Originally posted by Osborn
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Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate
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Originally posted by Suffolkcoastal View PostIt takes a little time Anton, I've known the 3rd symphony for 30 years and the 7th for a little less, but it was only after about 10 years of knowing the 7th and studying the score that I realised it was the greater work. The same is true for William Schuman's 3rd, it makes the biggest impact, but ultimately it is the 6th & 9th symophonies that are the better works. Incidentally Anton did you know quite a considerable amount of Harris 3 started life as a Violin Concerto for Heifetz, it still exists in piano/violin form and just really needs orchestrating. In many respects Harris was like Handel, in that he borrowed bits and pieces from his other works to help create new ones, though he is often so successful at integrating them you wouldn't be aware that he's done so! Was it the Naxos versions of 7 & 9 you were listening to Anton? You need to find the Ormandy 7 and the Albany 9 to get a real feeling for both works, though its a pity that Kubelik's 9th with the Bavarian RSO was never recorded commercially, the performance is stunning!
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Originally posted by antongould View PostNo I did not know the, to me fascinating, Heifetz connection and sadly haven't got another 30 years to get my Harrises in order or, also sadly, the ability to study the scores - don't forget I am a Radio 3 morning listener. I have the Naxos recording and will try to hunt down the recordings you recommend. Any Harris 3s to recommend?
Incidentally Harris's 1st symphony was the first American symphony to be commercially recorded in 1934, in spite of this there has only been one rather unsatisfying recording by the Louisville Orchestra (1978) made since. Here is one work in urgent need of a new recording.
Perhaps R3 should invite me to do a Building a Library feature on Harris symphonies.
Happy listening Anton.
SC
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Norfolk Born
You might like to have a look at the 'Website for Radio 3' thread, which also picked up on this.
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barber olly
Originally posted by Frances_iom View PostR1 + R2 decided to chase the younger audience - R1 for teens and R2 for the mid20's (remember maturity comes much later than in past and these strata of society have generally high levels of spending on inessentials and are thus chased by marketeers)- thus we saw Kershaw dumped onto R3 in the 1st clear out of R1, now the older listeners of R2 are being 'dumped' onto what was R3 - I presume the BBC needs to ape the commercial stations in order to gain respectable listening figures to keep the bean counting politicians happy.
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I don't normally have the opportunity to listen to Essential Classics. However, I caught Professor Tom Wright talking to Sarah yesterday and was deeply impressed by the way he talked about the Durham mining community as background to his choice of a piece for brass band (Robert Saint, Gresford: The Miners’ Hymn). He spoke movingly of communities' grief over mining accidents and fury over betrayal by politicians. I was shocked to the core by his statement, in the context of the actions of politicians in the eighties and nineties, that there is more coal under Durham today than has ever been excavated.
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barber olly
Originally posted by kernelbogey View PostI don't normally have the opportunity to listen to Essential Classics. However, I caught Professor Tom Wright talking to Sarah yesterday and was deeply impressed by the way he talked about the Durham mining community as background to his choice of a piece for brass band (Robert Saint, Gresford: The Miners’ Hymn). He spoke movingly of communities' grief over mining accidents and fury over betrayal by politicians. I was shocked to the core by his statement, in the context of the actions of politicians in the eighties and nineties, that there is more coal under Durham today than has ever been excavated.
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Yes, I had the chance to catch a bit of Professor Tom Wright this morning and was also impressed by the discussion - worthy of Private Passions - of Tomkin's anthem' When David heard'. I didn't know this piece and the pleasure it gave reminded me of the sort of moments I used to have listening to 'Breakfast'. If the presenters can invite guests who can talk perceptovely about music, maybe this feature has some mileage.
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barber olly
Originally posted by Shahrazad View PostYes, I had the chance to catch a bit of Professor Tom Wright this morning and was also impressed by the discussion - worthy of Private Passions - of Tomkin's anthem' When David heard'. I didn't know this piece and the pleasure it gave reminded me of the sort of moments I used to have listening to 'Breakfast'. If the presenters can invite guests who can talk perceptovely about music, maybe this feature has some mileage.
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Originally posted by Barbirollians View PostI heard that ridiculous Who am I this morning again - Stephen Johnson hamming it up desperately as the mystery voice .It makes me cringe.
Desperately needs to be axed immediately."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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And the patronising repetition of the clue... as if he's patiently talking (with forced, infantile inflection) to a roomful of halfwits.
I don't listen to Breakfast any more. This 'mystery voice' b*ll*cks is the worst thing on R3 these days, from my point of view.
Doesn't anyone know Stephen Johnson? Can't we get him to refuse to do it? He must know it's crap.
Compare him, reduced to this, with the insights of the axed Discovering Music... It really makes one want to weep. Pitiful."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Norfolk Born
Reproduced without comment from p. 136 of the new Radio Times:
7.45 Sunday Feature: Shostakovitch: a Journey Into Light
Radio 3 presenter Stephen Johnson has been diagnosed with serious near-fatal clinical depression, and he claims the music of Shostakovitch has helped him to survive.
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