Alberic Magnard(1865-1914)

[Madiel]

I feel that in his 4th Symphony. It's what it conveys to me. A farewell. A very subjective and personal point of view of mine.

More like a view coloured by the hindsight of knowing when Magnard died.

I'm sure there are some composers that consciously choose to do farewell works, because they know they're old/ill and on the way out. But there's simply no way that Magnard is one of them. No-one at the premiere was reacting by thinking "gosh, what a farewell work from a composer who's going to die soon".

And you didn't present it as a 'subjective and personal point of view', or I wouldn't have said anything. You presented it as Magnard's artistic reaction to his own impending death.

[Mirror Image]

I feel that in his 4th Symphony. It's what it conveys to me. A farewell. A very subjective and personal point of view of mine.

Sure, I sometimes hear things like this as well. Like, for example, the Lento movement in Schnittke's 8th symphony. To me, it is, in a sense, a musical letter of resignation from this world. The same with Arnold's 9th finale. Also, much of Mahler's 9th could be interpreted this way.

[W.A. Mozart]

What do you think about the Symphony No. 4?

Orchestra: Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse
Conductor: Michel Plasson

[vandermolen]

What do you think about the Symphony No. 4?

Orchestra: Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse
Conductor: Michel Plasson

Fabulous! A deeply moving and eloquent work. Plasson's performance is first-rate. I had the wonderful LP with 'Chant Funebre' included.

[vers la flamme]

I got the Hyperion cycle of the symphonies recently. No opinion as of yet.

[Maestro267]

I got that set last year but haven't listened enough to form an opinion on the symphonies yet either.

[foxandpeng]

I got the Hyperion cycle of the symphonies recently. No opinion as of yet.

Awaiting the Great Hyperion Streaming Revolution, here. Will listen with interest!

[DavidW]

Awaiting the Great Hyperion Streaming Revolution, here. Will listen with interest!

Robert Simpson chamber music
Being able listen to his symphonies at work and not just home
Vaughan Williams symphonies, keep seeing Vandermolen and others posting those recordings
Angela Hewitt at work and not just home
Florestan Trio
Hamelin
Herrick
Hough
Raphael Ensemble

and so many more that I can't even think of... oh yeah don't forget one of the finest Shostakovich SQ cycles is on the hyperion label.



Sorry, I'm just getting excited.

[foxandpeng]

Robert Simpson chamber music
Being able listen to his symphonies at work and not just home
Vaughan Williams symphonies, keep seeing Vandermolen and others posting those recordings
Angela Hewitt at work and not just home
Florestan Trio
Hamelin
Herrick
Hough
Raphael Ensemble

and so many more that I can't even think of... oh yeah don't forget one of the finest Shostakovich SQ cycles is on the hyperion label.



Sorry, I'm just getting excited.

Me too!

**drools**

[Madiel]

Robert Simpson chamber music
Being able listen to his symphonies at work and not just home
Vaughan Williams symphonies, keep seeing Vandermolen and others posting those recordings
Angela Hewitt at work and not just home
Florestan Trio
Hamelin
Herrick
Hough
Raphael Ensemble

and so many more that I can't even think of... oh yeah don't forget one of the finest Shostakovich SQ cycles is on the hyperion label.



Sorry, I'm just getting excited.

Yes to several of these. Although I already own about half of the Florestan Trio's ouevre on CD, and some Raphael Ensemble as well.

But I'll be making a beeline for the Simpson.

[ChamberNut]

I have not heard a single note yet of Magnard's music, but I am planning on exploring it. I will likely get the Sanderling set of symphonies, along with the 4 disc complete chamber music set (if I can find it).  It is a challenge right now with the Canada Post strike still ongoing.

However, these Naxos recordings of the symphonies and other orchestral works haven't been talked about yet.  Has anyone heard them and can comment to their quality?

[ChamberNut]

I guess I have my answer.

[Madiel]

I'm sure there was someone who tried them. But who that was or whether they are around right now to leap into answering your question, I've no idea.

There are also at least a couple of reviews available. Noting that schools of thought vary around here about whether reviews have any value.

[Spotted Horses]

I guess I have my answer.

Haven't heard them. Have you heard the Plasson recordings on EMI (originally). Not having listen to any Magnard for a while, I seem to have fondest memories of them.

Long out of print, I suspect

[ChamberNut]

Haven't heard them. Have you heard the Plasson recordings on EMI (originally). Not having listen to any Magnard for a while, I seem to have fondest memories of them.

Long out of print, I suspect

No, I have not heard the Plasson. I haven't heard anything yet from Magnard. But am curious as he came from the D'Indy/Franck school of symphonic writing.

I have heard great things about Plasson and Sanderling for the performance of the symphonies, but there weren't any comments (yet) regarding these performances.

[Spotted Horses]

Your postal strike is a great excuse to try streaming, unless they are stopping electrons at the border.

I tend to purchase things (either download if they supply a booklet or physical media) but not before I have listened to it streaming.

There's also Ossonce on Hyperion, but I vaguely remember finding them less engaging than Plasson (more atmospheric) or Sanderling (more strict).

[ChamberNut]

Your postal strike is a great excuse to try streaming, unless they are stopping electrons at the border.

Yes, the damn strike! Indeed, I do some "spot" streaming, especially to sample things.

[Spotted Horses]

Was the strike preceded by other labor actions? Two months ago I order a box set from a Canadian seller. It took a month before it arrived at U.S. Customs, then it was delivered in 2 days. I don't think of CanadaPost as being generally inefficient (I lived in Calgary for a year and a half).

[ChamberNut]

None I'm aware of.

[Vox Maris]

I have not heard a single note yet of Magnard's music, but I am planning on exploring it. I will likely get the Sanderling set of symphonies, along with the 4 disc complete chamber music set (if I can find it).  It is a challenge right now with the Canada Post strike still ongoing.

However, these Naxos recordings of the symphonies and other orchestral works haven't been talked about yet.  Has anyone heard them and can comment to their quality?

I haven't heard any of these recordings, but I've pretty much got all the Magnard I need now as I have purchased the Thomas Sanderling performances on BIS. I don't know the Plasson recordings, but this Ossonce set on Hyperion has served me well for more than a decade now:



Only recently have I got the itch to try some other performances and Sanderling's come highly recommended. What I like about the Ossonce is their lyricism. He plays this music beautifully and, perhaps, sometimes, it's really not what the music calls for, but...that's where Sanderling comes into play as I've read he's very much the yin to Ossonce's yang.