While dying, Mozart was writing one of the greatest masterpieces of classical music: the requiem.
It's like if he had to complete a mission before to die.
The story of Mendelssohn is similar. Before to die, he wrote his sixth string quartet, one of the greatest masterpieces of the genre, in my opinion.
This work is not inspired by God. Mendelssohn was challenging God. This quartet is the soundtrack of a cyclone.
I think that this piece alone proves that Mendelssohn has been one of the greatest composers of the history of music.
Quote from: W.A. Mozart on November 09, 2024, 01:54:05 AMWhile dying, Mozart was writing one of the greatest masterpieces of classical music: the requiem.
It's like if he had to complete a mission before to die.
Actually, he had to complete a
comission. ;D
Quote from: W.A. Mozart on November 09, 2024, 01:54:05 AMWhile dying, Mozart was writing one of the greatest masterpieces of classical music: the requiem.
It's like if he had to complete a mission before to die.
The story of Mendelssohn is similar. Before to die, he wrote his sixth string quartet, one of the greatest masterpieces of the genre, in my opinion.
This work is not inspired by God. Mendelssohn was challenging God. This quartet is the soundtrack of a cyclone.
I think that this piece alone proves that Mendelssohn has been one of the greatest composers of the history of music.
Oh, how true!! I adore this quartet so much that I even orchestrated it - what a power and desperation!! https://youtu.be/1mAUlPdXpms?si=vdfkISuUx-qgu_Sq
Quote from: gprengel on November 09, 2024, 09:39:12 AMI adore this quartet so much that I even orchestrated it
Why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WST6UspwAM&t=1064s
Quote from: Herman on November 10, 2024, 03:21:30 AMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WST6UspwAM&t=1064s
Nice, thanks!
Quote from: Karl Henning on November 10, 2024, 11:09:38 AMNice, thanks!
The really funny thing being, though, that I had apparently been listening to that very performance once upon a time, as hitting that link brought me in mid-quartet!
Quote from: Karl Henning on November 11, 2024, 07:42:24 AMThe really funny thing being, though, that I had apparently been listening to that very performance once upon a time, as hitting that link brought me in mid-quartet!
The link also brought me mid-quartet. The time offset is in the link.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 12, 2024, 11:23:07 AMThe link also brought me mid-quartet. The time offset is in the link.
Ah, good sleuthing.
For what it's worth, my most recent (and perhaps only) listen to this quartet (more than a decade ago) didn't resonate. It was the Cherubini Quartet, if I recall right. Maybe time for a revisit.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 12, 2024, 12:38:33 PMFor what it's worth, my most recent (and perhaps only) listen to this quartet (more than a decade ago) didn't resonate. It was the Cherubini Quartet, if I recall right. Maybe time for a revisit.
I recommend doing so. I was introduced to the quartet obliquely, I was at an outdoor concert in Lowell and the quartet performing included just one movement in their program.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 12, 2024, 12:38:33 PMFor what it's worth, my most recent (and perhaps only) listen to this quartet (more than a decade ago) didn't resonate. It was the Cherubini Quartet, if I recall right. Maybe time for a revisit.
Yeah, that recording is bland! I like the Pacifica Quartet and the Talich Quartet.
Quote from: DavidW on November 13, 2024, 06:14:33 AMYeah, that recording is bland! I like the Pacifica Quartet and the Talich Quartet.
Bland plus Mendelssohn is Lethal!
Quote from: DavidW on November 13, 2024, 06:14:33 AMYeah, that recording is bland! I like the Pacifica Quartet and the Talich Quartet.
I did 10 second surveys of Cherubini, Pacifica, Ysaye and Emerson. I found Cherubini, Pacifica, Ysaye more or less equally vivid. Emerson was blandissimo.
First impression after revisiting the work, the first movement seems like a tone poem about an attack of bumble bees. :) Maybe I'll listen to Pacifica or Ysaye (which I had on CD but can't seem to find).
Quote from: DavidW on November 13, 2024, 06:14:33 AMYeah, that recording is bland! I like the Pacifica Quartet and the Talich Quartet.
I have the Talich Quartet's recordings of Mendelssohn.
K
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 13, 2024, 07:16:14 AMI did 10 second surveys of Cherubini, Pacifica, Ysaye and Emerson. I found Cherubini, Pacifica, Ysaye more or less equally vivid. Emerson was blandissimo.
First impression after revisiting the work, the first movement seems like a tone poem about an attack of bumble bees. :) Maybe I'll listen to Pacifica or Ysaye (which I had on CD but can't seem to find).
You are bringing back memories of Paulb with that post! :laugh:
Quote from: DavidW on November 13, 2024, 09:49:32 AMYou are bringing back memories of Paulb with that post! :laugh:
I'm not passing judgement, just trying to decide which one to listen to. :)
I seem to recall that listening through the Mendelssohn cycle, decades ago, I was expecting the final quartet to be the most moving, inspired by the death of Mendelssohn's sister, but I was let down.
Quote from: W.A. Mozart on November 09, 2024, 01:54:05 AMWhile dying, Mozart was writing one of the greatest masterpieces of classical music: the requiem.
It's like if he had to complete a mission before to die.
Quote from: Florestan on November 09, 2024, 05:00:48 AMActually, he had to complete a comission. ;D
...and he didn't come close to finishing it.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 13, 2024, 11:19:46 AM...and he didn't come close to finishing it.
Agent 86: Missed it by
that much!
Quote from: Spotted Horses on November 13, 2024, 07:16:14 AMEmerson was blandissimo.
I enjoy the
Emersons in so much else, I was thinking of their
Mendelssohn, but I am glad the Fickle Finger of Fate pointed me instead to the
Pacifica set.
Quote from: Karl Henning on November 14, 2024, 06:15:53 AMI enjoy the Emersons in so much else, I was thinking of their Mendelssohn, but I am glad the Fickle Finger of Fate pointed me instead to the Pacifica set.
...based on 10 seconds, mind you. But I am not generally a fan of the Emersons, despite the obvious technical perfection.
Quote from: gprengel on November 09, 2024, 09:39:12 AMOh, how true!! I adore this quartet so much that I even orchestrated it - what a power and desperation!! https://youtu.be/1mAUlPdXpms?si=vdfkISuUx-qgu_Sq
Nice, although it's clearily played by a software and not by a real orchestra. However the time seems quite wrong.
In the recording I have the first movement is considerably shorter.
Quote from: Florestan on November 09, 2024, 10:07:55 AMWhy?
Why not? It's not uncommon to create orchestral arrangements of chamber works. Copland and Elgar for example orchestrated some of their chamber works.