Hullo, Everyone!

[Karl Henning]

Those who reject minimalism must live in the past John. 

But . . . John likes Out in the Sun!   

[Ken B]

You ARE the North Star - thanks, the Prokofiev was fascinating.  As for Martinu, I am innocent of him.  It is a curious thing, I have never to the best of my recollection EVER heard him on the radio.  Maybe it's just my bad luck.  What can I start with?

Me neither, except on my show. I find classical radio very standard rep biased these days. I programmed Martinu's symphonies back in the late 70s. Diamond, van Vactor, Schuman, Piston, Rosenberg, Martin, Rosza, lots more.
Even once, John, Dappapicolla.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Me neither, except on my show. I find classical radio very standard rep biased these days. I programmed Martinu's symphonies back in the late 70s. Diamond, van Vactor, Schuman, Piston, Rosenberg, Martin, Rosza, lots more.
Even once, John, Dappapicolla.

Holy Frijoles!  I am listening to Martinu's 4th symphony on North Star's recommend and am taking an immediate liking to it - so freshly textured, inventive, expressive, spirited and might I add français?  (Since confirmed by a quick check in Ewen as to his influences).  How can I not love it?  More importantly, where have I been all these years?  I feel deprived, if not depraved, but thank St. Cecilia, North Star and GMG for redemption near the (relatively) end.  BTW, I used to live 1/2 mile from David Diamond's house, in Rochester.  Could never drum-up the courage (or rudeness) to visit him unannounced - though, one never knows, he may have been flattered.  He could stand more appreciation, definitely.  I own several of his French books, sold to a bookstore in Rochester after his death.  A couple of blocks away from him lived - in relative seclusion for many years - Louise Brooks.  Talented neighborhood!

[Ken B]

Holy Frijoles!  I am listening to Martinu's 4th symphony on North Star's recommend and am taking an immediate liking to it - so freshly textured, inventive, expressive, spirited and might I add français?  (Since confirmed by a quick check in Ewen as to his influences).  How can I not love it?  More importantly, where have I been all these years?  I feel deprived, if not depraved, but thank St. Cecilia, North Star and GMG for redemption near the (relatively) end.  BTW, I used to live 1/2 mile from David Diamond's house, in Rochester.  Could never drum-up the courage (or rudeness) to visit him unannounced - though, one never knows, he may have been flattered.  He could stand more appreciation, definitely.  I own several of his French books, sold to a bookstore in Rochester after his death.  A couple of blocks away from him lived - in relative seclusion for many years - Louise Brooks.  Talented neighborhood!

Oh, you should have. My HS librarian liked classical music and wrote to Shostakovich. He got a hand written thank you. Cool in itself, but even the world's most famous symphonist liked fan mail!

[Mirror Image]

But . . . John likes Out in the Sun!   

And that's a freakin' great piece of music no matter what one wants to call it! As Ellington said "There's good music and then there's the other kind."

[Mirror Image]

Those who reject minimalism must live in the past John. 

Ah, but there's more to the 20th Century than Minimalism of course.

[Mirror Image]

I wonder how many GMG Forum members might remember Karl Hass and his "Hullo, Everyone!", his trademark greeting on his syndicated radio program Adventures in Good Music?  Sure do miss him, but am glad to be a newbie here on GMG.  I have already been introduced to Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds via GMG membership, so am already a happy camper.  My favorite favorites are:  Brahms, Berlioz, Debussy, Faure, Szymanowski, Mahler, Wagner, Bax, Delius, Stravinsky, Zemlinsky, Prokofiev, and Poulenc.  And YOU for being here!

What do think about Bartok, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, Berg, Ravel, and Debussy? Karlo (North Star) already has Janacek and Martinu covered I see.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

What do think about Bartok, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, Berg, Ravel, and Debussy? Karlo (North Star) already has Janacek and Martinu covered I see.

Debussy is in my top ten; I like him so much the distinction made here by many GMGers between his orchestral and keyboard works seems new and curious to me - so great is his pianistic palette! One glorious summer all I listened to was Debussy's (and Poulenc's) Mélodies.  That came about as close to pure and absolute happiness as I think one can come. Ravel is easily in my Top 20, despite Bolero  .  Berg's VC, SQ I enjoy very much and of course Wozzeck and Lulu; he is another composer whose life and personality fascinate.  Bartok I listen to with great enjoyment - the two VCs for sure and two of the PCs (there's one more PC I still haven't heard!) and the SQs and Bluebeard.  Whenever I listen to Shosty, as some GMGers affectionately call him, he always impresses and I turn to the SQs often, and I've a recording of the Chamber Symphony and the Symphony for Strings and Winds I really love (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) but I don't listen to the symphonies much - partly and this strikes me as foolish but it's there and I'm subject to it - I don't want a history lesson when I'm listening to music - the Eastern Front depresses me no end as does Stalin.  Schoenberg in my teen years was the first 20th century composer I listened to! It might well have turned me off of music, but no!  The upside is that his musical language seems not unusual to me (Verklärte Nacht and the PC were early favorites and I like Pollini in the solo piano music.  I remember Freshman year in college late one night taking a break from my job at the circulation desk and going to the listening room - I liked Pierrot Lunaire a lot, cued that up and was listening with great delight, very LOUD and sans headphones (some models make my ears too warm) and in comes the Director of the Library!  Thought I'd be fired for sure - she just stared at me for an agonizing moment, no visible sign of reproach (nor of delight, to be sure) quietly closed the door and left the building to me and Pierrot. 

A work that IMHO can be listened to over and over again with ever-expanding delight is Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne - and perhaps because he's a one-hit wonder you hardly ever hear him talked about (I will have to check the GMG Index on that score)

[Mirror Image]

Debussy is in my top ten; I like him so much the distinction made here by many GMGers between his orchestral and keyboard works seems new and curious to me - so great is his pianistic palette! One glorious summer all I listened to was Debussy's (and Poulenc's) Mélodies.  That came about as close to pure and absolute happiness as I think one can come. Ravel is easily in my Top 20, despite Bolero  .  Berg's VC, SQ I enjoy very much and of course Wozzeck and Lulu; he is another composer whose life and personality fascinate.  Bartok I listen to with great enjoyment - the two VCs for sure and two of the PCs (there's one more PC I still haven't heard!) and the SQs and Bluebeard.  Whenever I listen to Shosty, as some GMGers affectionately call him, he always impresses and I turn to the SQs often, and I've a recording of the Chamber Symphony and the Symphony for Strings and Winds I really love (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) but I don't listen to the symphonies much - partly and this strikes me as foolish but it's there and I'm subject to it - I don't want a history lesson when I'm listening to music - the Eastern Front depresses me no end as does Stalin.  Schoenberg in my teen years was the first 20th century composer I listened to! It might well have turned me off of music, but no!  The upside is that his musical language seems not unusual to me (Verklärte Nacht and the PC were early favorites and I like Pollini in the solo piano music.  I remember Freshman year in college late one night taking a break from my job at the circulation desk and going to the listening room - I liked Pierrot Lunaire a lot, cued that up and was listening with great delight, very LOUD and sans headphones (some models make my ears too warm) and in comes the Director of the Library!  Thought I'd be fired for sure - she just stared at me for an agonizing moment, no visible sign of reproach (nor of delight, to be sure) quietly closed the door and left the building to me and Pierrot. 

A work that IMHO can be listened to over and over again with ever-expanding delight is Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne - and perhaps because he's a one-hit wonder you hardly ever hear him talked about (I will have to check the GMG Index on that score)

Excellent and thanks for sharing this with all of us. Good to know what you enjoy that way it's easier to give you recommendations.

[Mirror Image]

BTW, Debussy's orchestral, chamber, and solo piano music are of equal merit IMHO. You can't go wrong with any of those genres that he composed for. The chamber music, however, has a special place in my heart.

[Ken B]

"One glorious summer all I listened to was Debussy's (and Poulenc's) Mélodies.  "

I recommend Faure's and Chausson's and Roussel's then.

Standing recommendation: Schubert was the greatest composer of art songs, followed by R Strauss and H Wolf. Given in to the German side. We have cookies.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

"One glorious summer all I listened to was Debussy's (and Poulenc's) Mélodies.  "

I recommend Faure's and Chausson's and Roussel's then.

Standing recommendation: Schubert was the greatest composer of art songs, followed by R Strauss and H Wolf. Given in to the German side. We have cookies.

Thank you - I  love Schubert and cookies (the French do make them - they just don't eat as many!  Trader Joe's has coconut cookies from Avranches - and they are delectable) and tiny by American standards.  Janet Baker and Elly Ameling and of course Dietrich in the Schubert.  But beyond Chausson's Poeme de l'amour et de la mer, I haven't heard and my knowledge of Roussel is limited to the symphonies and some chamber work.  I must pursue and will report back on my findings.  My shelves are fit to burst with Faure interpretations - these are good recommends for which I'm grateful.   BTW, have you had the impression that Schubert's star is rising? (that is, awareness of him and appreciation for him).  Mozart's receding a bit?  Just a personal sixth sense more than anything.  I always wonder what future generations will think of our venerables and how taste and perceptions will change.  One thing I think is for certain - Stravinsky will be seen as the Bach of the 20th century. (An Eastman School student told me last year that Igor is already viewed as such.) 

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

BTW, Debussy's orchestral, chamber, and solo piano music are of equal merit IMHO. You can't go wrong with any of those genres that he composed for. The chamber music, however, has a special place in my heart.

I concur - I was surprised and a bit taken aback by the distinction made by some posters.  But it did make me reflect on same.  The chamber music goes straight to the soul, doesn't it? Esp. the SQ (in Gm - my favorite key).

[Ken B]

Thank you - I  love Schubert and cookies (the French do make them - they just don't eat as many!  Trader Joe's has coconut cookies from Avranches - and they are delectable) and tiny by American standards.  Janet Baker and Elly Ameling and of course Dietrich in the Schubert.  But beyond Chausson's Poeme de l'amour et de la mer, I haven't heard and my knowledge of Roussel is limited to the symphonies and some chamber work.  I must pursue and will report back on my findings.  My shelves are fit to burst with Faure interpretations - these are good recommends for which I'm grateful.   BTW, have you had the impression that Schubert's star is rising? (that is, awareness of him and appreciation for him).  Mozart's receding a bit?  Just a personal sixth sense more than anything.  I always wonder what future generations will think of our venerables and how taste and perceptions will change.  One thing I think is for certain - Stravinsky will be seen as the Bach of the 20th century.

I agree about Igor. 
It does usually take time to shake out and contemporaries often react to stuff that dates badly.
My opinions on what will last and what won't, spoken aloud on this site, would get me strung up.     I will venture that Serialism and Dodecaphony will be looked back at like Freudianism or Skinnerism: a cult that wasted the talents of three generations and did grievous harm to musical life and to other composers of the era struggling for attention.

As for Mozart you might be seeing a side effect of HIPing. As HIP took over baroque mainline orchestras moved out of that repertoire. HIP is currently eating Haydn, Mozart [I mean it is being seen as incorrect to not be HIP with this music, much as it has been for a while now with baroque] and nibbling on Beethoven. And the differences are greater with H&M than with B. So major orchestras are retreating from that period a bit I think.
Is Schubert rising? Dunno.

[Karl Henning]

I don't think the big bands will ever surrender Beethoven;  he sounds too good with the large forces (and his name is etched on the proscenium of Boston's Symphony Hall).

[Mirror Image]

I concur - I was surprised and a bit taken aback by the distinction made by some posters.  But it did make me reflect on same.  The chamber music goes straight to the soul, doesn't it? Esp. the SQ (in Gm - my favorite key).

La Mer and the Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp are on the same brilliant level, but their means for expression are obviously different but are no less compelling for that fact.

[North Star]

Holy Frijoles!  I am listening to Martinu's 4th symphony on North Star's recommend and am taking an immediate liking to it - so freshly textured, inventive, expressive, spirited and might I add français?  (Since confirmed by a quick check in Ewen as to his influences).  How can I not love it?  More importantly, where have I been all these years?  I feel deprived, if not depraved, but thank St. Cecilia, North Star and GMG for redemption near the (relatively) end.

Splendid! I knew you would love Martinu.

[Ken B]

I concur - I was surprised and a bit taken aback by the distinction made by some posters.  But it did make me reflect on same.  The chamber music goes straight to the soul, doesn't it? Esp. the SQ (in Gm - my favorite key).

Why taken aback? Is it controversial to say Chopin's piano music is better than his orchestral? Is Sibelius known for his piano music? Not all composers excel equally in all areas.

[North Star]

Why taken aback? Is it controversial to say Chopin's piano music is better than his orchestral? Is Sibelius known for his piano music? Not all composers excel equally in all areas.

But Ravel & Debussy are not among those composers that don't excel in all areas.

[Ken B]

But Ravel & Debussy are not among those composers that don't excel in all areas.

Well some of us don't agree.    but would anyone be taken aback if I claimed late Beethoven is better tha early or mid? Because it's the same claim. Debussy last orchestral piece was 6 years before he died, and much of the piano and chamber comes from those 6 years. Orchestral Debussy is mid or early Debussy.
You might not agree with the two of us who said so, but it's not a shocking opinion, and it's not remotely uncommon, quite the opposite.