Havergal Brian symphonies
Fri, Feb 10 2012, 11:13AM
#2
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Tagalie:
...on a site I shouldn't mention?
Would that mean you have to Be careful Before you Commit yourself?!
Mark
Fri, Feb 10 2012, 6:50PM
#3
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
I think he means Classicstoday.com
Fri, Feb 10 2012, 6:55PM
#4
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Tagalie:
...on a site I shouldn't mention?
Would that mean you have to Be careful Before you Commit yourself?!
Mark
Actually, no, Mark. Risking the mods dispatching a drone to get me, it's the Classics Today website. American, but don't let that put you off. Their biases are identifiable and no worse than that of any other music review publication. David Hurwitz, the main reviewer of orchestral music, is a long-time Brian advocate, though not unreservedly so. Somewhere on there he gives a very amusing pen picture of his first purchase of a Brian recording in NYC.
Fri, Feb 10 2012, 8:59PM
#5
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
You will find his NYC story in his review of the Naxos issue of the Gothic Symphony. Maybe he has other stories in his other Brian reviews but you can explore that yourself.
Sat, Feb 11 2012, 12:22PM
#6
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
JAH yes it was an excellent and very memorable performance indeed, and as I say, I was lucky to get a return a few days before.
One thing I didn't point out in my poor man's review of the concert above was that the German gentleman sitting next to me...wait a minute, no it can't be surely...
No definitely not. But anyway the German gent with the acute sense of hearing pointed out to me between movements 4 and 5 that he could me breathing down my nose. Well that was a new one on me. Mobiles going off are one thing but nasal noise is another. Such is my sense of humour that I was tempted to retort with 'I'm just joining in with the orchestra'. Glad I didn't remonstrate with him, as the whole thing was, unknown to me at the time, being recorded!
Anyway guys, if you get this recording, and you can hear heavy breathing, sorry!
Mark
Tagalie/Bliss - thanks for the info on that website.
Mon, Feb 13 2012, 5:29AM
#7
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
You older fellows need to take care to unclog before going out on the town :)
P.S. Why on earth do I need to type in a verification code when I am already logged in?
Mon, Feb 13 2012, 8:29AM
#8
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Yes, Partsong, in such a score there are plenty of opportunities to 'play along with the orchestra' no matter from which orifice.
The last time I was at a live concert of a 'big' piece, the music was Ives 4. The problem there is knowing when suitable climaxes are coming.
Mon, Feb 13 2012, 9:35PM
#9
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Mark, your last post cracked me up. I live in a community full of German emigres which, like any community anywhere, includes the good, the bad and the ugly. But in my experience no group of people conforms to its stereotype so closely. What you describe is instantly recognizeable.
I'm faced with the dilemma of justification for a second recording of Brian's Gothic. The one that's reappeared on Naxos has served me well for years. Any thoughts from those of you who own both or who were at the concert? Fast response needed. There's a golden opportunity to sneak it in with an order I'm about to place for Sophie Kinsella's new book for Tagalia's birthday.
Tue, Feb 14 2012, 1:02PM
#10
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Hi Tagalie! I haven't yet got hold of either the Naxos re-issue or the concert performance.I will be investing in both as a joint venture at some point.
Well the concert was certainly marvellous, so might be worth it. I would think so. That was my first point of contact with the Gothic, and I was keen to hear it live first.
Best wishes
PS Bliss or Jezetha might have different recordings of the Gothic - so if you're out there you two!
(Microphone in hand) 'Bliss or Jezetha to customer relations desk please! Customer waiting!'
Mark
Fri, Feb 17 2012, 2:42PM
#11
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
I've got all three recordings.
Isn't there another one floating around in ether?
Ole Schmidt from the seventies.
If that came out commercially I'd get that as well.
Fri, Feb 17 2012, 8:11PM
#12
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
I've got all three recordings.
Isn't there another one floating around in ether?
Ole Schmidt from the seventies.
If that came out commercially I'd get that as well.
So what do you think of the new one? Does it add much to what the Naxos has to say? Incidentally, I noted your Irgens Jensen recommendation on an adjacent thread. That recording has been well received. Looks like a promising addition to my forthcoming order if I can get it in quickly. At this rate I'm going to miss the boat, the missus will have to make do with the usual flowers and bottle of wine.
Thu, Feb 23 2012, 4:09PM
#13
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
I've got all three recordings.
Isn't there another one floating around in ether?
Ole Schmidt from the seventies.
If that came out commercially I'd get that as well.
So what do you think of the new one? Does it add much to what the Naxos has to say? Incidentally, I noted your Irgens Jensen recommendation on an adjacent thread. That recording has been well received. Looks like a promising addition to my forthcoming order if I can get it in quickly. At this rate I'm going to miss the boat, the missus will have to make do with the usual flowers and bottle of wine.
Do you know I thought I might get asked that and the simple answer is that I do not know. I am not even sure the Hyperion recording catches everything not missed in the other two. The applause goes on forever...so it must be good;-)
The Irgens-Jensen Passacaglia blew me away. I played it, again, the other evening and then played it again.
Another Naxos recommendatio: Malipiero. Thought he was Debussy composing Stravinsky or this is what Stravinsky would have sounded like if he had been heavily influenced by Debussy. Either way.
Another off-the-wall Italian I've grown quite fond of.
Thu, Feb 23 2012, 11:02PM
#14
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Thanks muchly for this, Troyen. I've ordered the Irgens-Jensen and will look into the Malipiero. Your response is what this forum should be all about, a sharing or ideas, tips, experiences, thoughts on music, not the continuous drivel we get from Two Who Flew Over (or out of) the Cuckoo's Nest. I've been missing your posts lately, good to see you again.
Fri, Feb 24 2012, 1:22AM
#15
RE: Havergal Brian symphonies
Thanks muchly for this, Troyen. I've ordered the Irgens-Jensen and will look into the Malipiero. Your response is what this forum should be all about, a sharing or ideas, tips, experiences, thoughts on music, not the continuous drivel we get from Two Who Flew Over (or out of) the Cuckoo's Nest. I've been missing your posts lately, good to see you again.
Thanks for that Tagalie.
I do like to share my enthusiasms.
Here's another, not so cheap: Ropartz's 3rd Symphony which completes Timpani's cycle but under Ossonce.
For me there are reminders of a certain English composer, here. I will not say who just to whet your appetite!
I foolishly posted before checking. Indeed Brian 3 is available on the Hyperion site, and with the option of purchasing it as a dowload.
In fact, I was surprised to see how much was available.
Times have changed. Complete symphonic recordings of Simpson and Rubbra! What chance of this 10 years ago?