BaL 27.09.14 - Holst: The Planets

[Bryn]

Ah, I now see that the Goodman was deleted (as far as physical format goes) a good while back, and commands silly prices in used condition. Lossy downloads are available at standard prices, but I have not as yet come across lossless ones. Looks like I might have got a bargain for my £4.

[Pabmusic]

I'm a bit stupid. Is pabmusic telling us he was a percussionist with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra ? Respect.

Yes and no. I played freelance now and again for several years after school (during and after university). The Bournemouth SO eventually had my details as a 'scratch' player and used me quite a few times if any piece required more percussionists than were permanently on their books. One unexpected consequence of this experience was that a lad whom I had introduced to percussion at school and had played alongside me in many amateur things did turn fully professional and joined the Bournemouth SO. His name was Chris Guy, but sadly he died a few years ago. I think he also played with the RSNO and the Singapore SO.

This lasted perhaps five years* (I note that the Hurst/Planets recording was made in 1974) and it never approached becoming permanent. But it was a great experience.

* [Edit] Getting on for seven, in fact!

[mercia]

duly impressed pabs

[MickyD]

Ah, I now see that the Goodman was deleted (as far as physical format goes) a good while back, and commands silly prices in used condition. Lossy downloads are available at standard prices, but I have not as yet come across lossless ones. Looks like I might have got a bargain for my £4.

If I remember rightly Bryn, the original issue didn't get much coverage at the time, so I reckon there was only one batch ever released. Like you, I guard the precious copy that I found many years later! Must give it another listen this week...

[PJPJ]

If I remember rightly Bryn, the original issue didn't get much coverage at the time, so I reckon there was only one batch ever released. Like you, I guard the precious copy that I found many years later! Must give it another listen this week...

Here's a 1997 article about the Goodman NQHO recording....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4707135/Giving-the-Planets-back-their-shine.html

[ardcarp]

Someone asked, upthread, exactly what DON said disparagingly about Imogen's book. It's about 1hr 10 mins into CD Review:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04jj37s

Basically he said she dissed her father's more popular works in the first edition, but he didn't go into detail. He did say, "If only she'd realised he [Holst] was the first minimalist."

[Bryn]

Here's a 1997 article about the Goodman NQHO recording....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4...eir-shine.html

Thanks for that. Makes a fine supplement to Raymond Head's booklet notes.

[BeethovensQuill]

The only recording i have is the James Loughran recording with the Halle on CFP, i just wondered if anyone else has that recording how does it compare with any others they have?

[Barbirollians]

The Halle/Loughran was given a thumbs up above by Suffolkcoastal I think BQ .

I forgot to mention I was a bit disappointed by the Steinberg - Jupiter in particular seemed to go for nothing . The earlier movements I thought were very good but it all tailed off a bit .

[pastoralguy]

The only recording i have is the James Loughran recording with the Halle on CFP, i just wondered if anyone else has that recording how does it compare with any others they have?

A very good disc indeed, IMHO. One of a very fine series of recordings made by this combination.

[BBMmk2]

Black Dyke Band, when then were conducted by the late James Watson, has recorded the work on Doyen.

[Tapiola]

The only recording i have is the James Loughran recording with the Halle on CFP, i just wondered if anyone else has that recording how does it compare with any others they have?

Loughran's was the first recording I got to know as a teenager, and I still love it. And possibly my favourite version of Neptune, BQ.

[ChrisBennell]

I think no-one has mentioned the Sargent version. Back in the 50s and 60s there were 2 contenders, I seem to remember - Boult and Sargent. I had the Sargent version on LP, and this performance could be relied on to turn up each year at the Proms with the BBC SO. I always found this to be highly enjoyable - although I now have the Dutoit version!

Also there hasn't been (I think) any mention of the version for 2 pianos (made by Holst himself I think) . I acquired this a few years back (by Peter Donohue and Martin Roscoe). I feel this brings some extra clarity to the music, at the expense of colour, and is well worth a listen.

[Pulcinella]

The Boult BBCSO 1973 Proms performance released on a BBD MM CD, mentioned above, is a DDD recording according to the CD liner notes.
Can this be true?

[LeMartinPecheur]

The Boult BBCSO 1973 Proms performance released on a BBD MM CD, mentioned above, is a DDD recording according to the CD liner notes.
Can this be true?

Um, no!

EDIT Unless it's a very early experimental recording of course, and I think we would have been told...

According to Wiki the first commercial 8-track digital recorder (Denon) dates from 1972, but the first commercial digital recording had to wait till 1977.