What are you listening 2 now?

Started by Gurn Blanston, September 23, 2019, 05:45:22 AM

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Traverso

Lutoslawski

Symphonic Variations
Symphony No.1
Musique Funèbre
Symphony No.2


pjme

#113861
Quote from: foxandpeng on July 21, 2024, 03:15:40 PMThis might be great if I spoke Czech... I'm not sure it would be, but as I don't, it definitely isn't.
Hmmm, that sounds rather sketchy to me.

Indeed, the cd booklet does not mention the texts of this symphony -  I found this information:

"It is especially difficult to write about the Symphony No. 7, as it centers around spoken passages, which are not even included in the accompanying program notes in Czech, not to mention in English translation. However the notes indicate that the text is drawn from the Gospel according to John and the Book of Revelation. According to program notes to a recent performance, written by Klára Mühlová and Vladimir Maňas, the text "does not feature a single verb, remaining a stream of bare meanings. The composer emphasizes the symbolic nature of words, leaving the making of connections between the propositions to the combining of music with words, and the explanation to the listener." The work falls into three sections, entitled: 1) Eternity; 2) Humanity; 3) Eternity. In this work Kabeláč's language has become totally dissonant and largely atonal. There is little sense of metrical pulse, and much cluster harmony, yet there is still a strong tonal sense. But most important, even without a printed text, the music conveys a sense of intense emotionality. The work was commissioned for the 1968 Prague Spring Festival, where it received its premiere. Kabeláč said, "The Seventh Symphony is my musical and philosophical credo."

Even so, it would be good to have the quotes printed. I do not read/speak Czech, Hungarian, Russian ... but enjoy searching for information & if possible - translations.

" Kabeláč's music is no walk in the park. It is all serious stuff—grim, bleak, and brooding, often breaking out into a relentless physical brutality. There is no levity. While listening to this music, it is hard not to be constantly reminded of the overwhelming adversities, both personal and political, that he endured throughout his career, although regarding his work as nothing but a statement of political resistance or protest is simplistic, to say the least.  "

Source: https://walter-simmons.com/writings/1849

Anyway, Kabelac's music surely has a mesmerising effect on many listeners. i discovered his music in the early seventies when Les percussions de Strasbourg toured Europe and performed often the Eight inventions for percussion ensemble. That work was picked up by choreographers, adding to the popularity of that score.

Mystery of time is without doubt one of Kabelac's greatest compositions. Personally I admire the Hamlet improvisations and the Reflections a lot: unanswered questions ticking away in infinity....

SonicMan46

Giuliani, Mauro (1781-1829) - Guitar Duos & Rossiniana + Potpourri w/ Claudio Maccari and Paolo Pugliese on historic guitars - both 3-disc sets - stashed away from my other CDs of this composer - the Rossiniane have an interesting history (see below).  Dave :)

QuoteMauro Giuliani's "Rossiniane" are a virtuoso variations cycle for the guitar based on themes by Rossini. One of the unique features of these compositions is that they were jointly composed by Giuliani, Paganini, and Rossini himself at Rossini's villa. Mauro Giuliani alone is formally credited with composing the six sets of jointly written variations for guitar on themes by Rossini, Opp. 119–124 (c. 1820–1828). Each set was called "Rossiniana", and collectively they are called "Rossiniane". This was the first known tribute by one composer to another using a title with the ending -ana. (Source)

 

Cato

Quote from: Irons on July 21, 2024, 11:49:47 PMIt is true that the excellent producers and sound engineers of Decca's heyday, people like Culshaw and Wilkinson had zero input in Phase 4 Stereo. This offshoot was a brainchild of Arthur Lilley and Tony D'Amato.
I don't dismiss all of the recordings per se. Some I like in a naughty but nice way, notably my favourite recording of Dvorak's "New World" with Dorati conducting New Philharmonia and a good popular Respighi set with Munch.
 


My favorite is a Stokowski performance from the 1970's.  Unfortunately, YouTube has no offering of it: I found it reproduced on a CD some years ago.

"Leopold" had a tendency to cut the work in earlier performances: as far as I know, this performance was not cut.

The performance is tremendous, especially the last bars.


Not Inexpensive: Eloquence CD of Stokowski/Francesca da Rimini
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Cato

In recent days: 3 all-around faves!

Prokofiev: Seven, They Are Seven





Prokofiev: Symphony #2






Prokofiev: Symphony #3



"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Traverso

Poulenc

Sonate pour Flute et Piano

Michel Debost flute
Jacques Février piano


What a beautiful sonata for flute and piano this is, Poulenc's idiosyncrasy is clearly reflected in this sweetly sunny music.


Linz

Roland de Lassus Requiem  à 5, Magnificat, Ensemble Pro Cantione Anttiqua, London, Bruno Turner

Todd

The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

Traverso

Bach

Cantatas BWV 34-173-184 & 129




Irons

Quote from: Cato on July 22, 2024, 05:48:44 AMMy favorite is a Stokowski performance from the 1970's.  Unfortunately, YouTube has no offering of it: I found it reproduced on a CD some years ago.

"Leopold" had a tendency to cut the work in earlier performances: as far as I know, this performance was not cut.

The performance is tremendous, especially the last bars.


Not Inexpensive: Eloquence CD of Stokowski/Francesca da Rimini

DCC Compact Classics - confusing name as their specialty was to reissue great recordings from the vinyl era on very expensive audiophile LP pressings. Their catalogue includes an outstanding Shostakovich 5 with Stokowski which often finds it's way on my turntable. Even better, a recording that sold like hot cakes has Stokowski conducting Francesca da Rimini and Hamlet Overture. The dynamic range of this recording has to be heard to be believed and Stokowski conducts as if his life depends on it!

 
You must have a very good opinion of yourself to write a symphony - John Ireland.

I opened the door people rushed through and I was left holding the knob - Bo Diddley.

Spotted Horses

Wellesz, Symphony No 8, 9, Symphonic Epilog



The Symphony No 9 is particularly effective. Looking at my notes for previous listening to Wellesz, I was reminded of Mahler in the early works, but in these later works Wellesz has developed his own voice, probably related to the incorporation of atonal techniques. It is very effective, but it requires attentive listening. With common-practice tonality you can drop in and the harmonic texture tells you where you are in the musical journey. In this sort of music you have to pay attention.

71 dB

Ligeti - Piano Études, Books One & Two

Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

Todd

The universe is change; life is opinion. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

People would rather believe than know - E.O. Wilson

Propaganda death ensemble - Tom Araya

VonStupp

Luigi Cherubini
Requiem in D minor
New Philharmonia & Ambrosian Singers
Riccardo Muti


In my opinion, the best of Cherubini's Masses, written by the composer for his own funeral.
VS

All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff. - Frank Zappa

My Musical Musings

ritter

Some Milhaud string quartets played by the Quatuor Parisii.



The program jumps chronologically back and forth. First we get SQ No. 16, op. 303 (from 1950), followed by No. 2, op. 12 (1914-25), then No. 7, op. 87 (1925), and finally No. 13, op. 268 (1946). But that's Ok.

I like this music...  :)
 « Et n'oubliez pas que le trombone est à Voltaire ce que l'optimisme est à la percussion. » 

Dry Brett Kavanaugh

Quote from: Irons on July 21, 2024, 11:49:47 PMIt is true that the excellent producers and sound engineers of Decca's heyday, people like Culshaw and Wilkinson had zero input in Phase 4 Stereo. This offshoot was a brainchild of Arthur Lilley and Tony D'Amato.
I don't dismiss all of the recordings per se. Some I like in a naughty but nice way, notably my favourite recording of Dvorak's "New World" with Dorati conducting New Philharmonia and a good popular Respighi set with Munch.

 



I like the recording of Azerbaijan Mugam (Amirov).



Lisztianwagner

Egon Wellesz
Symphony No.4

Gottfried Rabl & Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien




So far I've been enjoying Wellesz' symphonies a lot; the early four symphonies sound all rather influenced by Mahler's music, and in fact, although they haven't got Mahler's wide expanded textures, orchestral richness and use of irony and parody, those Wellesz' works evoke a very mahlerian intensity and emotional strenght, as well as sometimes, especially in the slower movements, a sort of peaceful, nostalgic beauty. The contrapuntal structures are very well elaborated and there is a nice use of the fugato.
"You cannot expect the Form before the Idea, for they will come into being together." - Arnold Schönberg

Linz

Bruckner Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, 1877 Version Ed. Leopld Nowak (with Scherzo coda), Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden

ritter

 And now, something I haven't listened to in a quarter century  :o... Korngold's Piano Sonatas (played by Geoffrey Tozer).

 « Et n'oubliez pas que le trombone est à Voltaire ce que l'optimisme est à la percussion. » 

vandermolen

Quote from: Cato on July 22, 2024, 05:57:57 AMIn recent days: 3 all-around faves!

Prokofiev: Seven, They Are Seven





Prokofiev: Symphony #2






Prokofiev: Symphony #3




Leinsdorf's Prokofiev performances are very fine.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).