What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Sid]

Handel - Italian Cantatas: O come chiare e belle; Clori, mia bella Clori; Amarilli vezzosa (Patrizia Kwella, sop. / Gillian Fisher, sop. / Catherine Denley, cont. / London Handel Orch. / Denys Darlow, cond.) Hyperion Helios

[val]

JS BACH:        Schübler Chorals / Fugue in G minor            / Marie-Claire Alain

A nice version of the Chorals, including the famous "Wachet auf", and of one of the most interesting works from Bach's youth, the Fugue in G minor BWV 578.

[Harry]

I am on a Kuhlau trip at the moment, and listening to his Piano quartets, and a Sonata for Violin and Piano in F minor. Its getting at me, I begin to like the music, the easy going character of it, and the early romantic style.

[mc ukrneal]

I like Kuhlau too, but I only have his piano music (two discs on Naxos). I don't know how it compares to his other stuff, but your last comments pretty much sums it up for me (easy-going, early-romantic). I've enjoyed the piano pieces a lot and find them fun, though they do not sound too difficult to play (relatively). 

[Harry]

I like Kuhlau too, but I only have his piano music (two discs on Naxos). I don't know how it compares to his other stuff, but your last comments pretty much sums it up for me (easy-going, early-romantic). I've enjoyed the piano pieces a lot and find them fun, though they do not sound too difficult to play (relatively). 

I am not a fan of Jeno Jando, that said I know this music and it compares favorably to his piano quartets.

[Harry]

Yet another unknown composer to me! His style is roughly divided over Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms, although a lightweight, his music is not without charm. There's a lot of creativity in this music lasting a little under 44 minutes. Not a bore, far from it, but one that has to be repeatedly listened too to recognize the key elements that make you connect the musical ideas, and there are plenty of them. Its easy going almost pastoral, lyrical in that the melodies shine and sing, with a resounding ring. The work is well performed in that Rumpf keeps the music tightly together for it can fall apart quite easily if played to slow. The Orchestra is not one of the best but they get along well with the music, a weak point are their strings that sound muddled at times. But thats a minor thing.

[Conor71]

Bach: French Suites 1-4, Sonatas For Violin & Harpsichord 6 & 1-3

[Sergeant Rock]

Smetana, Má vlast, Wit:




Sarge

[karlhenning]

Have you had much exposure to Ligeti?  If not, I suggest listening to only one work at a time, instead of playing one disc all at one time.

Good suggestion, simply considering the need for reflection.

[Harry]

Smetana, Má vlast, Wit:




Sarge

Still did not find my perfect performance of the work, but Antoni Wit comes close. Only wish that the sound of this recording would not be so diffuse.

[Harry]

From this series each boxed issue is a marvel in performance and sound. Brilliant sought the best musicians together that made it such a success. I cannot find anything to fault, save that they take their time to release what is already recorded long ago. But as said earlier, there was a dispute between artists and Brilliant, solved now as I was told.
I am playing CD II from this box and is good to hear that Schutz wrote on a ever high level, not slacking in creativity. This is Volume II of "Anderer Theil kleiner geistlichen Concerten, opus 9, Dresden" SWV 306-337. And the recording is as per usual gorgeous.

[Scarpia]

Shostakovich viola sonata



A fantastic work, and the last he completed.

[bhodges]

Shostakovich viola sonata



A fantastic work, and the last he completed.

This looks great; I don't know that piece well, and I like the two musicians a lot.  Plus, love that cover design.

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

More Martinů-palooza!

Martinů
String Quartet № 4, H. 256 (1937)
The Martinů Quartet

Martinů – String Quartets nos. 4, 5 & 7

A noticeable gain on the third quartet . . . oh, I am going to like this disc very much!

[Keemun]

Bach
Cello Suites
Fournier

[Franco]

Wuorinen: Fourth String Quartet
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra



A fairly recent work, 2000, the Fourth String Quartet is in a single movement and a good example of Wuorinen's mastery of contrapuntal writing.  Also on this CD is the Third Piano Concerto (Ohlsson, Blomstedt) - another major work making this CD an important recording and a real treat for Wuorinen fans.

[karlhenning]

Remind me, Franco, does that reissue mention anything about the origins of the Third Concerto in the liner notes?

[Opus106]

Bach
Cello Suites
Fournier

Long time, no see.

TD: LvB Op.18/5 | ABQ

[Franco]

Remind me, Franco, does that reissue mention anything about the origins of the Third Concerto in the liner notes?

Unfortunately, I don't have the liner notes, this is on my iPod.

[Scarpia]

This looks great; I don't know that piece well, and I like the two musicians a lot.  Plus, love that cover design.

I think the performances are interesting.  It is traditional to play the slower movements much much slower than is done here (i.e., 15-17 minute final movement vs 12 minutes on this recording).  But I think this works.