work.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on May 31, 2014, 05:43:22 AM
The soundtrack? Have you listen to The Piano Concerto, based on the music? I actually don't listen to the soundtrack often, but rather The Piano Concerto, uses the best parts of the score and combines them into a seamless 4 movement piece. The piano acts more as an extension of the orchestra rather than a featured soloist, it's a fascinating work.
I'll get there soon, probably sometime this weekend.
Decay Music is excellent. 1-100 is played at half the speed of the original, and this issue includes the original speed version. It reminds me of Bryn Harrison's Vessels (faster, and of course 1-100 is much earlier.) I only have few Nyman albums: The Piano, the string quartets, The Kiss. I will check the albums recommended in this thread. Are there Nyman's compositions like 1-100 or Bell Set No.1?
[asin]B000FDJ2WO[/asin]
I listened to some of the early 1980s albums and loved them all, although I didn't find anything similar to Decay Music. I like the way catchy and sentimental melodies are presented harshly.
Michael Nyman (1981)
[asin]B0064X1G46[/asin]
The Kiss and Other Movements (1985)
[asin]B000003S2Y[/asin]
A Zed And Two Noughts (1985)
[asin]B0001HQ2LI[/asin]
MGV (1993), highly recommended here and on other threads, is a little softer but really good. The finale is very moving.
Quote from: torut on November 01, 2014, 09:57:24 AM
I listened to some of the early 1980s albums and loved them all, although I didn't find anything similar to Decay Music. I like the way catchy and sentimental melodies are presented harshly.
Michael Nyman (1981)
[asin]B0064X1G46[/asin]
The Kiss and Other Movements (1985)
[asin]B000003S2Y[/asin]
A Zed And Two Noughts (1985)
[asin]B0001HQ2LI[/asin]
MGV (1993), highly recommended here and on other threads, is a little softer but really good. The finale is very moving.
These are all good!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on May 25, 2014, 04:09:20 PM
A page from this months Gramophone magazine, some info on already released albums, reissues and announcement of a few future releases...
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/26/edyhu7a3.jpg)
I didn't know that Nyman composed symphonies. (Have No. 1-10 ever been recorded?) I just downloaded FLAC of Symphony No. 11 from mn records (https://mnrecords.greedbag.com/buy/symphony-no-11-hillsborough-memo-0/) and listened to it once. The music is tragic and superbly beautiful, lacking of the violent intensity that was characteristic in the early works. Except for the mezzo soprano (only in the 1st movement) whose heavy vibrato I didn't particularly like, I think the orchestra and the choir are very fine. It grasped me from the beginning to the end, however, it is kind of depressing, after reading about the incident (Hillsborough disaster) to which the work is dedicated to.
(http://downloads.openimp.com/tid/06b397d690476656cd64b6d911553bb2bcc11dba/epehddo/doidwxnqlq/19277543310054.jpeg)
Quote from: torut on November 01, 2014, 01:30:54 PM
I didn't know that Nyman composed symphonies. (Have No. 1-10 ever been recorded?) I just downloaded FLAC of Symphony No. 11 from mn records (https://mnrecords.greedbag.com/buy/symphony-no-11-hillsborough-memo-0/) and listened to it once. The music is tragic and superbly beautiful, lacking of the violent intensity that was characteristic in the early works. Except for the mezzo soprano (only in the 1st movement) whose heavy vibrato I didn't particularly like, I think the orchestra and the choir are very fine. It grasped me from the beginning to the end, however, it is kind of depressing, after reading about the incident (Hillsborough disaster) to which the work is dedicated to.
(http://downloads.openimp.com/tid/06b397d690476656cd64b6d911553bb2bcc11dba/epehddo/doidwxnqlq/19277543310054.jpeg)
Yes! Thank you for posting,
torut, I've wanted to hear this.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on November 01, 2014, 02:10:04 PM
Yes! Thank you for posting, torut, I've wanted to hear this.
Thank you for the Gramophone info, I had never heard of Nyman's symphonies. I am looking forward to No. 2 & 5 release. Since it was No. 11, I thought he has been composing symphonies for a long time, but according to the work list (http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/works/1149/19), No. 2-12 were published during just two years! (No info about No. 1.)
Symphony No 12 (2014) - 20 Minutes
Symphony No 2 (2013) - 26 Minutes
Symphony No 3 "Symphony of sexual songs" (2014) - 24 Minutes
Symphony No 5 (2013) - 20 Minutes
Symphony No 6 (2013) - 32 Minutes
Quote from: torut on November 01, 2014, 03:11:06 PM
Thank you for the Gramophone info, I had never heard of Nyman's symphonies. I am looking forward to No. 2 & 5 release. Since it was No. 11, I thought he has been composing symphonies for a long time, but according to the work list (http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/works/1149/19), No. 2-12 were published during just two years! (No info about No. 1.)
Symphony No 12 (2014) - 20 Minutes
Symphony No 2 (2013) - 26 Minutes
Symphony No 3 "Symphony of sexual songs" (2014) - 24 Minutes
Symphony No 5 (2013) - 20 Minutes
Symphony No 6 (2013) - 32 Minutes
The symphonies are really the only genre from Nyman I haven't heard, which is a shame because I feel they would be fantastic.
I wonder if his No. 3 has anything to do with his 8 Lust Songs?
[asin]B001AE4PLK[/asin]
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on November 01, 2014, 03:16:56 PM
The symphonies are really the only genre from Nyman I haven't heard, which is a shame because I feel they would be fantastic.
I wonder if his No. 3 has anything to so with his 8 Lust Songs?
[asin]B001AE4PLK[/asin]
I don't have that album (will get soon!), but you are right according to Chester Music. An interesting relationship with Górecki is mentioned. (He was interested in
The Kiss. :))
http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/1149/49698 (http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/1149/49698)
Symphony No.3: Of Sexual Songs
As is evident from the title, this symphony was composed as a homage to Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.
Górecki's 'Symphony No.3. Of Sorrowful Songs' adds a soprano voice to slow orchestral music while my slow 3rd symphony removes a soprano voice from my 'I sonetti lussuriosi' for soprano and orchestra (2007), re-edits 5 of the 8 songs and repositions the vocal part orchestrally.
The texts were taken from a collection of erotic poetry by Pietro Aretino (1492-1556) and I really enjoy the irony of Górecki allowing a symphony as 'sacred' as No.3 to be constantly used as a film soundtrack, he stipulated that it could never be used in sex scenes. As a film composer myself, working with directors like Peter Greenaway, Patrice Leconte, Neil Jordan and Jane Campion it was always inevitable that my music would have to accompany sexual acts.
I first met Górecki at the Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1985 and after he had heard the Arditti Quartet play my 'String Quartet No.1'. I gave him a copy of my most recently-released album - 'The Kiss and Other Movements' - and some weeks later he wrote asking me to send him the score of 'The Kiss'. I have no idea what he did with it, but I do know that in the 38 years I have been writing music, no other composer has had the curiosity to want to look at any of my scores. And Chopin also brought us close together musically: 'Corona', the fourth of my 'Six Celan Songs' (1991) is based harmonically on the sequence from Chopin's 'Mazurka Op.17 No.4' that follows the passage that Górecki used in his 3rd Symphony.
My film 'The Art of Fugue' which consists of a single 28 minute sequence shot in May 2012 in Plaza Luis Cabrera, a square near my house in Colonia Roma, Mexico City, will be screened simultaneously with the symphony. Interestingly, the soundtrack for that film is taken from the recording that Marie Angel and the Michael Nyman Band made of 'I sonetti lussuriosi'.
Michael Nyman
Quote from: torut on November 01, 2014, 03:38:57 PM
I don't have that album (will get soon!), but you are right according to Chester Music. An interesting relationship with Górecki is mentioned. (He was interested in The Kiss. :))
http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/1149/49698 (http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/1149/49698)
Symphony No.3: Of Sexual Songs
As is evident from the title, this symphony was composed as a homage to Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.
Górecki's 'Symphony No.3. Of Sorrowful Songs' adds a soprano voice to slow orchestral music while my slow 3rd symphony removes a soprano voice from my 'I sonetti lussuriosi' for soprano and orchestra (2007), re-edits 5 of the 8 songs and repositions the vocal part orchestrally.
The texts were taken from a collection of erotic poetry by Pietro Aretino (1492-1556) and I really enjoy the irony of Górecki allowing a symphony as 'sacred' as No.3 to be constantly used as a film soundtrack, he stipulated that it could never be used in sex scenes. As a film composer myself, working with directors like Peter Greenaway, Patrice Leconte, Neil Jordan and Jane Campion it was always inevitable that my music would have to accompany sexual acts.
I first met Górecki at the Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1985 and after he had heard the Arditti Quartet play my 'String Quartet No.1'. I gave him a copy of my most recently-released album - 'The Kiss and Other Movements' - and some weeks later he wrote asking me to send him the score of 'The Kiss'. I have no idea what he did with it, but I do know that in the 38 years I have been writing music, no other composer has had the curiosity to want to look at any of my scores. And Chopin also brought us close together musically: 'Corona', the fourth of my 'Six Celan Songs' (1991) is based harmonically on the sequence from Chopin's 'Mazurka Op.17 No.4' that follows the passage that Górecki used in his 3rd Symphony.
My film 'The Art of Fugue' which consists of a single 28 minute sequence shot in May 2012 in Plaza Luis Cabrera, a square near my house in Colonia Roma, Mexico City, will be screened simultaneously with the symphony. Interestingly, the soundtrack for that film is taken from the recording that Marie Angel and the Michael Nyman Band made of 'I sonetti lussuriosi'.
Michael Nyman
Great investigative reporting,
torut! Some very interesting stuff.
Also,
Six Celan Songs and
8 Lust Songs are both excellent pieces. With
Celan there are two available recordings, one with Ute Lemper and the other with Hilary Summers, two very different voice stylings offering a great contrast between them. It's worth checking out both, but I first heard the work with Lemper performing so I've always been more keen on that one.
Quote from: torut on November 01, 2014, 01:30:54 PM
I didn't know that Nyman composed symphonies. (Have No. 1-10 ever been recorded?) I just downloaded FLAC of Symphony No. 11 from mn records (https://mnrecords.greedbag.com/buy/symphony-no-11-hillsborough-memo-0/) and listened to it once. The music is tragic and superbly beautiful, lacking of the violent intensity that was characteristic in the early works. Except for the mezzo soprano (only in the 1st movement) whose heavy vibrato I didn't particularly like, I think the orchestra and the choir are very fine. It grasped me from the beginning to the end, however, it is kind of depressing, after reading about the incident (Hillsborough disaster) to which the work is dedicated to.
(http://downloads.openimp.com/tid/06b397d690476656cd64b6d911553bb2bcc11dba/epehddo/doidwxnqlq/19277543310054.jpeg)
So I finally got around to listening to the samples of No. 11, and it seems like Nyman included
Memorial, a piece that he composed back in the 80s that was dedicated to another FC tragedy, the Heysel Stadium disaster. The work was also used brilliantly in the film
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on November 01, 2014, 04:28:33 PM
Also, Six Celan Songs and 8 Lust Songs are both excellent pieces. With Celan there are two available recordings, one with Ute Lemper and the other with Hilary Summers, two very different voice stylings offering a great contrast between them. It's worth checking out both, but I first heard the work with Lemper performing so I've always been more keen on that one.
Thank you TheGSMoeller,
Songbook by Lemper is wonderful! I liked Nyman's eccentric (even hysteric) songs (Bird List Song, Nose-List Song) in the early 1980s, but these songs are very different: more sentimental and listenable. And I like Lemper's voice very much. It reminded me of Holly Cole's a little husky voice. Gavin Bryars's
I Have Heard It Said That A Spirit Enters... (3 songs performed by Cole) came to my mind. (That's also excellent.) I am looking forward to listening to other Nyman's songs.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61tII0nBMjL._SS280.jpg)
New soundtrack from a movie I've never heard of. Listening to samples, it's sounds like a mix of newer material and previously composed material.
Attn: Mr. Ken B.
Nymanissimo!
https://twitter.com/michaelnyman/status/867735375334309888
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XIzcZkAOL.jpg)
He's a tasty minimalistic guy!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on May 25, 2017, 05:55:45 AM
Attn: Mr. Ken B.
Nymanissimo!
https://twitter.com/michaelnyman/status/867735375334309888
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XIzcZkAOL.jpg)
Thank you sir!
Today I listened to his SQ 1 and it's amazing! And sounds difficult to play.