20th Century Music Recommendation Needed

[karlhenning]

I'm lovin' it!

[karlhenning]

Sometimes a shake while I'm waiting for my train. But, truly, I never eat anything from McDonald's!

[Grazioso]

Surveillance Tapes Contradict Henning Testimony

BOSTON:  Recently discovered surveillance tapes from a local fast food eatery have shed a great deal of suspicion on resident composer Karl Henning's denials of eating fast food.

Orchestras in Shock as Cholesterol Karl Flees to Baltimore

BALTIMORE (Reuters): It has been confirmed that the notorious fast-food-eating composer Karl Henning, dubbed Cholesterol Karl, has been taken in for questioning by Baltimore police. The Baltimore Morning Evening has obtained exclusive interrogation footage of Henning, here disguised as one "Jerry Jempson." Detectives said that "Jempson's" collar and references to fiddles gave him away as the real Karl Henning.


http://www.youtube.com/v/rU8YFn7O2Hk

[jowcol]

Pffff!  Dusty old quotes.

Pffff!  Henning.

[DavidW]

Henning will be unveiling his masterpiece soon... an opera... Love and Death in the Time of Cholesterol.

[Grazioso]

Henning will be unveiling his masterpiece soon... an opera... Love and Death in the Time of Cholesterol.

The sequel to One Hundred Years of Soda.

[jowcol]

The sequel to One Hundred Years of Soda.

I'm particularly interested in Henning's vow to Super-Size Brian's Gothic Symphony, with a couple of McFugues on the side.

[karlhenning]

Henning: The Splenda Years

[Grazioso]

Henning: The Splenda Years

The lead soprano in the Met's 2011 production of Henning: The Splenda Years after seeing the score for the first time.

[Lethevich]

That lady from Third Rock from the Sun has let herself go...

[Grazioso]

That lady from Third Rock from the Sun has let herself go...

That's actually Kirstie Alley of Cheers, Star Trek II, etc.

[karlhenning]

That's actually Kirstie Alley of Cheers, Star Trek II, etc.

Noooo!

She was so slim (and her ears were so pointy) in The Wrath of Khan . . . .

[Grazioso]

Noooo!

She was so slim (and her ears were so pointy) in The Wrath of Khan . . . .

Hmmm...was the change the result of a purely "accidental" transporter malfunction, as Scotty insisted, or was it actually a mean practical joke?

[karlhenning]

Since we are about to finish the complete DVD boxset of Seinfeld my wife and I were looking for the next thing to get, and we thought of the original Star Trek  - but, boy, is it expensive for just three seasons.

Oof! Sure is.

[Scarpia]

Since we are about to finish the complete DVD boxset of Seinfeld my wife and I were looking for the next thing to get, and we thought of the original Star Trek  - but, boy, is it expensive for just three seasons.

I also would say there is a lot of stuff in there that makes me cringe.  Cutting edge for its time and important for its influence, but didn't age well, I'd say.  The most interesting part is the tendency of Kirk to fall in love with women whose costumes had to be taped on. 


I'm not sure your wife would enjoy it as much as you would.   0:)

[karlhenning]

That would actually put my wife and mom-in-law in stitches, so, yes, they'd enjoy it as much as I.

[IstanbulMusic]

Here are my top 5

Luciano Berio: Sinfonia
Karlheinz Stockhausen: Gruppen
Iannis Xenakis: Metastasis
Georg Friedrich Haas: In Vain
György Ligeti: Atmospheres

Cheers!

[eyeresist]

By coincidence, I am contemplating exploring some 20th c. symphonists I have not yet heard (with two exceptions):

Rubbra (first of the afore-mentioned exceptions)
Pettersson (now the CPO cycle is done; will supplement with Segerstam)
Norgard (the 3rd)
Nystrom (Espressiva; possible the cello concerto too)

Rangstrom cycle (bit iffy on this one)
Schnittke cycle (even more iffy about this, having been disappointed by 1-4)

Only problem is, I've put myself on a budget, and have no idea when I'll be in the black!

Regarding Rubbra, I had the Lyrita disc of 3 & 4 and was not impressed. The construction was capable but the development seemed simple-minded. But some say the cycle doesn't really get good until 5, and the Hickox samples sound impressive.

[Mirror Image]

Regarding Rubbra, I had the Lyrita disc of 3 & 4 and was not impressed. The construction was capable but the development seemed simple-minded. But some say the cycle doesn't really get good until 5, and the Hickox samples sound impressive.

Rubbra is my favorite 20th Century English symphonist next to RVW. Rubbra's music is expressive and lyrical. I have not the Lyrita recordings, so I can't make any comparisons, but Hickox's set is superb. One of my most treasures box sets.

Re: Pettersson

I would say Pettersson is a composer worth getting to know. I'm not impressed with all of his symphonies as I think some of them just ramble on and on with no meaning or purpose, but his 6th, 7th, and 8th are his masterpieces. They are definitely worth hearing.

[Lethevich]

Regarding Rubbra, I had the Lyrita disc of 3 & 4 and was not impressed. The construction was capable but the development seemed simple-minded. But some say the cycle doesn't really get good until 5, and the Hickox samples sound impressive.

His cycle is quite impressive from the first couple, so I suspect that you just don't connect with his style. While his writing improved steadily during No.2-6 or so, his core essence did not change. Rubbra was deeply intelligent and his symphonism well-considered, but there is a transcendent quality in his music which tends not to be achieved through struggle.

Re. Pettersson it may be better to buy the Segerstam discs first and then see if you are left wanting more. He is an expert craftsman, but the lack of melody and big tunes after the 8th can leave listeners frustrated.

You really do need the Nørgård, though.