
I have recently finished a traversal of this Bruckner symphonic cycle by Wand and I thought that No. 8 in this set was a magnificent performance and a real stand out in the cycle.
Another converted soul LOL!!!Seán wrote: This is heavenly music. I have had it on repeat play this afternoon and evening....
Fergus, I'm slowly revising my opinion of FQ, with further listens... I'm warming to it now, considerably... :-)fergus wrote:Interesting as The Fairy Queen was my introduction to Purcell back when that recording came out and I loved it from the moment that I heard it.Jared wrote: The Purcell isn't as immediate as his other works; a little more of an acquaired taste, although pleasurable.
I am delighted to read that Jared. I feel that it is a great work and a great performance. Perhaps your ear is just becoming accustomed to the work with more frequent playing.Jared wrote:Fergus, I'm slowly revising my opinion of FQ, with further listens... I'm warming to it now, considerably... :-)fergus wrote:Interesting as The Fairy Queen was my introduction to Purcell back when that recording came out and I loved it from the moment that I heard it.Jared wrote: The Purcell isn't as immediate as his other works; a little more of an acquaired taste, although pleasurable.
I think that's it... unlike his other works, the choral parts are very minimal, making the work of a considerably more operatic style than the works in the Pinnock boxset... I think I tend to initially hang my concentration on the choral sections, and build the framework of the solo voices around it, because I often find those sections to require more listening to appreciate.fergus wrote: Perhaps your ear is just becoming accustomed to the work with more frequent playing.
Jared wrote: I think that's it... unlike his other works, the choral parts are very minimal, making the work of a considerably more operatic style than the works in the Pinnock boxset... I think I tend to initially hang my concentration on the choral sections, and build the framework of the solo voices around it, because I often find those sections to require more listening to appreciate.
That is quite a good observation Jared and one that I personally feel is something of a general problem for people who are not quite familiar with Purcell; the fact that he has a unique voice....his music does not quite fit in somehow. However, once one grows accustomed to it the music can be quite rewarding.That said, Purcell's musical language is something I have grown used to considerably over the past 12 months... and there doesn't appear to be much else like it around. A full century after Tallis & Byrd, his work still predates Handel by a good 30/40 years, and seemingly has no German influence... it seems to stand alone as 'Rococco' English repertoire in a late Stuart setting, it's practically unique, isn't it?