Magnard, Albérich (1865 - 1914)

[Dave2002]

Perhaps EDF could fund a Magnard Society...

EDF?

[cloughie]

I count myself very, very lucky to have come to the Magnard 4th "cold", with nothing but the sketchiest of EMI booklet notes. As I reported on the "What are you listening to" thread, my first encounter was a revelation of Alpine proportions! After that, I was devoted.

But yes, they do need time. It took me FOUR traversals before the 1st movement of No.2 finally clicked; and despite all the advance publicity as the most-noticed one of the set, No.3 I found trickiest of all. It was only hearing it on the Bedside Tivoli, in Ansermet's (more driven & dramatic) live mono taping, that really brought it home.

Perhaps EDF could fund a Magnard Society...

They would expect some electric performances.

[ahinton]

Perhaps EDF could fund a Magnard Society...

Perhaps JLW could found one (which would be more to the point!), though if EDF could indeed be persuaded to fund it, there would at least be financial support for "plugging" his work...

[Gweefry]

I've been a self-confessed Magnard junkie since I heard Ansermet's third on the car radio back in the 80s. It has taken a while for him to become better known and it's encouraging to see the esteem in which he's now held.

I notice that there's a recent CD of the radio broadcast of Ansermet's 3rd which slightly antedates his famous (last) recording (http://www.mdt.co.uk/magnard-symphon...ascavelle.html). I suspect that, being a live performance, there may be an extra dimension to this one – another for the shopping list!

For those who don't know the chamber music I'd strongly recommend the Violin Sonata. The version I have is with Robert Zimansky and Christoph Keller on Accord – splendid but, I think, unavailable. There is another with Muresanu and Ciocarlie which you can preview on Youtube.

[french frank]

Hello Gweefry - and welcome. Thanks for the tips. Magnard does seem to be attracting a growing number of fans - he crops up at regular intervals here with enthusiastic recommendations.

[Paul Campbell]

Hi Gweefry, its nice to meet you. Thank you very much for the Violin Sonata recommendation which I will definitely investigate, as I do generally gravitate more towards chamber music. Despite having a reasonable selection of french repertoire, I am totally new to Magnard, being inspired by the enthusiasm on this thread. I was instantly drawn to the charm of the Plasson set, and quickly added Ossonce and Sanderling. I have found Ossonce slightly harder going, although its very early days and certainly too early to form any real conclusions. First impression of the Sanderling set is that it is breathtaking. I look forward to delving much deeper into this music. I also picked up the Quatuor Ysaye quartet disc which I am looking forward to playing this weekend too.

Do you have a preferred symphony set?

Best wishes,
Paul.

[Beef Oven!]

Hi Gweefry, its nice to meet you. Thank you very much for the Violin Sonata recommendation which I will definitely investigate, as I do generally gravitate more towards chamber music. Despite having a reasonable selection of french repertoire, I am totally new to Magnard, being inspired by the enthusiasm on this thread. I was instantly drawn to the charm of the Plasson set, and quickly added Ossonce and Sanderling. I have found Ossonce slightly harder going, although its very early days and certainly too early to form any real conclusions. First impression of the Sanderling set is that it is breathtaking. I look forward to delving much deeper into this music. I also picked up the Quatuor Ysaye quartet disc which I am looking forward to playing this weekend too.

Do you have a preferred symphony set?

Best wishes,
Paul.

Paul

The chamber disc I show in post #33 is pretty good.

Regards

Beef Oven!

[Paul Campbell]

Cheers Beef Oven, its on me list!

[Beef Oven!]

Cheers Beef Oven, its on me list!

[Roehre]

...

Whilst it's good that much of his work has now been recorded, the symphonies and chamber music in particular appear very rarely on concert programmes, even in his native France, which is very sad indeed. Along with his near-contemporaries Debussy, Schmitt, Koechlin, Pierné and Roussel (the generation following Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Fauré and d'Indy) he was one of the most important French composers of his day and one who seemed better able than most to digest the powerful influence of Wagner without either crumbling under it or deliberately trying to avoid it.

I have got the gut feeling here, that this generation of composers falls apart into two main groups, possibly defined by the area in which they grew up.
At the one hand Schmitt, Koechlin, at the other Debussy, Pierné and Roussel. Magnard in between, though born in Paris and losing his live in Baron, more leaning to the first group.
The former are Alsatian/Lorrainic -and therefore in French eyes "less French" composers than the latter ones.

Is it me being biassed, but IMO the former are more (quasi-)"Wagnerian" at least in the beginning of their composing careers than the latter. And, on top of that, IMO the symphonic output of Magnard has some striking emotional resemblances/similarities with e.g. Franz Schmidt's (though he's from a generation later)

(Note: It's not by chance that by approaching Strassbourg from the French side, the city looks very German, and coming from the east its French characteristics immediately spring to the eye. I experience the same while listening to the former group's compositions in general: starting with Debussy and then Magnard, the latter is Germanic, start e.g. with some orchestral Wagner, and Magnard is unquestionably French)

[teamsaint]

I have got the gut feeling here, that this generation of composers falls apart into two main groups, possibly defined by the area in which they grew up.
At the one hand Schmitt, Koechlin, at the other Debussy, Pierné and Roussel. Magnard in between, though born in Paris and losing his live in Baron, more leaning to the first group.
The former are Alsatian/Lorrainic -and therefore in French eyes "less French" composers than the latter ones.

Is it me being biassed, but IMO the former are more (quasi-)"Wagnerian" at least in the beginning of their composing careers than the latter. And, on top of that, IMO the symphonic output of Magnard has some striking emotional resemblances/similarities with e.g. Franz Schmidt's (though he's from a generation later)

(Note: It's not by chance that by approaching Strassbourg from the French side, the city looks very German, and coming from the east its French characteristics immediately spring to the eye. I experience the same while listening to the former group's compositions in general: starting with Debussy and then Magnard, the latter is Germanic, start e.g. with some orchestral Wagner, and Magnard is unquestionably French)

great stuff, Roehre, thanks. And welcome back.

[amateur51]

great stuff, Roehre, thanks. And welcome back.

Welcome back indeed!

[Gweefry]

I have got the gut feeling here, that this generation of composers falls apart into two main groups, possibly defined by the area in which they grew up.

An interesting thought. There is a connection via Ropartz who reconstructed (I believe from memory) the orchestration of Magnard's Guercoeur to another regional group, the Breton composers. These include Ropartz himself, Cras, Ladmirault, Le Flem... Although I wouldn't want to make great claims for their music they do offer a subtly different take on French post-Wagnerianism.

[Roehre]

An interesting thought. There is a connection via Ropartz who reconstructed (I believe from memory) the orchestration of Magnard's Guercoeur to another regional group, the Breton composers. These include Ropartz himself, Cras, Ladmirault, Le Flem... Although I wouldn't want to make great claims for their music they do offer a subtly different take on French post-Wagnerianism.

Guy-Ropartz (as he was later naming himself) did reconstruct from the piano reduction Magnard's Guercoeur, and IMO he did an excellent job.
The Breton group is another example of "less-than-French" composers whose works are neglected, and not only in France itself

[teamsaint]

Guy-Ropartz (as he was later naming himself) did reconstruct from the piano reduction Magnard's Guercoeur, and IMO he did an excellent job.
The Breton group is another example of "less-than-French" composers whose works are neglected, and not only in France itself

perhaps a recommendation or two would help right the wrongs.......

Just giving this a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg3ZsvkOHCA

Sounds most enjoyable stuff .

can think of one or two people hereabouts who would enjoy this.

Edit: plenty to enjoy in the Library too.

http://wiltshire.naxosmusiclibrary.com/google/searchgoogle.asp?googletext=ropartz

and here is a cool site.

http://www.compositeursbretons.com/www/sonaozer/fra/alecoute.asp