Gnome in Plaid 219 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 On 1/21/2016 at 5:49 PM, nightscape94 said: Nice call on the Piston. Very under-appreciated composer. Love his 2nd symphony. I've never heard any of his work before, but I like his orchestration text in an old-fashioned sort of way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Interesting piece that in theory I should be a big fan of, all things considered, but I can't help feeling there's something vaguely grating about it. The text, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,509 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Simply stunning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 On 1/29/2016 at 0:52 AM, Koray Savas said: Richter's Sleep was finally released on CD, and the price dropped from it's initial $80 to $50, which I found reasonable enough to pick up. Really loving it a little over an hour in. Officially a completist now. I like Richter, but I've been hesitant about approaching this one. 8 hours just seems a bit too much Richter for my tastes. But this does sound lovely. Playing some old-school Hanson at the moment: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 To be honest, I did exactly what the piece was designed for, sleeping. I listened to first 90 minutes or so actively, and then went to sleep, and when I woke up it ended about 20 minutes later. I'm interested to see what the From Sleep arrangement, which is designed for an active listening experience, is like. Most of the ideas in the full work are just repeated for 10-20 minutes before moving on to something else, so I imagine it's much more concise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 It's concise but there's a lot of material that isn't represented, it isn't a proper summary. Of course, if this is all noise to you, you probably won't notice, but if you're an aficionado of this sort of music you'll want both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I'll have to check it out then. Thanks for the info guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBard 71 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I am of the personal opinion that Silvestre Revueltas had a sizable influence on the film music of Danny Elfman, and based on how much I've been studying his work lately, I would hope that it's not misplaced. Anyway, had fun listening to this chamber orchestra works that mimics a mariachi band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBard 71 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 After listening to this, I am of the personal opinion that Edgard Varese had a sizable influence on the film music of Jerry Goldsmith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Interesting. Varese loses me quickly but that's a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Wars Fan 4 Life 0 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'm really growing on this peace. It is a one movement symphony that includes allusions to Bruckner. I also think one section sounds like Mars from the planets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome in Plaid 219 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Trippy stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,509 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Oh god...if I were hearing that live I would probably be wincing the entire time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 ---- While we're on the subject of Adams, take a listen to the opening of Nixon In China. The whole idiom of this prelude (and the rest of the opera), the mood, with that drop down to the major seventh and whatnot, this is something that's quite common today in film music and tonal classical music. Do you think this might have been the first real instance of that idiom? Was Adams really the first to truly merge the late 20th century "pop" world with the orchestra in this certain way, in a bigger way that Reich or Glass or anyone else might have? I can't particularly come up with any strong examples before 1987 of this sort of thing, even in film music. It's really interesting to me how "tonality" returned to classical music in the biggest way through these guys, after taking a holiday in popular music land and returning with so many of the new moods and mannerisms it found there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,901 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 14 hours ago, TheGreyPilgrim said: ---- While we're on the subject of Adams, take a listen to the opening of Nixon In China. The whole idiom of this prelude (and the rest of the opera), the mood, with that drop down to the major seventh and whatnot, this is something that's quite common today in film music and tonal classical music. Do you think this might have been the first real instance of that idiom? Was Adams really the first to truly merge the late 20th century "pop" world with the orchestra in this certain way, in a bigger way that Reich or Glass or anyone else might have? I can't particularly come up with any strong examples before 1987 of this sort of thing, even in film music. It's really interesting to me how "tonality" returned to classical music in the biggest way through these guys, after taking a holiday in popular music land and returning with so many of the new moods and mannerisms it found there. Remember that Adams was a child of the 1960s and this played into his pop aesthetic sensibilities. I find that Nixon in China is a fantastic opera and very compelling though I was originally put off by what I felt was a silly topic that lacked gravitas. I think it was brilliant that Adams didn't take this as a story of a politically motivated historic event by a politician but rather as the birth of a myth. I find the influences of this opera to include rock opera which was really born in the 1960s. Take a listen to this: (this is from the movie version but the musical was very popular in the late 1960s) and even came to symbolize the hippy movement and the era of dissent against culture. Those who created this very influential rock musical were themselves influenced by Rogers & Hammerstein who themselves were influenced by Germanic and Italian operas and more specifically operettas (Gilbert & Sullivan). So its even difficult to know where "pop" and opera merged since it goes back to operettas of centuries ago where it merged popular music with strict music. I point to the excerpt from "Hair" not as a direct heir to Nixon in China, but as a stepping stone that Adams absorbed and in Nixon we get a combination of romantic opera, neo classical, jazz, pop, rock, and of course minimalism. He is a child of his times but was already shaking off the minimalist influences. I also find that in Dr Atomic, he is using his youth influences in a different way...the 1940's and 50's B movie is overtly incorporated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Interesting. Yes, certainly there were plenty of previous composers who were influenced by the pop of their time, whatever that might have been. But I'm fascinated particularly by how Adams' use of what is basically the 70's/80's/90's songwriter sense of tonality as the basis of his tonal writing seems to have become the standard in at least film music if not also much classical music. Pop music has changed a lot since then, but this particular kind of language seems to stay put in the form that, I'm postulating, Adams' influence led to. I guess the core of what I'm saying is.... I think the current core tonal elements of film music and certain classical music can be traced to a point of origin that is Adams' first opera. I know it's risky trying to draw connections like this, but I feel like there's good reason behind this one. This seems to have been key in replacing the heavily romantic idiom revived in 77. Of course I'm ignoring all kinds of other places that this kind of pop entered into this world, this is just aimless conjecture on my part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamHorne97 16 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Just stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 This is a great raucous, Cage and Feldman droning on and on to each other about all manner of nonsense, and it's eminently listenable. Or skip through at random and be amused by the diversity of comical, contextless things you'll hear from Cage. And a more compact, musically substantive interview with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Hey Grey, I'm not too familiar with Feldman. You got any pointers on where I should start? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 He's not very well represented by recordings, and consequently mostly all there is on Youtube are lengthy chamber pieces which are probably not a place to start. Here's a rare bit of orchestral writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Does anyone have any suggestions about where to best find live performances on Youtube? I know some orchestras have their own channels, and some users seem to upload a lot of material like that, but it's hard to keep track of. I love being able to see the music happening, especially if it's one of those really artfully filmed things. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,509 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 There are some stunning textures in this piece! Dixon Hill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 That is indeed a fascinating piece, from a composer who I sometimes fail to really connect with. And your signature is hilarious. Great movie. ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 KK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 It's one of my very favourite Adams works. I prefer it to Harmonielehre actually. To me, it's quintessential Adams, and one of the few pieces that really encompass his total harmonic and dynamic range. Just brilliant. The recording you posted is quite nice, but I like it when the choral syncopation is brought out more, which I know is harder to achieve in a concert hall setting, but still. Kind of like its done here: Muad'Dib 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 2 minutes ago, KK. said: It's one of my very favourite Adams works. I much prefer it to Harmonielehre actually. To me, it's quintessential Adams, and one of the few pieces that really encompass his total harmonic and dynamic range. Just brilliant. It's actually the only work of his that I've heard that I enjoy all the way through to a high degree. He's an interesting composer but not much of his really latched on in any significant way. Harmonielehre, however, is a masterwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 4 minutes ago, nightscape94 said: Harmonielehre, however, is a masterwork. No arguments there. But I do prefer Harmonium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 I like both about the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Great interview. Sharkissimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 Quite probably my favourite "WWII symphony." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justaguy 68 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Hey guys! If you like Chopin, Revolutionary Etude, Fantasie Improptu and romantic orchestral writing give it a try! It's quite an amazing arrangement by one and only Anze Rozman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,472 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Just received from Amazon the 2006 CD reissue. I never listened this album and I don't even know the works. Discovery mode Activated! Serge Prokofiev: Sonata for Cello & Piano; David Ward-Steinman: Duo for Cello & Piano (1974, Orion, ORS 74141) Featuring John Williams (p). (Reissued in 2006 as "Music for Cello and Piano by Sergei Prokofiev & David Ward-Steinman", Marquis, 83115) (Reissued for Digital Download in 2007, Marquis Classics) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Listening to John Adams' "On the Transmigration of Souls". Perhaps this is the real reason Williams opted not to score Oliver Stone's 9/11... Dixon Hill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 That's a tough piece. But he really delivered brilliantly on that commission. Just a meditative, reflective piece, with only the litany of names and quotes giving it any specificity to 9/11. A lesser artist would have done something crass or dramatic or political. Speaking of... Oliver Stone did a movie? Not Mr. Big 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 1 minute ago, TheGreyPilgrim said: That's a tough piece. But he really delivered brilliantly on that commission. Just a meditative, reflective piece, with only the litany of names and quotes giving it any specificity to 9/11. A lesser artist would have done something crass or dramatic or political. Speaking of... Oliver Stone did a movie? He made an inspirational drama about firefighters starring Nicholas Cage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 It's better than the Greengrass film, I'll give it that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Man that frantic section starting around 16:00 lifts you right out of your seat. Incredibly stirring. The original NY Philharmonic performance has even more drive to it. Thanks for posting this. I've only heard it a few times, since it's not something I throw on casually, so I don't know it very intimately - and I've had my "a ha" moment with that little section tonight. It's really unbelievably moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome in Plaid 219 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 On 3/3/2016 at 2:03 PM, Sharky said: Quite probably my favourite "WWII symphony." Not sure where those dates come from: Panufnik's site says it was written in '57 and revised in '66, and was based on a piece from '51. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Ok then. I'm an utter mug. The search for my favourite war symphony continues, but I can tell you it won't be Shostakovich's 7th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 John's a Jerry fan (although he isn't that specific about it).... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justaguy 68 Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I have found it quite interesting - maybe you will too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,509 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Jacob Druckman - Windows. I enjoy this piece a lot! It almost sounds psychedelic, like a shape shifting in space. Sharkissimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I want to orchestrate this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 What's the one that's an homage to baroque composers, Prism? Check that one out. It's definitely psychedelic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Chiaroscuro's worth a listen. If you want full on lysergic, I give you Nørgård's 2nd Symphony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Right on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Recently been exploring some Scelsi. Loert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Also good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,509 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Scelsi is brilliant. Make sure to listen to "Uaxactum", "Pfhat" and "Konx-om-pax". Gnome in Plaid and KK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,232 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I like this very early Whitacre chamber piece, today. http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/mariposa-de-obsidiana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now