Musical Discoveries

[LMcD]

I thought it might be worthwhile gauging the degree of interest in a thread dedicated to reports of pieces chanced upon by Forumistas that might be of interest to others. This modest suggestion came to me after listening to a rather fine cello concerto by William Busch (1901-1945) - a name new to me. This is included in a recently purchased 4-CD Lyrita set of British String Concertos, in which Raphael Wallfisch is accompanied by the RPO under the ever-dependable Vernon Handley. The number of the 4-CD set is SRCD 2346 and the original release was on SRCD320.

[pastoralguy]

One of the saddest aspects of reaching a certain age is that there are very few discoveries to be made. It's amazing, to me, that I was, without realising it, discovering masterpieces on a daily basis! And even if I do hear works that I want to explore further I know they won't be part of me than Works I've lived with for 40 odd years.

[Joseph K]

One of the saddest aspects of reaching a certain age is that there are very few discoveries to be made.

Well, I speak as someone who I don't think has reached a 'certain age': it's still possible to get into a kind of rut with one's listening habits. For me, listening over and over again to a handful of records sent me into a kind of rut. I've now had to be decisive in cutting that out and making my listening more varied. I think this forum can encourage that, because I'll post something if I haven't listened to it before, or only rarely before. But I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure this thread has too much of point to it: if I'm listening to something I've discovered, I'll post it in one of the 'what are you listening to'-type threads, so I'm not sure how I'd gauge something as a 'discovery'.

[pastoralguy]

I've spent a LOT of time listening to the highways and byways of English music due to my great love of Elgar's music and there's a lot of interesting music to be heard but very little of it, imho, reaches the masterwork category.

[Nick Armstrong]

I thought it might be worthwhile gauging the degree of interest in a thread dedicated to reports of pieces chanced upon by Forumistas that might be of interest to others.

I rather like the idea, LMcD. Discoveries of this sort are one of the aspects of music which I enjoy most at the moment, pieces that are somewhat off the beaten track.

Examples in the last couple of years which come to mind would be almost everything I’ve heard by Louise Farrenc, and also a piece I chanced on in Afternoon Concert, the completion by the indefatigable Martin Yates of Montague Phillips’s Symphony in C minor (BBC Concert Orchestra/Martin Yates, live Dorchester Abbey 26.5.17). I’m sure it’ll come out on Dutton at some point, but meantime my downloaded copy often goes on in the car

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

One of the saddest aspects of reaching a certain age is that there are very few discoveries to be made. It's amazing, to me, that I was, without realising it, discovering masterpieces on a daily basis! And even if I do hear works that I want to explore further I know they won't be part of me than Works I've lived with for 40 odd years.

Oh, that sounds very sad, pasto. One of the joys of being a New Music enthusiast is that there's always new voices emerging, new sounds to refresh my ideas of what Music can be - and new performers showing how it can be done. I feel much the same about Early Music - there's so much good Music "out there"; far more, probably, than can be heard in a single lifetime - so I find great satisfaction in the knowledge that there's going to be so much still patiently waiting to blow my socks off once I get round to it. And, if much of it won't get into my juices as much as Beethoven, or the other composers I've adored over the past nearly half-a-century, it's good to know that this "journey" is going to continue - still new breaths to breathe.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But I like the serendipity-doo-dah suggested in the OP - works that you've encountered "by chance". Most of my new Musical encounters have been things I've planned in advance to hear. Just hearing a piece by chance on the radio, and being hooked - that's one of the things that used to happen regularly on Radio 3; hasn't happened in years. The nearest thing these days is buying a CD on speck in a Charity shop by a composer whose name I either hadn't heard of before, or only knew of vaguely.

[cloughie]

One of the saddest aspects of reaching a certain age is that there are very few discoveries to be made. It's amazing, to me, that I was, without realising it, discovering masterpieces on a daily basis! And even if I do hear works that I want to explore further I know they won't be part of me than Works I've lived with for 40 odd years.

I absolutely agree with you pg, I don’t think the thrill has gone as there are many works that still thrill me as much as when I first heard them so many years ago - but I don’t get the Wow, what was that? feeling very often when listening to music, which is new to me. However participation in music is different - I do find that my singing activities lead me to certain songs that I really want to be a part of.

[cloughie]

But I like the serendipity-doo-dah suggested in the OP - works that you've encountered "by chance". Most of my new Musical encounters have been things I've planned in advance to hear. Just hearing a piece by chance on the radio, and being hooked - that's one of the things that used to happen regularly on Radio 3; hasn't happened in years. The nearest thing these days is buying a CD on speck in a Charity shop by a composer whose name I either hadn't heard of before, or only knew of vaguely.

Yes, ferney, I get that too! Looks like it’s an age thing

[MrGongGong]

I've spent a LOT of time listening to the highways and byways of English music due to my great love of Elgar's music and there's a lot of interesting music to be heard but very little of it, imho, reaches the masterwork category.

Maybe you need to rethink the whole idea of the "masterwork"?

[pastoralguy]

Maybe you need to rethink the whole idea of the "masterwork"?

Such as?

[Edgy 2]

I've spent a LOT of time listening to the highways and byways of English music due to my great love of Elgar's music and there's a lot of interesting music to be heard but very little of it, imho, reaches the masterwork category.

Ooh harsh pg.
I'm not sure what counts as a masterwork.
What about George Lloyd 4 and 7 ?
I'm endlessly fascinated and interested by the lesser known English composers and a very recent discovery,which may also be a masterwork,is Robin Milford's 2nd Symphony (afternoon on 3 a week or so ago)

[MrGongGong]

Such as?

Maybe too much striving for things that are like the things you already know?

[jayne lee wilson]

I always check Qobuz Discover on Audirvana every Thursday/Friday for new releases - its rather like a radio station for serendipity, anything might appear....all you need is that insatiable curiosity to just try them.....and follow wherever they may lead....
These are some of my favourites for previously unknown or unfamiliar music this year.....

Chamber Symphonies from Riga. .... by Dzenitis, Tumševica, Leimane.
Sinfonietta Riga/Snē. Skani CD.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/dzenitis-tumsevica-leimane-chamber-symphonies-sinfonietta-riga-normunds-sne/pfbe50s8jju4b

"Polish Contemporary Concertos"
by Błażewicz, Łukaszewski, Czarnecki. Dux CD.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/polish-contemporary-concertos-jan-milosz-zarzycki-witold-lutoslawski-chamber-philharmonic-in-lomza/k1yn1s7ulcfwb

The Riga works are the more challenging; the Polish Concertos rather beautiful examples of a somewhat neglected genre....
Contemporary Easy Listening....... they're gorgeous - full of melody, mystery, warmth and humour... I return to them often.

***
"The Senses Reign, and Reason now is Dead..."

Sometimes, Early Music can be very new-to-you... I've been streaming this endlessly this year, a series of 16th/17th C. dances and fantasies with some wonderfully wild and unexpected wind and brass solos and ensembles...... just letting it drift through the house.....
https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/la.../ejejmr9xyuokc
"This grand instrumental musical fresco of time and space is a kind of self-portrait of Giovanni Antonini and his longstanding musical colleagues."

***
Anyway, I mean, how long have you got...? There are endless new voyages of discovery to embark upon....!

Plonger au fond du gouffre, Enfer ou Ciel, qu'importe?
Au fond de l'Inconnu pour trouver du nouveau!

Other 2019 highlights..........

[LMcD]

Well, I speak as someone who I don't think has reached a 'certain age': it's still possible to get into a kind of rut with one's listening habits. For me, listening over and over again to a handful of records sent me into a kind of rut. I've now had to be decisive in cutting that out and making my listening more varied. I think this forum can encourage that, because I'll post something if I haven't listened to it before, or only rarely before. But I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure this thread has too much of point to it: if I'm listening to something I've discovered, I'll post it in one of the 'what are you listening to'-type threads, so I'm not sure how I'd gauge something as a 'discovery'.

For the purposes of this thread, may I suggest that a 'discovery' could be, for example, a piece new to me that is:

- broadcast between the end of the 1930 concert and the start of the next scheduled programme at 2000;
- an encore;
- included in a playlist programme for which I don't know or haven't checked the schedule (if indeed the latter is available in advance);
- a piece mentioned and/or recommended by another Forumista;
- broadcast in 'Through The Night', which I listen to on a random basis (in which case I'm unlikely to post details while listening );
- or, as has been mentioned, lurking on the shelves of a charity shop and almost certainly worth the modest price.
The Lunchtime Concert slot has recently introduced me to a number of enjoyable 'discoveries', most recently a piano sonata by Vorisek and a string quartet by Schulhoff.

In this way I have 'discovered' works such as:
- Somervell's Violin Concerto and Clarinet Quintet;
- Alun Hoddinott's 'Mistral' concerto and haunting 'Lanterne des Morts' (which latter incidentally led to a walking holiday based in Sarlat);
- Peter Sculthorpe's equally haunting 'Port Essington' (which led, inter alia, to Nigel Westlake's 'Antarctica' guitar concerto).
- String Quartets by Hummel