Neglected masterpieces...
Sat, Jan 8 2011, 3:00AM
I realise this may not be seem to be the most original thread but I wondered if posters would be interested in stating their favourite pieces and then what they consider to be the most neglected 'masterpieces' - if you can relate to the former the latter may be an incentive for discovery.
My own favourites have always included Mahler 9, Rachmaninov symphony 2, Tchaikovsky 6 and Strauss 4 last songs.
Anyone who can relate to those choices I would implore to listen to MAHLER 10 (in particular the final adagio movement as performed by Rattle and BPO - my favourite single most heart wrenching piece that I know), Arnold symphony 9 and Paul McCartney Liverpool Oratorio.
I would of course wish to mention many other pieces but brevity would help to keep suggestions flowing. I'm never inclined to listen to other peoples suggestions unless I can relate to their own favourites.
Sat, Jan 8 2011, 7:55PM
#2
RE: Neglected masterpieces...
Favourite works inc:
Vaughan Williams, all symphonies (except 1) his Oboe Concerto and On Wenlock Edge
Tubin, Symphony 4.
Ravel, Ma mere l'oye - piano and orch. versions.
Pergolesi, Stabat Mater.
John Adams, violin con.
Alwyn, 3 Winter Poems.
Grieg, Quartet op27
Szymanowski, Violin Concerto No. 1
Poulenc, Gloria
Neglected works:
Stravinsky, Symphony in C.
Bliss, A Colour Symphony.
Finzi, Dies Natalis
Sun, Jan 9 2011, 9:59AM
#3
RE: Neglected masterpieces...
Frank Bridge - 'Enter Spring'
Thanks in particular to Lyrita and Chandos Bridge is better represented than he once was on record but rarely appears in concert performance.
I have a particular liking for 'Enter Spring' - wonderfully evokes a blustery March where every now and then you get a day when the winds still, the sun shines and the colour floods into the landscape. Bridge makes use of what at the time would have been thought of as 'modern' musical methods in the blustery parts but brings in a wonderfully tuneful processional to evoke the arrival of the good weather.
I ritually play this in early March (and at other times!).
Mon, Jan 10 2011, 12:25PM
#4
RE: Neglected masterpieces...
I would vote for I Vespri Siciliani by Verdi which is full of some of his most brilliant passages and much of the music of Taneyev especially his chamber music.
Wed, Jan 12 2011, 1:01AM
#5
RE: Neglected masterpieces...
I thought I knew my Beethoven pretty well but a few years ago I bought some new old stock LPs which included a Vox Box of "Beethoven's Complete Music for Flute" played by Jean-Pierre Rampal & Robert Veyron-Lacroix. Amongst the works was a Trio for flute, piano & bassoon. I thought it quite delightful and wondered why I'd never come across it before. The combination of instruments perhaps?
Sat, Jan 15 2011, 12:28AM
#6
RE: Neglected masterpieces...
Thank-you for the contributions - some interesting ideas worth further investigation. What I really had in mind though was a sort of "If you liked that you'll like this" theme so that readers could relate to the choices - a recommendation from someone of whom I know nothing about their preferences is too vague to be of much benefit (to me at least).
I'm sure every music lover has at some time discovered a piece which has become so important to them but which previously they were unaware existed (despite extensive experience) and it was that which in my awkward way I was trying to tap into.
My list of neglected masterpieces include:
Bruckner's 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th symphonies & Mass no. 3.
Glazunov: 4th, 6th, 8th Symphonies, ballets "Raymonda" & "The Seasons", Symph. poem "Stenka Razin", Symph. Fantasy "The Sea" Suite "From the Middle Ages", Third String Quartet, Piano Sonata no. 1, Theme & Variations for Piano, 3 Etudes for Piano.
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5, 6, "Manfred", String Quartets 1 & 3, Souvenir de Florence, Operas "Queen of Spades", "Mazeppa", "Orleansakaya Deva", Ballets "Sleeping Beauty" "The Nutcracker", Piano Concerto no. II, Violin Concerto
Rebikov: Reverie of the Fall, Dreams of Happiness, Pastoral Scenes, Remeberance of Past Days, From Slavery to Liberty - all for solo piano.
Atterberg: Symphony no. II, Suite no. 3.
Stenhammar: Symphony no. 2, Serenade, Piano Concerto no. 1.
Nielsen: Symphonies nos. 3, 4, 5, Opera "Maskarade", Clarinet Concerto.
Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9.
Merikanto: Opera "Juha" & Piano Concerto no. 2.
Myaskovsky: Symphonies 5, 6, 13, 16, 21, 25, 27, Cello Concerto, String Quartet 2, 10, 13, Piano Sonata no. 4, Prelude & Rondo for pianoforte.
Shostakovich: Opera "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District", Symphonies 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, Piano Sonata no. 1.
Weinberg: Symphonies 6, 19, Cello Concerto, Piano Quintet.
Shebalin: Piano Trio, String Quartets 5, 6, 7.
Bax: Symphonies 2, 3, 6, Symph. poem "Garden of Fand" Piano Sonatas 1, 2, 3.
Sibelius: Symphonies 2, 4, 5, 6, "Kullervo"
Dohnanyi: Symphony no. 1, Violin Concerti 1 & 2, Nursery Variations.
Kodaly: Peacock Variations
And many more,..........
David A. Hollingsworth