Magnard, Albérich (1865 - 1914)

[Barbirollians]

Apparently I received a £2 discount so they cost me 29 p ! - they sound fine to me on my Sonos system . May burn them to CD later .

[Nick Armstrong]

I really, really need to make time to get to know Magnard.

A few of us might make that journey together.
You never know, one might get performed sometime , as well.

Thanks to the great steer about those Plasson downloads, I've embarked on that journey

Do report in ts, once you've had an earful!

I heard No 1 / 1 and No 2 / 4 (Jayne's 'vif et gai').

Instant response to the very opening of 1/1 was 'oh Lord is this going to be sub-Franck' but not a bit of it, I liked what I heard!

[jayne lee wilson]

From the Magnard frontline....

Starting again with Ossonce and Plasson from No.1, a few things become clearer:

First, 1-3 in Plasson (1987-9) are better recorded than 4 (1983) - there's more body and brilliance there, as well as more assured ensemble. A pity, given the 4th's colouristic, concerto-for-orchestral brilliance

In No.1, the two performances sound quite shockingly different. Plasson gets on with it: plain and clear, detailed and direct, without much bloom or richness; the Romance is in the notes and that idiomatic French sound. Ossonce is much rounder and fuller, with an often sensously lovely tonal character, but with a feeling of understatement in the symphonic drama, despite richly fulfilling climaxes. (As we zip through alpine pastures, Jean-Yves WILL keep slowing down to admire the view...)
But the effect of this is to make you love the Hyperion set despite its obvious shortcomings (in a lack of bite and drive in some allegro passages).

So with Plasson there is always one thing missing: sheer sonic splendour, a part of Magnard's vision which Ossonce and Sanderling reveal so compellingly. You realise too that this music has been so infrequently played or recorded anyone listening to it now, or playing it, is still finding out how it should go! Quite exciting really...

[teamsaint]

Thanks to the great steer about those Plasson downloads, I've embarked on that journey

Do report in ts, once you've had an earful!

I heard No 1 / 1 and No 2 / 4 (Jayne's 'vif et gai').

Instant response to the very opening of 1/1 was 'oh Lord is this going to be sub-Franck' but not a bit of it, I liked what I heard!

Certainly will. I'm sure Jayne has left a few things for us to spot for ourselves......

Looking forward to these very much.

[Thropplenoggin]

From the Magnard frontline....

Starting again with Ossonce and Plasson from No.1, a few things become clearer:

First, 1-3 in Plasson (1987-9) are better recorded than 4 (1983) - there's more body and brilliance there, as well as more assured ensemble. A pity, given the 4th's colouristic, concerto-for-orchestral brilliance

In No.1, the two performances sound quite shockingly different. Plasson gets on with it: plain and clear, detailed and direct, without much bloom or richness; the Romance is in the notes and that idiomatic French sound. Ossonce is much rounder and fuller, with an often sensously lovely tonal character, but with a feeling of understatement in the symphonic drama, despite richly fulfilling climaxes. (As we zip through alpine pastures, Jean-Yves WILL keep slowing down to admire the view...)
But the effect of this is to make you love the Hyperion set despite its obvious shortcomings (in a lack of bite and drive in some allegro passages).

So with Plasson there is always one thing missing: sheer sonic splendour, a part of Magnard's vision which Ossonce and Sanderling reveal so compellingly. You realise too that this music has been so infrequently played or recorded anyone listening to it now, or playing it, is still finding out how it should go! Quite exciting really...

On Armistice Day and in relation to a composer who died defending his home during the First World War...this turn of phrase is in very poor taste.

[jayne lee wilson]

On Armistice Day and in relation to a composer who died defending his home during the First World War...this turn of phrase is in very poor taste.

Oh, WHY do I bother....enough from me then. Happy Magnard listening everyone. Hope my comments are of some use and lead to many other listeners learning to love Magnard's music and devoting as much time to it as joyfully as I have done.

How better could you remember him than that.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Oh, WHY do I bother....enough from me then. Happy Magnard listening everyone. Hope my comments are of some use and lead to many other listeners learning to love Magnard's music and devoting as much time to it as joyfully as I have done.

How better could you remember him than that.

Jayne: thank you very much for all your enthusiastic Magnard comments and reviews. They have inspired me to order the Plasson, as he is a composer of whose music I know nothing though I've long wanted to dip my toes in. I hope you can take this small crumb as a tiny counterweight to Thropplenoggin's extraordinary outburst.

[Barbirollians]

Oh, WHY do I bother....enough from me then. Happy Magnard listening everyone. Hope my comments are of some use and lead to many other listeners learning to love Magnard's music and devoting as much time to it as joyfully as I have done.

How better could you remember him than that.

JLW - I suggest you ignore Thropplenoggin's absurd post . He seems to see offence where nobody else does .

[DublinJimbo]

Oh, WHY do I bother....enough from me then. Happy Magnard listening everyone. Hope my comments are of some use and lead to many other listeners learning to love Magnard's music and devoting as much time to it as joyfully as I have done.

How better could you remember him than that.

Many, many thanks for all the trouble you've gone to with your comparisons. Please do not be put off by unjustified negative comments. Your contributions on this thread have enthralled me, and made me think anew about this fine music.

I only have the Ossonce set, which opened the Magnard world for me and attracted me to his music.

I wasn't aware of the Sanderling set until it was mentioned here, but I'll definitely invest in that also (more especially so since it's on the BIS label, for which I have the utmost respect).

[Acavus]

JLW - I suggest you ignore Thropplenoggin's absurd post . He seems to see offence where nobody else does .

My sentiments entirely!

On the basis of Jayne's eloquent advocasy I too have ordered a couple of sets of the symphonies and can't wait to get to know them in depth. Jayne, please don't let some inane comment stifle your enlightening contributions to this forum. As you say, what better way to remember Magnard.

[ahinton]

Oh, WHY do I bother

Because we want to hear from you and very many thanks for your observations on this wonderful repertoire!

....enough from me then.

Never enough as far as i am concerned!

Happy Magnard listening everyone. Hope my comments are of some use and lead to many other listeners learning to love Magnard's music and devoting as much time to it as joyfully as I have done.

How better could you remember him than that.

All agreed - and LOUD CHEERS, as Sorabji would have said! Just ignore what has to be ignored.

[Beef Oven!]

JLW - I suggest you ignore Thropplenoggin's absurd post . He seems to see offence where nobody else does .

Given the way he died, it's not absurd - it could be taken to be in bad taste. I thought it was unfortunate that Jayne chose that headline, but maybe it was completely accidental and she did not realise its inappropriateness.

On the plus side, it's given people the opportunity to fawn, and forumites do like that sort of thing!

[Barbirollians]

Given the way he died, it's not absurd - it could be taken to be in bad taste. I thought it was unfortunate that Jayne chose that headline, but maybe it was completely accidental and she did not realise its inappropriateness.

On the plus side, it's given people the opportunity to fawn, and forumites do like that sort of thing!

As Thropplenoggin has "left" the forum a couple of times before and returned after being implored to do so your post might be regarded in bad taste .

I think it extraordinary to regard JLW's post as being in bad taste and if you regard posts seeking to ensure a forum member to believe that they are valued to be " fawning" that says more about you than those who posted in response to JLW's frustration.

[Beef Oven!]

As Thropplenoggin has "left" the forum a couple of times before and returned after being implored to do so your post might be regarded in bad taste .

I think it extraordinary to regard JLW's post as being in bad taste and if you regard posts seeking to ensure a forum member to believe that they are valued to be " fawning" that says more about you than those who posted in response to JLW's frustration.

Thropplenoggin having 'left' the forum (something I was unaware of) has no bearing as to whether anyone's post is in good taste, bad taste or otherwise.

We all value Jayne's erudite contributions, she's marvellous. But fawning is, well.....fawning. And we do rather go in for it!

And there's no need to be so aggressive - good job you're just in front of a computer and not standing in front of me, I don't think I could take it - I scare easily! It's me nerves, see.

[richardfinegold]

Thropplenoggin having 'left' the forum (something I was unaware of) has no bearing as to whether anyone's post is in good taste, bad taste or otherwise.

We all value Jayne's erudite contributions, she's marvellous. But fawning is, well.....fawning. And we do rather go in for it!

And there's no need to be so aggressive - good job you're just in front of a computer and not standing in front of me, I don't think I could take it - I scare easily! It's me nerves, see.

Gee whiz, how did you Brits ever get a reputation for understated reserve? Whoever thought that Magnard could inspire such passion?
While I understand the point that Throp and Beefy are making, I am quite sure that jlw's choice of words was completely unintentional. Clearly she has great respect and love for the Composer and has done a great service here in peaking interest amongst others. I searched my shelves and turned up a Plasson recording that has been gathering dust for years and will give it a spin shortly. As for Magnard, single handedly taking on an invading Army of what was considered Europe's most potent Military Machine at the time to defend Home and Country, he sounds like he would have made a terrific companion at a Dinner Party--or a foxhole.