Martinů, Bohuslav (1890-1959)

[HighlandDougie]

Just to prolong the OT, I presume you know about this set, HighDoug?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Schoe.../dp/B01872MKD2

Mais oui! Worth every cent (as is their Crumb/Reich coupling).

[jayne lee wilson]

I've lived with these for a couple of weeks now (as both lossless downloads and CDs) and can only recommend them with urgent enthusiasm. There's a sharper more 1930s/40s contemporaneous cutting edge in 2 and 3 here, both orchestrally and from the soloist, compared to Firkusny/Pesek, whose tradition sounds more warmly retrospective. In place of Firkusny's classical poise and the slightly laid-back refinement and beauty of tone from Pesek's Czech Phil, there's a terrific feeling of live adventure to these performances, with the 2nd Concerto's finale almost abandoning control to raw excitement. Firkusny is often very Brahmsian in his address (just listen to his first solo in No.3!) and not just in the Brahms B-Flat quotes later on, a tonal character-reference which Pesek is only too happy to underline. But Koukl and Fagen encompass a wider referential range, bringing us back closer to Prokofiev or even Bartok. Interesting too that their timings are often a minute or so slower per movement, yet seem to impart greater rhythmic life and subtlety. So after the haunting lilt of the 2nd Concerto's 2nd theme (one of those Martinu special moments) Koukl feels more exploratory of both sound and mood, but then takes that finale to greater extremes of passion and daring virtuosity. The 4th and 5th ( a work which takes some puzzling out....something like "Martinu meets Bartok and goes to Hollywood...".) are as wildly fantastical and adventurous as one could wish, and sonically there's a vivid 3-D realism to the presence of the players-within-the-hall.

In place of Martinu's American Diary - the inspirational, self-referential intensity of Symphonies 1-5, the piano concertos give the dedicated Martinovian a stylistic Baedeker from 1925 to 1958, travelling from the playful ballets-russes neoclassicism of No.1, through the Slavonic-Brahms Romantic and rhythmical updates of 2 and 3 to those last late experiments - Fantasia, Fantaisies, Incantation, Parables, Estampes (almost a harp concerto) - which often sound hauntingly unfinished, provisional in style and mood, as if there was still more to come...

[Beef Oven!]

I've lived with these for a couple of weeks now (as both lossless downloads and CDs) and can only recommend them with urgent enthusiasm. There's a sharper more contemporaneous cutting edge in 2 and 3, both orchestrally and from the soloist, compared to Firkusny/Pesek. In place of Firkusny's classical poise and the slightly laid-back refinement and beauty of tone from Pesek's Czech Phil, there's a terrific live feel to these performances, with the 2nd Concerto's finale almost abandoning control to raw excitement. Firkusny is often very Brahmsian in his address (just listen to his first solo in No.3!) and not just in the Brahms B-Flat quotes later on, a tonal character-reference which Pesek is only too happy to underline. But Koukl and Fagen encompass a wider referential range, bringing us back closer to Prokofiev or even Bartok. Interesting too that their timings are often a minute or so slower per movement, yet seem to impart greater rhythmic life and subtlety. So after the haunting lilt of the 2nd Concerto's 2nd theme (one of those Martinu special moments) Koukl feels more exploratory of both sound and mood, but then takes that finale to greater extremes of passion and daring virtuosity. The 4th and 5th ( a work I'm still trying to puzzle out...) are as wildly fantastical and adventurous as one could wish, and sonically there's a vivid 3-D realism to the presence of the players-within-the-hall.

In place of Martinu's American Diary - the inspirational, self-referential intensity of Symphonies 1-5, the piano concertos give the dedicated Martinovian a stylistic Baedeker from 1925 to 1958, travelling from the playful ballets-russes neoclassicism of No.1, through the Slavonic-Brahms Romantic and rhythmical updates of 2 and 3 to those last late experiments - Fantasia, Fantaisies, Incantation, Parables, Estampes (almost a harp concerto) - which often sound hauntingly unfinished in style and mood, as if there was still more to come...

Jayne, where do you buy your downloads from?

[jayne lee wilson]

Jayne, where do you buy your downloads from?

Almost always Qobuz these days, they have the widest range and usually have anything you want. Regularly too from eClassical and occasionally TCS (Chandos), mostly for their own BIS and Chandos labels, although eC and Qobuz both offer many Chandos titles too. Oh and, occasionally from Da Capo (who only sell their own label) - just starting to listen to the new Norgard Symphonies from Oslo PO/Storgards. Have hi-res, will travel!

[Daniel]

My next Martinu listening will be the Field Mass I think, which I've never knowingly heard.

Yo are in for a real treat. Try and choose a recording which uses a harmonium for your first audition.

You weren't wrong! I've heard it once and was bowled over. The Belohlavek recording on Chandos was the only one available for streaming (including harmonium which plays a big part in the atmosphere, hard to imagine it without), and it seems very good indeed. Will see if I can hear a few others before ordering.

As far as the piano in Martinu's orchestral sound more generally goes, it was one of the first things that grabbed my attention.

[teamsaint]

Just been listening to the 6th String Quartet again, and listening to the third movement I just couldn't get Schubert out of my head. It just seems to have his fingerprints all over it.
Anybody else had this reaction?

Happy to be told I'm talking nonsense, but would love to hear any thoughts on this work/movement.

[jayne lee wilson]

For me the most striking movement is the andante, which has a hauntingly flowing, minimalist feel to its rhythmical patternings which bring Philip Glass to mind. Especially beautiful with the long-breathed, supple melodies that float across it.

Not many Quartets get it right though - my favourites are the Prazaks on Praga or the Panochas on Supraphon. The Stamitz don't seem to be completely inside the music - their first movement doesn't quite cohere - and the Martinus, for all their admirable commitment, are too closely and unsubtly recorded and play the andante too fast for its minimalist poetic effect to really tell.

Schubert isn't the first composer to come to my mind in the 6th Quartet's finale, but it doesn't surprise me if it comes to yours. Any particular works?
I often think of the 3rd Piano Concerto (1948, 6th Qt. is 1946) as "The Brahmsian". Its 2nd movement is a kind of Fantasy-Homage to Brahms' B Flat Concerto, a very deft & witty one. And the end of the 6th Quartet's andante has a similarly serene effect to that in the concerto.

[Lat-Literal]

Martinu, Mahler, Martinu, Mahler, Martinu, Mahler, Martinu, Mahler.

If only the kaleidoscope could extend beyond the observations.

[Pulcinella]

Record Review Building a Library slot next week (28 September 2019):

A guide to the best of Martinu on disc.
Jan Smaczny presents his five favourite recordings of a 20th Century Czech composer who really deserves to be in every collection. Bohuslav Martinů wrote 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and much else besides. His style is eclectic and full of high-energy, propulsive rhythms. Among his operas, Julietta and The Greek Passion are thrilling works. Many of his orchestral works have hints of jazz mixed in with Bohemian and Moravian folk melodies.

I'm sure that Alpie will post the usual thread in the 'proper' place, even though this format seems more a continuation of the programme style during the Proms, but I thought it worth flagging here too.

[muzzer]

Thank you, looking forward to exploring more of BM.

[John Locke]

I think the string quartets are my favourites, but everyone's string quartets are my favourites!

[jayne lee wilson]

Plenty from me already on this thread (see above).... a Martinu obsessive....(not opera, I just don't do opera)....

I just hope JS is up-to-date and has the broader, wider view of things... but just 5? Looks almost impossible...I might try later!

I don't really have a favourite symphony or Piano Concerto or Violin Concerto etc, I love all of them.... but the 4th Concerto is evidently a high peak, as are the 3rd and 4th Symphonies... the 6th is astounding, but I feel very separate from the 1-5, which constitute an "American Diary"....

...and the Frescoes take up where the symphonies leave off, really....

Quartets..... No.1 the too-long backwards-French-influence, 2 and 3 a little self-consciously "modernist", 4-7- Martinu finds his own voice and his own very quirky, infectiously rhythmical,, often very beautiful way.... slow movement of the 6th is minimalist avant-la-lettre.....

[Pulcinella]

I have those two non-Hyperion discs and they are very pleasing. It'd be nice if Hyperion put all their 4CDs in a bargain box.

They have:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martin-orchestra-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Christopher/dp/B07JYQTKCX/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=martinu+hogwood&qid=1569250938&sr=8-2

[Pulcinella]

I think the string quartets are my favourites, but everyone's string quartets are my favourites!

Looking forward to getting to know them: any preference for recordings/performances?
Panocha: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Com...s%2C136&sr=8-1
Martinu: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Str...s%2C136&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-String-Quartets-Madrigals-2002-01-01/dp/B019GQX0V4/ref=sr_1_38?crid=3JJMP5X5DR9OT&keywords=martinu+string+quartet&qid=1569251435&sprefix=Martinu+string+%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-38

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-String-Quartets-Vol-3/dp/B00006RHPJ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3JJMP5X5DR9OT&keywords=martinu+string+quartet&qid=1569251087&sprefix=Martinu+string+%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-5

or Stamitz: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janacek-Mar...s%2C136&sr=8-3
Not sure that the Naxos CDs are currently available, which might be a deciding factor!

[jayne lee wilson]

I've probably commented on this above, but briefly: in the string quartets the Panochas are almost out on their own for idiomatic beauty and intensity and the essential Martinu schwung....the only true competitor, the gorgeously-recorded-and-played Rolls-Royce of Martinu Chamber series, is the Praga cycle, expensively spread over 4 CDs, with the Prazak/Kocian/Zemlinsky Quartets, plus Ivan KLansky in the Piano Quartet/Quintets...

I found the Naxos/Martinu surprisingly unsubtle and often too closely recorded in the quartets; much better, sweeter and more spacious, in their Piano Quintets with Kosarek. I regretted the purchase of the Stamitz, who give it everything but don't flow as naturally as the favoured two either melodically or rhythmically, and are tonally rather rougher too. I did try....Don't go back to it much now.

But it is best wth rep like this to try-before-buy if at all possible...

***
The original Panocha set has much nicer cover art than the reissue, and I can vouch for the sound.....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000023YXU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...it appears to be cheaper than the reissue now, which certainly wasn't the case when I bought mine (from The Polar Bear, great seller...)

Praga series....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=martinu+praga+quartets&i=popular&ref=nb_sb_noss