BaL 10.02.18 - Boulez: Le marteau sans maître

[vinteuil]

Interesting that the recommended recording is only properly available as a download. I think that's what was said at the end.

... it can be found in this wonderful Boulez box -

http://amzn.eu/6ls2nzH

I really appreciated this BaL - I learnt a lot from it; Tom McKinney knew his stuff and was exemplary in his presentation. I wasn't even irritated by Andrew McGregor...

A fantastically enjoyable programme which did what it should do - make one go back to give the work another try with renewed enthusiasm.

Exactly!



.

[Bryn]

... it can be found in this wonderful Boulez box -

http://amzn.eu/6ls2nzH

Which is how I have come to have 4 copies of it: the LP, the individual CD, in the Masters of the 20th Century box and in the Sony Boulez big box.

[Beef Oven!]

Which is how I have come to have 4 copies of it: the LP, the individual CD, in the Masters of the 20th Century box and in the Sony Boulez big box.

And the reason why I have 3 copies!!!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It did. There was a time when we all grumbled like hell when the recommended version was unavailable on CD. Do we now have to accept that a download is 'an available version' ?

I've been posting 'download only' versions in the lists of available versions for nearly 8 years now, so - yes. Personally I only buy downloads very occasionally.
The ones I don't list are those not available at UK sites, or those being sold on Amazon at inflated prices because of their rarity value.

[Nick Armstrong]

BTW, is the BAL bit of Record Review always the same length?

No, and I share mikealdren's view above that it's a real pity the Beethoven sonata survey last week (for example) didn't occupy the same time frame as the Boulez - the hour allowed for a pretty comprehensive look at Le Marteau, and would have allowed for a more comprehensive look at interpretations of Op. 109 - as it was, as others have pointed out, Kempff, Richter and others didn't get a look in (iirc the reviewer herself said it was for lack of time). With a much longer list of versions, I can't understand why it wasn't allotted an hour too - and why (to return to your point) BAL can't be an hour or so each time. Sometimes it barely makes 40 minutes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

With a much longer list of versions, I can't understand why it wasn't allotted an hour too - and why (to return to your point) BAL can't be an hour or so each time. Sometimes it barely makes 40 minutes.

Ravel's Alborada del gracioso received 50 minutes for an 8 minute work.
The complete cycle of Bruckner Symphonies received 50 minutes for around 10 hours worth of music.

[ardcarp]

and why (to return to your point) BAL can't be an hour or so each time

Agreed. It should be. The time passes so quickly when you're absorbed in it.

[teamsaint]

I also enjoyed this BaL. I guess the variation in time each week is down to what the presenter is prepared to do, or the amount of material they are prepared to cut out of their draft .

A sharp eyed forumite tells me that the winner ( personally I though that Boulez music was the winner) is available from Presto as a " Presto CD" , as well as download.

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/8117666--pierre-boulez-le-marteau-sans-maitre-livre-pour-cordes

[Joseph K]

Incidentally - I remember from this BaL that it was mentioned that the first movement was over 200 BPM. That's not right - I thought. Sure enough I checked my score and it says it's 168. Then the other day I looked at my copy of Lev Koblyakov's book 'Pierre Boulez A World of Harmony' and looked at the sections of annotated score and find that not only is the BPM over 200, it also appears to be MINIM = 208, though there is a possibility the note-head is blotched out. It also says 'final version copyright 1957'. Hmmm...

[Richard Barrett]

It also says 'final version copyright 1957'. Hmmm...

What? Boulez changing his mind about something in one of his pieces? Unheard of! I had the impression that performances had slowed down a bit over the years, but it occurred to me that they might just sound slower because people can play it with so much more security and confidence than they could in its earlier days. It occurs to me that the intricate rhythmic notations of ahem certain contemporary composers might be to some extent influenced by the sound of how pieces like Marteau were performed when they were much less "easy" than they subsequently became.

[umslopogaas]

Re. "the wonderful Boulez box" referred to in post 61, I am confused. In it there are two versions of Le Marteau Sans Maitre conducted by Boulez. One, on CD 62, features Elizabeth Lawrence and occupies tracks 1 - 9. The other on CD 25, features Yvonne Minton and lists tracks 1 - 7 on side 1 and 8 - 9 on side 2. However, there is only one CD, carrying tracks 1 - 7, no sign of tracks 8 - 9. So, the sleeves of both versions list 9 tracks, but one version only has 7 of them. Perhaps they forgot to include the second CD? Can anyone enlighten, and has anyone else who owns this box set figured out what's happening?

[HighlandDougie]

Re. "the wonderful Boulez box" referred to in post 61, I am confused. In it there are two versions of Le Marteau Sans Maitre conducted by Boulez. One, on CD 62, features Elizabeth Lawrence and occupies tracks 1 - 9. The other on CD 25, features Yvonne Minton and lists tracks 1 - 7 on side 1 and 8 - 9 on side 2. However, there is only one CD, carrying tracks 1 - 7, no sign of tracks 8 - 9. So, the sleeves of both versions list 9 tracks, but one version only has 7 of them. Perhaps they forgot to include the second CD? Can anyone enlighten, and has anyone else who owns this box set figured out what's happening?

I've just been listening to CD25, i.e. Yvonne Minton. It has 11 tracks, 1 - 9 being Le Marteau: 10/11 are the two movements of Livre pour Cordes. In their attempt to replicate the original, Sony have reproduced the LP sleeve as the CD sleeve. The LP sleeve refers to Sides 1 and 2, hence the possible confusion in relation to the CD. The book which accompanies the box sets out on Page 74 the contents of CD25.

[Beef Oven!]

Re. "the wonderful Boulez box" referred to in post 61, I am confused. In it there are two versions of Le Marteau Sans Maitre conducted by Boulez. One, on CD 62, features Elizabeth Lawrence and occupies tracks 1 - 9. The other on CD 25, features Yvonne Minton and lists tracks 1 - 7 on side 1 and 8 - 9 on side 2. However, there is only one CD, carrying tracks 1 - 7, no sign of tracks 8 - 9. So, the sleeves of both versions list 9 tracks, but one version only has 7 of them. Perhaps they forgot to include the second CD? Can anyone enlighten, and has anyone else who owns this box set figured out what's happening?

I bought it as a 16 bit CD quality download and it's listed out the same way as the CDs and on 'CD' 25 there is LMSM 1-9 plus Liver Pour Cordes and on 'CD' 62 there is LMSM 1-9 plus 12 Notations & Structures II. Are you sure you've checked your CDs correctly?

[Richard Barrett]

Liver Pour Cordes

nice

[Beef Oven!]

nice

American