What are you listening 2 now?

[AnotherSpin]

The 6th: great stuff indeed ! Pettersson's time has come (at least on disc) and we discover a great composer. Who knows, what with the popularity of swedish films and tv series (mysteries, criminal) etc, maybe Pettersson will come to be viewed as an example of mainstream Nordic gloom instead of a sad, ill, maybe mentally challenged loner.

This week I listened to the Bulgarian Emil Tabakov's 9th symphony from 2015, and  Pettersson's name came repeatedly to mind when trying to crack this particularly tough nut. Has Pettersson's music spawned a trend ?

I keep reading that Pettersson's symphonies are sad, sickly, or gloomy. It seems almost everyone agrees on this, and it perplexes me quite a bit, even making me question my ability to truly hear music. Because to me, his music doesn't seem sad at all, let alone depressive. About a year and a half ago, I had a Pettersson marathon — early in the spring, every morning I walked through the deserted part of the city overlooking the sea port, deserted because of the war, and listened to one symphony each time. It was simply wonderful, and not sad at all. Movement, rhythm, willpower.

Now Tabakov is a completely different story. Admittedly, I've listened to very little of his music — his dark energy doesn't let me linger for long.

[AnotherSpin]

[Mandryka]

Gothic Voices included it on their latest album, also good. I'll try Sollazzo.

Too fast after Sollazzo!

[Harry]

Antonio Maria Montanari. (1676-1736)
Violin concertos.
WPR.
Ensemble Diderot, on period instruments.
Recording: 2015, Gustav-Mahler-Saal, Toblach.

Top notch!

[vandermolen]

Arthur Bliss: Violin Concerto:

[prémont]

Right, I couldn't find anything other than a couple of instrumental versions because I was looking for "touz" rather than "tous"! Now I've found two others. Savall is outstanding with it - instruments only. O'Dette also.

My "go to" recording of this chanson is the one by Studio der frühe Musik, München with Willard Cobb on the vocal part.

[Roasted Swan]

Arthur Bliss: Violin Concerto:

Campoli was a great player - his Elgar concerto is rarely considered but is very fine.

[Mandryka]

My "go to" recording of this chanson is the one by Studio der frühe Musik, München with Willard Cobb on the vocal part.

Found it. That's quite a contrast with Sollazzo and better -- somehow sensual without being languid.

[prémont]

Found it. That's quite a contrast with Sollazzo and better -- somehow sensual without being languid.

Cobb sings the middle voice in this three part piece. Most other recordings use the singer on the upper voice, which however is relatively instrumental in conception just like the lower voice. This makes a great difference.

[Harry]

Henri Marteau ( 1874-1934.
Orchestral Works.
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Raoul Gruneis.

Very good.

[Mandryka]

Cobb sings the middle voice in this three part piece. Most other recordings use the singer on the upper voice, which however is relatively instrumental in conception just like the lower voice. This makes a great difference.

It's raining Haynes

[prémont]

It's raining Haynes

Let it rain, Eric.

Yes, the recording above exemplifies very well what I wrote.

[Harry]

YORK BOWEN (1884–1961)
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in C minor, Op.25.

WILLIAM WALTON (1902–1983)
Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in A minor.

Diyang Mei, Viola.
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Brett Dean.
Recording date and venue: SWR Sendesaal Studio Kaiserslautern,2024.

Really outstanding in every respect.

[Traverso]

Dowland


CD 1

[Harry]

Grażyna Bacewicz 1909–1969
Complete Orchestral Works Vol.2.
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Łukasz Borowicz.

Every single note is a joy to behold.

[ritter]

Igor Stravinsky conducts the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in his Scènes de ballet.

On CD 5 of this set:


This may be a "minor" Stravinsky work, but I've always had a soft spot for it since I first listened to it (in this same recording, but on LP) decades ago... 

[Spotted Horses]

Hindemith's sonata for unaccompanied cello, again. Ermert.



The sort of piece that demands close attention, and rewards it. The final movement is particularly intense.

[Harry]

Robert Fuchs.
Symphonies Nr.1 & 2.
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Karl-Heinz Steffens.

Still very impressive after all those years of neglect.

[vandermolen]

My favourite CD of VW's film music (actually I'm playing the Naxos reissue). My dad served in Coastal Command in WW2, so I've always had a soft spot for that score:

[Linz]

Allan Pettersson Symphony No. 7 and 11, Norrkoping Symphony orchestra, Leif Segerstam