BaL 3.06.17 - Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem

[Pulcinella]

Unsurprisingly, no Japanese conductor appears to have recorded the work. I wonder when one will risk the potential calumny?

I tried to search the Boston Symphony archive site to see if Ozawa had conducted it there, but didn't get very far.

Adès was a name that did crop up as one of the conductors of a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance.

I'm not sure I understand this, Pulcie

Perhaps you will now!

Though I could perhaps have added a 'however' to my posting for better sense.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Perhaps you will now!

[gurnemanz]

Many thanks to Beefy for the Proms link. The visuals really do complement the broad sound palette. I listened again to the only recording I have - Pesek/RLPO on great form.

[Petrushka]

My feelings towards Britten's Music fluctuate - and there are many of his works, from the 1950s in particular that I find (literally) repulsive - but this work has always remained a favourite - the sheer surge of the Music! It was a great piece for students starting "A"-level courses, too, succinctly showing how the "same" Music could demonstrate opposing "concepts": the way the aggressive syncopated brass motif (starting at 13min 10) becomes the lamenting flute duet starting the final section (15min 45"); and how the shrapnel that tears the Music apart (starting at 14mins 30") becomes the rocking, gentle accompaniment to this lament - these sort of features led to such fantastic discussions amongst the young adults, and real involvement in the potential of Musical expression. Many, many glowing memories (to offset the hours of pointing out consecutive fifths in the months that followed).

Thanks for the short analysis; I'll now be listening to the piece with new ears. It's details like this that so often get missed in the thrill of hearing a work and I love learning of them. For me it considerably enhances the listening experience and I just wish there was more information to be had about this aspect of music without getting bogged down in technical detail. It can often take many years of listening to a work (particularly a Bruckner symphony) to spot the frequent transformations of themes and I get a real buzz when I spot them myself. For non-score readers like me your method of linking in the timing to a youTube video is brilliant.

[Beef Oven!]

Many thanks for such an illuminating post ferney.

I aim to listen over the work, in the light of your commentary.

And spot-on Petrushka - ferney giving the timings, rather than bar references etc, totally enables us non music readers.

[Barbirollians]

With referring to Barbs's post earlier, it's not one of the most difficult works to play, or listen to. I liked it from the first time I heard it. I have the score as well, and from that I can deduce, from it, it wouldn't take long to rehearse?

I defer to you BBM as to its technical demands - maintaining the tension without it becoming wearing is I would suggest what makes it difficult to play .

[Barbirollians]

I have LSO/Previn and CBSO/Rattle and both are very fine indeed but the sound quality accorded to the Previn is exceptionally good and so for me that one gets the nod. I've never had Britten's Decca recording, something that I think needs to be rectified pronto.

If you can find it - it came as filler with Rostropovich's stupendous account of the Cello Symphony .

[Barbirollians]

That is an excellent performance, BeefO - many thanks - Ades is such a good conductor.

My feelings towards Britten's Music fluctuate - and there are many of his works, from the 1950s in particular that I find (literally) repulsive - but this work has always remained a favourite - the sheer surge of the Music! It was a great piece for students starting "A"-level courses, too, succinctly showing how the "same" Music could demonstrate opposing "concepts": the way the aggressive syncopated brass motif (starting at 13min 10) becomes the lamenting flute duet starting the final section (15min 45"); and how the shrapnel that tears the Music apart (starting at 14mins 30") becomes the rocking, gentle accompaniment to this lament - these sort of features led to such fantastic discussions amongst the young adults, and real involvement in the potential of Musical expression. Many, many glowing memories (to offset the hours of pointing out consecutive fifths in the months that followed).

Which works do you find repulsive from then on fhgl ? Surely not the Third String Quartet ?

[Bryn]

If you can find it - it came as filler with Rostropovich's stupendous account of the Cello Symphony .

It is also in the Decca Complete Orchestral and instrumental music box, and of course the Dacca complete works box. The former is the cheaper, pro rata.

[Pulcinella]

If you can find it - it came as filler with Rostropovich's stupendous account of the Cello Symphony .

Available new (from £4.42 plus p+p) and s/h (from £3.84 plus p+p) here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Cello-Symphony-Sinfonia-Requiem/dp/B00000INXW/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1496083874&sr=1-9&keywords=britten+rostropovich

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Which works do you find repulsive from then on fhgl ? Surely not the Third String Quartet ?

Ach! It does read like that, doesn't it?! I meant that there are many of his works from that decade (Budd, Gloriana, Screw in particular) that make me feel queasy. There are exceptions (Canticles 2 & 3; the Song settings with piano, and - especially - the Nocturne) but on the whole, I generally prefer the "colder", "drier" (as some have called them) works of the '60s, and the last, radiant works of the '70s (including the Third S4tet).

[Bryn]

Available new (from £4.42 plus p+p) and s/h (from £3.84 plus p+p) here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-Cel...n+rostropovich

And please note, though no mention is made of it on the front cover, the disc also incluides the Cantata misericordium with the LSO, PP and DF-D.

[BBMmk2]

I defer to you BBM as to its technical demands - maintaining the tension without it becoming wearing is I would suggest what makes it difficult to play .

Yes, very true. Many thanks or pointing that out.

[Beef Oven!]

And please note, though no mention is made of it on the front cover, the disc also incluides the Cantata misericordium with the LSO, PP and DF-D.

Coincidentally, with all the discussion, I listened to my CD and was struck with how good Cantata Misericordium is. And a very good performance too. This is a terrific CD that I've taken for granted and underestimated for years. I would urge people to get hold of a copy, there'll be no regrets, no tears goodbye, baby.

I have also discovered that I also have a Libor Pešek/Royal Liverpool PO CD with Four Sea Interludes & Passacaglia & Young Person's Guide on Virgin.

[Beef Oven!]

Yes, very true. Many thanks or pointing that out.

Which is very true of innumerable works, and as I've already said, professional musicians and conductors can manage all this. e.g. see the album of 'fillers' by Libor Pešek/RLPO that I mention in post #59. Which brings me back to my original point that the work makes a good filler and I'm surprised there are not more recordings.

Phew! we're back where we started.

Edit: I have had this CD for ever and it strikes me that Tod Handley & Chandos could have fitted Sinfonia Da Requiem on it. I'm sure it would have been easy for them to have done. Shame, a SdR by Tod and the orchestra he took under his arm would have been interesting.

But I suppose unless Ben's parents were buried at sea, it doesn't fit with the theme of the CD!