Top 5 Favourite Sculthorpe Works

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 15, 2016, 02:49:08 PM

In the manner of Mirror Image I have created this thread.

My five favourites (counting things like Sun Music as separate works)

Piano Concerto
Sun Music I
Memento Mori
String Quartet no. 8
Into the Dreaming

Mirror Image · July 15, 2016, 04:39:24 PM

You sneaky little devil!

I LOVE this poll because we're likely the only ones that will participate in it.

Here's my list (in no particular order):

Piano Concerto
Kakadu
Memento mori
Night Pieces (esp. the arrangement for harp)
Port Essington

Mirror Image · July 15, 2016, 04:57:59 PM

Great choices, btw, Jessop.

Five honorable mentions that easily could have made the list: Cello Dreaming, Mangrove, Little Suite, Great Sandy Island, and Quamby (esp. the arrangement for chamber orchestra).

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 15, 2016, 05:02:37 PM

Quamby is great, but I could easily list all of Sun Music as a favourite. I just listened to SQ no. 12 for the first time today and thought it was excellent as well! Also, Nourlangie is a great piece...............

Mirror Image · July 15, 2016, 06:20:17 PM

Quote from: ComposerOfAvantGarde on July 15, 2016, 05:02:37 PM
Quamby is great, but I could easily list all of Sun Music as a favourite. I just listened to SQ no. 12 for the first time today and thought it was excellent as well! Also, Nourlangie is a great piece...............

My problem is if I listed all of the Sun Music series I'd feel that I would have neglected so much of his other excellent oeuvre. Noulangie is a fantastic piece no doubt about it. I'm going to be familiarizing myself with his SQs at some point in the near future.

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 15, 2016, 07:42:32 PM

Quote from: ComposerOfAvantGarde on July 15, 2016, 02:49:08 PM
In the manner of Mirror Image I have created this thread.

My five favourites (counting things like Sun Music as separate works)

Piano Concerto
Sun Music I
Memento Mori
String Quartet no. 8
Into the Dreaming

WHAT WAS I EVEN THINKING

Piano Concerto
Sun Music III
Memento Mori
Sun Music I
String Quartet no. 8
Into the Dreaming
Sun Music II
Sun Music IV
Nourlangie
String Quartet no. 12

Mirror Image · July 16, 2016, 05:09:47 AM

Quote from: ComposerOfAvantGarde on July 15, 2016, 07:42:32 PM
WHAT WAS I EVEN THINKING

Piano Concerto
Sun Music III
Memento Mori
Sun Music I
String Quartet no. 8
Into the Dreaming
Sun Music II
Sun Music IV
Nourlangie
String Quartet no. 12

Hah!

(poco) Sforzando · July 16, 2016, 05:33:42 AM

Interesting thread, guys. I admit I don't know this composer well at all, having just checked the shelves and found only one ABC Classics CD with Earth Cry and four other works performed by the Sydney Symphony under Challender. Can you agree on perhaps 2-3 other CDs that would best represent him?

Mirror Image · July 16, 2016, 05:46:58 AM

Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on July 16, 2016, 05:33:42 AM
Interesting thread, guys. I admit I don't know this composer well at all, having just checked the shelves and found only one ABC Classics CD with Earth Cry and four other works performed by the Sydney Symphony under Challender. Can you agree on perhaps 2-3 other CDs that would best represent him?

That's an excellent recording, Sforzando. I can highly recommend these other two recordings:

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I'm not sure if only two recordings can fully represent a composer of his Sculthorpe's musical vision, but I think these two recordings give you a better picture of the composer. Sun Music I-IV really put Sculthorpe's name on the musical map abroad and made his name back home in Australia as well. It's ideas are Modernistic, but not without a clear direction and a remarkable lyricism that runs through these works. They also begin to capture his unique approach to 'tone painting' with the feeling that you're witnessing some kind of desolate landscape. The Sun Music recording also contains Memento mori, which is a gorgeous work and one of my favorites. The other recording is a collection of his music for string orchestra and contains another one of my favorites from him: Port Essington.

(poco) Sforzando · July 16, 2016, 05:58:55 AM

Quote from: Mirror Image on July 16, 2016, 05:46:58 AM
That's an excellent recording, Sforzando. I can highly recommend these other two recordings:

I'm not sure if only two recordings can fully represent a composer of his Sculthorpe's musical vision, but I think these two recordings give you a better picture of the composer. Sun Music I-IV really put Sculthorpe's name on the musical map abroad and made his name back home in Australia as well. It's ideas are Modernistic, but not without a clear direction and a remarkable lyricism that runs through these works. They also begin to capture his unique approach to 'tone painting' with the feeling that you're witnessing some kind of desolate landscape. The Sun Music recording also contains Memento mori, which is a gorgeous work and one of my favorites. The other recording is a collection of his music for string orchestra and contains another one of my favorites from him: Port Essington.

One starts somewhere. If I want more, I'll get back to you. Meanwhile, both will be on order soon.

Mirror Image · July 16, 2016, 06:04:01 AM

Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on July 16, 2016, 05:58:55 AM
One starts somewhere. If I want more, I'll get back to you. Meanwhile, both will be on order soon.

That's certainly true. I hope you enjoy the music as much as I have.

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 16, 2016, 02:23:51 PM

The only problem with the discs recommended above is that there is no PIANO CONCERTO

(poco) Sforzando · July 16, 2016, 02:57:05 PM

Quote from: ComposerOfAvantGarde on July 16, 2016, 02:23:51 PM
The only problem with the discs recommended above is that there is no PIANO CONCERTO

Tell me which recording and I'll get it. I've ordered already the two others.

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 16, 2016, 03:50:22 PM

Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on July 16, 2016, 02:57:05 PM
Tell me which recording and I'll get it. I've ordered already the two others.

Mirror Image · July 16, 2016, 06:46:57 PM

I didn't mention that recording, because I had already suggested two already. I don't want to overload the man.

ComposerOfAvantGarde · July 16, 2016, 07:59:48 PM

Quote from: Mirror Image on July 16, 2016, 06:46:57 PM
I didn't mention that recording, because I had already suggested two already. I don't want to overload the man.

I don't think the Australian Chamber Orchestra disc you posted would be my first choice of recommendation tbh. I feel that much of it has a very similar sound world....he writes really well for strings, and I think a string quartet disc could perhaps be a better place to start....

Mirror Image · July 16, 2016, 08:37:08 PM

Quote from: ComposerOfAvantGarde on July 16, 2016, 07:59:48 PM
I don't think the Australian Chamber Orchestra disc you posted would be my first choice of recommendation tbh. I feel that much of it has a very similar sound world....he writes really well for strings, and I think a string quartet disc could perhaps be a better place to start....

You're probably right. I could easily have chosen that recording you recommended on the strength of the Piano Concerto, but IMHO the other works have been performed better elsewhere (Challender in a recording he already owns and Porcelijn in Sun Music and Memento mori). I can't recommend the SQs yet because I don't know them as well as you do.