What are you listening 2 now?

[Kalevala]

Still regret not trying to stuff that in my suitcase as well when visiting Japan... Though it is quite odd that it has never been reissued.

Maybe next time bring an extra suitcase?  Don't know what the baggage fees would be like (plus weight limits)...perhaps you could split your clothes and CDs between the two on your return trip?

K

[vandermolen]

Congratulations and do you like it ? 

Thanks!
A long time ago but I did enjoy it.

[André]

TD:
CD 5
Trauer-Symphonie and La Passione

My favourite disc of the entire Haydn/Marriner set !

[André]

Another listen to Richard Wetz' beautiful Christmas Oratorio, this time on speakers instead of headphones.

[brewski]

Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 (Minnesota Orchestra / Osmo Vänskä). To mark the birthday, one of my favorite recordings. 

-Bruce

[SonicMan46]

Biber, Heinrich - Rosary Sonatas - violin sonatas w/ basso continuo with the instrument tuned scordatura (see attachment for specific string tunings for each sonata) - currently I own 3 recordings of these works and all are excellent (see attached reviews) - Lautenbacher is from 1962 but still sounds great; the others well reviewed - the violin playing + the B.C. instruments used make all interpretations distinctive - NOW, there are many other recordings SO please respond and tell me your own preferences - plus, if you're a collector of early Baroque music this should be in your collection, IMHO - Dave

The Rosary Sonatas (a.k.a. the Mystery Sonatas) by Heinrich Biber are a collection of 15 short sonatas for violin and continuo, with a final passacaglia for solo violin. Instead of a title, each sonatas is related to the Christian Rosary practice, and possibly to the Feast of the Guardian Angels. The Mystery Sonatas were completed around 1676, but unknown until their publication in 1905. While Biber lost much popularity after his death, his music was never entirely forgotten due to the high technical skill required to play many of his works; this is especially true of his violin works. Once rediscovered, the Mystery Sonatas became one of Biber's most widely known composition. The work is prized for its virtuosic vocal style, scordatura tunings, and its programmatic structure. (Source)

[JBS]

I have the box set with just the overtures! Very nice. 

And I "beat you" because I have them in the original digipak issues.

TD


I'm not sure why, but alone of all Baroque composers, Bach's keyboard works seem to work perfectly for me on modern piano. Almost as if he knew, and composed for, the instrument that lay 150 years ahead in his future.

[Madiel]

I believe this is Alicia de Larrocha's first ever album.



As reproduced here.



I'm really only sampling now, but it sounds very good for something recorded in 1953. And it's also reinforcing the idea that Turina is a composer worth hearing.

I'm listening properly today, and yes it's very enjoyable. The sound is fractionally boxy but really the music and the playing come across very well. And Turina was clearly a good composer for piano.

I don't know that I'd buy this particular Eloquence issue as a lot of it is music she recorded again in the 1970s/80s performances that I just bought (all of the Granados, which is the largest share. and the Mompou as well). But all of this Turina is new to me. I might have to see if there are more recent recordings of it.

EDIT: I see there's a whole Naxos series for one thing. Very good.

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen: Chronochromie

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu: Vers, L'Arc-En-Ciel, Palma

[steve ridgway]

Strauss: Vier Lieder

[Que]

[Madiel]

Granados: 12 Spanish Dances



I've previously said that the later Decca recording, made in 1980**, has rather poor sound. This 1954 recording, for all its limitations, is perhaps slightly more pleasant to listen to.

She recorded the work a total of 4 times, and I've yet to listen to the 2nd and 4th versions.

**And not released until 1982, which makes me wonder whether they were struggling for a while to make it sound better.

[Traverso]

Purcell

[Harry]

Dario Castello.
Sonate concertate in stil moderno (Libro primo).
Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr,DIRECTOR, HARPSICHORD & ORGAN.

Recorded in St George's Church, Cambridge on 25-28 January 2016
Harpsichord (Malcolm Greenhalgh, 2013, after Carlo Grimaldi)
Chamber Organ (Henk Klop, 8' principal, 8' gedact, 4' octave, 2' fifteenth).
Tuning A'=466 & Temperament ¼-comma meantone.

The interpretation could hardly be better, and that sums my regard for this performance.

[Traverso]

Purcell

CD 13

[Harry]

Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Orchestral works.
See back cover.
Shelley, Dixon, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Matthias Bamert.
Recorded: Potton Hall, Suffolk. 1996.


First-rate playing, and recording quality Chandos delivers is simply staggering in its clarity and space in which Peter Dixon gives a fabulous performance of the Cello Concerto, not to mention the Symphonic serenade a perfect interpretation as there ever was. The Military March is a showstopper, a lot of fun packed in less than 4 minutes. Souza would have been delighted! The Piano concerto however did not work for me, too much loud banging and over the top dynamics.

[Spotted Horses]

Hindemith, Viola Sonata Op 25, No 4, Kashkashian, then Imai





An extroverted work, which strikes me as more expressionist than Neo-classical. The writing for piano is particularly engaging. Both recordings are quite satisfying.

[Traverso]

Bach

CD 1





About the organ

"How can we make Amsterdam and Haarlem realize that Alkmaar is on the map as well?" That is more or less what our city officials must have had in mind when they had a new organ built for the Grote Kerk. In 1646 this was the biggest of its kind. A whole orchestra could be simulated on it. And although it was hanging in the church, it was not meant for the church. On a daily basis music was made for the population, for their entertainment. During church-services it remained silent. The town could afford it because it had come out victorious in a lengthy lawsuit against Haarlem: who were the rightful heirs of the assets of the monks of De Blinken monastery in Heiloo, who had to leave the area at the end of the 16th century. This fetched Alkmaar as 'nearest parish' the tidy sum of 60,000 guilders. Until the present day our big Van Hagerbeer-Schnitgerorgan is considered one of the greatest organs in the world. The organ-player, who, hidden behind the organ-pipes, displays his muscial skills, must be in top shape. He plays four sets of keyboards with both hands and both feet. The town already owned an organ, from 1511, built by Jan van Covelens. Another gem, but much smaller. Fortunately the town has taken good care of it. To this we owe the oldest playable organ of the Netherlands.

Caesar van Everdingen painted the big organ hatches. We can distinguish Saul and David aflush with victory. A metaphor for Alkmaar's Victory in 1573. The largest and costliest work of art in our town, the Grote Kerk organ, is proof of the prosperity awaiting Alkmaar after 1573.

[Karl Henning]

.