Sinfonia da Requiem

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If one would like to wrong foot someone, here is a brilliant way how to (this is the passage Rauschwerk points at in #4 btw):
ask him/her to tell who the composer of the following fragment is, and to date it:
play a passage of the Sinfonia da Requiem at the end of the 2nd mvt Dies Irae, especially (in Simon Rattle's recording with the CBSO on EMI) starting at approximately 4'11" through to 4'30" .
If this doesn't sound 1960s avant garde I don't know what does...
If the person doesn't know the SdR, s/he'll never will guess

Yes, this is an extraordinary passage - the shrapnel of the preceeding Music splattered around the orchestra, then gently regathered for the Harp accompaniment of the last movement.

Much more than pandiatonic/polytonal/octotonic doodling in this work, S_A!

[salymap]

Your reviews make me want to hear it, I don't recall hearing it ever. I'm not buying any more CDs but will look out for a broadcast.

Whoops, I've just realised it will still be on Iplayer.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, this is an extraordinary passage - the shrapnel of the preceeding Music splattered around the orchestra, then gently regathered for the Harp accompaniment of the last movement.

Much more than pandiatonic/polytonal/octotonic doodling in this work, S_A!

Hmm. I know in my head the passage Roehr refers to, and to my ears the actual notes in it sound pretty gratuitous, I'm afraid. I have to say the calm passages which follows comes as merciful relief for me, and confirms my prejudice that Britten was at his best when in diatonic mode - as opposed to modish.

[Hornspieler]

It´s a great piece and there is more to music than horn parts. ..... A desert island disc for me.

If you would care to read my message #6 again, Thomas, you will see that I was replying to Alison's question ..."did I dislike the work because the horn parts were difficult?"

A professional musician is paid to produce what is put before him to an acceptable professional standard. 'Like or dislike' does not come into it. That is one of the essential differences between a professional and an amateur musician.

So the opinion which I voiced was my opinion as a listener.

I am not against Britten's compositions, but some I quite like and some do not interest me. However, I do consider that his "Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge" is some of the best, if not the best string writing by any 20th century composer - British or otherwise.

But I don't like the Sinfonia da Requiem and the presence or otherwise of horns has nothing whatever to do with my reaction.

I hope that makes my own position clear.

Enjoy

HS

[PJPJ]

It´s a great piece and there is more to music than horn parts. Previn with LSO on EMI is easily the best. The sound on that recording is absolutely stunning, as is the playing. A desert island disc for me.

Previn is excellent, but I also rate Rattle's recording very highly, and the Barbirolli and Britten recordings are both very fine. However, I was quite bowled over by the forthcoming recording with the BBC in Prague under Belohlavek, an essential purchase.

Far from being depressing for me, I find the work curiously strengthening and elevating by the end. My blind spot, I'm sorry to say, is the Cello Symphony, which I do find depressing as after many years I have failed to come to grips with it.

[Serial_Apologist]

Previn is excellent, but I also rate Rattle's recording very highly, and the Barbirolli and Britten recordings are both very fine. However, I was quite bowled over by the forthcoming recording with the BBC in Prague under Belohlavek, an essential purchase.

Far from being depressing for me, I find the work curiously strengthening and elevating by the end. My blind spot, I'm sorry to say, is the Cello Symphony, which I do find depressing as after many years I have failed to come to grips with it.

I have to say I much prefer the depressing qualities of the Cello Symphony to the forced jollity and innocent little children syndrome I find in so much of Britten's music.

[amateur51]

A professional musician is paid to produce what is put before him to an acceptable professional standard. 'Like or dislike' does not come into it. That is one of the essential differences between a professional and an amateur musician.

So the opinion which I voiced was my opinion as a listener.


HS

In msg #6 we find "Scored (unneccesarily IMV) for SIX horns, Britten asks all six to play a high "A" in unison (marked "pp"). An accident that can't even wait to happen!" which sounds like the observation of an experienced professional to me, HS

Perhaps it is this that Thomas was referring to?

[EdgeleyRob]

I have the Britten,Rattle and Fredman(Naxos) versions.
I love this piece for good reason.
I first got into classical music when I started at grammar school.Aged probably 15 or 16 I borrowed a couple of LPs from the school record library of music that was to change my life.
Up to that point I thought the only good classical music was German,Austrian,French or Russian.
These records contained the Sinfonia da Requiem and the Sea Interludes amongst other pieces.
Well the music just blew me away and so began a life long passion for British music.
Those pieces always take me back to that time.

[Barbirollians]

I love the Cello Symphony - well so long as it is Rostropovich/Britten ...

[Hornspieler]

. ....... I first encountered it with the LSO in 1956 and have played it many times since ........

HS

Humphrey Searle: "The River Run"
Benjamin Britten: "Sinfonia da requiem"
--------------
Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Symphony Nº 4 (1949)

London Symphony Orchestra
conductor: Hermann Scherzen (USA)
BBC recording

How's that for an appetizing program?

Hornspieler

[akiralx]

I have the EMI Previn but have today picked up Carlos Kalmar's version on this SACD from a concert performance, including RVW's Fourth Symphony:

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/7495

I will listen and report...

[Roehre]

Humphrey Searle: "The River Run"
Benjamin Britten: "Sinfonia da requiem"
--------------
Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Symphony Nº 4 (1949)

London Symphony Orchestra
conductor: Hermann Scherzen (USA)
BBC recording

How's that for an appetizing program?

Hornspieler

It is. Hartmann 4 belongs to the best strings-only pieces of the last century.
Britten is a great piece, and this work of Searle's is very approachable - but one has to listen concentrated with ears and mind wide open.......

[BBMmk2]

Previn for me, every time. Rattle comes up close but never achiveing the best!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Humphrey Searle: "The River Run"
Benjamin Britten: "Sinfonia da requiem"
--------------
Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Symphony Nº 4 (1949)

London Symphony Orchestra
conductor: Hermann Scherzen (USA)
BBC recording

How's that for an appetizing program?

Sounds pretty good to me, HS: Hartmann is such a good composer whose work deserves to be programmed far more frequently than it is. I don't know the Searle, but his symphonies on CPO are worth hearing - the most under-rated British Symphony cycle IMO.

Excellent Scherchen programming: certainly has me licking me lips!

[Barbirollians]

I am with HS - unremitting sort of programme! The Sinfonia the light and easy piece .

The Britten piece I would happily never hear again is the Spring Symphony - ghastly stuff .