Classical Directions...for 'Newbie(s)'

[dhyantyke]

While awaiting delivery of Vivaldi's Stabat Mater, I have dipped into this one:



Does this qualify as CM ? I first heard a fragment on Lyric and bought it straight away as it was quite cheap on Zoverstocks. I must say I do like it, particularly the slower movements.

[fergus]

While awaiting delivery of Vivaldi's Stabat Mater, I have dipped into this one:



Does this qualify as CM ? I first heard a fragment on Lyric and bought it straight away as it was quite cheap on Zoverstocks. I must say I do like it, particularly the slower movements.

That is interesting. Lots of people have no time for John Tavener at all. I have some of his music in my collection. I do not listen to it very often but I do like it. Some of his choral music can be a bit difficult for me at times. However, if you want to further explore his world I would recommend this set which a member here gave to me as a present....





It is on the Naxos label so you should be able to pick up a used copy inexpensively.

[james]

Tavener is a living composer.
His first big 'hit' was 'The Whale' on the Beetles Apple label .. its an oratorio based on 'Jonah and the Whale'
Most of his stuff is religious .. he is sometimes called a 'holy minimalist' [Avro Part is another one]
I quite like him, actually.
There is a midieval composer with almost the same name ..

If you want to try a different type of music I would recommend ..



which is available from amazon for £15 [for all nine Beethoven symphonies].

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Compl ... =1-2-spell

It is nearly as cheap to buy the full set of symphonies as just getting the good ones .. and generally people disagree on which are the good ones but my favourites would be numbers 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Another good version [and only a bit more expensive] ..



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-9-Sym ... 515&sr=1-1

Personally I prefer older recordings from the sixties onwards. They have good sound quality [stereo] and are studio recordings [with many rehersals]. Personaly I don't like the modern tendency towards live recordings [which I think is mainly to reduce the cost of making the recording].

james

[fergus]

Those are two great Beethoven symphonic cycles James. Each one is excellent in its own right but they are a complete contrast to each other in terms of interpretation and therefore compliment each other very well.

[dhyantyke]

Tavener is a living composer.
His first big 'hit' was 'The Whale' on the Beetles Apple label .. its an oratorio based on 'Jonah and the Whale'
Most of his stuff is religious .. he is sometimes called a 'holy minimalist' [Avro Part is another one]
I quite like him, actually.
There is a midieval composer with almost the same name ..

If you want to try a different type of music I would recommend ..



which is available from amazon for £15 [for all nine Beethoven symphonies].

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Compl ... =1-2-spell

It is nearly as cheap to buy the full set of symphonies as just getting the good ones .. and generally people disagree on which are the good ones but my favourites would be numbers 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Another good version [and only a bit more expensive] ..



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-9-Sym ... 515&sr=1-1

Personally I prefer older recordings from the sixties onwards. They have good sound quality [stereo] and are studio recordings [with many rehersals]. Personaly I don't like the modern tendency towards live recordings [which I think is mainly to reduce the cost of making the recording].

james

I had never heard the term "Holy Minimalist" but I do like the sound of it !! :)

One of my most played recordings is :



Yet I had never seen Part mentioned in classical dispatches and wondered where he fitted in ! Now at least I have a 'genre'...

Thanks for the heads up on the Beethoven Cycles, I will go for the Mackerras this time ( I have already some Karajan), though I will save the listening for later as I am exploring elsewhere at the moment. Vivaldi et al...

[dhyantyke]

While awaiting delivery of Vivaldi's Stabat Mater, I have dipped into this one:



Does this qualify as CM ? I first heard a fragment on Lyric and bought it straight away as it was quite cheap on Zoverstocks. I must say I do like it, particularly the slower movements.

That is interesting. Lots of people have no time for John Tavener at all. I have some of his music in my collection. I do not listen to it very often but I do like it. Some of his choral music can be a bit difficult for me at times. However, if you want to further explore his world I would recommend this set which a member here gave to me as a present....





It is on the Naxos label so you should be able to pick up a used copy inexpensively.

That looks like an interesting recording.

I think in fact that it's the Cello sound equally as much as the music that appeals in the 'Veil', and the shorter piece 'Wake up and Die' is very appealing.
I have a compilation of YO YO Ma which contains the JSB Suite No. 1 in G Major made famous in the movie (?) starring Russel Crowe....beautiful
and another recording of the music of Ennio Morricone which contains some gorgeous melodies though probably wandering to the fringes of CM here !!

[james]

Holy minimalism .. see .. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_minimalism

"...
Examples include Arvo Pärt (an Estonian Orthodox), John Tavener (a British composer who converted to Russian Orthodoxy), Henryk Górecki (a Polish Catholic), Alan Hovhaness (the earliest mystic minimalist), Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Hans Otte, Pēteris Vasks and Vladimír Godár.

Despite being grouped together,[4] the composers tend to dislike the term, and are by no means a "school" of close-knit associates. Their widely differing nationalities, religious backgrounds, and compositional inspirations make the term problematic, but it is nonetheless in widespread use, sometimes critically, among musicologists and music critics, primarily because of the lack of a better term.
..."

[dhyantyke]

Holy minimalism .. see .. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_minimalism

"...
Examples include Arvo Pärt (an Estonian Orthodox), John Tavener (a British composer who converted to Russian Orthodoxy), Henryk Górecki (a Polish Catholic), Alan Hovhaness (the earliest mystic minimalist), Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Hans Otte, Pēteris Vasks and Vladimír Godár.

Despite being grouped together,[4] the composers tend to dislike the term, and are by no means a "school" of close-knit associates. Their widely differing nationalities, religious backgrounds, and compositional inspirations make the term problematic, but it is nonetheless in widespread use, sometimes critically, among musicologists and music critics, primarily because of the lack of a better term.
..."

MMM..
Interestingly one of my other well played pieces is :



The Dawn Upshaw piece/performance I think is truly marvellous, exciting, uplifting and awe inspiring at athe same time

[fergus]

I must say Tadgh that you are listening to some beautiful and wonderful music. It will be interesting to read how Vivaldi's sacred music fits into all of this for you.

[dhyantyke]

I must say Tadgh that you are listening to some beautiful and wonderful music. It will be interesting to read how Vivaldi's sacred music fits into all of this for you.

I am wondering what's happened to the postman on that one! :)