The Incredible Walter Piston (1894-1976)

[snyprrr]

Maybe I'll try that other Symphony (4 or 6) on that old Albany with Harris and Schuman. I know the sound will let me down, but,...

[Karl Henning]

I've opened the CD, snypsss, and I know which wallet I've stored it in . . . I just haven't listened to it yet : )

[Karl Henning]

The best recording of 2 was by Tilson Thomas:



The older CD on the right had the William Schuman Violin Concerto, which seems to have been orphaned.

Thanks for that reminder, Daverz.  As good as the Philippe Quint recording of the Schuman Violin Concerto has always felt to me, I've been curious to hear that "historical" account, too.

[Daverz]

Maybe I'll try that other Symphony (4 or 6) on that old Albany with Harris and Schuman. I know the sound will let me down, but,...

The Ormandy 4th.  It's good 50s mono.  I haven't heard Albany's transfer.  Schwarz wins for modern sonics. 

There was a Howard Hanson recording of the 3rd on pre-stereo Mercury (be warned that the old Golden Imports Lp re-issue was in fake stereo).  Naxos offers a cheap transfer of it, though I think they could have found a better sounding copy.  It's worth hearing, but the Albany recording conducted by James Yannatos has to be first choice now.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=9.81050

I did not realize that Slatkin recorded 6.  Anyone heard it?

[Karl Henning]

Here's a geeky question:  On the Naxos cover, it's billed as The Incredible Flutist Ballet Suite.  Is that the complete work?

[Daverz]

Thanks for that reminder, Daverz.  As good as the Philippe Quint recording of the Schuman Violin Concerto has always felt to me, I've been curious to hear that "historical" account, too.

I think it's a more exciting recording of the Schuman, and it's not too expensive in the Marketplace right now.  I suspect the Naxos recording suffered from a lack of rehearsal time.

[Karl Henning]

Here's a geeky question:  On the Naxos cover, it's billed as The Incredible Flutist Ballet Suite.  Is that the complete work?

The answer seems to be, No . . . .

Piston's only dance work, The Incredible Flutist, was written for the Boston Pops Orchestra, which premiered it with Arthur Fiedler conducting on May 30, 1938. The dancers were Hans Weiner and his company. Soon after, Piston arranged a concert suite including "a selection of the best parts of the ballet." This version was premiered by Fritz Reiner and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on November 22, 1940. Leonard Slatkin and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra included the suite in a 1991 RCA Victor CD recording that also featured Piston's Three New England Sketches and Symphony No. 6.

[NJ Joe]

The best recording of 2 was by Tilson Thomas:

I've been contemplating the Originals disc for quite awhile...maybe it's time to pull the trigger!

[Karl Henning]

Enjoyed my first listen to the Second Symphony yesterday, wonderful piece. Will listen again, and scramble together a semi-intelligent thought or two . . . .

[TheGSMoeller]

I did not realize that Slatkin recorded 6.  Anyone heard it?

Yes, and it's good. But don't just get it for the 6th, Flutist and Sketches are also worthy.

[Karl Henning]

Yes, and it's good. But don't just get it for the 6th, Flutist and Sketches are also worthy.

As to that Flutist, Greg: complete, or suite, do you know? Just curious . . . found a cheap copy and went ahead and pulled the trigger, so I shall find out myself, sooner or later : )

[TheGSMoeller]

As to that Flutist, Greg: complete, or suite, do you know? Just curious . . . found a cheap copy and went ahead and pulled the trigger, so I shall find out myself, sooner or later : )

As far as I know, Piston created an orchestral suite for orchestra based on the ballet, and that's the version that is always performed. I may be wrong, but the movement listing as always been consistent with the recordings/performances I've seen,

Introduction
Siesta Hour in the Marketplace and Entrance of the Vendors
Dance of the Vendors
Entrance of the Customers
Tango of the Four Daughters
Arrival of Circus and Circus March
Solo of the Flutist
Minuet - Dance of the Widow and Merchant
Spanish Waltz
Eight O'Clock Strikes
Siciliano - Dance of the Flutist and the Merchant's Daughter
Polka
Finale

[Karl Henning]

Very helpful, thanks, Greg!

[snyprrr]

The Ormandy 4th.  It's good 50s mono.  I haven't heard Albany's transfer.  Schwarz wins for modern sonics. 

There was a Howard Hanson recording of the 3rd on pre-stereo Mercury (be warned that the old Golden Imports Lp re-issue was in fake stereo).  Naxos offers a cheap transfer of it, though I think they could have found a better sounding copy.  It's worth hearing, but the Albany recording conducted by James Yannatos has to be first choice now.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=9.81050

I did not realize that Slatkin recorded 6.  Anyone heard it?

Yes, I found the music... I think I have figured WHAT Piston is. He's the guy who fused the French and Nordic influences into one whole. You certainly hear Sibelius-meets-Milhaud in this Symphony (though, not as harmonically complex as the Frenchman). This work is very Mediterrainian(sic) and sunny, I would certainly be tempted to re-get the Schwarz. It's a very good 'driving' (in car) Symphony. It certainly does NOT have anything as memorable as the opening of the 2nd. Still, there's nothing wrong with it, every note is wonderfully placed. It makes me think of a blooming garden.

As to the 3rd, I think I heard that old Hanson LP and thought the music was terrific, like the Piano Quintet, but I don't recall the samples for the Albany disc matching what I remembered. Can you give a good synopsis is this work? It's not on YT yet.

Might as well YT the 6th whilst I'm at it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMGvPMEXE7E

Just the opening 20secs. come off rather darkly and brooding. Is that Shosty I hear? Yea, No.2 has a simplicity about.

[vandermolen]

Enjoyed my first listen to the Second Symphony yesterday, wonderful piece. Will listen again, and scramble together a semi-intelligent thought or two . . . .

His finest work I think - a lovely score. I think that the DGG version is best. I also like the craggy 'New England Sketches' one of which reminds me of the opening of Vaughan Williams's contemporaneous (1957/58) 9th Symphony.

[Karl Henning]

His finest work I think - a lovely score. I think that the DGG version is best [...]

Another reason to be pleased that I fetched that in, in addition to the Naxos disc; thanks, Jeffrey!

[snyprrr]

Another reason to be pleased that I fetched that in, in addition to the Naxos disc; thanks, Jeffrey!

We will be happy when you LISTEN to the cds you buy!!

[Karl Henning]

I've listened twice to the MTT/BSO recording of the Second Symphony, that's got to count!

[Karl Henning]

Okay, dude!

Incidentally, I had forgotten that I do have a CD with three of the string quartets . . . I am not doing this just to bring your grey hairs in sorrow down to the grave, O snypsss . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Piston
String Quartet № 5 (1962)
Harlem Quartet

[asin]B003VC51US[/asin]

This piece certainly has me keyed up in hope they'll record the other two quartets . . . and perhaps the 1964 Sextet!

I suppose I ought to feel right silly; it appears that the Sextet is on the very disc that I've been neglecting he longest . . . .

I've opened the CD, snypsss, and I know which wallet I've stored it in . . . I just haven't listened to it yet : )