Ahem, - probably Othmar Schoeck should be in the mix of "standout" Swiss composers, - and I demand that you publicly recognize it here, hehe.
About David's Symphonies your reflections are curious. I believe all of his Symphonies were available as downloads at UC well before CPO started their series, and like me I'm sure you listened to them at the time. I myself did so repetitively, in fact, and as a result became indifferent to CPO's typically snail-like release schedule, having judged the cycle rather sterile and uninteresting (excepting No.2). Was your initial evaluation more enthusiastic, feeding your impatience for the commercial recordings, but then subsequently turned tepid? Given your insistent demands that CPO "get on with it" after me knowing you were already familiar with the music, it's surprising now to hear you speak so dismissively having been convinced you felt passionately (based on the downloads).
I have no difficulty in adding Schoeck to those Swiss composers I mentioned :)
Regarding Johann Nepomuk David......
You seem determined to probe into the inner workings of my "enthusiasms" ;D
Yes, the symphonies were uploaded elsewhere and, yes, I downloaded them and, yes, I listened to them. However, I find that listening to downloaded music through the speakers attached to my pc whilst sitting in front of my machine is not the ideal for me. I recognised this very early in the process of downloading the vast amount of music so generously provided by others and burned some of it onto cd so that I could listen through the magnificent (although incredibly ancient) speakers which sit on the marble mantelpiece in my sitting room.
All this should enable anyone (including me) to come to a balanced assessment of the quality of the music concerned. And yet.......there is always something missing. There is an almost undefinable "authority" about having the music on a commercial cd with, of course, the often invaluable cd booklet notes.
...and there is the satisfaction of knowing that the music is now available to anyone and everyone who cares to purchase that cd. The composer has, finally, the opportunity of having his music heard by the wider public; the recognition previously denied.
As an enthusiast that gives me a substantial measure of satisfaction. Sometimes I find the music less instantly appealing than I had hoped, sometimes I am blown away by it. I suppose my "enthusiasm" is that of an advocate arguing for my "client", even if that client is not as worthy as I might have hoped. But that does not negate the imperative I feel for (sometimes/often) passionate advocacy.
So....there you go :) I have attempted to explain. If you find my attitude absurd or inconsistent.........tough! ;D
