What are you listening to now - I ?

[Stanfordian]

Lully:
Grands Motets
Dumont:
Memorare
Chappele Royale/Philippe Herreweghe
Recorded 1984 L'Eglise Evangelique Saint-Jean, Paris &
1981 L'Eglise de Moeze, Charentes maritimes, France
Harmonia Mundi

William Byrd:
Marian Masses from Gradualia vol. 1
William Byrd Choir/Gavin Turner
Recorded 1990 Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London
Hyperion

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet featuring Nat Adderley
with Bobby Timmons, Barry Harris, Sam Jones & Louis Hayes:
‘Them Dirty Blues’
1960 Riverside

[pastoralguy]

George Lloyd. Symphony no. 4. The composer conducts the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

[Colonel Danby]

I'm listening to the First and Second Piano Concertos by Ronald Stevenson in his memory (Olympia OCD 429). The soloist is Murray McLachlan with the Chetham's Symphony Orchestra conducted by Julian Clayton (with a very youthful Daniel Harding at fourth trumpet, destined to go on to better things as Rattle's little helper and now major conductor in his own right).

[pastoralguy]

Smetana. The two string quartets played on this new Supraphone cd by the wonderful Pavel Haas Quartet. It's no surprise this is Gramophone's CD of the Month!

[Suffolkcoastal]

The last couple of days - Eduard Tubin:

Sinfonietta on Estonian Motifs 1940
String Quartet 1979
Symphony No 7 1958
Three Children's Pieces for piano 1935
Song of the Retreating Warriors for men's voices & piano 1967
Double Bass Concerto 1948
Viola Sonata 1965
Requiem for Dead Soldiers 1950/79
Music for Strings 1963
Alto Saxophone Sonata 1951
Violin Concerto No 2 1945
Piano Sonata No 1 1928
Symphony No 4 in A 'Sinfonia Lyrica' 1943/78

Eduard Tubin (1905-1982) is Estonia's greatest composer and also one of my favourite composers. His music is basically tonal and his style very distinct and individual. Even in early works like the richly romantic 1st Piano Sonata and Piano Quartet one can already hear Tubin's individual voice emerging. In later works where his style sometimes became slightly more demanding, the language remains very much his own. His Double Bass Concerto is one of the best written for the instrument and there is also a Balalaika Concerto which works very well. Central to Tubin's output are the 10 completed symphonies, a wonderful cycle and all well worth getting to know. My favourite is the 4th, which is not only my favourite Tubin score but also one of my favourite symphonies of all. This spacious, luminous, beautiful and uplifting symphony is simply glorious and also an ideal introduction to the music of this wonderful composer.

[pastoralguy]

Neemi Jarvi played Tubin with the RSNO when he was Principle Conductor back in the 80's. I remember a performance of one of the Symphony's where Rostropovich was soloist in the Shostakovich 'cello concerto. He joined the 'cello section of the orchestra for the symphony. An young woman who was on trial had the honour of sitting next to him!

[EdgeleyRob]

George Lloyd. Symphony no. 4. The composer conducts the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

Marvelous pg.

The intense slow movement always brings me close to tears.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Neemi Jarvi played Tubin with the RSNO when he was Principle Conductor back in the 80's. I remember a performance of one of the Symphony's where Rostropovich was soloist in the Shostakovich 'cello concerto. He joined the 'cello section of the orchestra for the symphony. An young woman who was on trial had the honour of sitting next to him!

How wonderful and what a thrill for the young cellist. Tubin has yet to feature in the Proms, about time this was put right.

[pastoralguy]

Marvelous pg.

The intense slow movement always brings me close to tears.

I really must re-acquaint myself with these wonderful works again soon. I must also start buying tickets for the Euromillions so, if I win, I can sponsor a cycle played by Die Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon!

How about a complete cycle at the Proms and Edinburgh Festival?!

[Suffolkcoastal]

I really must re-acquaint myself with these wonderful works again soon. I must also start buying tickets for the Euromillions so, if I win, I can sponsor a cycle played by Die Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon!

How about a complete cycle at the Proms and Edinburgh Festival?!

No, no please no

[EdgeleyRob]

No, no please no

Yes,yes please yes

[DublinJimbo]

Vagn Holmboe:

Epilog op. 68 (Symphonic Metamorphosis No. 3, 1954)
Aalborg Symphony Orchestra / Owain Arwel Hughes

Viola Concerto op. 189 (1992)
Lars Anders Tomter, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra / Dima Slobodeniouk

Chamber Concerto No. 2 op. 20 (1940)
Eva Østergaard (flute), Mikkel Futtrup (violin), Danish National Chamber Orchestra / Hannu Koivula

Chamber Symphony No. 2 Op. 100 ('Elegy', 1968)
Lapland Chamber Orchestra / John Storgårds

A feast of wonderful music.

[pastoralguy]

Yes,yes please yes

The 'ayes' have it!!

[BBMmk2]

George Lloyd? Yes! Plus the symphony for brass ensemble as well! Hmmm pairewd with the Malcolom Arnold Symphony for brass be great!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The 'ayes' have it!!

Just as long as the "ears" don't!