I just don't like the noise it makes.... (those 'blind spot' pieces)

[cloughie]

Spot on matey

To quote Benjamin Shorofsky

"That's not music ! That's masturbation"

Is that why the Spivakovsky recording is good!

[Ariosto]

Better not say anything at all apart from "ooooooooo, how lovely"
and
"aaaaaaaah what a wonderful piece"



Are you auditioning for "Radio Mogadon" ? (you know, CFM "Relaxing Classics" ..................mmmmmmmmmmmmm niiiiiice)

We will leave that to you, old boy! I'm sure you will will be the talk of the town with your superbly elitist critiques! (Mogadon is pretty feeble stuff, as I'm sure you know).

[David-G]

Personally, I find the Requiem a work of colossal imagination. Ok, it makes certain demands on a 21st century listener which would have been less of a difficulty for 19th century parisians immersed in catholic doctrine. One has to enter the mindset of a good catholic believing wholeheartedly in the day of judgement, realising that the whole fate of one's soul rests on the outcome of the dies irae. Who can fail to be overwhelmed by the great flood of sound as the great day of wrath, summoned by the four brass ensembles as if from the four corners of the world, submerges all the writhing, damned and saved humanity? If ever a work could convert me, this is it. Every time I hear it I have to scrape myself, shattered, off the floor.

I am with Sir V on this. But what hasn't been mentioned is the quiet austerity of much of the piece, which I think perhaps is what SC doesn't relate to - but which I feel creates the essential balance with those overwhelming climaxes.

[cloughie]

Great post.

Would you care to recommend a one or two versions for a newcomer to the work, SV?
Ta.

(if you are shattered, would you not have to sweep yourself up, rather than scrape? anyway.............)

Previn or Munch

[kea]

Come up with a new violin concerto that compares to the Tchaik.

1st mvt of the Mendelssohn concerto
2nd mvt of the Beethoven concerto
3rd mvt of the Brahms concerto

That concerto would compare pretty well with the Tchaik in my view :D

[Pabmusic]

Mahler 8.
A lot of Nielsen.
Most of Verdi.
All of Faure.

Sibeius I've mentioned many times,but with him I know I'm missing something and I'm sure it's going to click one day.

I hope it does, but there's no particular reason why it should. There is so very much music available that everyone's almost bount to have blind spots.

I suppose I tend not to think in composers but rather in pieces, though if I had to be picky, Bruckner (sorry!) would loom large. So would Webern and Varese. I just can't succeed with them.

[Bryn]

If you have surround sound facilities the PentaTone four channel transfer of the 1969 Westminster Cathedral recording under the baton of Sir Colin Davis is rather special (and spacial).

[teamsaint]

I hope it does, but there's no particular reason why it should. There is so very much music available that everyone's almost bount to have blind spots.

I suppose I tend not to think in composers but rather in pieces, though if I had to be picky, Bruckner (sorry!) would loom large. So would Webern and Varese. I just can't succeed with them.

well quite. It would be awful boring if we all liked ever ything !



I tend to think that particular music or a particular piece is not for me now, but may be one day.. Some things of course we used to love, (which was great) but now we can live without.

In 10 years time I may finally come to see the light re the Tchaik VC, the Locatelli Violin Concertos,and Kate Bush. I look forward to that time.

[Nick Armstrong]

Fabulous piece. Liszt's favourite Schubert.

The proximity was very apparent in Barry Douglas's 'if in doubt use a hammer' performance...

[MrGongGong]

In 10 years time I may finally come to see the light re the Tchaik VC, the Locatelli Violin Concertos,and Kate Bush.

Who's Kate Bush ?

[Petrushka]

Sibeius I've mentioned many times,but with him I know I'm missing something and I'm sure it's going to click one day.

Strange that this is so given the admiration and influence Sibelius had on both Vaughan Williams and Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Try Sibelius 1, 2 & 5 before tackling the others and see if it 'clicks' then.

[Lento]

Well, that latter [Tchaikovsky] concerto stinks, doesn't it

I believe that a fairly big cut is sometimes/often observed in the finale of the Tchaik VC, which, presumably, is good news to some people!

[cloughie]

Mahler 8.
A lot of Nielsen.
Most of Verdi.
All of Faure.

Sibeius I've mentioned many times,but with him I know I'm missing something and I'm sure it's going to click one day.

Again you amaze me, edge. If you don't like Sibelius then the Nielsen does not surprise me - I agree with you on Verdi - I like some and particularly where no voices are involved - but Faure - how does someone who loves RVW not warm to Faure - yes some of his chamber works take some getting into but Masques and Bergamasques, Pelleas and Melisande, Pavane and the Dolly Suite are lovely works.

[Sir Velo]

The proximity was very apparent in Barry Douglas's 'if in doubt use a hammer' performance...

Sounds ideal. The louder, the better! May I commend to you Liszt's orchestration of the Wanderer. I'm tempted to say you get the best of both worlds.

[Roehre]

I hope it does, but there's no particular reason why it should. There is so very much music available that everyone's almost bount to have blind spots......

In my experience as listener/music lover the blind spots are disappearing with age. Only ten years ago I even wouldn't have thought about listening to either Verdi or Wagner operas, or much before JSBach. Though I still have to set myself to baroque music (still too baroque , too many notes for the musical argument), Middle Ages upto the age of Monteverdi, as well as Wagner and Verdi do sound quite attractive to me.
Perhaps it has got to do with my personal approach: get yourself acquainted with a composer and his age, reading about background to music helps its appreciation. Putting things in context enriches one's listening experience. Just being nosy, interested etc widens your horizon incredibly.