Eastop - Hanover Band/Halstead: Mozart Horn works - wonderful !

[richardfinegold]

I think some folks just didn’t care for the way in which the horn was played on this particular CD. Nothing to do with the sound of the instrument itself, even less about a global context.

I found it interesting and amusing, but more of an alternative experience than a standard.
My hat is off to the producers for a stimulating release

[doversoul1]

I must confess I'm a bit baffled by this ( while of course acknowledging that each and every listener to the CD is entitled to their opinion and to express their opinion.)
My opinion - for what it's worth - is that 'the way in which the horn was (is) played on this particular CD' is nothing less than spectacular. It's worth buying the CD for the exploratory, awesome cadenzas alone, pushing the valveless instrument to the very outer limits of what can be achieved on a simple coiled tube.
I have certainly never ever heard such a phenomenal display of virtuosity in any other players' cadenzas.

I feel like an A-level student trying to argue with someone in the top profession but still, here goes;

Funnily enough, I agree with your description of the horn playing. It was indeed spectacular and awesome, and I think that, to me, was the problem: it got in the way of the music. I couldn’t help hearing the horn playing rather than the music. If this makes sense. Incidentally, I love the sound of natural horn (and gut strings and clavichord and more).

And as for this:

…pushing the valveless instrument to the very outer limits of what can be achieved on a simple coiled tube

I probably prefer this in earlier works (then, it may not be pushing the limit).

[MrGongGong]

I must confess I'm a bit baffled by this ( while of course acknowledging that each and every listener to the CD is entitled to their opinion and to express their opinion.)
My opinion - for what it's worth - is that 'the way in which the horn was (is) played on this particular CD' is nothing less than spectacular. It's worth buying the CD for the exploratory, awesome cadenzas alone, pushing the valveless instrument to the very outer limits of what can be achieved on a simple coiled tube.
I have certainly never ever heard such a phenomenal display of virtuosity in any other players' cadenzas.

Absolutely spot on

I found it interesting and amusing, but more of an alternative experience than a standard.
My hat is off to the producers for a stimulating release

"Standard" ?
"Amusing" ?

IMV this IS better than any other performance of these pieces (so far)

[Tony Halstead]

No, not in any way 'like an A-level student', doversoul!
Your comments are eloquent and very much to-the-point; many thanks!

[richardfinegold]

Absolutely spot on




"Standard" ?
"Amusing" ?

IMV this IS better than any other performance of these pieces (so far)

Like doversoul, I find the horn playing, which brings a smile to my face and therefore amuses me with it's virtuosity, gets a bit in the way of Mozart.

[Bryn]

Like doversoul, I find the horn playing, which brings a smile to my face and therefore amuses me with it's virtuosity, gets a bit in the way of Mozart.

Whereas, for me the playing also raises a smile, but the smile of Messiaen's hom(m)age to Mozart, Un Sourire. It gets to the essence of Mozart and his wit.

[richardfinegold]

Whereas, for me the playing also raises a smile, but the smile of Messiaen's hom(m)age to Mozart, Un Sourire. It gets to the essence of Mozart and his wit.

Well, it sure was more interesting than most other recordings ofthis music.

[Barbirollians]

I enjoyed it but I agree that it seemed more about sensational natural horn playing than Mozart .

For all Mr GG's advocacy - Dennis Brain's recordings continue to reign supreme .

[MrGongGong]

Like doversoul, I find the horn playing, which brings a smile to my face and therefore amuses me with it's virtuosity, gets a bit in the way of Mozart.

So exactly what do you mean by this?
To my ears this gets to the very essence of these pieces (it's all about the cheese or not ? http://michaelorenz.blogspot.co.uk/2...-research.html)

For all Mr GG's advocacy - Dennis Brain's recordings continue to reign supreme .

OOOOOOOO no they don't (you like a bit of panto, I hear )

Is it the SOUND or the other stuff around it?

[Tony Halstead]

So exactly what do you mean by this?
To my ears this gets to the very essence of these pieces (it's all about the cheese or not ? http://michaelorenz.blogspot.co.uk/2...-research.html)



OOOOOOOO no they don't (you like a bit of panto, I hear )

Is it the SOUND or the other stuff around it?

SOUND: One could say that the 'Brain sound' is unique but could also say that the 'Eastop sound' is equally unique!
(Oh dear oh dear, my old English teacher used to say that the word 'unique' doesn't 'admit of degree' )

By the way, what a fascinating Leitgeb link you have provided!

[Purcellian]

SOUND: One could say that the 'Brain sound' is unique but could also say that the 'Eastop sound' is equally unique!
(Oh dear oh dear, my old English teacher used to say that the word 'unique' doesn't 'admit of degree' )

By the way, what a fascinating Leitgeb link you have provided!

This business of 'sound' could very well be sub-titled 'comparisons are odious', to use, apologetically, a tired old cliché.
Brain played a 20th-century horn with valves, Eastop an 18th century horn without valves, and each has its own, valid, distinctive sound world.

[richardfinegold]

So exactly what do you mean by this?
To my ears this gets to the very essence of these pieces (it's all about the cheese or not ? http://michaelorenz.blogspot.co.uk/2...-research.html)



OOOOOOOO no they don't (you like a bit of panto, I hear )

Is it the SOUND or the other stuff around it?

Not really sure why you included the Leitgeb link, since it refutes the notion that he was a cheesemaker.
I understand that you are passionate in your admiration for the horn playing on this recording. I am not understanding your crusade to make others adopt this recording as the only way to enjoy Mozart's Horn Concertos. I don't wish to say anything more negative about the recording, which I enjoy, and which does contain fantastic playing.

[MrGongGong]

Not really sure why you included the Leitgeb link, since it refutes the notion that he was a cheesemaker.
I understand that you are passionate in your admiration for the horn playing on this recording. I am not understanding your crusade to make others adopt this recording as the only way to enjoy Mozart's Horn Concertos. I don't wish to say anything more negative about the recording, which I enjoy, and which does contain fantastic playing.

I put it there because it's INTERESTING, is that OK by you?
You can like whatever you like
and I would never suggest that ANY performance is the "only way" to listen to any music.

[Tony Halstead]

Although of course this thread could possibly 'go on and on' for a lot longer, maybe that isn't now necessary...?
we have seen and read a wide variety of responses / reactions to the P.Eastop CD of Mozart horn Concertos. As far as I can see, there hasn't been even ONE boarder who hasn't admired and praised the sheer technical ability, accuracy, fluency and overall 'panache' of Mr Eastop in these lovable works ( maybe we should temporarily ignore the opinion of one boarder who pronounced these pieces as 'horrible'?)

If I may now 'chip in' with my 'two ha'pence-worth' , these are my thoughts and opinions:

This CD is probably the most interesting and important recording of the 'canonic four' Mozart Horn Concertos since the pioneering mid-1970s one by Hermann Baumann with VCM/ Harnoncourt.
Reasons: 1)
we can now hear a cadenza in the 'Concerto No 2 K417' rather than the 19th century truncated ending to the 1st movement.

2) We can also hear what Mozart originally wrote for Leutgeb in the Concerto 'no 1 in D' rather than the simplified version which Mozart eventually wrote, owing to Leutgeb's 'failing embouchure'.

3) All the cadenzas are REALLY exciting, imaginative and thought-provoking in ways that no others are..

4) The performance of the Quintet K407 is a sheer delight - especially since no other horn player other than Eastop has - to my knowledge - succesfully performed the 'Barenreiter edition' as printed - with many slurred passages that are difficult enough on the valve-horn but require an almost super-human technique to realise them on the valveless/ hand horn.

Any 'carping critics' who regret the lack of inclusion on the CD of the other isolated Mozart movements for horn and orchestra ( e.g. the Sussmayer Rondo in D that traditionally accompanies the D major 'no 1' first movement; the 'Concert Rondo in Eb' and the unfinished 'Fragment in E' ,) do have a choice of other recordings to fill in these gaps. There are so many that it would be pointless to list them here.

[doversoul1]

Tony
Being able to read a post like yours is one of the best things about this forum. However, I have a question:

This CD may be the most interesting and important recording of this work but would you recommend it to non-specialist listeners who have no such knowledge as the different cadenza or editions but just hope to enjoy listening to the music (I am one of those)? Or do you think the CD is purposely produced for knowledgeable specialists?