What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Schoenberg is one of musical heroes, but especially for his Five Pieces for Orchestra. Of course, I love many of his other works, but this work has been a part of me for a long time now and I can almost hum the entire work in my mind. It has a strangely beautiful sound-world that I am always captivated by.

[You did it]

To me Schonberg seems to go out of his way to be emotionally cold and to use the ugliest dissonances he could think of.  Most of his works seem calculated to be unlyrical, so to speak.

I plainly don't get this opinion.

As far as his so called "atonal" works (that are less dissonant than Bartok and Stravinsky btw), I feel has has a really tasteful (and tasty  ) use of dissonance. There is always a nice harmonic progression like in Debussy (of notes implying over others, held notes too etc), in other words the resolution of chromatic chords or phrases into other chromatic chords or phrases (where certain "pressure" feels relieved), so to speak.

I find his work to be emotionally/aesthetically electrifying, like one of these things:




His work is definitely lyrical and gestural, which is perhaps the area where he most failed contrary to weird opinions I see of him. But then, perhaps it helps to see a lot of his instrumental approach (which tends to be virtuoso) through the eyes of Liszt, Bartok or Scriabin, as there are common traits (just compare the piano works for instance) 

[You did it]

The other thing that I love about the music is how it feels so alive, like the whole ensemble is in free dialogue and conversing spontaneously, like every single note speaks with conviction.

Agreed! 

[Mirror Image]

Beginning my Stravinsky-a-thon -

Symphony of Psalms
Pater noster
Credo
Ave Maria
Mass
Canticum sacrum ad honorem Sancti Marci nominis

John Mark Ainsley, tenor
Stephen Roberts, baritone
James O'Donnell, conductor
Westminister Cathedral Choir
City of London Sinfonia

[kishnevi]

The other thing that I love about the music is how it feels so alive, like the whole ensemble is in free dialogue and conversing spontaneously, like every single note speaks with conviction.

Hmm... actually I think that's a good way of describing Schonberg's music.  Only the conversation  is more like an argument, and a strenous one at that. My ears tell me he's much more dissonant than Bartok and usually more dissonant than Stravinsky.

[Mirror Image]

We can't blame Jeffrey for what he hears in Schoenberg's music. If he doesn't like it, then it's not the end of the world and there's thousands of other composers to enjoy. No need in arguing with someone over how they feel about the music. It's pointless.

[Mahlerian]

We can't blame Jeffrey for what he hears in Schoenberg's music. If he doesn't like it, then it's not the end of the world and there's thousands of other composers to enjoy. No need in arguing with someone over how they feel about the music. It's pointless.

I didn't blame him or anyone else.  I explained my position, and he explained his.  As I've said before, a worthwhile exchange of views depends on knowing and understanding others' perceptions of the matter under discussion.

[Mirror Image]

I didn't blame him or anyone else.  I explained my position, and he explained his.  As I've said before, a worthwhile exchange of views depends on knowing and understanding others' perceptions of the matter under discussion.

Absolutely. I respect Jeffrey for at least trying to like the music where most people would have shut it off thirty minutes ago.

[Mahlerian]

Hmm... actually I think that's a good way of describing Schonberg's music.  Only the conversation  is more like an argument, and a strenous one at that. My ears tell me he's much more dissonant than Bartok and usually more dissonant than Stravinsky.

I think the main thing that provokes this response (more dissonant than Bartok or Stravinsky) is the density of Schoenberg's music.  It tends to have many more contrapuntal ideas and simultaneous parts, often with differing rhythmic phrasing (i.e. they don't begin and/or end together), this can give an impression of disjointedness or conflict, though that's not necessarily the way it sounds to me.

In terms of harmony, Bartok is much fonder of minor seconds and clusters, for instance.  Schoenberg pretty much never uses cluster chords, and prefers major sevenths/minor ninths to minor seconds (and thirds, sixths, and fourths to either).

[Madiel]

Schoenberg, String Quartet No.2

[asin]B071GVH5NZ[/asin]
I've no idea if this is a recommended version or not, just the one I picked off the streaming service. We shall see how it goes.

[Daverz]

Schoenberg, String Quartet No.2

[asin]B071GVH5NZ[/asin]
I've no idea if this is a recommended version or not, just the one I picked off the streaming service. We shall see how it goes.

I really like Fred Sherry and friends in No. 4, but would like to hear this one as well.

[Madiel]

I really like Fred Sherry and friends in No. 4, but would like to hear this one as well.

I didn't spot a recording of No.2 from them. Maybe it's just the luck of the draw with search terms and metadata (a frequent issue with streaming services), but I saw a recording by them of Nos. 3 and 4, and No.1 coupled with Verklarte Nacht, but didn't see no.2

I expect it's around somewhere.

[Mirror Image]

Bouquet of Flowers, H 260:

[Mahlerian]

I didn't spot a recording of No.2 from them. Maybe it's just the luck of the draw with search terms and metadata (a frequent issue with streaming services), but I saw a recording by them of Nos. 3 and 4, and No.1 coupled with Verklarte Nacht, but didn't see no.2

I expect it's around somewhere.

It's on this disc.  I suspect the recording you pulled out is just as good, though, given the fine version of No. 4 I streamed from it a few weeks ago.

[asin]B000BRJY04[/asin]

(Speaking of which, anyone who thinks my discussion of Schoenberg's music above sounded gushingly laudatory would probably find Craft's booklet notes here downright hagiographic.)

[Madiel]

More Schoenberg streaming:

Three piano pieces, op.11 (Uchida)

Jane Grey, op.12/1 (Mitsuko Shirai, Harmut Hoell? Though I'm actually slightly doubtful about the metadata...)
Der velorene Haufen, op.12/2 (Cornelis Opthof, Glenn Gould)

[Daverz]

It's on this disc.  I suspect the recording you pulled out is just as good, though, given the fine version of No. 4 I streamed from it a few weeks ago.

[asin]B000BRJY04[/asin]

(Speaking of which, anyone who thinks my discussion of Schoenberg's music above sounded gushingly laudatory would probably find Craft's booklet notes here downright hagiographic.)

Found it by searching on "schoenberg 6"

[You did it]

More Schoenberg streaming:

Three piano pieces, op.11 (Uchida)

Jane Grey, op.12/1 (Mitsuko Shirai, Harmut Hoell? Though I'm actually slightly doubtful about the metadata...)
Der velorene Haufen, op.12/2 (Cornelis Opthof, Glenn Gould)

Op 11 is so beautiful, that was a go-to piece for me at one point, helped me through a tough time 
To which I am thankful 

[amw]

Schoenberg, String Quartet No.2

[asin]B071GVH5NZ[/asin]
I've no idea if this is a recommended version or not, just the one I picked off the streaming service. We shall see how it goes.

It is good. My overall recommended version though would be this one:

[Madiel]

It is good. My overall recommended version though would be this one:

Noted for future reference (probably well into the future, Schoenberg is not high on the shopping list, but I keep my notes).

[HIPster]

On the radio KUSC)

[asin]B000K2Q7PK[/asin]