What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[classicalgeek]

I actually have a good VL collection, some thanks to your earlier recommendations, I think it was when I first joined GMG you gave me some good choices...I'm lacking his SQs and some other orchestral music.
Thanks, John.

Not sure if you're looking for Villa-Lobos string quartet recommendations, but the Cuarteto Latinoamericano set on Dorian is quite good, and reasonably priced:
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I'm less familiar with the sets by the Bessler-Reis Quartet (on Kuarup, which appears to be a Brazilian label) and the Danubius Quartet (on Marco Polo).  Both of these are harder to find than the Latinoamericano.

[KeithW]

Prompted by a recent Beethoven SQ discussion...

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String Quartet no.14 in C# Minor

Such beautiful, powerfully moving music.

I couldn't agree more - although for me the Cavatina of String Quartet No 13 in B flat is the most beautiful of Beethoven's (and possibly any other composer's) chamber music.

[Cato]

Now:

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Listening to Charles Ives Orchestral Set No. 2. A very cool work and the last movement reminds me of why I love Ives' music so, it's complete everything but the kitchen sink approach.

When this work is mentioned, it always reminds me of an LP album with it from the 60's or early 70's (possibly conducted by Bernstein) showing the sinking of the Lusitania.

Not long ago:



Original soundtrack, not stereo, and made from occasionally damaged recordings (the only extant).  Despite all that: Highly recommended to all Bernard Herrmann fans and even those who are not!   0:)

[KeithW]

This was inevitable. Now listening to LvB SQ 13 - I have a dozen or more recordings of it, but this one is very special

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[Mirror Image]

I actually have a good VL collection, some thanks to your earlier recommendations, I think it was when I first joined GMG you gave me some good choices...I'm lacking his SQs and some other orchestral music.
Thanks, John.

Oh, you're quite right, Greg. I had forgotten about that! The solo piano and SQ sets are essential VL purchases IMHO. VL's SQs are some of the finest of the 20th Century. They rank right up there with Shostakovich and Bartok. They also span VL's entire composing career.

[Mirror Image]

Now:

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This has to be the best performance of Shosty's 5th I've heard. I used to be pretty lukewarm about the 5th, but after hearing this performance a month ago, I've reconsidered my opinion of the 5th and it most certainly deserves all the attention it seems to receive.

[PaulR]

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Symphony #6

[Mirror Image]

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Symphony #6

I, too, own all of Schuman's symphonies. What do you make of them, Paul? I need to revisit Schuman's music at some point.

[PaulR]

I, too, own all of Schuman's symphonies. What do you make of them, Paul? I need to revisit Schuman's music at some point.

Too be perfectly honest, I haven't listened to them enough to make an informed decision.  Started out listening to the New England Triptych (We are playing that in orchestra this concert), but now listening to this

[classicalgeek]

Something totally different:

Johannes Ockeghem   
Missa l'Homme Armé   
Edward Wickham; The Clerks' Group

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Beautiful!

[classicalgeek]

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Symphony #6

That's a fine set, featuring my hometown band!   They've done some fine recordings of 20th century American symphonies - their Hanson and Piston are first rate, too.

[PaulR]

That's a fine set, featuring my hometown band!   They've done some fine recordings of 20th century American symphonies - their Hanson and Piston are first rate, too.

I think I have a couple of their Hanson and Piston composers.  Not fond of Hanson at all, at least the Second Symphony, but really like Piston.

[Mirror Image]

That's a fine set, featuring my hometown band!   They've done some fine recordings of 20th century American symphonies - their Hanson and Piston are first rate, too.

Well the Seattle Symphony are a fine orchestra and Schwarz is great conductor. Like Paul, I don't like Hanson, but this doesn't discount the orchestra's performance of the music which is first-rate. I do like Piston's music a good bit though.

[PaulR]

I enjoyed Schuman's 6th symphony, and Prayer for a time of war a lot.  Also enjoyed the New England Triptych, mostly for the last two movements.

Currently:
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[Mirror Image]

On tonight's menu:

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I doubt I will listen to all of this set but I'm going to try to listen to the first act:

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[TheGSMoeller]

Not sure if you're looking for Villa-Lobos string quartet recommendations, but the Cuarteto Latinoamericano set on Dorian is quite good, and reasonably priced:

I'm less familiar with the sets by the Bessler-Reis Quartet (on Kuarup, which appears to be a Brazilian label) and the Danubius Quartet (on Marco Polo).  Both of these are harder to find than the Latinoamericano.

Thanks, classicalgeek, this was the set I was eyeing, almost bought three of them separately the other day without knowing 

Oh, you're quite right, Greg. I had forgotten about that! The solo piano and SQ sets are essential VL purchases IMHO. VL's SQs are some of the finest of the 20th Century. They rank right up there with Shostakovich and Bartok. They also span VL's entire composing career.

Hey, John...heard some samples of these pieces and they sound superb.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, classicalgeek, this was the set I was eyeing, almost bought three of them separately the other day without knowing 

Hey, John...heard some samples of these pieces and they sound superb.

It's a great set and you get a DVD with it. I think they perform the 1st SQ on that accompanying DVD.

[PaulR]

I doubt I will listen to all of this set but I'm going to try to listen to the first act:

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Let me know what you think of this

[Mirror Image]

Let me know what you think of this

I've sampled some it when I got received through my stereo and it sounded awesome. But I'll let you know what I think once I've heard Act I all the way through.

[classicalgeek]

It's a great set and you get a DVD with it. I think they perform the 1st SQ on that accompanying DVD.

Nice!  I actually have (had) the Brilliant Classics incarnation (without DVD), which was had very cheap from JPC in 2006 or 2007, but is out of print now.

Well the Seattle Symphony are a fine orchestra and Schwarz is great conductor. Like Paul, I don't like Hanson, but this doesn't discount the orchestra's performance of the music which is first-rate. I do like Piston's music a good bit though.

Agreed on the Seattle Symphony, and I like Schwarz for the most part.  I remember hearing a while ago that many in the orchestra disliked him, and there was much tension between the pro-Schwarz and anti-Schwarz musicians!  Not sure if that's been resolved, but either way, he gets good results.  The disc with Piston's Second and Sixth Symphonies (I had the original Delos recording) is great!  I need to see them in concert again - I last went in 2008.  Maybe when the kids are a little older...

Thread duty: Speaking of 20th century string quartets - just completed.:

Ahmed Saygun (1907-1991)
String quartet no. 4, op. 77
Quatuor Danel

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Now up:

W.A. Mozart
Sinfonia concertante in E-flat major, K 364
Itzhak Perlman, violin; Pinchas Zukerman, viola; Zubin Mehta; Israel PO

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