What are you listening 2 now?

[foxandpeng]

Dmitri Shostakovich
Complete Symphonies
Symphony 3, 'The First of May'
Kirill Kondrashin
Moscow Philharmonic State SO


Last post for today. Establishing for myself which DSCH cycles to poke.

[Symphonic Addict]

I really need to listen to the Saint-Saëns symphonies. I read MI's traversal a while back and put it on my 'to do' list. It is still on there!

Have you listened to them before? If not, the music is self-recommending, expertly crafted, tuneful, with interesting twists here and there. I can't recommend that Warner set enough. The reference recording if you ask me.

[foxandpeng]

Have you listened to them before? If not, the music is self-recommending, expertly crafted, tuneful, with interesting twists here and there. I can't recommend that Warner set enough. The reference recording if you ask me.

I don't think I ever have. I appreciate the pointer, which sets me in the right direction!

Thank you, as ever 🤓

[Symphonic Addict]

I don't think I ever have. I appreciate the pointer, which sets me in the right direction!

Thank you, as ever 🤓

You're welcome! Some rewarding listens await for you when you're in the mood for.

[Symphonic Addict]

Langgaard: String Quartets 5 and 6, Variations on 'Mig hjertelig nu længes', BVN 71 and Italian Scherzo

The fifth shares material with his first quartet, whereas the other works were left untouched. Nice to revisit these works, definitely they have good ideas and a certain originality. My overall favorites are Nos. 1 and 2 and the Variations BVN 71.

[ShineyMcShineShine]

Every time I hear the piano concerto in A minor, Op. 85 it sounds so familiar I think it must have been written by someone more famous than Hummel.

[steve ridgway]

Grisey: Prologue

[steve ridgway]

Schnittke: Cello Sonata

[Irons]

Janacek: Capriccio for Piano (left hand) and Wind Instruments.



Inspired to pull this LP after reading interesting "On the Overgrown Path" discussion on Composer thread.

The genius of Janacek is his ability to mould seemingly unconnected short episodes into a fully coherent whole.

[Que]

Resuming my listening after a week in Scotland:

[Mandryka]

Janacek: Capriccio for Piano (left hand) and Wind Instruments.



Inspired to pull this LP after reading interesting "On the Overgrown Path" discussion on Composer thread.

The genius of Janacek is his ability to mould seemingly unconnected short episodes into a fully coherent whole.

If you ever manage to get hold of Nancy November's book on Beethoven op 131, there's a lot of interesting discussion about how this integration of short pieces into a unity can be achieved - her paradigms are 18th century sets of drawings, and she's focussed on Schumann and Beethoven op 131 obviously, but it carries over.

I found it a really helpful discussion generally, not only in music but also making sense of the composition of contemporary non-figurative paintings.

[Spotted Horses]

Following up on listening to Annie Fischer, Claudio Arrau and HJ Lim, in the Opus 2 sonatas, Beethoven Piano Sonata No 1, Badura-Skoda (fortepiano).



Interesting, not revelatory. I've listened to all of the sonatas on fortepiano before, in the Bautigam cycle. I find the most significant different from a mature piano is that the relatively thin sound in the lower registers can make the melodic content of the bass more clear, if less powerful. Will probably go through the Beethoven piano sonatas, alternating performers based on my whims, interspersed with other stuff. I am thinking of some CPE Bach, and Korngold Chamber Music.

[Roasted Swan]

Janacek: Capriccio for Piano (left hand) and Wind Instruments.



Inspired to pull this LP after reading interesting "On the Overgrown Path" discussion on Composer thread.

The genius of Janacek is his ability to mould seemingly unconnected short episodes into a fully coherent whole.

to the bolded:  A perfect/succinct assessment of Janacek's unique skill

[foxandpeng]

Saint-Saëns: Symphony Urbs Roma and Symphony No. 2

If the real first two symphonies (in A major and No. 1) show him as an accomplished symphonist already, these two confirm his stature as a great composer. The Urbs Roma is a fantastic work with a singular march-like slow movement. That music would be perfect for a detective plot. In the No. 2, Saint-Saëns employs the woodwinds in a masterful fashion.

Maiden flight with this bad boy... I'm aware that he isn't part of my usual musical chronology or style, but I ought, at least, to understand something of him.

Symphony in A major to kick off...

[Harry]

Metamorphosis.
Greek musical traditions across the centuries.
See back cover for details.


The music of Greece, which came to us from antiquity via the Byzantine tradition, changes its appearance depending on the era and place of origin, while always preserving its soul. This CD is a good example of that great art of singing, and using instruments. it's timeless, escapes definition, but is embracing one's soul with warmth. Excellent performances and recording.

[Traverso]

Dukas

Piano Sonata

Schmitt
Deux Mirages

Dutilleux

Piano Sonata

John Ogdon, a giant in many respecs

[Madiel]

Nielsen: Hymnus Amoris



This feels like a very different work for Nielsen. I don't know if that's just because it's a vocal work, but it's smooth and flowing.

[foxandpeng]

Saint-Saëns: Symphony Urbs Roma and Symphony No. 2

If the real first two symphonies (in A major and No. 1) show him as an accomplished symphonist already, these two confirm his stature as a great composer. The Urbs Roma is a fantastic work with a singular march-like slow movement. That music would be perfect for a detective plot. In the No. 2, Saint-Saëns employs the woodwinds in a masterful fashion.

Continuing on with Saint-Saëns since this morning. Have listened to his Symphony 1, and the Symphony in F major, 'Urbs Roma'.

I can see why people would really like this. I've been listening while completing admin tasks, and have had to stop and rewind several times to hear various passages again. It does sit a little outside my stylistic preferences, but these are excellent works.

[Todd]

[Madiel]

Poulenc: Poèmes de Ronsard



I think he's really beginning to hit his stride as a song composer. But according to the liner notes, Poulenc later came to dislike much of this cycle himself. I guess even better things are coming. *shrug*