Michael Nyman

[Maciek]

Surprised to see he had no thread... Especially given that there are quite a few admirers of Tha Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat around (it's also one of my favorite contemporary operas).

Anyway, has anyone got the Mozart 252 disc? Looks quite interesting and I haven't got the full Drowning by Numbers soundtrack anyway.

[Dundonnell]

I must confess to liking SOME Nyman although in saying that I always feel a tad guilty

The trouble is that it all does tend to sound so much the same(which I suppose IS the idea of repetitive minimalism!) The early film music just fitted Peter Greenaway's extraordinary films so well('The Draughtsman's Contract', 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' etc).

My favourite Nyman is the music he wrote for the opening of the TGV North European Line-'MGV(Musique a Grande Vitesse'). It builds up through its 26 minutes to such a gloriously happy, confident, bouncing climax that never fails to have me dancing about my sitting-room(well....not at the present time, post-surgery ).

[vandermolen]

"Prospero's Books" in my favourite Nyman score.

[Drasko]

I'm familiar with Nyman only through Greenaway films but don't have anything on CD. Would this disc be good for a starter, or not?




And it's darned shame that Prospero's Books aren't available on DVD.

[Maciek]

My impression is that Nyman film scores got worse over time. The earliest ones are, IMO, quite wonderful. With time they become less and less interesting (again, IMO ).

For instance, the original version of the "bird" piece from The Falls, with a soprano, is absolutely smashing. I'm not very fond of the Prospero's Books soundtrack as a whole (the film is one of my all time favorites, though), but I'm very fond of Twelve years since and Come unto these yellow sands. I usually program those 2 tracks on repeat and listen to them 3-4 times in a row. Also, those tracks from Drowning by Numbers by that I do have are quite marvelous.

As for his concert music, I've yet to discover a piece I would want to return to. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a glorious exception - in fact, I consider it a masterpiece.

[Josquin des Prez]

Don't like him. Never did. I just find his music boring, and his personality insufferable.

[Maciek]

You've met? Well, I hope he doesn't read our forum then! 0:)

[karlhenning]

I don't need to comment, as most of what I am inclined to say, will sound familiarly like other comments you've heard.

[Dundonnell]

I'm familiar with Nyman only through Greenaway films but don't have anything on CD. Would this disc be good for a starter, or not?




And it's darned shame that Prospero's Books aren't available on DVD.

As good a place to start as any

[Josquin des Prez]

You've met? Well, I hope he doesn't read our forum then! 0:)

I can smell a phony a mile away.

[mn dave]

I can't smell a phony a mile away.

You can't?

[Maciek]

I can't smell a phony a mile away.

I'll take that as a yes.

[Drasko]

As good a place to start as any

I'd even go as far as to say it's one of the better places to start. He seemed to write the best stuff for Greenaway. (Don't have that specific disc though.)

Good, that it'll be then, since the wife mistaking thingy doesn't seem to be in print.

[Dundonnell]

But IF you can find this disc then I strongly recommend it

The Piano Concerto-based on the music Nyman wrote for Jane Campion's film 'The Piano'-is lyrical and very attractive but 'MGV' is a knockout

[Maciek]

For the sake of sincerity I have to say I vehemently dislike the Piano Concerto (as well as the whole "Piano" soundtrack). I've never heard MGV though. I admit the title (I mean the full title) looks extremely promissing.

[Dundonnell]

Tell you what...I shall make 'MGV' available here as a download(for a limited time only!) just as quickly as I can

[Dundonnell]

20 minutes to upload.

[Drasko]

He'll die from asphyxiation by then.

[Dundonnell]

Michael Nyman: 'MGV(Musique a Grande Vitesse)'- Michael Nyman Band and Orchestra


http://www.mediafire.com/?zd1zmmkmle1

http://www.mediafire.com/?ytwzuhtmzy0

http://www.mediafire.com/?nctnw1tynyt

http://www.mediafire.com/?zjzdzgelmwm

http://www.mediafire.com/?mydyztzuzmt

[Dundonnell]

It is a piece which is worth persisting with to the end

The repetitive train rhythms/syncopations can appear grating at first but the piece does build inexorably to the most glorious(imo) climax

It is just my opinion-of course-but I cannot listen to this without wanting to conduct it while bouncing about

God...that has brought a huge smile back to my face(guess what, I was listening to it as I wrote )