Vale of Glamorgan Festival; H&N Sat, 18/08/18, 10:00pm

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Alexander Bloch conducts the BBCNO&CW in a programme of four works by three composers from France and Denmark:

Qigang Chen(b1951): L’eloignement ("remoteness") for String Orchestra
Thierry Escaich(b1965): Psalmos
Bent Sørensen(b1958): Trumpet Concerto (Philippe Schartz, soloist)
Qigang Chen: Jiang Tcheng Tse (Meng Meng, "Peking Opera style female singer" as the score describes the soloist's role)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bfxl26

Tom Service introduces the programme, and he is also joined by Tim Rutherford-Johnson to review recent recordings of New Music, including the first releases from new label, All That Dust; an initiative from Soprano Juliet Fraser, pianist Mark Knoop, and composer Newton Armstrong:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/allthatdust/all-that-dust-a-new-label-for-new-music

[Richard Barrett]

Bent Sørensen(b1958): Trumpet Concerto (Philippe Schartz, soloist)

This I am looking forward to.

[teamsaint]

I think I would ,or will, go back to the Escaich work first.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This I am looking forward to.

What did you think, Richard? I know Sorensen's work from various performances at Huddersfield, and have a couple of the Da Capo CDs ... I respond much more enthusiastically to his chamber/small ensemble works than to those for orchestra. The Trumpet Concerto seemed to me (on this single hearing) a bit ... well ... "Vale of Glamorgan Festival-ly".

I think I will would or will, go back to the Escaich work first.

Yes, I thought that that was the most immediately appealing work on the programme - although I missed L’eloignement. I was captivated by the vocal writing in Jiang Tcheng Tse, but wasn't as impressed by the "background" Music, and some of the choral writing kept reminding me of Henry Mancini's score for The April Fools.

But I'm more of a Witten chap than a Glamorganist, and last week's programme was much more the sort of thing that floats my boat. My favourite part of last night's programme was the "Record Review" section - alas! (Just when I thought it was safe to back in the Bank.)

[teamsaint]

The second Chen piece was notable I thought for a superb vocal performance. But neither the music really didn’t do it for me at all,I’m afraid.

After Richard’s comment I was looking forward to the Sorensen Concerto, but it rather lost me ( or my interest) along the way. I’ll try to revisit perhaps.

[Beef Oven!]

Qigang Chen(b1951): L’eloignement ("remoteness") for String Orchestra
Thierry Escaich(b1965): Psalmos
Bent Sørensen(b1958): Trumpet Concerto (Philippe Schartz, soloist)
Qigang Chen: Jiang Tcheng Tse (Meng Meng, "Peking Opera style female singer" as the score describes the soloist's role)

I really enjoyed that programme. I listened to it this morning on iPlayer Radio.

At first, I wasn't getting into Chen's first piece, but I think the second two-thirds of the work were very good.

Sorensen's trumpet concerto was in my opinion, excellent. I've been listening to a fair bit of acoustic jazz (1962-1967) this year and my ear (I still only have one working properly at the moment) got used to hearing the trumpet in a pretty samey environment. As such, I found this piece very interesting. What I think is excellent, is the way the trumpet seems to surf around and in between all orchestral music in a very integrated but independent way all of it's own. I particulary liked the middle section and the finale worked really well in the sense that if the piece is compared to a football match, it ends in a worthy 3-3 draw. And 16 minutes is perfect to get all this done, IMV.

I liked Eschaich's work, too. More straight forward than the other pieces, but I suspect it will reveal more with subsequent listens.

Chen's second piece was also excellent, in my opinion. My cup of tea.

I'm going to have to create a list, a sort of aide-memoire, for these contemporary pieces so they don't escape my music eco-system. I don't think I'm going to rush off and buy recordings, rather I will listen via streaming.

Regarding the follow-on of the programme focusing on the label All That Dust, I liked what I heard of 'Phantom Images'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Many thanks for the great review, BeefO

Regarding the follow-on of the programme focusing on the label All That Dust, I liked what I heard of 'Phantom Images'.

I wanted everything that was reviewed!

And, of course, because two of the releases are "Download Only", I'm going to have to start taking Downloads seriously!

[Bryn]

Many thanks for the great review, BeefO




I wanted everything that was reviewed!

And, of course, because two of the releases are "Download Only", I'm going to have to start taking Downloads seriously!

Told you so (when I mentioned the crowd funding for these releases).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Told you so (when I mentioned the crowd funding for these releases).

Yes, I remember that - I knew then that I'd want to get all the releases, but was sort-of hoping that they'd have a change of plan and put out the Feldman and Nono recordings on CDs. Hearing the excerpts last night - well, I simply must get them, whatever the format.

More expense - to get the kit needed to play the things, etc etc.

[Quarky]

I really enjoyed that programme.

Chen's second piece was also excellent, in my opinion. My cup of tea.

Interesting to read your comments, as I had written that piece off, as being neither one thing nor the other.

[Bryn]

Yes, I remember that - I knew then that I'd want to get all the releases, but was sort-of hoping that they'd have a change of plan and put out the Feldman and Nono recordings on CDs. Hearing the excerpts last night - well, I simply must get them, whatever the format.

More expense - to get the kit needed to play the things, etc etc.

The Feldman is out on CD. I have it. The Nono is download only, and very good indeed.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Feldman is out on CD. I have it. The Nono is download only, and very good indeed.

- it's the Babbitt Philomel that's the other "download only". (I'm thinking of contacting the label to see if they can make a physical CD to order.)

[Richard Barrett]

Regarding the follow-on of the programme focusing on the label All That Dust, I liked what I heard of 'Phantom Images'.

But "Phantom Images" is on the HCR label actually. (I know this because I have a copy I'm reviewing for Tempo magazine.) (I must get around to finishing that one of these days.)

I'm afraid I haven't had time to listen to this programme yet.

[Bryn]

- it's the Babbitt Philomel that's the other "download only". (I'm thinking of contacting the label to see if they can make a physical CD to order.)

Eh? Surely you have the wherewithal to burn to CD-R? Bear in mind that it is a binaural mix, so intended for headphone listening.

[Only fair to add that the lossless downloads are 96/24, and the mp3s are 48kHz, 320kbps CBR, so some degree conversion would be called for before burning to CD-R Audio.]

[Beef Oven!]

But "Phantom Images" is on the HCR label actually. (I know this because I have a copy I'm reviewing for Tempo magazine.) (I must get around to finishing that one of these days.)

I'm afraid I haven't had time to listen to this programme yet.

Yes, when I looked it up on Google after the programme, I discovered that. I might have just got it wrong.