What Classical Music Are You listening to Now? III

[Master Jacques]

Honegger. Cris du Monde

Heard this continuous, hour-long oratorio for the first time yesterday.
Unearthed a libretto online; have become obsessed by this searing piece, and did a quick Amazon review:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0006PV4YU

[Richard Barrett]

Avison: Concertos in Seven Parts Done from the Lessons of Domenico Scarlatti Nos. 6, 5. 11. 3. 9 and 12 (Café Zimmermann)

That's a great CD, I wish they'd completed the set (and that of Vivaldi's op.3, and CPE Bach's string symphonies...)

[Bryn]

Feldman: "For Bunita Marcus" (Hamelin).

[ahinton]

Feldman: "For Bunita Marcus" (Hamelin).

Hamelin's repertoire has covered quite a variety of music over the years but I have to admit to some surprise on discovering that he would record this...

[BBMmk2]

Gustav Mahler Das Lied von der Erde.
Christa Ludwig, Fritz Wunderlich
New Philarmonia & Philharmonia Orcgestra
Otto Klemperer.

Richard Strauss
Also Sprach Zarathustra; Dance of the Seven Veils
Ein Heldenleben.
Chicago SO, Fritz Reiner.

[Richard Barrett]

Johann Hermann Schein - Cymbalum Sionium, sacred music performed by the excellent Capella Ducale and Musica Fiata ensembles.

Previously I'd only really taken much notice of Schein's instrumental ensemble music (particularly on a disc by Hespèrion XX that's been around for many years) but the music on this collection is also highly valuable, in a similar kind of polychoral vein to Schütz's more fully scored works, and indeed setting some of the same biblical texts. On the other hand, comparing Schein's setting of the psalm text "Ist nicht Ephraim mein teurer Sohn?" with Schütz's (and with Samuel Scheidt's, which I listened to yesterday on a disc featuring the same performers as today's) does emphasise the unique profundity of Schütz's way with words. I don't think it's just a matter of greater familiarity; it's the same sort of feeling one might have in comparing Mahler's 8th symphony to the relevant bits of Schumann's Szenen aus Faust - there's nothing wrong or defective about the latter, it just obviously isn't on the same level.

[Richard Barrett]

Honegger. Cris du Monde

Heard this continuous, hour-long oratorio for the first time yesterday.
Unearthed a libretto online; have become obsessed by this searing piece, and did a quick Amazon review:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0006PV4YU

That sounds really interesting, though the other reviewer has some harsh words about the recording quality. I guess this is the only release of Cris du Monde though...

[Bryn]

Hamelin's repertoire has covered quite a variety of music over the years but I have to admit to some surprise on discovering that he would record this...

It's beautifully recorded, too. Damper and key sound are clearly audible, without being in any way intrusive. All part of the musical performance.

Now moved on to the Knoop & Co. playing "Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello" (dodocool pocket player to Bose noise cancelling headphones while heading into London by Greenline bus).

[edashtav]

Honegger. Cris du Monde

Heard this continuous, hour-long oratorio for the first time yesterday.
Unearthed a libretto online; have become obsessed by this searing piece, and did a quick Amazon review:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0006PV4YU

Many thanks for this tip off, Master; on the strength of your recommendation, I have just ordered the final, new copy in stock. I know most of the works well, including Nicolas de Flue, but have only vestigial memories of hearing Cris du Monde on the wireless, many moons ago.

[BBMmk2]

Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde
New Philharmonia & Philharmonia Orcgestras
Otto Klemperer

Richard Strauss
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Dance of the Seven Veils
Ein Heldenleben
Chicago SO, Fritz Reiner.

[HighlandDougie]

‘French Music for String Orchestra’
Koechlin
Sur les flots lointains, Op. 130
Lekeu
Adagio pour cordes
Honegger
Hymne pour dixtuor à cordes, (arranged for string orchestra)
Symphonie No. 2, pour cordes avec trompette ad libitum
Castérède
Symphonie No. 1, pour orchestre à cordes
Saint-Saëns
Sarabande, Op. 93
Ciconia Consort/ Dick van Gasteren
Emmy Storms, violin (track 8); Rianne Schoemaker, trumpet (track 11)
Recorded 2018, Westvest Kerk, Schiedam, Netherlands
Brilliant Classics - An outstanding album

I would never have noticed this CD had Stan (to whom big thanks) not brought it to our attention. Dutch-based orchestra of young musicians, who play beautifully a really interesting programme. Partly crowd-funded so I hope that investors enjoy it as much as I have done. Difficult not to, really.

[Stanfordian]

Walton
Sacred Music
Coronation Te Deum; Drop, drop slow tears; Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis
Where does the uttered music go?; Jubilate Deo; Cantico del Sole; The Twelve
Set me as a seal upon thine heart; Antiphon; Missa Brevis
Touch her soft lips and part & The Death of Falstaff (organ solos)
Christopher Whitton (organ)
Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
Christopher Robinson
Recorded 2001 St John's College Chapel, Cambridge
Naxos

Beethoven
Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30/2
Sonata No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30/3
Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 ‘Kreutzer’
Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96
Renaud Capuçon (violin) & Frank Braley (piano)
Recorded 2009, L’heure bleue, Salle de musique, La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland
From ‘The Complete Violin Sonatas’
Virgin Classics

[BBMmk2]

Hi Stan. That’s a very good recording of Walton’s choral music. Very enjoyable.

Brahms
Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15.
Artur Rubenstein, (Piano)
Chicago SO
Fritz Reiner.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Many thanks for this tip off, Master; on the strength of your recommendation, I have just ordered the final, new copy in stock. I know most of the works well, including Nicolas de Flue, but have only vestigial memories of hearing Cris du Monde on the wireless, many moons ago.

You will be pleased to read that the Am_.com reviewer comes down on the side of Tzipine, as against a Czech recording under Baudo:

https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Honegger-Centenary-Symphony-Liturgique/dp/B00008FLIB

[Pulcinella]

Klassizistiche Moderne, Vol 2
Basle Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood, with Emma Kirkby
Arte Nova

A very nicely arranged programme:
Stravinsky: Suite No 1 for small orchestra
Tippett: Divertimento on Sellinger's Round
Stravinsky: Pastorale; Lied ohne Name for two bassoons; Three Songs from William Shakespeare; Fanfare for a new theatre; Aria and Cabaletta from The Rake's Progress (No word from Tom)
Britten: Sinfonietta
Stravinsky: Suite No 2 for small orchestra