Charles Koechlin(1867-1950)

[AnotherSpin]

Answers here


https://www.discogs.com/release/15018647-Charles-Koechlin-Sonate-Opus-64-Pour-Violon-Et-Piano-Quintette-Opus-80-Pour-2-Violons-Alto-Violoncel

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OyAyZq4D7xHtJ97Hvlv1K

Qobuz also has the quintet:

https://open.qobuz.com/album/whekv02n1tx7a

[Le Buisson Ardent]

The smaller the resources, the better the music, in Koechlin.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you here. Koechlin is an atmospheric composer in my view. He's more into harmony and his orchestration is second to none. Le buisson ardent, Parts I & II is one of his most miraculous achievements, IMHO. It truly is a work of great beauty. I actually find some of Koechlin's chamber and solo piano works boring.

[Mandryka]

I didn't have that impression, but impossible to say until another quartet offers an alternative. I did find the recordings of 1 and 2 consistent with 3 and the quintet, which was recorded by a different ensemble.

Fun factoid. The 1st symphony is an orchestration of the 2nd quartet.

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Oct/Koechlin_quartets_AR20063.htm

[Spotted Horses]

Fun factoid. The 1st symphony is an orchestration of the 2nd quartet.

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Oct/Koechlin_quartets_AR20063.htm

Scored with ondes Martenot? 

(One of the comments says it is actually Koechlin symphony No 2.)

...and I see that the YouTube is conducted by Rosenthal, a favorite of ritter.

...and how to people get access to these obscure recordings to post on YouTube?

[Mandryka]

Orledge's book is here -- viewable for an hour at a time

https://archive.org/details/charleskoechlin10001orle/page/n277/mode/2up

[pjme]

Scored with ondes Martenot? 

(One of the comments says it is actually Koechlin symphony No 2.)

...and I see that the YouTube is conducted by Rosenthal, a favorite of ritter.

...and how to people get access to these obscure recordings to post on YouTube?

Indeed, no Martenot(s) in the first symphony.
It is definitely symphony nr. 1, in a 1958 recording from the ORTF.

http://www.rene-gagnaux-2.ch/k_repertoire/koechlin_symph1_oprtf_rosenthal.html

Several radio stations (ORTF, BRT, RTBF...) had (usually late night) programs where recordings from the archives could be requested. I taped many hours and gave the tapes to friends in the US. I wasn't the only one taping these recordings, of course. Moreover, through INA France recordings can be bought, I think for non commercial use.

[Mandryka]

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66979

I just want to celebrate my discovery of this recording. Fabulous music and fabulous, mysterious, performances.

[kyjo]

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66979

I just want to celebrate my discovery of this recording. Fabulous music and fabulous, mysterious, performances.

Indeed, I was recently listening to the succinct Cello Sonata and 20 Chansons bretonnes in a different recording (Peter Bruns and Roglit Ishay on Hänssler) and was struck by the music's luminous, singular quality. Koechlin had the ability to make his music sound "ancient" yet modern at the same time, if that makes any sense. I think it has something to do with his use of parallel fourths and fifths in his harmonic writing.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I listened to Koechlin's cello sonata just now (via youtube)...lovely!  I personally thought that it had a rather melancholic feel to it.

PD

[Mandryka]

The flute sonata's another goodie. Op 52

The thing about Koechlin is this: he has a knack of making music which is constantly beautiful - not like other composers, who make music which has beautiful passages.

[Spotted Horses]

I listened to the cello and viola sonatas from the SWR set. I think my enthusiasm for Koechlin will begin and end with the string quartet/piano quintet. The highpoint was the hypnotic first movement of the cello sonata. Other than that, it wasn't my thing.

[Mandryka]

I listened to the cello and viola sonatas from the SWR set. I think my enthusiasm for Koechlin will begin and end with the string quartet/piano quintet. The highpoint was the hypnotic first movement of the cello sonata. Other than that, it wasn't my thing.

But you haven't tried Les Chants de Nectaire yet.

[Spotted Horses]

But you haven't tried Les Chants de Nectaire yet.

What recording would you recommend?

[Mandryka]

What recording would you recommend?

Nicola Woodward volume 1

[Le Buisson Ardent]

But you haven't tried Les Chants de Nectaire yet.

You didn't ask me, but the idea of unaccompanied flute is unappealing to me.

[Mandryka]

Chirtoph Keller + Ensemble Mobile - very radient performance of Paysages et Marines, elegant and noble. Just cool in every way, I guess.

[Spotted Horses]

Chirtoph Keller + Ensemble Mobile - very radient performance of Paysages et Marines, elegant and noble. Just cool in every way, I guess.

Despite myself, I put on a bit of Koechlin, the Clarinet Sonata No 1. Listening to that, I started to question what I am supposed to enjoy about music. Is it just a sequence of notes that you are supposed to hear? Is it supposed to make us aware that time is passing and we will never get it back? He is making me question to value of music.

Then I put on Pfitzner String Quartet No 3. Oh, yes, now I get it, that is what music is for. In the end I've decided that Pfitzner is too conservative for my taste, but it is music at least.

There is matter, and there is anti-matter, which annihilates matter when they come in contact. Koechlin composes anti-music.

[Mandryka]

Pfitzner is too conservative for my taste

Second quartet better

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/apple-music/id1108187390

 

[Mandryka]

Is it just a sequence of notes that you are supposed to hear?

It's true that in Koechlin's chamber music you may not have tension and release like in traditional musics, or indeed a  journey from home type narration, or for that matter thematic develeopment. For me this is what lets him compose pieces which are continuously beautiful.

[Spotted Horses]

It's true that in Koechlin's chamber music you may not have tension and release like in traditional musics, or indeed a  journey from home type narration, or indeed thematic develeopment. For me this is what lets him compose pieces which are continuously beautiful.

Consistently beautiful does not work for me.  I this point in my life, I do not have the repose necessary to take it in. There has to be some strife or conflict in the music.