Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[cloughie]

Glad to hear from some new voices here.

My 'ideal' Radio 3 would reintroduce those specalist programmes such as 'Music for Guitar' and the organ recital, from which I learnt a lot. I'd expand it to other instruments such as the oboe or bassoon, examing the history and repertoire of the instrument . This is the sort of thing Radio 3 could do very well, and wouldn't be done anywhere else. Sadly, though,this is all too 'elitist' for Sam's Brave New World.

I also used to like Jazz Legends and Jazz Library - very useful in increasing my knowledge of Jazz, having spent much of my musical listening to but never fully into Jazz.

[gurnemanz]

I would be happy to comment on Essential Classics but do not listen. What deters me is not necessarily the music itself but the format and not knowing in advance what is on the schedule, which is only published after the items have just been played. I didn't listen but have just copied and pasted today's details so far:

Hugo Alfvén
Shepherd Girl's Dance (The Mountain King Op.37)
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
WORLD ENCORES: OSLO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA/JANSONS. EMI CLASSICS.

Jacques Offenbach
Barcarolle (The Tales of Hoffmann)
Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Singer: Stéphanie d'Oustrac. Choir: Chœur des Musiciens du Louvre. Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER SINGS OFFENBACH. DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.

Béla Bartók
Transylvanian dances Sz.96
Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.
BARTOK: ORCHESTRAL WORKS VOL.1: BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA/FISCHER. PHILIPS.

John Tavener
Dhyana - a song for Nicola
Performer: Nicola Benedetti. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
DG.

Nothing there that I wouldn't have enjoyed listening to. Only the Offenbach is that familiar and always happy to hear Anne Sofie.

Heldenleben, mentioned as never appearing on R3, although it actually had, has never been my favourite Strauss piece, anyway. I don't need longer major works all the time and frequently listen to short works - songs, piano pieces, rock, jazz - bits and pieces but chosen by me. A recent acquisition is the new Vienna Parsifal with Elina Garanča as Kundry (great value download at Presto) and I didn't listen in one go - my namesake, like me, does go on a bit. I recently followed Ian Thurmwood's suggestion on another thread a few weeks ago and got the Villa Lobos complete solo piano recordings with Sonia Rubinsky on Naxos. Currently playing CD 5, Guia pratico I-IX, where no item is longer than 2 minutes.

[smittims]

I agree, gurnemanz and rauschwerk. It reinforces my long suspicion that there really is a list of recommended and (conversely) banned composers on Radio 3. I know they've repeatedly denied it , but nothing else seems to explain why there's so much Gershwin, Piazzola and Florence Price and no Hindemith, Holmboe amd Brian. The last three composers wrote plenty of cheerful 'accessible ' music that wouldn't frighten away new listeners.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I agree, gurnemanz and rauschwerk. It reinforces my long suspicion that there really is a list of recommended and (conversely) banned composers on Radio 3. I know they've repeatedly denied it , but nothing else seems to explain why there's so much Gershwin, Piazzola and Florence Price and no Hindemith, Holmboe amd Brian. The last three composers wrote plenty of cheerful 'accessible ' music that wouldn't frighten away new listeners.

You’ve answered your own question. Gershwin et al are there because they are harmonically undemanding and tuneful . Piazzola in particular always seems to Use the same chord sequence. Hindemith , Bartok , Schoenberg etc are very much more demanding , angular and not so easy on the ear. Meanwhile on Concert Live another Grieg Piano Concerto performance. I can’t remember the last time a Bartok PC was scheduled in this slot.

PS

plays in last 30 days
Gershwin 22
Hindemith 5
Bartok 14
Piazolla 10
Price 25
Brian 0

[Serial_Apologist]

You’ve answered your own question. Gershwin et al are there be is they are harmonically undemanding and tuneful . Piazzola in particular always seems to Use the same chord sequence. Hindemith , Bartok , Schoenberg etc are very much more demanding , angular and not so easy on the ear. Meanwhile on Concert Live another Grieg Piano Concerto performance. I can’t remember the last time a Bartok PC was scheduled in this slot.

It's as if we're being deliberately re-conditioned to become aesthetic simpletons as a counter to an age of evermore complexity in everyday living by being projected back in time to a mythical past age of fake innocence, while all the time more and more unsustainable unwanted product is inflicted on the environment. All part of a larger amnesia being fostered to forget the lessons of the past and make us passive consumers of media influencers with little consideration or sense of responsibility for our future.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's as if we're being deliberately re-conditioned to become aesthetic simpletons as a counter to an age of evermore complexity in everyday living by being projected back in time to a mythical past age of fake innocence, while all the time more and more unsustainable unwanted product is inflicted on the environment. All part of a larger amnesia being fostered to forget the lessons of the past and make us passive consumers of media influencers with little consideration or sense of responsibility for our future.

Were I controller R3 I’d put Brian’s tremendous Gothic Symphony on at 12.30 , take the team out for a long lunch and get them back for 14.10. (Ish)

Seriously though he’s a much better composer than Price or Piazolla and , in terms of symphonies, Gershwin.

[AuntDaisy]

Were I controller R3 I’d put Brian’s tremendous Gothic Symphony on at 12.30 , take the team out for a long lunch and get them back for 14.10. (Ish)
Seriously though he’s a much better composer than Price or Piazolla and , in terms of symphonies, Gershwin.

New to me, but the Grauniad had an interesting review and Boult photo... They should repeat the 2011 Prom (Hyperion CD), which has been on TTN.

The Gothic Symphony: 'It's a Himalayan peak'
Inspired by the legend of Faust, the Gothic is the world's longest symphony, needing 1,000 singers and musicians – plus one scarecrow. Stephen Moss celebrates its resurrection at the Proms

"Can you hear me, Mother?"

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's as if we're being deliberately re-conditioned to become aesthetic simpletons as a counter to an age of evermore complexity in everyday living by being projected back in time to a mythical past age of fake innocence, while all the time more and more unsustainable unwanted product is inflicted on the environment. All part of a larger amnesia being fostered to forget the lessons of the past and make us passive consumers of media influencers with little consideration or sense of responsibility for our future.

Listening to Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra live now on R3 makes me think
- there is more “music” in the first few minutes of this than most composers write in a lifetime.
- it’s perfectly accessible .

So why not more BB on EC ?

[Roger Webb]

New to me, but the Grauniad had an interesting review and Boult photo... They should repeat the 2011 Prom (Hyperion CD), which has been on TTN.




"Can you hear me, Mother?"

Boult performed the 'Gothic' on the occasion of Brian's 90th birthday (1966), I wonder if the photo is of the rehearsal for this. Bootlegs of this perf. were circulating after....and most unlikely, it had a cult following in California where Phil Lesh, the bass player in The Grateful Dead was taken with it. Later anonymously under the auspices of the Rex Foundation he channelled funds to Marco Polo to record the 'Gothic', and, having sponsored recordings of Brian on EMI and Hyperion as well, turned his attention to Robert Simpson and sponsored recordings of the symphonies on Hyperion.

By the way, Tom McKinney mentions (quite often) and plays Brian's works (infrequently)....Stoke connection no doubt. My own interest was aroused by the music master at my school who knew Brian and pointed out his house in Lewes, Sussex, which I passed every day on my way to and from school - he had moved to Brighton by then unfortunately.

[rauschwerk]

PS

plays in last 30 days
Gershwin 22
Hindemith 5
Bartok 14
Piazolla 10
Price 25
Brian 0

And was that five different pieces by Hindemith?

As for my earlier remark about Grieg: when they had played Wedding Day at Troldhaugen 500 times, they replaced it with March of the Trolls, which no doubt has about 450 plays left. I never hear anything of the splendid Slåttar - Grieg's last piano work.

[smittims]

Well, at least Grieg was This Week's Composer recently. I wonder if Brian has ever been. After all,there's plenty for Donald to tell us about his long and interesting life and many of his works are short enough to play complete in an hour's episode. And Hindemith...?

[AuntDaisy]

Well, at least Grieg was This Week's Composer recently. I wonder if Brian has ever been. After all,there's plenty for Donald to tell us about his long and interesting life and many of his works are short enough to play complete in an hour's episode. And Hindemith...?

In 2001 for Brian

09:00 Composer of the Week: William Havergal Brian
Mon 4th Jun 2001, 09:00 on BBC Radio 3
For the first time Composer of the Week explores the music, life and personality of Havergal Brian, the working-class boy from the Potteries who became one of Britain's most original and individual composers. Donald Macleod is joined by Brian authority Malcolm MacDonald to discover the real Brian and the full range of his creativity.

1993 & 2008 for Hindemith

09:00 20s SEASON Composer of the Week
Mon 1st Mar 1993, 09:00 on BBC Radio 3
Hindemith in the 20s
Presented by Andrew Lyle. "I've mostly written pieces I don't like any more." (Hindemith, 1922)

12:00 Composer of the Week:Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Mon 9th Jun 2008, 12:00 on BBC Radio 3
1/5. A Boy's Remarkable Talent. Donald Macleod explores Paul Hindemith 's early years as a performer and a composer, looking at the impact the First World War had on him and his work.

[antongould]

And was that five different pieces by Hindemith?

As for my earlier remark about Grieg: when they had played Wedding Day at Troldhaugen 500 times, they replaced it with March of the Trolls, which no doubt has about 450 plays left. I never hear anything of the splendid Slåttar - Grieg's last piano work.

Yes 5 different pieces although 2 from the same work ........

[antongould]

And was that five different pieces by Hindemith?

As for my earlier remark about Grieg: when they had played Wedding Day at Troldhaugen 500 times, they replaced it with March of the Trolls, which no doubt has about 450 plays left. I never hear anything of the splendid Slåttar - Grieg's last piano work.

...... and 6 pieces by Havergal Brian in 2023

[smittims]

Thanks, Aunt Daisy, it's good to hear; so they did do Brian as recently as twenty-three years ago!. Maybe they'll repeat that one day. I wonder how I missed it at the time, though how I recall . I was at work in 2001 (the year of the Foot-and-Mouth epizootic).