What are you listening 2 now?

[Roasted Swan]

Well I didn't like it much more on the second listening. The Fifth is IMO even worse.
Moving on I did listen to 6 and it seemed to be a much needed improvement. I'll listen to it again soon but after the dreadful 4 & 5 I need a break.

Each to their own of course, but Arnold is an elusive composer.  Often most elusive when he appears to be most "obvious".  I suspect you are reacting negatively to his juxtaposing of simple melodies in the middle of otherwise quite harsh writing. 

[foxandpeng]

Well I didn't like it much more on the second listening. The Fifth is IMO even worse.
Moving on I did listen to 6 and it seemed to be a much needed improvement. I'll listen to it again soon but after the dreadful 4 & 5 I need a break.

Break for a bit and then immersion therapy. Perseverance until it clicks. Or we'll send the boys round and make you listen to PMD on constant repeat. Which actually, is what I did with PMD



He is a treasure waiting to be discovered! Either that, or there are thousands of other composers to listen to

[foxandpeng]

Anton Bruckner
Symphony 00 'Study Symphony'
Georg Tintner
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Naxos

Working on one focused listen through this Study Symphony per day, in one version or another until it beds down into my familiar place. Hardly a chore, but certainly a commitment

[Ian]

Break for a bit and then immersion therapy. Perseverance until it clicks. Or we'll send the boys round and make you listen to PMD on constant repeat. Which actually, is what I did with PMD



He is a treasure waiting to be discovered! Either that, or there are thousands of other composers to listen to

I was doing immersion therapy, perhaps a little too much. But after the very good 1st and 2nd and the terrific 3rd, the 4th. As a bitter disappointment. The 5th even more so. But have no fear, I will give them another go at some point soon.
What or who is PMD?

[DavidW]

Break for a bit and then immersion therapy. Perseverance until it clicks.

I mean Arnold symphonies are not like Bartok string quartets.  Not a difficult nut to crack.  I think either Ian likes them or he doesn't.

[DavidW]

I was doing immersion therapy, perhaps a little too much. But after the very good 1st and 2nd and the terrific 3rd, the 4th. As a bitter disappointment. The 5th even more so. But have no fear, I will give them another go at some point soon.
What or who is PMD?

Peter Maxwell-Davies.

[Ian]

Each to their own of course, but Arnold is an elusive composer.  Often most elusive when he appears to be most "obvious".  I suspect you are reacting negatively to his juxtaposing of simple melodies in the middle of otherwise quite harsh writing. 

I really liked parts of it so yes, that is a possibility. I've listened to it twice and I am not knowledgeable enough to be able to analyse it or why I don't like it. But yes, simplicity could be used. I actually had the word «  childish » associated with some sections.

Actually this allows me to ask a question to you all that I had been wondering about... what do you do if you like certain parts of a symphony rather than the whole work? Do you listen to only the movements that you like? Or do you force yourselves to listen to the whole thing, even parts that you don't like? Or just not listen to any of it?
Sorry if this is an idiotic question but remember I am a newbie to the classical music world 

[foxandpeng]

I mean Arnold symphonies are not like Bartok string quartets.  Not a difficult nut to crack.  I think either Ian likes them or he doesn't.

Bartok SQs. Am yet to make any meaningful dent in those, yet. I just get so distracted when listening to them...

[Harry]

Sweelinck-Scheidemann-Pachelbel-Butler and others

It is a pleasure to once again dip into this mighty collection  .

Theo Jellema,Bernard Winsemius,Remy Syrier and Vincent van Laar

I bought this box the moment it was released, and never regretted it. I return often to it with great pleasure.

[Harry]

In the repeat modus. What a fine performance this is, on a beautiful organ. Much recommended.

[DavidW]

I really liked parts of it so yes, that is a possibility. I've listened to it twice and I am not knowledgeable enough to be able to analyse it or why I don't like it. But yes, simplicity could be used. I actually had the word «  childish » associated with some sections.

Actually this allows me to ask a question to you all that I had been wondering about... what do you do if you like certain parts of a symphony rather than the whole work? Do you listen to only the movements that you like? Or do you force yourselves to listen to the whole thing, even parts that you don't like? Or just not listen to any of it?
Sorry if this is an idiotic question but remember I am a newbie to the classical music world 

Force myself, I always end up getting the other parts later, sometimes even more than the part that I liked.

[foxandpeng]

Peter Maxwell-Davies.

The very man. Listening to his symphony 2, as we speak. An acquired taste, but once acquired, extremely worthwhile. I have spent many a night-time hour after midnight, absorbing his immersive sound world.

PMD
Symphony 2
Peter Maxwell Davies
BBC Philharmonic
Naxos

I have a friend on Orkney at the moment, putting the finishing touches to a couple of books he is writing, so the daily photographic updates make PMD's sonic landscape all the more connective. Not that he would be listening to PMD, mind, despite the Stromness background.

[Ian]

Peter Maxwell-Davies.

Thank you... I am now listening to his 1st Symphony on YouTube. So far so good

[DavidW]

The very man. Listening to his symphony 2, as we speak. An acquired taste, but once acquired, extremely worthwhile. I have spent many a night-time hour after midnight, absorbing his immersive sound world.

PMD
Symphony 2
Peter Maxwell Davies
BBC Philharmonic
Naxos

I have a friend on Orkney at the moment, putting the finishing touches to a couple of books he is writing, so the daily photographic updates make PMD's sonic landscape all the more connective. Not that he would be listening to PMD, mind, despite the Stromness background.

I've only listened to his string quartets.  Perhaps I should try a symphony sometime...

[foxandpeng]

Force myself, I always end up getting the other parts later, sometimes even more than the part that I liked.

Yes! What he said ^^

I'm not new to classical music, but it was never my native air nor cultural norm. As a result, I often feel as though I am a complete novice. I do find that perseverance is massively rewarding (in the same way that listening to black or extreme metal is hard going at first, but becomes hugely engaging the more you listen for the different layers, nuances, interplay of musicians, hooks, riffs and rhythms 😁).

I have learned that what I rarely understand or like, initially, can become some of the most influential or emotive music, later on.

Might just be me 🙂

[foxandpeng]

I've only listened to his string quartets.  Perhaps I should try a symphony sometime...

I don't think anything he has written is immediately engaging - to me, at least - but I have found his symphonies and Strathclyde Concertos an easier route, personally speaking. His Naxos Quartets are definitely on my regular listening rotation.

[Traverso]

Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

CD 15 and the last one.

[foxandpeng]

Thank you... I am now listening to his 1st Symphony on YouTube. So far so good

Ah, thus begins a journey, my friend 😉. I started with #1, deep in the small hours, just letting the music wash over me.

[Ian]

Glad I'm not alone I listened to Symphony Fantastique loads of times before I really got into it. Now it's one of my most listened to pieces.

This PMD Symphony No.1 is probably not the best choice of background music for a romantic evening!   

[Spotted Horses]

I really liked parts of it so yes, that is a possibility. I've listened to it twice and I am not knowledgeable enough to be able to analyse it or why I don't like it. But yes, simplicity could be used. I actually had the word «  childish » associated with some sections.

Actually this allows me to ask a question to you all that I had been wondering about... what do you do if you like certain parts of a symphony rather than the whole work? Do you listen to only the movements that you like? Or do you force yourselves to listen to the whole thing, even parts that you don't like? Or just not listen to any of it?
Sorry if this is an idiotic question but remember I am a newbie to the classical music world 

I usually listen to an entire work, often not at a single sitting (mostly due to time constraints with long works). There are some works that I usually listen to one movement at a time. And there are some symphonic works where one movement seems to be a tone poem in it's own rite (Schubert "Unfinished," first movement). In Mahler choral symphonies I often listen to instrumental movements in isolation, skipping vocal movements. If you listen to one movement of a symphony you are not getting the composers grand scheme of things, but so what, if you enjoy that movement?