What are you listening 2 now?

[foxandpeng]

Emil Tabakov.
Orchestral Works.
Volume I.
See back cover for details.
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Emil Tabakov.
Recorded: 2010 & 2014, Bulgarian National Radio Studio, Sofia.

Well to start with a very positive note, I like the Five Bulgarian Dances. They are riveting, full of energy, and frankly, sublimely scored. Five amazing pieces, well performed and recorded. As to the 8th Symphony I was expecting the best or the worse. The first two movements are in the "Largo"mode, and the music is positively eerie, and doom laden as well. With high woodwinds hovering over the notes of the lower string instruments, enhanced by timpani creating even more expectation of doom. Not unpleasant but the culmination can be overpowering at times. There is little hope and consolation to be found. Just try to understand what his argument is. Not easy music to digest, and @foxandpeng has to be admired for calling all of Tabakov"s music his desert island choice. The second "Largo"is more in balance, but still a hard task to digest. The third movement "Presto" is bursting out of its seams. The energy that is released is too much for me. And that means most of his music too. As said I like the Bulgarian Dances, for in it I recognize a pattern of normality, or understanding if you will.

I am impressed, sir. I know Tabakov is not your usual fare, but I do know that you have a discerning palate and reflect thoughtfully! Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😊

Glad you liked the Bulgarian Dances, even though Tabakov's symphonies may not become part of your regular listening 😁

[ritter]

Some vintage Mozart: Coronation Mass in C-major, K. 317, and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore in C-major K. 339. Vocal soloists (including the superb Teresa Stich-Randall), Saarbrücken Conservatoire Choir and Chamber Orchestra of the Saar, conducted by Karl Ristenpart.

[Kalevala]

Crumb: Unto The Hills



I feel these folk songs with eerie, exotic percussion and amplified piano could have been a big hit if marketed outside the classical pigeonhole. The approach reminds me somewhat of Nico albums. Maybe a bit will get used on TV one day.

I like the Black Angels album with the Kronos Quartet.  I don't know this one.  Looks like it's a relatively recent one?  Love the photo of him with his pups.  Is Ann his wife?  I haven't heard any of her music.  How is it?

K

[Karl Henning]

Another one of my eBay purchases.

Elgar: Cello Concerto



I finally reacquired this as a CD, after having it on cassette so many years ago. I do actually have another recording of the concerto which I haven't listened to in forever... maybe I should... but I did also want the other couple of works.

But it's the concerto recording I absolutely wanted. Not only is this the version that made me fall for this piece, this recording persuaded me I could genuinely like a concerto. ANY concerto. For whatever reason, my early encounters with concerti left me feeling that it was a form that sacrificed the music in favour of giving the soloist a flashy showpiece. And there are still some concerti that make me feel that way, but plenty that I do enjoy. The Elgar cello concerto was the first.

I love stories like this!

[Kalevala]

Another one of my eBay purchases.

Elgar: Cello Concerto



I finally reacquired this as a CD, after having it on cassette so many years ago. I do actually have another recording of the concerto which I haven't listened to in forever... maybe I should... but I did also want the other couple of works.

But it's the concerto recording I absolutely wanted. Not only is this the version that made me fall for this piece, this recording persuaded me I could genuinely like a concerto. ANY concerto. For whatever reason, my early encounters with concerti left me feeling that it was a form that sacrificed the music in favour of giving the soloist a flashy showpiece. And there are still some concerti that make me feel that way, but plenty that I do enjoy. The Elgar cello concerto was the first.

Nice!  Good to hear that it opened your eyes to the possibility that there were/are wonderful concerti out there. 

K

[Mandryka]

Louis Couperin


Christopher Hogwood has made a fine recording with these Suites by Louis Couperin.

( location Conservatoire de Musique. Brussels ,october/november 1982)

The harpsichord sounds excellent.

It's excellent -- and his Froberger is at least as excellent

[André]

Ernest Bour conducts the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden

An excellent set from a conductor better known for his advocacy of modern works. I regularly take it off the shelves.

[Traverso]

Bach

CD 2



Listening to the Bach cantatas is a never-ending joy. This disc is again full of what is actually  one great highlight. The cantata "Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV 151" takes me away from my surroundings, the sweet introverted traverso and strings evoke an image of a pond with water lilies, charming and at the same time much more than that. Of course only for those who can hear, in that respect I feel privileged that these recordings are at my disposal.

[André]

One of my dear friends assured me that von Hausegger's Natursymphonie was a masterpiece. I couldn't find it here so I settled for this disc instead. This is late romanticism à la Siegfried Wagner, Schreker, Pfitzner. I found the 3-movement, 50-minute symphonic poem Barbarossa quite indigestible. Hausegger's mastery of orchestration is in no doubt, but I find his textures thick with winds and brass, percussion ejaculations and relentlessly loud dynamics. Quite exhausting. Unlike Schreker and Pfitzner, Hausegger doesn't have interesting harmonic or melodic gifts to display.

The 3 orchestral songs are more palatable. The vocal line at least helps ground the music around a firm centre. The orchestra is still very full and busy. Mahler was much more economical and effective when scoring orchestral accompaniment. Baritone Hans Christoph Begemann has a full, pleasant voice and an excellent diction. This part of the disc was actually quite interesting to listen to. 

[Traverso]

It's excellent -- and his Froberger is at least as excellent

That recording escaped my attention...

[Todd]

[JBS]

Turning my attention to Penderecki's works for string quartet.


I bought this CD because it's the only one with all four string quartets, and the Clarinet Quartet, and the String Trio. All the others lack something: the Naxos doesn't have the Clarinet Quartet, the Chandos doesn't have the String Trio, the Dux doesn't have the Fourth String Quartet (the perils of recording an active composer: it was issued in 2010, six years before the Fourth's premiere).
ETA there's also one from Quatour Molinari, but it too lacks the Fourth.

Chamber music from "modernist" composers seems to work much better for me than their orchestral music, and that seems to apply here with the thornier works.

[brewski]

Still replaying Mahler 3 in my head from last weekend; I haven't heard anything live or recorded since. Some people I know can listen to music almost constantly, but now and then, I like letting the afterglow of a concert gently fade away.

Especially since more music — a great menu of Bartók, Martinů, and Saint-Saëns — is on tap for Friday.

-Bruce

[Symphonic Addict]

Having listened to the Second and Fourth earlier today, I'd rank them
7
3
2,5,4
1
8

Six isn't in this set, so I will listen to it via YouTube in the next day or so.

The Sixth is his most lyrical, soft-edged symphony. There are at least two recordings of it.

[Lisztianwagner]

Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.4

Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker

[DavidW]

Having listened to the Second and Fourth earlier today, I'd rank them
7
3
2,5,4
1
8

Six isn't in this set, so I will listen to it via YouTube in the next day or so.

It seems like between the three of us, the 7th is top tier!

[JBS]

The Sixth is his most lyrical, soft-edged symphony. There are at least two recordings of it.

Both seem to be on Youtube. If I do buy it, I would probably get the Wit to go along with the set I have.

[Linz]

Jacobus Gallus Opus musicum. Missa super "Sancta Maria"
Huelgas Ensemble, Paul Van Navel
A Secret Labyrinth CD13

[JBS]

More chamber music.
Contents
Sonata No 2 Op 66 for oboe and piano
Kensington Gardens Suite Op 2 for oboe and piano
Sea-Weed Song Op 12c for cor anglais and piano
Sea-Shore Suite Op 3b for oboe and piano
Sonata No 1 Op 5a in g minor for oboe and piano
The Piper of Dreams Op 12b for unaccompanied oboe
Trio Opus 10 for oboe, clarinet, and piano
Threnody Op 74 for cor anglais and piano or organ

Total time 69:12

[Karl Henning]

Turning my attention to Penderecki's works for string quartet.


I bought this CD because it's the only one with all four string quartets, and the Clarinet Quartet, and the String Trio. All the others lack something: the Naxos doesn't have the Clarinet Quartet, the Chandos doesn't have the String Trio, the Dux doesn't have the Fourth String Quartet (the perils of recording an active composer: it was issued in 2010, six years before the Fourth's premiere).
ETA there's also one from Quatour Molinari, but it too lacks the Fourth.

Chamber music from "modernist" composers seems to work much better for me than their orchestral music, and that seems to apply here with the thornier works.

FWIW, I've found I prefer his chamber music. (I do consider Threnody a chamber orchestra work.)