American Classics

[teamsaint]

Rorem's Symphony #3 is a most compelling work. I struggle to understand why it is so neglected. Same goes for his orchestral compositions in general, and string quartets.

your and Roehre's recommendations and a used copy for £1.20 too much to resist !!

[Suffolkcoastal]

I think I generally recommended all 3 during my survey. It is strange though that with the exception of the String Symphony (a very fine work), Rorem turned his back on the symphony as a form after 1958. His concertos, a form which he has continued to use, I find always to be refreshing and very inventive works and many of his songs and song cycles are real gems.

[Beef Oven]

your and Roehre's recommendations and a used copy for £1.20 too much to resist !!

How do you do it!!?

[Ferretfancy]

Has anybody read Ned Rorem's diaries ? I understand that they are rather wicked about his love life with acute observations on his contemporaries, but I've never found a copy.

[Roehre]

Has anybody read Ned Rorem's diaries ? I understand that they are rather wicked about his love life with acute observations on his contemporaries, but I've never found a copy.

I'm curious too, but unfortunately......

[Beef Oven]

Has anybody read Ned Rorem's diaries ? I understand that they are rather wicked about his love life with acute observations on his contemporaries, but I've never found a copy.

Sound interesting - will look into it in the not too distant future.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I've read them, but a fair while ago, Norwich library used to have copies but they were destroyed along with most of the music stock in a fire around 20 years ago. I think the University library may have them, I'll have a look. I've got a book of his letters, and they are very insightful.

[teamsaint]

I think I generally recommended all 3 during my survey. It is strange though that with the exception of the String Symphony (a very fine work), Rorem turned his back on the symphony as a form after 1958. His concertos, a form which he has continued to use, I find always to be refreshing and very inventive works and many of his songs and song cycles are real gems.

THanks for that SC. Very interesting. Unfortunately, some gems that you recommended have been passed over so far (due to sheer weight of material) on looking through your journey. But I for one am returning to earlier years from time to time to good effect. !

[teamsaint]

How do you do it!!?

Years of practise. Its the C21 version of the "Singles bargain bin" that every record shop used to have. I like to think of it as "Maximising the audience value !"

Plus its recycling. (though not good for the Artists, I accept !)

[Beef Oven]

Having a bit of an American morning.

John Alden Carpenter - Symphonies 1&2, and Adventures In A Perambulator.

David Hurwitz reviews the CD thus in Classics Today....http://www.classicstoday.com/review/...6148/?search=1

[amateur51]

Has anybody read Ned Rorem's diaries ? I understand that they are rather wicked about his love life with acute observations on his contemporaries, but I've never found a copy.

As you can see from the link, Rorem is a rather prolific diarist

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Ned+Rorem+Diaries

[amateur51]

Rorem's Symphony #3 is a most compelling work. I struggle to understand why it is so neglected. Same goes for his orchestral compositions in general, and string quartets.

Rorem's symphonies 1 & 3 are avaliable on Spotify so I had a listen to them yesterday.

I started with no 3 and after I thought it had been going on a while I checked and found that we were a third of the way through symphony no 1.

I found very little to grab my attention and I guess that must be me

[teamsaint]

Rorem's symphonies 1 & 3 are avaliable on Spotify so I had a listen to them yesterday.

I started with no 3 and after I thought it had been going on a while I checked and found that we were a third of the way through symphony no 1.

I found very little to grab my attention and I guess that must be me

Well at least you were paying SOME attention!!

worried about my £2.46 now......

[Beef Oven]

Rorem's symphonies 1 & 3 are avaliable on Spotify so I had a listen to them yesterday.

I started with no 3 and after I thought it had been going on a while I checked and found that we were a third of the way through symphony no 1.

I found very little to grab my attention and I guess that must be me

If you don't like it, that's fine. You didn't like the Joan Tower Concerto For Orchestra either. I think that both Tower and Rorem are excellent composers and have produced masterpieces. It's a shame that you've unintentionally scared teams ain't.

[amateur51]

If you don't like it, that's fine. You didn't like the Joan Tower Concerto For Orchestra either. I think that both Tower and Rorem are excellent composers and have produced masterpieces. It's a shame that you've unintentionally scared teams ain't.

I reckon that teams is more than capable of making up his own mind, don't you Beefy?