Music of (or for) consolation

[Roslynmuse]

Music is always a source of consolation. However in my personal case, when I have had some severe life affecting events, I found myself losing interest in music for limited time periods, and then regaining interest when my mental state improved

This is my experience too. Some years ago now I simply could not listen to music at all for a couple of months and it was Sibelius who brought me back to the land of the living. I'm not sure why, exactly, but I think there is hope as well as affirmation in the music. Tippett too is someone I can turn to at such times. Other favourite composers - Chopin, Ravel, Bach - are better listened to when I am in a more positive frame of mind to start with.

[cloughie]

The good thing about Kit-Kat is that 2 or 4 bars are probably enough for most people.

But some like Chunk(y)

[LMcD]

But some like Chunk(y)

Those seeking more consolation than a Kit-Kat can provide can, of course, turn to 'The Chocolate Soldier'.

On a more serious note, the BBC's estimable Moscow correspondent and accomplished pianist Steve Rosenberg will be on Breakfast shortly (i.e. 'after 8.30') playing a piece which he has written reflecting on the life and loss of Navalny.

[Padraig]

I think that I lean on Boccherini's Opus 32 String Quartets, when something upsets very badly, as the prevailing set of world events and circumstances is doing. I have been relying on them since I discovered these quartets through our late friend, gamba, and found them calming in themselves, thus passing their influence on to me. They never fail. Here is a bit of op 32 no 5:

boccherini string quartets op 32 - Google Search

[french frank]

I discovered these quartets through our late friend, gamba

Me too . I bought the 6 Opus 32 quartets by the Quartetto Esterházy

[cloughie]

Those seeking more consolation than a Kit-Kat can provide can, of course, turn to 'The Chocolate Soldier'.

On a more serious note, the BBC's estimable Moscow correspondent and accomplished pianist Steve Rosenberg will be on Breakfast shortly (i.e. 'after 8.30') playing a piece which he has written reflecting on the life and loss of Navalny.

He is an excellent pianist - some months ago a recording of a medley of Cornish tunes.

[LMcD]

He is an excellent pianist - some months ago a recording of a medley of Cornish tunes.

He can be seen on YouTube playing 65 Eurovision winners in just over 10 minutes (if you like that sort of thing).
Radio 3 announcer/newsreader Paul Guinery is another fine pianist.

[DracoM]

Try 'Night Tracks' 11 p.m. many nights of week.

[Roger Webb]

He can be seen on YouTube playing 65 Eurovision winners in just over 10 minutes (if you like that sort of thing).
Radio 3 announcer/newsreader Paul Guinery is another fine pianist.

65 Eurovision winners in just over 10 minutes (if you like that sort of thing). Georgia would! She boasted on air endlessly about having tickets for the Eurotrash (my corruption of that bewilderingly bizarre event) finals in Liverpool! Who cares?!

Agree about Guinery, not only pianist, his Delius and His Music, co-written with Martin Lee-Brown is masterly.

[smittims]

There's an accompanying CD : 'Delius and his circle', where PG plays music by composers who knew Delius: Stone Records.

[Roger Webb]

There's an accompanying CD : 'Delius and his circle', where PG plays music by composers who knew Delius: Stone Records.

Yes, I remember that coming out, but 'forgot' to listen to it. Just looked it up on Qobuz and saved it for later - impossible to tell who the various composers are...although the titles give away some of them, I'm hoping the last track 'Mere' is the one by Balfour Gardiner. I wish Qobuz. (and Tidal) would sort out the track listings - people have complained about it for years!

[smittims]

Yes, Gardiner's Mere is there, and Scott, Grainger, Moeran, Quilter, Gibbs. O'Neill , Bax and Warlock are all there. It's an excellent disc.

I wish Radio 3 would play more of these composers' music instead of that by certain living British composers of whom they seem inexplicably fond.

[Pulcinella]

Yes, I remember that coming out, but 'forgot' to listen to it. Just looked it up on Qobuz and saved it for later - impossible to tell who the various composers are...although the titles give away some of them, I'm hoping the last track 'Mere' is the one by Balfour Gardiner. I wish Qobuz. (and Tidal) would sort out the track listings - people have complained about it for years!

Here's the track list:

https://stonerecords.co.uk/album/delius-and-his-circle/

[Roger Webb]

Here's the track list:

https://stonerecords.co.uk/album/delius-and-his-circle/

Thanks for that Pulcinella and Smittims, I had fun guessing which tracks were which and did remarkably well - Pulcinella knows my capabilities and limitations with 'British' composers as he used to mark my homework!

BTW, funny that the cover pic of the Guinery has the famous Xmas meeting with his Scandinavian friends: The Greigs, Halvorsen, Sinding and Delius, who seems to have no cards to play - perhaps they're playing some obscure game known only to the Norse.

[Dave2002]

Not something which I thought of for consolation as such but I find that Noriko Agawa’s recording of pieces by Peterson-Berger always cheers me up - Frösöblomster. This was available as a CD on BIS, but now seems hard to get.