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196  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: The Memorable/Sensational Opening Bars....... on: February 09, 2014, 08:00:29 pm
Largely agree with Kyle's post but for works that throw you in at the deep end would add.

Popov: Symphony No.1

Holmboe: Symphony No. 4

Vaughan Williams: symphonies 4,6 and 2 (very different)

Bruckner:Symphony 9

Shostakovich : Symphony 10

Yes, the Walton Symphony No. 1 opening is terrific
of all of these, Shostakovitch 10 is my favorite and if done right, is totally awesome.
Holmboe 6 is also captivating..

Totally agree about the Holmboe.
197  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: How to choose? on: January 29, 2014, 08:11:07 pm
If your listening is merely a pastime, an entertainment, a diversion (i.e. something to occupy time with), then, I think, any random or gimmicky selection criteria is as good as another (Dyn's techie-type updated "numbers in the hat" solution is particularly notable in this regard).

However, if music is something you utilize in the quest to transcend time (rather than just occupy it), if it's a potent and serious means by which you engage with the very largest issues of life in the world, then it seems to me a more conscious and intentional approach to the dilemma is advisable.

Were you suggesting a philosophical consideration along these lines, - or only soliciting some ready-at-hand technique?


A very interesting post, I especially relate to your 'music the transcender of time' comment.
198  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: Neoclassical music with "heart" on: January 26, 2014, 01:51:28 pm
I largely agree with Kyle's list. Certainly Lennox Berkeley's first two symphonies and PC no 2 stand out, as does Walter Piston's Second Symphony, a terrific work. Martinu's 4th Symphony also comes to mind. These composers are often described as 'neo-classical'.
199  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Fricker on: January 22, 2014, 10:06:38 pm
Stickan Andersson of Polar Records, the manager of Abba, financed the first commercially (I believe) recording of Allan Pettersson's Symphony no 8 (Baltimore/Comissiona).

A great LP on DGG, never on CD as far as I'm aware.
200  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Music You Cannot Live Without! on: January 21, 2014, 08:13:11 pm
Good choices, Jeffrey :)

Thank you Colin  :). I was amused to read recently that Frank Sinatra (whose music I grew up listening to as my father was a great fan) was an admirer of Vaughan Williams and considered 'Job' to be his greatest work. I am sorry that my dad is no longer around to discuss this interesting juxtaposition of our two favourite musicians.
201  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: David Wright's article on Rob Barnett on: January 21, 2014, 05:02:04 pm
Other fave Barb recordings anyone ::)?

Bax Symphony 3
Alwyn Symphony 1 and 2
Arthur Benjamin Symphony.
VW A London Symphony (EMI)
202  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: David Wright's article on Rob Barnett on: January 21, 2014, 05:55:10 am
I can't agree on Barbirolli his wonderful recording of Symphony n°2 on MC made me to appreciate RVW first time.

I agree. Barbirolli's version of Vaughan Williams's Symphony 5 ( EMI) is my favourite version of that great work.
203  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: David Wright's article on Rob Barnett on: January 20, 2014, 11:33:16 pm
For what its worth I'm a "fan" of Rob myself, and have enjoyed and learned from his writing for many years (not to mention the good amount of private correspondence that has enhanced my admiration of him).  I'm not defending Wright, but still felt his piece was worth considering for all it deviance.

But he's not perfect, - and for any writer there's always "Wrights" out there with greater or lesser insight and style hard at work to expose one's foibles.  It means, in any case, someone cares about your work enough to give it their attention, however nefariously.  To be ignored is the greater humiliation.



Yes, I rather agreed with his views on Holbrooke I have to say, but he is very scathing about Barbirolli.
204  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Fricker on: January 20, 2014, 11:31:42 pm
I fear that Fricker's reputation never recovered from the jibe in Kingsley Amis's "Lucky Jim".

Yes, I know that one, something along the lines of 'aren't you going to stay for the P. Racine Fricker?'
205  Assorted items / Commercial recordings (vintage, new and forthcoming) / Re: British overtures from Chandos on: January 20, 2014, 10:33:31 pm
I don't have the CD (yet  ::)) but just wanted to say how much I like the Sea Venturers by Frederich Austin, with its echoes of Bax, Sainton and (oddly) Bernard a Herrmann. Beecham played it as a tribute to Austin following the composer's death. It is on a fine Dutton CD devoted to Austin's music.
206  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: David Wright's article on Rob Barnett on: January 20, 2014, 10:25:22 pm
Well, one of the criticisms seems to be that as Rob Barnett is not a technical musician himself he has no right to write about music. Personally I do not agree with this elitist and arrogant position. For the average music lover, technical analysis of music can be a real 'turn off' others might love it - but not me. I am biased as I have written booklet notes for a few CDs. When I was asked to do so the editor told me specifically to avoid technical analysis, which would be seen by many as dry and arid. You might as well argue that a newspaper TV critic has no right to comment on programmes unless he has experience as a film director. As I say, I have found Rob Barnett's reviews to be informative and meaningful, steering me in the direction of many works which I would otherwise have never discovered - I am very grateful to him.
207  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Fricker on: January 20, 2014, 10:13:14 pm
I have always liked the very exciting last section of Symphony No. 2.
208  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: David Wright's article on Rob Barnett on: January 20, 2014, 10:08:19 am
I have found Rob Barnett's reviews both helpful, informative and reliable. I think that he is one of the best reviewers around. The unpleasant article tells us a lot about David Wright and nothing about Rob Barnett, whose reviews I always deliberately search out for their insight and perceptive discussion.
209  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, C.H.........and Sir Simon Rattle, O.M.!! on: January 19, 2014, 04:45:22 pm
I agree, Jeffrey. Rattle's main problem is that he's way too inconsistent. For example, he's turned out some great Stravinsky, Shostakovich (superb Fourth!), Brahms and Mahler 10, but many of his other recordings are nothing exceptional. As a whole, his Mahler cycle is nowhere near a top choice and his Sibelius is overrated.

Agree about the Shostakovich Kyle. Oddly enough I rather liked his recordings of Sibelius symphonies 3 and 5.
210  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: The Memorable/Sensational Opening Bars....... on: January 16, 2014, 09:03:56 pm
Re: digression about Walton's First Symphony.
I have heard the live performance (from the '50) by Karajan and the Rome Radio Orchestra: a not outstanding orchestra mesmerized by a very great conductor.It is reported that Karajan should have later record the Symphony with the Philharmonia, but he would have asked Walton some modifications to the scoring, getting a refusal.
My favourite version is the ultra-energetic Previn with the LSO.

Thank you.

Zemlinsky's 'The Mermaid' also has a hauntingly atmospheric opening.

I did not answer your question to me, Jeffrey, about "favourite versions" of Walton's 1st. As you know I don't really go in for multiple copies of the same work, preferring to have the broadest possible repertoire in my collection. I do have six versions of the Walton 1st but two of them were BBC Music Magazine recordings(Sir Adrian Boult and Tadaaki Otaka). The four I bought were the Boult/LPO (on LP), the Previn/LSO (on LP) and, on cd, the highly recommended performances by Simon Rattle and Paul Daniel. Both are magnificent but the Naxos cd with Paul Daniel is, very unjustly, sometimes forgotten because it is on the super-cheap Naxos label. It is rivetingly exciting, in the same way as the Previn. I am happy to live with these :)

Thanks Colin. I think that Bryden Thomson's Chandos version is as good as any and the old Sargent version is underrated.
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