What are you listening to right now?
Sat, May 26 2012, 6:49PM
#2
RE: What are you listening to right now?
What is the story behind the circumstances of the recording though? I just took a quick look online (on the Barbirolli Society's website and didn't see anything there about it).
It was made in Temple Church. To quote from Ursula Vaughan Williams:
"There we went for a recording session that started at midnight to avoid any traffic noises. Coats and Thermos flasks were piled round the effigies of Crusader knights. Bernard (Herrmann, who suggested the venue) was there, listening to the balance and to the music, and the resulting recording is by far the best ever made of the work."
The original black-and-white sleeve photo of the session is quite evocative.
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Presumably Hermann thought that as VW originally wrote the work for performance in a cathedral, recording the work in the acoustics of a church would be more appropriate than EMI's usual London venues, Abbey Road & Kingsway Hall, but how did Hermann come to be involved?
I am though a bit mystified by the photos. That on my CD issue, probably its first incarnation in that form differs from that on a facsimile of the original LP I got about a decade ago although the CD booklet retains the original LP notes. They are obviously both from the same occasion, same photographer credited with the title Sir JB rehearsing with the Sinfonia of London. I've never seen any photos of the inside of Temple church but these photos don't look like a church, more like pictures I've seen of Kingsway. Did they rehearse there and move to Temple Church for the actual recording I wonder?
(Apologies Tagalie for your quote not coming in blue -why didn't it!)
Sat, May 26 2012, 6:59PM
#3
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Presumably Hermann thought that as VW originally wrote the work for performance in a cathedral, recording the work in the acoustics of a church would be more appropriate than EMI's usual London venues, Abbey Road & Kingsway Hall, but how did Hermann come to be involved?
I am though a bit mystified by the photos. That on my CD issue, probably its first incarnation in that form differs from that on a facsimile of the original LP I got about a decade ago although the CD booklet retains the original LP notes. They are obviously both from the same occasion, same photographer credited with the title Sir JB rehearsing with the Sinfonia of London. I've never seen any photos of the inside of Temple church but these photos don't look like a church, more like pictures I've seen of Kingsway. Did they rehearse there and move to Temple Church for the actual recording I wonder?
(Apologies Tagalie for your quote not coming in blue -why didn't it!)
According to Parla, every time I have him cornered my posts are blue.
Hermann and Barbirolli were apparently friends from their New York days together and he suggested the venue. My cd shows a reduced facsimile of the original lp cover. I don't know Temple Church either, nor do I know Kingsway Hall so I can't help you but for me the photo looks like the inside of a church.
Sun, May 27 2012, 12:47PM
#4
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Naupilus,
Thanks for the further comments and for that info about Toccata.
Tagalie and 33,
Neat picture! Thanks for describing it for me. One of these days, I want to get UVW's bio on RVW too.
Best, P.
Sun, May 27 2012, 6:00PM
#5
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Tagalie, thanks for the info on the Hermann connection with Barbirolli. For the photos I was going on the columns of the building on the LP photo and the similarity with a much larger view of the Kingsway Hall in the CD booklet for Barbirolli's Delius Appalachia recording. Can anyone enlighten us?
Mon, May 28 2012, 10:58AM
#6
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Listened to some Haydn piano trios yesterday with the Beaux Arts...watching the French Open now. :-)
Best wishes,
Petra
Sat, Jun 2 2012, 12:28AM
#7
RE: What are you listening to right now?
First run with Stanford's 4th Symphony - have to say much more appealling than some of the other Stanford I have heard. Do I hear Dvorak in the background, tapping out the finale?
Sat, Jun 2 2012, 2:29PM
#8
RE: What are you listening to right now?
First run with Stanford's 4th Symphony - have to say much more appealling than some of the other Stanford I have heard. Do I hear Dvorak in the background, tapping out the finale?
Probably, and a lot of Mendelssohn.
I have grown quite fond of Stanford and would recommend the symphonies and that disc of sea songs that Hickox made a few years back. You will not be able to get them out of your head when you know you should!
For me this afternoon having heard the heartening news that there are traffic jams outside Dover as the escape from the Jubbly sycophantations gather apace (don't come if you haven't booked!), Mireille, another opera that can only end in tears. Pauvre petite Mireille.
Tue, Jun 5 2012, 7:13AM
#9
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Finding myself with some unexpected spare time last night (sadly not to be continued, it seems) I re-read the thread on Mozart's String Quintets and gained some valuable insights and listening tips. Then I listened again to K 593 and K 614 (Arthur Grumiaux, et al on Decca). I ended the session with Uchida and Mark Steinberg's Mozart Sonatas for Piano and Violin (on Philips).
A wonderful couple of hours of the most joyful and profound music - or so I thought.
However, not having studied the scores - in fact not even having the ability to do so - and not being a trained musician, scholar or professional, indeed not being educated in the music-making process at all, and as if that were not bad enough, even having been known to enjoy an evening of Paul Simon, how the hell am I qualified to know whether I enjoyed it or not?
Vic.
Tue, Jun 5 2012, 1:59PM
#10
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Finding myself with some unexpected spare time last night (sadly not to be continued, it seems) I re-read the thread on Mozart's String Quintets and gained some valuable insights and listening tips. Then I listened again to K 593 and K 614 (Arthur Grumiaux, et al on Decca). I ended the session with Uchida and Mark Steinberg's Mozart Sonatas for Piano and Violin (on Philips).
A wonderful couple of hours of the most joyful and profound music - or so I thought.
However, not having studied the scores - in fact not even having the ability to do so - and not being a trained musician, scholar or professional, indeed not being educated in the music-making process at all, and as if that were not bad enough, even having been known to enjoy an evening of Paul Simon, how the hell am I qualified to know whether I enjoyed it or not?
Vic.
Well, I would not have done as I get very irritated by chamber music and have had enough of Mozart (how could anyone have had enough of Mozart? me!).
More my meat: I Puritani, "He lives, he lives. I'm not mad any more!"
Sutherland, Pavarotti, Bonynge in London (Kingsway Hall), 1973.
Tue, Jun 5 2012, 3:17PM
#11
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Vic, you didn't have to go that far to tell us how much you enjoyed this Mozart evening of yours. Good for you! (Be assured, you are always qualified to know whether you enjoy any Classical piece you listen to. To confer greatness is another story, not a business of this thread and of this forum...anymore).
By the way, the disc of Uchida/Steinberg is a marvel of performance and recording (I have it in SACD and sounds miraculously beautiful). The Violin Sonatas there are exceptional. Despite the great A major is the "catch", the real gem is the one and only minor mode Violin Sonata, namely the unique K.304, in e-minor. Listen to it more carefully: it's a great work of Music. Two unique movements, one of almost Beethovenian nature and an homage to Bach, but in a very Mozartian vein.
All the best for your next Mozart evening.
Parla
Tue, Jun 5 2012, 7:25PM
#12
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Strangely enough, I just put on some Mozart too. I listened to the Melos Ensemble playing his "Clarinet Trio in E flat K498 'Kegelstatt'. It was a lovely way to calm down and unwind after watching some of the men battle it out at the French Tennis Open. Did anyone else here watch either the Federer vs. Del Potro (saw the whole) or the Djokovic vs. Tsonga match (watched last set of)?
Still lots of music to work through in that EMI Icon set of the Melos Ensemble (including a lot of "new-to-me" music by Bliss, Skalkottas and others in it). :-)
Off to put on a bit of Klami now....
Best wishes,
Petra
Tue, Jun 5 2012, 11:18PM
#13
RE: What are you listening to right now?
I saw Malick's The Tree of Life over the weekend.
I suppose people turned up expecting something similar to his previous films, especially with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn in the cast list.
Not so and I can understand some cinemagoers frustration at the film and walking out.
It had me mesmerised but my critical faculties were not in neutral.
It is full of classical music, both familiar and unfamiliar, and ends with the Agnus Dei from Berlioz' Grande Messe de morts. That is eleven minutes of music in the Davis recording which is the version used.
Therefore, Berlioz, Requiem, Davis, 1969, London.
Wed, Jun 6 2012, 5:54AM
#14
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Vic, you didn't have to go that far to tell us how much you enjoyed this Mozart evening of yours. Good for you! (Be assured, you are always qualified to know whether you enjoy any Classical piece you listen to.
Irony, Parla. Irony.
you are always qualified to know whether you enjoy any Classical piece you listen to. To confer greatness is another story, not a business of this thread and of this forum...anymore).
Naughty, Parla. Naughty!
Despite the great A major is the
"catch", the real gem is the one and only minor mode Violin
Sonata, namely the unique K.304, in e-minor. Listen to it more
carefully: it's a great work of Music. Two unique movements, one of
almost Beethovenian nature and an homage to Bach, but in a very Mozartian vein.
Yes, I agree after a second listen. Wonderful.
All the best for your next Mozart evening.
Parla
Thank you.
Vic.
Wed, Jun 6 2012, 10:11PM
#15
RE: What are you listening to right now?
You start reading me right, Vic: "Irony, Naughty, Agreement (on K.304)". Perfect!
So, for your next Mozart evening, try the Piano Trios. I trust you should have at least one version of them. Since there is no minor mode work there, you may try all of them in chronological order, preferably. The C major one is my favourite and the E major the most adventurous. The two G major Piano Trios are wonderful, most beautiful music, while the two B flat ones are the most developed.
So, enjoy!
Parla
Right now...
Works for Piano and Cello by Percy Sherwood (Toccata - download).
It is a first listen so I will reserve detailed judgement - however I have to say the (and yes I know this is only a small point) notes are very fine, detailing Sherwood's fascinating life as a Brit abroad, respected in Dresden but almost forgotten at home.
Naupilus,
I haven't heard of this composer before. How did you enjoy the pieces?
Best, P.
Petra - it is not easy to go beyond a superficial and possibly glib review at present, as I have only listened to the first sonata twice. We are not talking about lost masterpeices here... there is more than enough to hold the attention and the idiom seems to build on Sherwood's predecessors. My listening is at a stage where I really do crave some music of the beaten track and this fits the bill.
Have a look at the 'Unsung Composers' website if you want more thoughtful and deep appreciation. I have tremendous respect for the sheer adventurism of the people on that forum. They have an relentless wish to bring back music lost in time and have it heard. Martin Anderson, the leading light behind the Toccata Classics label often pops up and if you are in London it seems they are launching the CD with a performance next Monday 28 May.
I should add that I have really enjoyed some of the Toccata releases - a quality independant label that also has a growing publishing press, including reprints of Hans Keller's criticism and nice volumes on various composers who hardly ever get a mention. I try to buy two downloads a month, if only to keep up the support. If you join the club you get five recording downloads free - not bad at all.
Naupilus