Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[DavidRoss]

I remember liking 1, but haven't listened to it in a while; loved 2 so much I "burned out" on it a few weeks ago and am only gradually returning; haven't heard 3 or 4; tell people that I get the same feeling during 5 that they do during their 'religious experiences'  0:) , enjoyed 6 but found it rather quirky, and love 7 best of all. Or second-best of all. Or something. 

Cool.  5 is a "religious" experience.  3 & 4 are as good as the others...how nice to have something so wonderful to look forward to!

[M forever]

Cool.  5 is a "religious" experience. 

Don't say that! It makes it sound weird when somebody like you says that!! 

[DavidRoss]

Don't say that! It makes it sound weird when somebody like you says that!! 

Somebody like me?

[M forever]

Yes.

[Brian]

Yes.

Dude, he is religious.

As for me, I shall defer the question of God's existence; it is more than enough that Sibelius exists.  0:)

[Kullervo]

Never heard anything by Delius, but I was intrigued by what I read about him in Lives of the Great Composers. I've only heard Bruckner's 8th, and that was on a CD I borrowed from the library where I lived more than a year ago. As for Brian, he needs no introduction — on this forum, anyway. Probably the first of many Brian purchases to come.

[DavidRoss]

Dude, he is religious.

As for me, I shall defer the question of God's existence; it is more than enough that Sibelius exists.  0:)

I don't recall that Sibelius was particularly religious, but that he was very consciously spiritually centered seems self-evident in his music, especially from the 4th Symphony onward.  The 5th, in particular, he wrote of in inspired terms.  The story of the swans circling his home, for instance, or the visions of God tossing down mosaics for Jean to assemble, or opening the door to Heaven and hearing the 5th Symphony playing within.

[SonicMan46]

Corey - hope that you enjoy both of the above - own them myself & often recommended in this forum! 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Never heard anything by Delius, but I was intrigued by what I read about him in Lives of the Great Composers. I've only heard Bruckner's 8th, and that was on a CD I borrowed from the library where I lived more than a year ago. As for Brian, he needs no introduction — on this forum, anyway. Probably the first of many Brian purchases to come.

Glad you took the plunge, Corey, in all three cases actually, as Delius and Bruckner and Brian are all among my favourite composers. Did you read my reaction to your Brian posting in the Listening thread?

Another thing - you now have the Lenard Gothic. You should have the Boult, too. It's a live one, the first professional performance of the work in 1966, with Brian himself sitting in the audience, still hale and hearty at 90... I have posted this link in another thread already, but if you haven't seen it, here it is:

http://rapidshare.com/users/X5C6ME

[Kullervo]

Glad you took the plunge, Corey, in all three cases actually, as Delius and Bruckner and Brian are all among my favourite composers. Did you read my reaction to your Brian posting in the Listening thread?

Yes I did. I am never very sure in my assessment of a piece new to me (I could never be a music critic!) so it is good when I find that someone who knows the music so well agrees with me.

Another thing - you now have the Lenard Gothic. You should have the Boult, too. It's a live one, the first professional performance of the work in 1966, with Brian himself sitting in the audience, still hale and hearty at 90... I have posted this link in another thread already, but if you haven't seen it, here it is:

http://rapidshare.com/users/X5C6ME

Great! How does this compare with the Lenard?

[Brian]

As for Brian, he needs no introduction — on this forum, anyway.

Naturally.

DavidRoss - thank you for that interesting post; I knew only of the swans. And can certainly imagine that symphony being played in heaven, if such a place exists.  0:)

[Bonehelm]

You enjoying that Jochum Bruckner 8? To me it's a little on the coarse side and I like my Bruckner gentle like Celibidache...and I like slower tempos too. But Karajan ultimately achieves the balance between gentle mellowness and sheer power so I like him the best in Bruckner 8 

[Lilas Pastia]

Glad you took the plunge, Corey, in all three cases actually, as Delius and Bruckner and Brian are all among my favourite composers. Did you read my reaction to your Brian posting in the Listening thread?

Another thing - you now have the Lenard Gothic. You should have the Boult, too. It's a live one, the first professional performance of the work in 1966, with Brian himself sitting in the audience, still hale and hearty at 90... I have posted this link in another thread already, but if you haven't seen it, here it is:

http://rapidshare.com/users/X5C6ME

Thanks, Johan. I had missed this first time round, and do not have the 1st (got 8, 9, 10, 21, and still waiting for the epiphany to descend on me  ). It's downloaded, but can you comment on the sound and performance ? Boult is one of my heroes when it comes to british music.

[Kullervo]

You enjoying that Jochum Bruckner 8? To me it's a little on the coarse side and I like my Bruckner gentle like Celibidache...and I like slower tempos too. But Karajan ultimately achieves the balance between gentle mellowness and sheer power so I like him the best in Bruckner 8 

Assuming you were talking to me — it was Matačić with the NHK Symphony, and I haven't listened to it in a long time. Other than that, Bruckner is a big blank spot in my musical library.

[DavidRoss]

DavidRoss - thank you for that interesting post; I knew only of the swans. And can certainly imagine that symphony being played in heaven, if such a place exists.  0:)

Heaven is a metaphor for consciousness of the presence of God.

Regarding the references to Sibelius's 5th symphony:  In a journal entry from April 1915 Sibelius wrote: "In the evening, working on the symphony. This important task which strangely enchants me. As if God the Father had thrown down pieces of a mosaic from the floor of heaven and asked me to work out the pattern." 

Several months later he wrote: "In a deep dell again. But I begin already dimly to see the mountain that I shall certainly ascend....God opens His door for a moment and His orchestra plays the Fifth Symphony."

As you probably know, he was not satisfied with the work as originally presented and revised it again and again over several years.  Finally, in April 1919, having nearly finished the final revision, he wrote: "The fifth symphony – mirabile, [not] to say horribile dictu: completed in its final form. Been struggling with God."

[Brian]

Regarding the references to Sibelius's 5th symphony:  In a journal entry from April 1915 Sibelius wrote: "In the evening, working on the symphony. This important task which strangely enchants me. As if God the Father had thrown down pieces of a mosaic from the floor of heaven and asked me to work out the pattern." 

Having listened to the original 1914 version of the work as well, I can see that this is very true. All the ideas are there - just in the wrong places.

Thank you again for posting those journal entries.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks, Johan. I had missed this first time round, and do not have the 1st (got 8, 9, 10, 21, and still waiting for the epiphany to descend on me  ). It's downloaded, but can you comment on the sound and performance ? Boult is one of my heroes when it comes to british music.

Great! How does this compare with the Lenard?

Well, hopefully you crack the Brian code one day, LP. If not, he's clearly not your cup of tea, which is quite alright (although the Lento solenne movement (2nd) should appeal to you...). Regarding the Boult Gothic, this is a famous (notorious) pirated recording from the Aries label, which was a great hit in the 'seventies when not much Brian was available. Sound is direct but not perfect, the performance electrifying. I have known it for more than 20 years and it always grips me. I think it's slightly better than the Naxos because Boult has more urgency. Try it...

[The new erato]

Needed to beef up my violin concerto section, ordered yesterday:



I have the Handel on a Caprice LP but needed a CD version.



Based on recommendations on this board, this has been on my wishlist a few months.



This is a composer I generally want to explore more, bought the chamber music disc on Praga this winter and it is great:

[Lilas Pastia]

Thanks, Johan. Brian's Gothic is in the can, with this image to adorn the jewel case cover:



I have no excuse not to listen to it, now!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks, Johan. Brian's Gothic is in the can, with this image to adorn the jewel case cover:



I have no excuse not to listen to it, now!

Beautiful!

I really hope you and Brian will get on...