Birtwistle, Harrison (b. 1934)

[Felix the Gnat]

[Bryn]

Many thanks for that Gnatty.

[Felix the Gnat]

Many thanks for that Gnatty.

Gnatty Dread

[Bryn]

Gnatty Dread

By the way, are you familiar with Video Donloadhelper? Not sure whether there is a Mac version.

[Felix the Gnat]

By the way, are you familiar with Video Donloadhelper? Not sure whether there is a Mac version.

Don’t know it. What’s it for?

[Bryn]

Don’t know it. What’s it for?

In this case, saving Punch and Judy to my laptop's SSD.

[Felix the Gnat]

[Felix the Gnat]

Birtwistle’s second piano concerto and Gawain’s Journey released by Neos a little while ago is finally reviewed in February's Gramophone. Not for the newbie they say. Not sure why. I have the recording. Not convinced by the pc yet, but this performance of Gawain’s Journey might just be preferable to Howarth’s, IMHO. (Took about 40 mins to read the whole mag tonight. Content has tanked, in my opinion).

[Bryn]

Birtwistle’s second piano concerto and Gawain’s Journey released by Neos a little while ago is finally reviewed in February's Gramophone. Not for the newbie they say. Not sure why. I have the recording. Not convinced by the pc yet, but this performance of Gawain’s Journey might just be preferable to Howarth’s, IMHO . . .

With the BRSO, it's hardly surprising, and Stefan Asbury is no mean conductor.

[Felix the Gnat]

With the BRSO, it's hardly surprising, and Stefan Asbury is no mean conductor.

Both True.

Always good to see another option around Harry's work. So far there only a few compositions that that have had more than one recording. Earth Dances, Secret Theatre, The Death of Orpheus and some chamber/vocal works spring to mind but that's pretty much it. Quite surprising considering the quality of the music, how long it's been around and Harry's position as a top-notch living composer.

Perhaps I should be more focused on unrecorded major works such as Yan Tan Therera, Exody, Deep Time, Concerto for Violin, The Second Mrs Kong, The Io Passion, The Last Supper etc.

[silvestrione]

Both True.

Always good to see another option around Harry's work. So far there only a few compositions that that have had more than one recording. Earth Dances, Secret Theatre, The Death of Orpheus and some chamber/vocal works spring to mind but that's pretty much it. Quite surprising considering the quality of the music, how long it's been around and Harry's position as a top-notch living composer.

Perhaps I should be more focused on unrecorded major works such as Yan Tan Therera, Exody, Deep Time, Concerto for Violin, The Second Mrs Kong, The Io Passion, The Last Supper etc.

The Concerto for violin is available on DVD/Blueray with Tetzlaff, Rattle and the LSO. Works well on DVD I think, as several woodwind players come out to the front for a 'duet' at various points.

I would particularly like to see recordings of The Io Passion and the Last Supper, yes.

[Felix the Gnat]

Yan Tan Tethera, not liked by my smellcheque.

[Richard Barrett]

Coincidentally I've been slowly reacquainting myself with HB's output in the last week or two, The Triumph of Time, Silbury Air, Melencolia I, The Moth Requiem so far, at least these have been the most memorable moments and all with the exception of the last-named familiar to me for many years. I think I generally prefer hearing his concert compositions in recorded form; on stage they often seem too schematic with the eventually predictable walking around from one playing position to another. I found this particularly mannered in the recent Five Lessons in a Frame which is all about duos coming forward to play their little "pieces", separated by chorales for the whole ensemble and excluding the cello and bass which can't move around so easily, and the percussionist who acts as a sort of MC.

[Felix the Gnat]

Coincidentally I've been slowly reacquainting myself with HB's output in the last week or two, The Triumph of Time, Silbury Air, Melencolia I, The Moth Requiem so far, at least these have been the most memorable moments and all with the exception of the last-named familiar to me for many years. I think I generally prefer hearing his concert compositions in recorded form; on stage they often seem too schematic with the eventually predictable walking around from one playing position to another. I found this particularly mannered in the recent Five Lessons in a Frame which is all about duos coming forward to play their little "pieces", separated by chorales for the whole ensemble and excluding the cello and bass which can't move around so easily, and the percussionist who acts as a sort of MC.

I sometimes struggle with those 'mannered' things. But I guess he had his reasons, and who can get in the mind of a composer, anyway?

[Richard Barrett]

who can get in the mind of a composer, anyway?

Depends on the composer I suppose.