Following some recent maiden listening to Hanson, Hohvaness and Gottschalk, I thought I'd start an
exploration thread for USA composers, along the same lines as my French one in 2020, hopefully with some similar interest and recommendations.
(Edit) As last time, I have used as a basis the composers index list from
@schnittkease, added the works I currently have in my collection, which I plan to (re)discover (then adding any composers and works suggested by fellow members).
As the full USA list is substantial, I have limited the initial composers
to A & B as follows. Hopefully this is broad enough for many to contribute without being too all over the shop. If that's ok, I'll reserve a few posts for subsequent alphabetical sections.
As previously, please feel free to post any recommendations of works (any genres), your relevant listening/impressions or favourite recordings within the defined partial list. I'll add any recommended works to the list as and when.
Edit:
Underlined works are the ones I have listened to. Works with
* are the ones which have particularly impressed/intrigued me.
Thank you in advance & Happy listening and (re)exploration.
A & B
Achron, Joseph (1886-1943) - violin concertos
Adams, John (1947-) – Phrygian Gates*, Road Movies, Hallelujah Junction, China Gates* - Added: Nixon in China, Harmonielehre, Harmonium, the Wound Dresser, The Dharma at Big Sur*, Fearful symmetries*
Adams, John Luther (1953-) - Become Ocean, Become Desert, Become River; The Wind in High Places, In the White Silence, The Light The Fills the World, Clouds of Forgetting, Dreamin White on White, Night Place, The Far Country of Sleep
Adler, Samuel (b. 1928) - orchestral music (Linn) and chamber music (Toccata)
Aikman, James (b. 1959) - Violin Concerto (Naxos), Sax Concerto.
Albert, Stephen (1941-1992) - Symphony No. 1 RiverRun (1983), Cello Concerto (1990) written for Yo-Yo Ma (Both won a Pulitzer Prize for Music)
Anderson, Leroy (1908-1975) - Famous for pops staples like "The Typewriter"*.
Antheil, George (1900-59) - Ballet Mécanique*, Jazz Symphony* , 'American' Symphony No. 3, Sym No.4* & No.5, 2nd Violin Sonata
Antonsen, Preben (1991-)
Argento, Dominick (1927-2019) - Best known for his operas and songs.
Asia, Daniel (1953-)
Aucoin, Matthew (b. 1990). Piano Concerto (BMOP 2CD)
Auerbach, Lera (1973-)
Babbitt, Milton (1916-2011)
Baker, Claude (1948-)
Baker, David – Roots II (trio)*, sonata for Cello & Piano
Balada, Leonardo (1933-) - Caprichos series
Barati, George (1913-96) - Chamber Concerto*, Cello Concerto, Quartet for Harpsichord, Flute, Oboe and Double Bass*
Barber, Samuel (1910-81) – Capricorn Concerto*, A Hand of Bridge, Mutations from Bach, Intermezzo from 'Vanessa'*, Canzonetta for Oboe & Strings*, Fadograph of a Yestern Scene, Cello Concerto, Medea Ballet suite, Adagio for Strings, Knoxville Summer of 1915*, Second Essay for Orch.*, Third Essay for Orchestra*, Toccata Festiva, Piano Cto, Die Natali, Medea's Meditation, Commando March, School for Scandal overture, Sym No.1, First Essay for Orch., Sym No.2, Violin Concerto, Souvenirs (Ballet Suite), Serenade for Strings, Music for a Scene from Shelley.
Bates, Mason (b. 1977) - Mothership (BMOP)*
Bazelon, Irwin (1922-95)
Beach, Amy (1867-1944) - Gaelic Symphony, piano quintet, Piano Trio, Violin Sonata* (songs?, Solo piano?)
Beaser, Robert (b. 1954) - Guitar Concerto, Notes on a Southern Sky*
Berger, Arthur (1912-2003)
Bernstein, Charles Harold (1917-2016)
Bernstein, Leonard (1918-90) – Mass. Age of Anxiety, Facsimile, Serenade, Suites from West Side Story*, Candide overture*, Suites from On The Waterfront, Fancy Free*, On the Town, Prelude Fugue & Riffs. Dybbuk, Jeremiah S1, Age of Anxiety S2 *, Kaddish S3, Chichester Psalms
Blackwood, Easley (1933-2023) - Symphony No. 1 (Munch, Boston SO)
Blitzstein, Marc – The Airborne Symphony, The Cradle Will Rock
Bloch, Ernest (1880-1959) - Piano Quintet No. 1, Concerto Grosso No. 1*, Symphony in C-sharp minor
Bolcom, William (1938-) - piano rags (Hyperion)*, Songs of Innocence and Experience, symphonies, cabaret songs (with his wife).
Brant, Henry (1913-2008) - Ice Field
Bristow, George Frederick - 2 Symphonies, overture/symphonic poem
Brown, Earle (1926-2002)
Budd, Harold (1936-)
Busch, Carl (1862-1943)
*reserved*
*reserved*
*reserved*
*reserved*
*reserved*
*reserved*
*reserved*
From the Top then ;D
My only John Adams CD.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzNTg0Mi4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTN9)
I enjoy it but I have to be in the right mood for it.
Playing Phrygian Gates now.
Samuel Barber
Essay for Orchestra No.1
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkyNjkwOS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0NzExMjc1OTJ9)
Essay for Orchestra No.2 & No.3
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkyODY1MC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTN9)
Here's a post I wrote recently on Bernstein's
Chichester Psalms, which is not yet on your list:
Quote from: Mapman on March 12, 2023, 06:16:36 PMBernstein: Chichester Psalms
The opening is a bit harsh, but the rest of the 1st movement is rhythmic and fun. The 2nd movement has an interesting structure: 2 psalms in contrasting styles which are then superimposed. The third movement is incredibly beautiful (and mostly in 5). Bernstein's music continues to impress me. (I think my favorite Bernstein works so far are Symphony #2 and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.)
I own, but have not listened to yet, Beach's
Gaelic Symphony. Maybe this thread will inspire me to finally listen!
Quote from: Mapman on April 07, 2023, 07:48:51 AMI own, but have not listened to yet, Beach's Gaelic Symphony. Maybe this thread will inspire me to finally listen!
I like her piano quintet. I think she might be most known for her songs and solo piano music.
Thank you both, I have added your mentions for Bernstein & Beach.
Out of the three, I have particularly enjoyed Essay No.2 by Barber earlier.
Quote from: DavidW on April 07, 2023, 08:34:29 AMI like her piano quintet. I think she might be most known for her songs and solo piano music.
Her Piano Quintet, Piano Trio and Violin Sonata are all excellent!
I suppose George Antheil is infamous for the audacious Ballet Mécanique, but I kind of like his Jazz Symphony and 'American' Symphony No. 3 more.
VS
Quote from: VonStupp on April 07, 2023, 10:13:20 AMI suppose George Antheil is infamous for the audacious Ballet Mécanique, but I kind of like his Jazz Symphony and 'American' Symphony No. 3 more.
VS
Yes!
Blitzstein, Marc (misspelled on your list) - The Cradle Will Rock (1937)
Adams, John: Nixon in China and Harmonielehre are probably still my favorite works of his.
Adams, John Luther: I've enjoyed Become Ocean and Become Desert, but have not yet repeated the experience.
Antheil, George: Once you get past the theft from Shostakovich and Prokofiev his symphonies (and I'm sure many others I don't notice), his orchestral music is very entertaining.
Balada, Leonardo: Really like his Caprichos series, and nearly everything else I've heard.
Barati, George: I have one CD on CRI. One of the works was recorded by Ormandy and Philadelphia. As I recall, his music is neo-Classical and motivic, perhaps a bit "standard" for that era, but pretty good.
Bernstein, Leonard: I still need to listen to the Mass. I love Candide and the Serenade.
Blitztein, Marc – The Airborne Symphony: seemed corny to me, but perhaps I should give it another chance.
Bloch, Ernest: Criminally neglected composer. Piano Quintet No. 1 and the Concerto Grosso No. 1 are good starting points.
Brant, Henry: Listening to Ice Field. The kitchen sink is in there somewhere, but it's quite aurally entertaining:
I'm going to put my suggestion in for Bloch's epic Symphony in C-sharp minor. At ~55 minutes, it's probably his most significant orchestral work.
Thank you
@Karl Henning ,
@VonStupp ,
@Daverz ,
@San Antone ,
@lordlance . I have added your recommendations to the list.
Really enjoying that Fancy Free Ballet right now:
I enjoyed West Side Story off the above way more than I remembered. I am somewhat nonplussed by On The Waterfront.
One evening in the early 1990s I opened up a package of LPs which I had chosen simply because they looked particularly tempting in the ECM catalogue. In those pre-internet days I had no idea what they would sound like, especially as I was only 15 or 16. So that evening I heard my first Arvo Part, my first Gavin Bryars and my first John Adams. I don't think I have recovered yet: each of them introduced a whole new, undiscovered universe to me. The Adams piece was Harmonium. I never knew orchestras could do this - be so overwhelming, so sweeping, so contemporary and San-Francisco-cool and yet so timelessly gorgeous. Adam's theory of harmonic 'gates' combines the power of minimalist weight with the emotional weight of late romantic harmony, but it is nowhere more sumptuously expressed than in this divine piece. I have followed, bought, studied almost everything he has written since, but little ever hit me with quite the force of that piece. These ones do, however:
Harmonium, as described
Harmonielehre
The Wound Dresser
then there is about a decade-long gap - I have most of what he wrote in those years, and I like it, some of it I really love, but the next genre-changing wallop of a piece for me was:
The Dharma at Big Sur
There is a lot of great stuff, a huge amount of imagination and musical 'world-building' - that is, he creates whole new musical worlds so skillfully. But these four go to a really deep place.
Great thread Oli. My favorite American composers are Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, Elliott Carter, and Morton Feldman. Not that any of them sound even remotely like the others, but they are all genius in their own right.
Since you're on Bernstein right now I have to urge you not to miss what is in my opinion his best work, Mass.
Quote from: Daverz on April 07, 2023, 06:35:45 PMAntheil, George: Once you get past the theft from Shostakovich and Prokofiev his symphonies (and I'm sure many others I don't notice), his orchestral music is very entertaining.
Antheil is great. Chandos recordings of his symphonies under Storgårds are the cornerstone of his work, for me.
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 08, 2023, 06:28:43 AMAntheil is great. Chandos recordings of his symphonies under Storgårds are the cornerstone of his work, for me.
Any particularly intense favorites?
__
Separately if you want the text of the Bernstein Mass let me know, Papy Oli.
I am not sure where your preferences lie, but if you like that early American conservative romanticism, George Frederick Bristow might be worth looking at. He had a couple of symphonies and an overture/symphonic poem or two that are colourful, if not particularly earth shattering. Not many recordings out there, though, so he remains fringe listening.
VS
If you search under my name for Auerbach you'll see there's been a bit of discussion, it's not my syle but you may well like it of course. Certainly worth checking.
Quote from: Daverz on April 07, 2023, 06:35:45 PMBarati, George: I have one CD on CRI. One of the works was recorded by Ormandy and Philadelphia. As I recall, his music is neo-Classical and motivic, perhaps a bit "standard" for that era, but pretty good.
Listened to this again last night. The whole CD is excellent. I probably made Barati sound a bit dry, but his orchestration is quite colorful, though the music is expressively on the cool side. Despite 3 different sources for the recordings, there's no jarring sonic transition from work to work. As you'd expect, the Ormandy/Philly recording is fantastically played, the Bartokian elements in the Chamber Concerto are very well done, and the sonics are excellent.
Check Antheil's second violin sonata. It's fun to know. Memorable and a lovely final part for violin and little drum.
Quote from: lordlance on April 08, 2023, 06:34:02 AMAny particularly intense favorites?
__
Separately if you want the text of the Bernstein Mass let me know, Papy Oli.
I wouldn't describe any of them as intense, but I would probably recommend 4 or 5 as an entry point 🙂
Quote from: Daverz on April 07, 2023, 06:35:45 PMBrant, Henry: Listening to Ice Field. The kitchen sink is in there somewhere, but it's quite aurally entertaining:
I tried this one but that's not my cup of tea :-X
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 09, 2023, 01:10:26 AMMarc Blitzstein - the Airborne Symphony
Bernstein/NYP
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODExNzY1MS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MzAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MzU3NjQ4NzZ9)
Ok for one listen but not a work I would go back to.
Quote from: Luke on April 08, 2023, 05:20:23 AMOne evening in the early 1990s I opened up a package of LPs which I had chosen simply because they looked particularly tempting in the ECM catalogue. In those pre-internet days I had no idea what they would sound like, especially as I was only 15 or 16. So that evening I heard my first Arvo Part, my first Gavin Bryars and my first John Adams. I don't think I have recovered yet: each of them introduced a whole new, undiscovered universe to me. The Adams piece was Harmonium. I never knew orchestras could do this - be so overwhelming, so sweeping, so contemporary and San-Francisco-cool and yet so timelessly gorgeous. Adam's theory of harmonic 'gates' combines the power of minimalist weight with the emotional weight of late romantic harmony, but it is nowhere more sumptuously expressed than in this divine piece. I have followed, bought, studied almost everything he has written since, but little ever hit me with quite the force of that piece. These ones do, however:
Harmonium, as described
Harmonielehre
The Wound Dresser
then there is about a decade-long gap - I have most of what he wrote in those years, and I like it, some of it I really love, but the next genre-changing wallop of a piece for me was:
The Dharma at Big Sur
There is a lot of great stuff, a huge amount of imagination and musical 'world-building' - that is, he creates whole new musical worlds so skillfully. But these four go to a really deep place.
Thank you for your pointers
@Luke , I have added those to the list :)
Quote from: lordlance on April 08, 2023, 06:34:02 AMSeparately if you want the text of the Bernstein Mass let me know, Papy Oli.
thank you but I think I have it in the booklet of an Harmonia Mundi Sacred Music box somewhere.
Quote from: VonStupp on April 08, 2023, 07:06:23 AMI am not sure where your preferences lie, but if you like that early American conservative romanticism, George Frederick Bristow might be worth looking at. He had a couple of symphonies and an overture/symphonic poem or two that are colourful, if not particularly earth shattering. Not many recordings out there, though, so he remains fringe listening.
VS
Worth adding in any case, thank you!
Quote from: Mandryka on April 08, 2023, 09:19:23 AMIf you search under my name for Auerbach you'll see there's been a bit of discussion, it's not my syle but you may well like it of course. Certainly worth checking.
Thank you, will do.
Quote from: Daverz on April 08, 2023, 09:23:25 AMListened to this again last night. The whole CD is excellent. I probably made Barati sound a bit dry, but his orchestration is quite colorful, though the music is expressively on the cool side. Despite 3 different sources for the recordings, there's no jarring sonic transition from work to work. As you'd expect, the Ormandy/Philly recording is fantastically played, the Bartokian elements in the Chamber Concerto are very well done, and the sonics are excellent.
thank you
@Daverz , Added & Queued up
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 08, 2023, 02:40:35 PMI wouldn't describe any of them as intense, but I would probably recommend 4 or 5 as an entry point 🙂
Added as well, thank you Danny.
Quote from: Luke on April 08, 2023, 05:20:23 AMHarmonium
Harmonielehre
The Wound Dresser
The Dharma at Big Sur
Meant to ask,
@Luke : any particular recordings for those 4 works to look at first please? Thank you.
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 09, 2023, 03:21:12 AMMeant to ask, @Luke : any particular recordings for those 4 works to look at first please? Thank you.
I'm totally imprinted on repeated listening to the recordings I first knew so dont take these as definitive:
The ECM Harmonium (there is a prominent mistake in it, but you need to be following the score to know for sure) This recording has the shock of the new, the fresh, the exciting about it. It's like an alien has landed. Awesome. But maybe I feel that way because I was very impressionable when I first heard it. Put it like this: it's the only thing I've ever air-conducted to....
Rattle's CBSO Harmonielehre. I've heard a few other versions, this one pleases me but so do others when I've heard them.
With The Wound Dresser and The Dharma at Big Sur Adams'own readings with soloist for whom he wrote them (Sanford Sylvan/Tracy Silverman) seem pretty definitive, but I haven't heard alternatives very much.
Thank you
@Luke , found all four on Idagio. All queued up.
Quote from: Daverz on April 07, 2023, 06:35:45 PMBarati, George: I have one CD on CRI. One of the works was recorded by Ormandy and Philadelphia. As I recall, his music is neo-Classical and motivic, perhaps a bit "standard" for that era, but pretty good.
His Cello concerto was interesting and pleasant enough. I'll listen to the other 2 works on this CD in due course.
Listened to the Barber CD Below earlier today, I was particularly taken by the works in bold. I look forward to re-visiting the rest of that set.
Capricorn Concerto
A Hand of Bridge
Mutations from Bach
Intermezzo from 'Vanessa'
Canzonetta for Oboe & Strings
Fadograph of a Yestern Scene
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzMzM2NS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTN9)
Thanks again to
@Daverz for mentioning the below CD.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0272/9220/5135/products/image_46d2790d-490e-4918-b631-51bc9915d62c_grande.jpg?v=1595126585)
It ended up being quite an interesting listen.
I really enjoyed the
Quartet for Harpsichord, Flute, Oboe and Double Bass . The
chamber concerto was also more than decent.
That album goes on the wish list for future consideration.
Finally, a work I have listened to several times in the past in the Beaux-Arts Trio big box and enjoyed is Roots II by David Baker. At times, atonal, jazzy, bluesy but all the time engaging
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/00028948307128/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Decided to stream more of his works, starting with his Cello and Piano Sonata:
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/886447262832/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
John Adams - The Wound-Dresser
Followed it with the text of Walt Whitman. Haunting but the style of the work is not to my taste much.
I quite like Fearful Symmetries that appear on the same CD.
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/603497099061/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
A few more A's and B's for you:
Joseph Achron (1886-1943). Violinist composer. Wrote several violin concertos after immigrating to the US.
James Aikman (b. 1959). There's a Naxos CD with a Violin Concerto (sounds very promising) and a Sax Concerto.
Stephen Albert (1941-1992). According to Wikipedia: "He is best known for his Symphony No. 1 RiverRun (1983) and Cello Concerto (1990) written for Yo-Yo Ma, both of which won a Pulitzer Prize for Music."
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975). Famous for pops staples like "The Typewriter".
Samuel Adler (b. 1928). Linn released a 3-CD set of orchestral music and Toccata has issued CDs of his chamber music and works for chamber orchestra.
Dominick Argento (1927-2019). Best known for his operas and songs.
Matthew Aucoin (b. 1990). I like his 35-minute Piano Concerto on a BMOP 2-disc set.
Mason Bates (b. 1977). Wikipedia says "composer of symphonic music and DJ of electronic dance music". I'd call his style (e.g. Mothership on BMOP) "Hooked on Minimalism". ;) It's fun, but I can't say how well it will wear over time.
Robert Beaser (b. 1954). I like his Guitar Concerto.
Easley Blackwood (1933-2023). His Symphony No. 1 was recorded for RCA by Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. (It's in the big Munch box and also on a Cedille CD where it's coupled with a later recording of his Symphony No. 5.) My recollection was that Symphony No. 1 is loud and obnoxious, and just listening now to refresh my memory had to hit the stop button a few minutes in.
Earle Brown (1926-2002). Downtown New York guy along "along with John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Christian Wolff."
Beach: Gaelic Symphony, Op. 32
Järvi: Detroit
The first movement seemed fairly average for a romantic symphony of its time. However, the other three movements gave me a more positive impression. The highlight of my first listen was the 2nd movement, an interesting slow movement/scherzo hybrid, which has a wonderful duet for oboe and English horn. There's other lovely woodwind writing, including a bass clarinet solo in the 3rd movement. I'm glad I finally listened to this.
(https://i.discogs.com/n69P6YOz5TBYwYonUeks5-q63YIRyxxANvSUU7gyZwY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:589/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTc1Mzk4/MzktMTUyMjE2Mzgx/MS04OTk0LmpwZWc.jpeg)
Quote from: Daverz on April 11, 2023, 05:40:15 PMA few more A's and B's for you:
Thank you for those
@Daverz . I have added them to the front page list.
Quote from: Mapman on April 14, 2023, 03:28:21 PMBeach: Gaelic Symphony, Op. 32
Järvi: Detroit
The first movement seemed fairly average for a romantic symphony of its time. However, the other three movements gave me a more positive impression. The highlight of my first listen was the 2nd movement, an interesting slow movement/scherzo hybrid, which has a wonderful duet for oboe and English horn. There's other lovely woodwind writing, including a bass clarinet solo in the 3rd movement. I'm glad I finally listened to this.
(https://i.discogs.com/n69P6YOz5TBYwYonUeks5-q63YIRyxxANvSUU7gyZwY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:589/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTc1Mzk4/MzktMTUyMjE2Mzgx/MS04OTk0LmpwZWc.jpeg)
Sounds good
@Mapman , I'll seek it on Idagio.
Bernstein - Symphony No.3 "Kaddish" : I struggled with this one but the singing in the 2nd movement was gorgeous.
Adams - The Dharma at Big Sur : I liked the general vibe of the work, even if the violin was borderline shrieking at times (for my tastes). A work I will likely go back to.
Playing Barber's Knoxville Summer of 1915 from the Alsop set. THE work that initially impressed me the most when I got the box. Still magnificent.
PS: I have tidied the list and edited the original post on the front page for clarity.
Also yesterday:
Amy Beach - "Gaelic" symphony: pleasant overall but not much more than that for me.
John Adams - Harmonium: Felt a bit wishy-washy, didn't grab my attention at all.
Adams, John Luther: Become River (the 3rd in his Become Trilogy); The Wind in High Places; In the White Silence; The Light The Fills the World; Clouds of Forgetting; Dreamin White on White; NIght Place;, The Far Country of Sleep
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 07, 2023, 05:19:17 AMBolcom, William (1938-)
Bolcom has 2CD's worth of piano rags, the best found on Hyperion in my opinion. I find them interesting, but your mileage may vary.
Also, his
Songs of Innocence and Experience, despite its 3 hours, received a fair shake with Slatkin on Naxos.
Otherwise, I never really got on with his symphonies, but leaned towards his cabaret songs with his wife. An eclectic musical voice, for sure.
VS
Quote from: San Antone on April 16, 2023, 04:13:09 AMAdams, John Luther: Become River (the 3rd in his Become Trilogy); The Wind in High Places; In the White Silence; The Light The Fills the World; Clouds of Forgetting; Dreamin White on White; NIght Place;, The Far Country of Sleep
Thank you,
@San Antone I'll add to the opening page's list.
Quote from: VonStupp on April 16, 2023, 05:41:03 AMBolcom has 2CD's worth of piano rags, the best found on Hyperion in my opinion. I find them interesting, but your mileage may vary.
Also, his Songs of Innocence and Experience, despite its 3 hours, received a fair shake with Slatkin on Naxos.
Otherwise, I never really got on with his symphonies, but leaned towards his cabaret songs with his wife. An eclectic musical voice, for sure.
VS
thank you
@VonStupp , that's added as well.
Bernstein - The Age of Anxiety
The work so far in this little USA project that has impressed and engrossed me the most (with two more versions to come, also in the Concertos and Symphonies Bernstein Sony Editions). I had that all along at my fingertips... :-[ A cracker.
(https://www.talkclassical.com/attachments/bernstein-concertos-32-bernstein-age-of-anxiety-facsimile-jpg.86542/)
Quote from: Daverz on April 11, 2023, 05:40:15 PMLeroy Anderson (1908-1975). Famous for pops staples like "The Typewriter".
I have put a used copy of this one in the basket. Light fare but very entertaining.
As for "the typewriter", would that be the tune that Jerry Lewis used in one of his famous sketches ?
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/00028943201322/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 16, 2023, 02:03:57 AMAlso yesterday:
Amy Beach - "Gaelic" symphony: pleasant overall but not much more than that for me.
John Adams - Harmonium: Felt a bit wishy-washy, didn't grab my attention at all.
I find
Amy Beach's chamber music much more engaging.
Quote from: Karl Henning on April 18, 2023, 06:50:56 AMI find Amy Beach's chamber music much more engaging.
Noted
@Karl Henning , I'll try further.
The recs included "piano quintet, Piano Trio, Violin Sonata". Any favourite of yours ?
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 18, 2023, 07:01:14 AMNoted @Karl Henning , I'll try further.
The recs included "piano quintet, Piano Trio, Violin Sonata". Any favourite of yours ?
I like all three so well, I don't think I could pick a favorite. Follow your own whim.
Quote from: Karl Henning on April 18, 2023, 07:02:33 AMI like all three so well, I don't think I could pick a favorite. Follow your own whim.
Fair enough, I shall ;)
Quote from: Mapman on April 14, 2023, 03:28:21 PMBeach: Gaelic Symphony, Op. 32
Järvi: Detroit
The first movement seemed fairly average for a romantic symphony of its time. However, the other three movements gave me a more positive impression. The highlight of my first listen was the 2nd movement, an interesting slow movement/scherzo hybrid, which has a wonderful duet for oboe and English horn. There's other lovely woodwind writing, including a bass clarinet solo in the 3rd movement. I'm glad I finally listened to this.
(https://i.discogs.com/n69P6YOz5TBYwYonUeks5-q63YIRyxxANvSUU7gyZwY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:589/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTc1Mzk4/MzktMTUyMjE2Mzgx/MS04OTk0LmpwZWc.jpeg)
I just wanted to mention that Beach was a synesthete. Wagner, Liszt, and Messiaen too.
I think you may like Jonathan Berger's The Lead Plates of the ROM Press
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 18, 2023, 06:33:31 AMAs for "the typewriter", would that be the tune that Jerry Lewis used in one of his famous sketches ?
Yes, according to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Typewriter#In_popular_culture
John Luther Adams did not hit the mark for me. "Become River" was more than long enough at 15 minutes, I just couldn't sustain 40-odd minutes for Become Ocean or Become desert. I didn't have much more success with Wind in High Places. That sort of style did not work for me.
It is not dissimilar to the "other" Adams but the latter has in parts more variations within those "monotonous" works to sustain the interest (mine at least).
I am trying Antheil right now - Ballet Mécanique & A Jazz Symphony.
Good fun so far, although a bit weird to hear De Leeuw going all guns blazing on those works when I only know him via the slowest Satie possible ;D
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/00028948430109/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
PS: the two sonatas, however, were too harsh for my liking.
Amy Beach - Sonata for violin and piano in A minor
Sometimes, the decision is simple: this will have to find its way in my collection.
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/505986416230/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 19, 2023, 06:43:48 AMJohn Luther Adams did not hit the mark for me. "Become River" was more than long enough at 15 minutes, I just couldn't sustain 40-odd minutes for Become Ocean or Become desert. I didn't have much more success with Wind in High Places. That sort of style did not work for me.
It is not dissimilar to the "other" Adams but the latter has in parts more variations within those "monotonous" works to sustain the interest (mine at least).
I am trying Antheil right now - Ballet Mécanique & A Jazz Symphony.
Good fun so far, although a bit weird to hear De Leeuw going all guns blazing on those works when I only know him via the slowest Satie possible ;D
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/00028948430109/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
PS: the two sonatas, however, were too harsh for my liking.
Love the
Ballet Mécanique &
A Jazz Symphony. My
Jn Luther Adams curiosity purchase was
Become Ocean. An additional element of curiosity turned on the fact that
Ludovic Morlot had been an assistant conductor at the
BSO. He stepped in at the last-ish moment to lead an undistinguished performance of the
Beethoven Op. 125. But in fairness one cannot let that kind of circumstantial event "brand" an emerging conductor. FWIW
Become Ocean didn't do it for me.
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 19, 2023, 06:43:48 AMI am trying Antheil right now - Ballet Mécanique & A Jazz Symphony.
Antheil. Symphonies. Storgårds. Glorious stuff.
Quote from: Karl Henning on April 19, 2023, 08:07:23 AMLove the Ballet Mécanique & A Jazz Symphony.
My Jn Luther Adams curiosity purchase was Become Ocean....FWIW Become Ocean didn't do it for me.
These 2 Antheil works did it for me; on the other hand, I didn't enjoy the 2 violin sonatas at all.
For Luther Adams, it felt intriguing at start but it never really moved on from there :-\
Quote from: foxandpeng on April 19, 2023, 02:22:12 PMAntheil. Symphonies. Storgårds. Glorious stuff.
In the queue, Danny ;)
Robert Beaser - Guitar Concerto
This work has its moments after quite a tense, angry 1st movement. The third movement was quite attention-grabbing, Not sure this would be a work I would return to, though.
On the same CD, the solo guitar work Notes on a Southern Sky should appeal to the fans of the genre.
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/8720205579959/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Quote from: Papy Oli on April 22, 2023, 04:55:35 AMThese 2 Antheil works did it for me; on the other hand, I didn't enjoy the 2 violin sonatas at all.
For Luther Adams, it felt intriguing at start but it never really moved on from there :-\
I don't know the violin sonatas. A potential curiosity listen at some point?...
Really enjoyed that Antheil 4th on Chandos yesterday. I look forward to discovering the others symphonies.
Tried some of Bolcom's songs but that wasn't for me.
Listening to Mason Bates' Mothership now. Mix of electronic and classical. Like the style so far.
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/794465959729/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Matthew Aucoin - Piano Concerto
That hasn't done much for me :-\
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/794465976221/main.jpg?auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
Spent a bit of time with Bolcom's Piano Rags.
(https://idagio-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/albums/034062300419/main.jpg?_alt=sys%2Fph%2Fartist-default.jpg&auto=format&dpr=1&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=720&h=720)
(https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/jpegs/150dpi/034571283913.png)
The Myer felt no more than a pleasant background music, lacking a bit of life.
The Hamelin however seemed to have the right oomph and jest that you would seek for in that style of works. It goes in the Hyperion wish-list.
hat-tip to
@VonStupp . :)