Having a go at B a L

[teamsaint]

Mathis der Maler Symphony is probably a good place to start and there are a number of recordings to choose from, Hindemith's other symphonies haven't had as many recordings. The 'Pittsburgh' Symphony isn't among Hindemith's best works but it is approachable enough. I'm not sure if the Chandos recording of the work is still available, as this would be well worth purchasing as it is coupled with his Symphonic Dances, which are absolutely superb and thorougly recommendable. Why this work isn't heard more often is a total mystery.

Thanks Suffy...will try to pick up on some of these. I found the Pitsburgh in a charity shop...bit of a cheapie I think. The Pitsburgh(as per sleeve) /Suddeutsche Phil with Noblissime Visione /Osterreichesisches rundfunk, both conducted by Swarowsky.
The Pitrsburgh sounds quite a surprisingly old recording (no date given)since its a late work.
NV , the suite seems a very easy listen...very late romantic....Wiki says it is regularly performed in concert.
Been meaning to listen to some of his stuff for a while now....since R3 played a few of the symphonies.

Right, I really must get to work...!!

[Suffolkcoastal]

I'd like to go for the Hartmann symphonies, those by Hindemith , Melartin or Vermeulen (the latter especially no.2), Stravinsky's Agon, Berio's Sinfonia or Machaut's Messe de Nostre Dame

I would certainly look forward to this Roehre, though with K A Hartmann, Melartin & Vermeulen the choice of recordings is for the moment fairly limited. Actually how there aren't that many recordings of Agon (one of my favourite late Stravinsky scores) either, do you know how many there have been? I can think of 4 off the top of my head.

I think as well as the Harris symphonies I would like to do any other Harris work, and also the symphonies and other works of Piston, W Schuman and possibly David Diamond (I'm being greedy now)!

[EdgeleyRob]

Do you mind Jayne and I swapping?
(or, re DSCH, I'd prefer to do 4, 10 or 15)

Go on then DSCH 15,I'd pay good money to listen to your bal on that.

[Nick Armstrong]

Go on then DSCH 15,I'd pay good money to listen to your bal on that.

I was going to bag DSCH 15....! It's one of 3 'BAL's I've done at home for personal interest, gathering versions owned by friends. Did a mini one (only 5 versions I think) for Brahms 2, a more extensive one (8 or 9 versions) for DSCH 15 and the most extensive with over a dozen versions, Strauss's 'Four Last Songs'.

It's DSCH 15 I'd feel most confident about writing up for public consumption...

[amateur51]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]I was going to bag DSCH 15....! It's one of 3 'BAL's I've done at home for personal interest, gathering versions owned by friends. Did a mini one (only 5 versions I think) for Brahms 2, a more extensive one (8 or 9 versions) for DSCH 15 and the most extensive with over a dozen versions, Strauss's 'Four Last Songs'.

It's DSCH 15 I'd feel most confident about writing up for public consumption... :whistle

I'm quite breathless with anticipation as it is, Calibs

[Thropplenoggin]

I bagsy Cage's 4'33".

The timbre of squeaking floorboards. The sound of ambulance sirens phasing in and out. Rustling clothes. Coughs. The susurrus of the wind. There's almost too much to go at!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Actually how there aren't that many recordings of Agon (one of my favourite late Stravinsky scores) either, do you know how many there have been? I can think of 4 off the top of my head.

Stravinsky twice (one Live with the BBCSO); Craft (Naxos); Mravinsky; Atherton; Tilson Thomas; - and wasn't there a Scherchen?
(One of my favourites, too - by any composer! )

[cloughie]

I bagsy Cage's 4'33".

...but have you really heard it?

[Thropplenoggin]

...but have you really heard it?

[Bryn]

I bagsy Cage's 4'33".

The timbre of squeaking floorboards. The sound of ambulance sirens phasing in and out. Rustling clothes. Coughs. The susurrus of the wind. There's almost too much to go at!

Of the recordings currently available on CD (one way or another) that performed by Frank Zappa leaves the others standing. It even eclipsed his recordings on Stairway to Heaven and Ravel's Bolero.

[Thropplenoggin]

On the hunt for a new version of Bach's Cello Suites*, I had a look on Qobuz and the Thropplenoggin mandible didst plummet floorwards at the number on offer, of all stripes'n'all. And still they come. That said, I wouldn't be without Jean-Guihen Queyras (relatively new). I write all this with a mind to the the thread. How could anyone do even an hour-long BaL on this today?

*I still don't own Fournier's version and, having now given it a solid preview - and since it's at the very reasoable £5.74 - I think I soon might.

[AmpH]

To me BaL works best when there are only a small number of recordings to consider and better still if a lesser known work is under consideration. Britten's Double Concerto for violin/viola/orchestra would be my choice - its a stunning example of the young Britten's precocious talent ( composed when he was only 18 ) but rarely seems to be performed / recorded. As far as I am aware, there are only 3 or 4 recordings currently available, though one or two others can also be obtained from the usual online sources. So plently of time for a meaningful appraisal of recordings with copious musical extracts from the various recordings. Also, no need for any controversial exclusions. I would of course be thoroughly impartial in my assessment......but Kent Nagano would probably take some beating !!

[Parry1912]

No point in me going for Parry's 5th with only 2 available versions so ...

Franz Schmidt's 'Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln'

[Roehre]

To me BaL works best when there are only a small number of recordings to consider and better still if a lesser known work is under consideration. Britten's Double Concerto for violin/viola/orchestra would be my choice - its a stunning example of the young Britten's precocious talent ( composed when he was only 18 ) but rarely seems to be performed / recorded. As far as I am aware, there are only 3 or 4 recordings currently available, though one or two others can also be obtained from the usual online sources. So plently of time for a meaningful appraisal of recordings with copious musical extracts from the various recordings. Also, no need for any controversial exclusions. I would of course be thoroughly impartial in my assessment......but Kent Nagano would probably take some beating !!

There is a problem here, AmpH: the score is heavily edited and completed in a way worthy of Mahler 10, I'm afraid.
The work originally only exists in a short score with the solo parts completely written out, and that's it.

[AmpH]

There is a problem here, AmpH: the score is heavily edited and completed in a way worthy of Mahler 10, I'm afraid.
The work originally only exists in a short score with the solo parts completely written out, and that's it.

Britten completed a detailed sketch of the work in the early Autumn of 1932, but never made a full score apparently. The Concerto was realised by Colin Matthews who says In the absence of Britten's full score it was necessary for me to prepare the work from the sketch. But the instrumentation is so carefully indicated in the draft that the resulting score is not far from being 100% Britten - only between bars 70 and 74 of the slow movement did there seem to be any need to add anything significant to Britten's texture. The Double Concerto was first performed at the 1987 Aldeburgh Festival with Kent Nagano conducting.

Its a glorious work and would make a great subject for a BaL imv.