What are you listening to right now?
Tue, Jan 8 2013, 3:47PM
#2
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Bach Cantata BWV140 Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Words fail me.
Couldn't agree more Kev. Concerning the cantata, how about these words (from Whittaker's old but famous book on the Bach Cantatas):
"It is a cantata without weakness, without a dull bar, technically, emotionally and spiritually of the highest order, its sheer perfection and its boundless imagination rouse one's wonder time and time again."
And Harnoncourt at his very finest. What more could one ask!
Chris
Tue, Jan 8 2013, 3:58PM
#3
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Parla, you are a very bad boy: knowing of my obsession with this work you tempt me with even more fine recordings!
Now for your penance you have to give me some more information. The organ version of Bernard Foccrouille, what is the organ that he plays on? And does he include the last, unfinished fugue. And I really should have Nikolayeva too (I saw her play it once in London). Her Hyperion recordings that I've heard have been rather over-resonantly recorded. Is the Melodiya version better recorded; and the performance? Fretwork sounds interesting too - a consort of viols, if I remember right.
Thanks: and please don't mention any more recordings!
Chris
Tue, Jan 8 2013, 11:50PM
#4
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Chris, the Organ in the Foccroulle's recording is the one from the Temple du Bouclier in Stransbourg. The double CD contains the Final Unfinished Fugue in both its original form and in a complete version (from various sources). The Organ is a great detailed copy of an old one, with very colourful registers.
I hope you may find the recording worthwhile as well (and don't call my nature..."bad").
Parla
Tue, Jan 8 2013, 11:52PM
#5
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Chris, for Nikolayeva, Hyperion's recording is cleaner and more detailed. Melodiya's is more emotional and to the point, but it is not that "true to life".
Parla
Wed, Jan 9 2013, 10:27AM
#6
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Parla, thanks very much for the information. Appreciated: and the only 'badness' I was referring to is the 'bad for my bank balance', when you feed my obsessions!. It was supposed to be humorous! (Something to do with D minor 'character', perhaps).
I'm very tempted by the Foccroulle recording. I know you don't like 'completions' but I'm always intrigued by the way the main theme of the Art of Fugue can be fitted with the other parts - as I'm sure are many of those who attempt completions.
Chris
Mon, Jan 14 2013, 2:45PM
#7
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Listening to: The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 Diana Boyle, being one of Nicholas Kenyan's top 50 (or so) Bach. I was thinking of working my way through the list in an orderly fashion but then I remembered that my mood is somewhat chaotic. Am I in a choral/keyboard/orchestral/chamber mood? Or it could be 60s Motown. Seriously though...
Chris, thanks again. The Kindle version of the Faber pocket guide is going very well on my Android Tablet. Now, I can read about Bach if the mood takes me in my local pub even. Come to think of it - I can read about Murray Perahia on it too..
Mon, Jan 14 2013, 3:08PM
#8
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Listening to: The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 Diana Boyle, being one of Nicholas Kenyan's top 50 (or so) Bach. I was thinking of working my way through the list in an orderly fashion but then I remembered that my mood is somewhat chaotic. Am I in a choral/keyboard/orchestral/chamber mood? Or it could be 60s Motown. Seriously though...
Chris, thanks again. The Kindle version of the Faber pocket guide is going very well on my Android Tablet. Now, I can read about Bach if the mood takes me in my local pub even. Come to think of it - I can read about Murray Perahia on it too..
Kev/Chris,
Sorry, I haven't been on this thread for a while: what is the Faber pocket guide about? And can one download it to one's Mac?
Kev,
Glad that you are having fun (with all of your musical explorations)!
Best, Petra
Mon, Jan 14 2013, 3:40PM
#9
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Glad you like Kenyon's book, Kev. Should be good with a pint of best. I've never managed to work my way through any of these lists in an orderly fashion, even without the pint.
Petra, The book is one of a series of Pocket Guides published by Faber.
The Pocket Guide to Bach was written by Nicholas Kenyon and within its 500 pages gives, in a highly readable way, more information about more of Bach's music than you would believe possible.
In the UK Amazon has the paperback for £6.74 and the Kindle Edition for £6.39. Oddly, in the USA the Kindle Edition is the more expensive ($10.31 c/w $8.51).
He is also the author of Faber's Pocket Guide to Mozart, almost as good.
I still prefer the 'real' books but, either way, it is superb value.
Chris
Mon, Jan 14 2013, 5:13PM
#10
RE: listening to right now?
Glad you like Kenyon's book, Kev. Should be good with a pint of best. I've never managed to work my way through any of these lists in an orderly fashion, even without the pint.
Petra, The book is one of a series of Pocket Guides published by Faber.
The Pocket Guide to Bach was written by Nicholas Kenyon and within its 500 pages gives, in a highly readable way, more information about more of Bach's music than you would believe possible.
In the UK Amazon has the paperback for £6.74 and the Kindle Edition for £6.39. Oddly, in the USA the Kindle Edition is the more expensive ($10.31 c/w $8.51).
He is also the author of Faber's Pocket Guide to Mozart, almost as good.
I still prefer the 'real' books but, either way, it is superb value.
Chris
Thanks Chris! :--)
Petra
p.s. Current listening: Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with Brendel (early recording from a Brilliant Box set).
Wed, Jan 30 2013, 11:04AM
#11
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Wed, Jan 30 2013, 11:52AM
#12
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Must be something to do with Messiaen's modally based colouration. But which mode?
Wed, Jan 30 2013, 2:22PM
#13
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Eventually, the shadow fell...Brumas. This time without the motion, the reality...the act and no idea at all. Well done!
Parla
Wed, Jan 30 2013, 2:36PM
#14
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Hmm, I see something went wrong there, and for some reason I can't edit my post... Anyway, the album in question was Fairouz (فيروز) time-stopping Good Friday Music, an album of Syriac Orthodox Church music:
Ten Holt : Canto Ostinato and its bored me out of my brains.
Way overrated.