25 for 25: Sounds of the Century

[LMcD]

Even Beethovens weren’t that special (by his own standard ) with the exception of The Consecration of The House.
Thought technically Serenade To Music, which is first rate , a special piece for a specific anniversary.

I would say that BBC Proms First Night commissions also have what might tactfully be described as a mixed track record.

[gurnemanz]

Even Beethovens weren’t that special (by his own standard ) with the exception of The Consecration of The House.

Takes me back to one of my first ever classical LP purchases as a teenager. Beethoven's 5th on cheapo Heliodor label - Maazel with BPO. I remember rather enjoying the filler, Die Weihe des Hauses, which I had never heard of, let alone heard, before. I found it online. Not so cheapo at £12.43.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Takes me back to one of my first ever classical LP purchases as a teenager. Beethoven's 5th on cheapo Heliodor label - Maazel with BPO. I remember rather enjoying the filler, Die Weihe des Hauses, which I had never heard of, let alone heard, before. I found it online. Not so cheapo at £12.43.

That Klemperer/Philharmonia version on EMI is in my humble opinion one of the very best Beethoven recordings around.

[smittims]

Nice photo of the old man on the LP cover too.

It did occur to me that Vaughan Williams had himself written works specifically for anniversaries , including Thanksgiving for Victory which I must remember to listen to again on May 8, amd a little piano piece for his wife's birthday.

[LMcD]

Nice photo of the old man on the LP cover too.

It did occur to me that Vaughan Williams had himself written works specifically for anniversaries , including Thanksgiving for Victory which I must remember to listen to again on May 8, amd a little piano piece for his wife's birthday.

I hope they received a warmer welcome than two works specially commissioned from Britten - the Sinfonia da Requiem and Diversions.

[smittims]

Another Britten 'celebratory' commission, an overture for the start of the BBC Third Programme, was forgotten for so long Britten said he too had no recollection of writing it!
It's now known as his 'Occasional Overture' but few regard it as one of his better works.

It's worth remembering though, that one of the most popular classical works of all time was regarded by its composer as a hack work written only for a commission: , Tchaikovsky's '1812' .

[hmvman]

It's worth remembering though, that one of the most popular classical works of all time was regarded by its composer as a hack work written only for a commission: , Tchaikovsky's '1812' .

He was probably right and would likely be appalled at its popularity now!

[oliver sudden]

He was probably right and would likely be appalled at its popularity now!

There’s a lovely moment in Peter Schickele’s ‘1712 Overture’ sending up Tchaikovsky’s evocation of Orthodox chant, with all the repeated notes (the one in the tutti towards the end)… they play an excessively long bunch of them, inhale loudly in unison, then continue. My description doesn’t do it justice but maybe those who have heard it will recognise it.

I don’t agree with Tchaikovsky about Brahms, but although certainly fond of a decent proportion of his music I very much agree with him re 1812.