Pieces that have blown you away recently

[KevinP]

This recording:

[brewski]

This recording:

I've heard Goosby do this live, and not only is it a piece worth hearing (and rehearing), but Goosby is on his way to major stardom, if he isn't there already. His recordings of the Price violin concertos are also well worth a listen.

-Bruce

[Roasted Swan]

I've heard Goosby do this live, and not only is it a piece worth hearing (and rehearing), but Goosby is on his way to major stardom, if he isn't there already. His recordings of the Price violin concertos are also well worth a listen.

-Bruce

Agree about Goosby - cannot agree about this minor piece.  Written 1933 but would be comfortable around 1890.

[hopefullytrusting]

Mozart's Adagio and Fugue in C minor KV 546: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBQBNIK2Wcw

It sounds so romantic/modern, was not expecting such strum und drang from him.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The fact that it's only about five minutes is obviously a factor, but I think I've listened to Florence Price' Fantasie no.1 for violin and piano a good dozen times today.

Wow, that's a lot!

I'll have to see if I can find it online.  Whose recording were you listening to?

PD

[KevinP]

Goosby's, posted above.

[Irons]

Truly blown away by John Foulds heart stopping Quartetto Geniale. Lento quieto the only surviving movement of Foulds' tenth and last quartet. My immediate reaction being what a tragic loss to music that the other movements are no more. However, after listening to the piece again (no way you would not) I had second thoughts. Schubert's "Unfinished" is better off that way, perfect as it is - stop there. Exactly my thoughts of Quartetto Geniale.

[Roasted Swan]

Truly blown away by John Foulds heart stopping Quartetto Geniale. Lento quieto the only surviving movement of Foulds' tenth and last quartet. My immediate reaction being what a tragic loss to music that the other movements are no more. However, after listening to the piece again (no way you would not) I had second thoughts. Schubert's "Unfinished" is better off that way, perfect as it is - stop there. Exactly my thoughts of Quartetto Geniale.

Completely agree!  But the whole disc is pretty amazing - the LP that single handedly brought Foulds' name to a new generation of music lovers.  The only baffling thing is that no one has ever recorded more of his quartes or even re recorded these wonderful works.....

[Florestan]

This piece has been a revelation on three fronts.

First, it introduced me to a new pianist (Louis Kentner), who I am now loving.
Second, it introduced me to a new YouTube channel who is a master at transferring.
Third, and most importantly, it exposed me to the brilliant lyricism of Balakirev, who I really only knew through Islamey, which while wildly impressive, isn't always the nicest piece to sit down and listen to. This work transformed the composer for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK_3STOuIZ0

Very good. You might want to explore this boxset:

[Irons]

Completely agree!  But the whole disc is pretty amazing - the LP that single handedly brought Foulds' name to a new generation of music lovers.  The only baffling thing is that no one has ever recorded more of his quartes or even re recorded these wonderful works.....

Only scratched the surface of Quartetto Intimo. Looking forward to getting to know the work. I enjoyed the lighter Aquarelles very much. My only criticism - I have a CD copy not LP - of an outstanding purchase is playing time of 53'39".
If the remaining Foulds quartets are even half of good as these then Dutton, Toccata et al need to get their finger out!

[Florestan]

Gottschalk: La Savane, ballade créole, Op. 3

It didn't make such an impression on me when I must heave heard it on Philip Martin's complete Gottschalk solo piano set because I don't remember it. But yesterday I've listened to this splendid recording:



and it blew me away instantly. The apparently monotonous melody, subtly varied without being fundamentally altered (an almost Haydnesque technical device), creates a hypnotic, mesmerizing atmosphere, highly evocative of the apparently monotonous savanna landscape. A magical and, at 8:25, quite substantial solo piano work.

The whole disc is well worth hearing,  the other Gottschalk pieces and the Lecuona selections are also very good.

[Roasted Swan]

I like Taneyev so not quite sure how/why I'd never heard his Piano Quintet before.  Just listened to this new Naxos release;



VERY well played by Spectrum Arts Berlin.  Wow - what a piece - if you like your chamber music big-boned, surgingly Romantic and packed full of musical excitement and incident this is the work for you!  Of course, checking the catalogue there are a lot of alternatives which clearly I do not know.  Curiously the coupling of the Violin Sonata from around much the same time is about as insipid and underwhelming (well-played mind) as it could be.  Ignore the Sonata, stay for the Quintet!!

[Jo498]

DG had an all star recording of the quintet with Pletnev on piano + piano trio.

[kyjo]

I like Taneyev so not quite sure how/why I'd never heard his Piano Quintet before.  Just listened to this new Naxos release;



VERY well played by Spectrum Arts Berlin.  Wow - what a piece - if you like your chamber music big-boned, surgingly Romantic and packed full of musical excitement and incident this is the work for you!  Of course, checking the catalogue there are a lot of alternatives which clearly I do not know.  Curiously the coupling of the Violin Sonata from around much the same time is about as insipid and underwhelming (well-played mind) as it could be.  Ignore the Sonata, stay for the Quintet!!

Yes, it's truly a masterpiece! Don't hesitate to check out his wonderful Piano Quartet as well if you haven't yet - it has the most beautiful slow movement. I haven't heard Taneyev's Violin Sonata, but I can attest that he was a rather uneven composer. He was able to create works full of blazing inspiration like the Piano Quintet and Fourth Symphony, yet some of his other works are tainted by an academic stiffness.

[Luke]

The score of the violin sonata suggests that it is directed towards amateurs. It's texturally thin and unadventurous.

[Cato]

The score of the violin sonata suggests that it is directed towards amateurs. It's texturally thin and unadventurous.
 

One source says it was subtitled "Of Medium Difficulty."

Whether Taneyev himself wrote the subtitle, or it came from a publisher, I do not know.

[Symphonic Addict]

These four works:

The two symphonies by Quincy Porter (from 1934 and 1962 respectively)

By this composer (1897-1966) I have previously heard his succinct nine string quartets, which arguably represent the best cycle by an American composer. Thank these two symphonies my admiration for this gentleman has grown. Whereas the first one is decidedly vital, hectic, breathing American Neoclassicism somewhat akin to Piston's, the second one reflects a more pensive, introverted, even thought-provoking nature, but not without its agitated moments. Pretty well performed by the Sinfonia Varsovia under Ian Hobson.




Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Piano Sonata and Sonatina Zoologica (from 1928 and 1960 respectively)

The more I hear his music, the more I'm convinced he was a composer of considerable stature. The busy full-fledged Piano Sonata (lasting 25 minutes) contains music of tempestuous and thrilling character (the 3rd movement is specially tremendous in that regard) that it is pertinently softened by the balm provided in the 2nd movement. It's played by no other than Aldo Ciccolini. It seems that he tackled some repertoire far from the usual guys (which I applaud). The drama present in that sonata doesn't appear in the Sonatina Zoologica. Here we have an inventive work that depicts four animals (dragonflies, snail, lizard and ants), and I have to say that he succeeded at it quite well, it's pretty graphic and fun to listen to. I should explore more of his piano works. It seems there are more surprises waiting for being discovered.

[Symphonic Addict]

The Concerto Antico by Richard Harvey (born in 1953)

A most rapturously gorgeous guitar concerto. One of the most life-enhancing pieces I've heard recently. It's in five movements (Alborada, Contredanse, Cantilena, Forlana and Lavolta). The third movement alone is worth the price of admission. Music to die for. Harvey wrote it for John Williams deservedly. He plays with total commitment, panache, gracefulness.

The concerto by Steve Gray I haven't heard yet.

[kyjo]

Paul Schoenfield: Cafe Music for piano trio (1987)



William Terwilliger, violin; Andres Diaz, cello; Andrew Cooperstock, piano

Not my first time hearing this piece, but what a joy it was to revisit it today! This has to be one of the most brilliant and tremendously fun pieces influenced by jazz/ragtime written since Gershwin. The outer movements are superbly catchy, witty, and virtuosic for all three players, while the central movement is wistful, sentimental, and ultimately rather moving. It's splendidly performed here, and the rest of this album seems quite promising too, especially the Four Souvenirs for violin and piano which are in a similar vein.


Lambert: Summer's Last Will and Testament (1932-35)



My first listen to this large-scale choral/orchestral work which Lambert considered to be his masterpiece. This is a more "serious" work than is typical of Lambert (though I'm not intimately familiar with his output) and the jazzy influences that usually pervade his music only appear momentarily throughout. The first half of the work is written in a broadly pastoral manner, but the most impressive music is contained in the final two movements - the sardonic, threatening Rondo Burlesca "King Pest" for orchestra alone and the final Saraband, which is darkly gripping and mournful with substantial baritone solos.

[Roasted Swan]

Paul Schoenfield: Cafe Music for piano trio (1987)



William Terwilliger, violin; Andres Diaz, cello; Andrew Cooperstock, piano

Not my first time hearing this piece, but what a joy it was to revisit it today! This has to be one of the most brilliant and tremendously fun pieces influenced by jazz/ragtime written since Gershwin. The outer movements are superbly catchy, witty, and virtuosic for all three players, while the central movement is wistful, sentimental, and ultimately rather moving. It's splendidly performed here, and the rest of this album seems quite promising too, especially the Four Souvenirs for violin and piano which are in a similar vein.


Lambert: Summer's Last Will and Testament (1932-35)



My first listen to this large-scale choral/orchestral work which Lambert considered to be his masterpiece. This is a more "serious" work than is typical of Lambert (though I'm not intimately familiar with his output) and the jazzy influences that usually pervade his music only appear momentarily throughout. The first half of the work is written in a broadly pastoral manner, but the most impressive music is contained in the final two movements - the sardonic, threatening Rondo Burlesca "King Pest" for orchestra alone and the final Saraband, which is darkly gripping and mournful with substantial baritone solos.

The only Schoenfield I know is the Four Souvenirs but played on this disc by Caroline Goulding;



which is just stupidly brilliant!  But whatever happened to Goulding?  She recorded this in her teens and I reckoned she was bound for real stardom but there's almost nothing since......  You are - of course - quite right the Schoenfield is great fun.

PS:  Summer's Last Will and Testament has been an enduring disappointment to me.  Lambert had so much talent but for me here he is simply trying too hard to write something "significant".