What is the last piece of classical music you listened to?

[Bespin Copilot 10,558]

Toccata and fugue in D minor is a good improvisation work that is surely by Bach, but done after an existing theme, which is surely not by Bach.

 

Does it make sense?

[SteveMc 2,687]

A plausible theory, yes.  

[Holko 11,931]

Yes, the theme comes from Zimmer's The Kraken.

[publicist 4,650]

On 2/24/2019 at 8:33 PM, The Illustrious Jerry said:

BARTOK: Violin Concerto No. 1-2

Isabella Faust, violin

Daniel Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

 

 

No. 2, it's almost a kissin cousin to Miklos Rózsa's violin concerto, betraying the hungarian folk roots of both. More 'conventional' than Bartok's barnstormers, both are still full of brilliant timbres and contrasts. 

 

Also, does anyone know if the great Vaughan-Williams piece 'Oxford Elegy' exists without narration?

 

[Bespin Copilot 10,558]

Good organ works, if not the only ones, are the Trio Sonatas by J.S. Bach.

 

Try Robert Quinney he has a good sound.

 

 

[Loert 3,089]

A lot of fun:

 

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

Yesterday: Maurizio Pollini plays Chopin

An excellent album. Lovely selections. Great Saturday morning material.

 

Today: Phillips' Mozart Edition: String Quartets 1-15

Maybe a little too much Mozart; four discs of fairly good but all too typical Mozart writing. 

 

Past Week: Mozart: Piano Concertos 24-27

A+. I prefer Mozart's 20-23 though.

[Sunshine Reger 3,699]

.

 

[Loert 3,089]

^ I plan to listen to them all...sometime. 

 

 

 

Charming. Goes to show how much Korngold has in common with "jazz harmony".

[publicist 4,650]

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

Nice @publicist! I'd highly recommend exploring other Borodin's works, especially his symphonies, string quartets, and piano works.

[KK 3,310]

Sitting with this strange beast today...

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

PROKOFIEV: Piano Concertos No. 1-2

I am currently going through a Prokofiev cycle of sorts. To begin, I'm starting with the BBC Philharmonic's recording of his complete piano concertos. These first two works were at times alla grave, although often molto espressivo . The overall mood of the orchestra backing the piano is powerful, but very appropriate and defining for Russian works of the early 20th century. 

 

Prokofiev has always been a bit of a dark horse composer for me. He's not neccesarily the most popular, but his compositions are right up there with the greats. My love for his work started from a very young age with his symphonic children's suite Peter and the Wolf, which ended up being my first classical CD bought with my own money (I was quite proud). Now more recently I've revisited Prokofiev's work as a whole and have come to love titles such as Romeo and Juliet and For The Love of Three Oranges, as well as the symphonies. Now I'm trying to do the most extensive listening I can, checking off the symphonies, suites, and concertos in a rather fun musical experience.

 

Happy listening!

[Score 775]

2 hours ago, The Illustrious Jerry said:

PROKOFIEV: Piano Concertos No. 1-2

I am currently going through a Prokofiev cycle of sorts. To begin, I'm starting with the BBC Philharmonic's recording of his complete piano concertos. These first two works were at times alla grave, although often molto espressivo . The overall mood of the orchestra backing the piano is powerful, but very appropriate and defining for Russian works of the early 20th century. 

 

Prokofiev has always been a bit of a dark horse composer for me. He's not neccesarily the most popular, but his compositions are right up there with the greats. My love for his work started from a very young age with his symphonic children's suite Peter and the Wolf, which ended up being my first classical CD bought with my own money (I was quite proud). Now more recently I've revisited Prokofiev's work as a whole and have come to love titles such as Romeo and Juliet and For The Love of Three Oranges, as well as the symphonies. Now I'm trying to do the most extensive listening I can, checking off the symphonies, suites, and concertos in a rather fun musical experience.

 

Happy listening!

 

If I may give a suggestion, check the piano sonatas as well, especially the last ones (the 7th is the most famous, mainly for its exciting finale), and many piano solo pieces such as the Toccata, Sarcasms... in addition to the obvious orchestral warhorses (the Scythian Suite and the Alexander Nevsky Cantata are also pieces that you don't want to miss)!

[publicist 4,650]

12 hours ago, The Illustrious Jerry said:

Nice @publicist! I'd highly recommend exploring other Borodin's works, especially his symphonies, string quartets, and piano works.

 

I just listened to Intrada's new 'American Tail', so i'm deeper in Borodin than ever!

[Loert 3,089]

This keeps appearing in my Youtube recommendations for some reason, hopefully now that I've listened to it it will go away...

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Being a wind band player, and having enormous love for the film Howards End, I’m predisposed to admire Grainger.  But even I can only take it in carefully measured doses.

[publicist 4,650]

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

Nice!

[Loert 3,089]

A masterclass in writing music with humour:

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

In my opinion, the Symphonic Ode is the greatest American composition to come out of the 1920s.  It's just awe-inspiring.  I could (and have) listen to it over and over and over.

 

Because Copland has such a mastery of musical flow (la grande ligne!) it's always difficult to zero in on specific parts to demonstrate how wonderful a piece overall is.  I highly recommend listening to the whole thing.

 

But if you want to sample, please listen to the second section of the piece.  This section is just face-meltingly amazing.  A perfection of imaginative melodic development, orchestration, and musical narrative.  I defy you to not let it keep playing!  The third section is gorgeous and aching.

 

4:22 - 8:58

 

This masterpiece has sadly only been recorded four times.  It's notorious for requiring a lot of rehearsal time to get the rhythms and transitions down.

 

Of the four recordings, the ones by Copland himself and Tilson Thomas are recommended.  The recordings by Schwarz and Wilson are pretty poor IMO.

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,262]

Stu your apparent appreciation for Magritte and "the long line" only encourage me further to officially endorse you as my successor.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

25 minutes ago, Knox Harrington said:

Matisse

 

Magritte!

[Bespin Copilot 10,558]

Monet

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,262]

31 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

Magritte!

 

Typo fixed

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I only just noticed this is a different thread than the classical music thread I'm used to.... why was a second one needed?

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

Compare the thread titles.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I still don't think it makes sense to have two.  It's not like people weren't using the other one just to say what they've been listening to.  I certainly used it for that often.

 

I'm exclusively using the original thread in future.

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

It's not like there's too many classical music threads.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I guess I have a weird (yes, unnecessary) nostalgia for the "recommendation" thread.  It's always been a place of calm, measured discussion in my time on the forum.  It's a special thread!

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

The more classical music threads, the better, I say!

 

Btw, @Disco Stu, perhaps we should just make a Copland thread for you.

[SteveMc 2,687]

2 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

I only just noticed this is a different thread than the classical music thread I'm used to.... why was a second one needed?

The justification is that the original has become more of a place to share and recommend more obscure works.

The only advantage with having two threads is that it divides the load, makes the threads load easier.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Then I think people were perceiving a snobbishness that wasn't there.  Of course you're free to talk about Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or whatever in that thread!  Nobody would've looked down on that in my experience at least.

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

I'm sorry that this thread serves no purpose to you, Stu. 

 

I did, however, clearly state my reasons for its existence in the first post. 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Sorry if I caused offense.  I thought I clarified myself in a way where it would be clear nothing was meant personally.

[Loert 3,089]

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

7 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Sorry if I caused offense.  I thought I clarified myself in a way where it would be clear nothing was meant personally.

None taken, I continue to post in both threads. Thanks for the recommendations, especially on the Copland front. I was trying to dive into his work while you were on leave, but decided to wait until you got back. 

[publicist 4,650]

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

I love Solti's punch.

[Loert 3,089]

 

Very interesting sonority at 21:49

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue

WALTON: Crown Imperial

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21

 

That piano concerto is undoubtedly the best of Mozart's many, IMO. What an Andante, cushioned in between two other amazing movements!

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

Mozart's 21st piano concerto is great, Jerry, but I prefer the 20th, one of only two he composed in minor mode.

[Sunshine Reger 3,699]

.

 

[SteveMc 2,687]

The second movement is very nice indeed.  Am I wrong, or do I hear melodic and harmonic elements reminiscent of Horner?

[Sunshine Reger 3,699]

.

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

Why does she have a beard?

[SteveMc 2,687]

I roll my eyes at you and YouTube.

[Jurassic Shark 16,122]

No need to brag about it.

 

Perhaps she's wearing a beard in order to be taken more seriously as a composer.

[publicist 4,650]

 

[Loert 3,089]

William Bolcom - Inventing Flight

 

Great recording and performance!