What are you listening to now?

[Peter]

Transcription for piano of Bach's Organ sonata no.4 Andante played by Vikingur Olafsson

[Quijote]

Transcription for piano of Bach's Organ sonata no.4 Andante played by Vikingur Olafsson

Transcriptions of Bach from one medium to another often seem to work, don't they? That said, is Olafsson's ample use of the sustain pedal an attempt to recreate the "acoustic" of the organ in its usual performance space?

[Peter]

I'm going through a Bruckner phase at the moment and the older I get the more I have come to appreciate how great he was - his music certainly does require repeated hearings as first impressions are not reliable and the sheer scale of the symphonies demand full concentration over a long time.

Here's the wonderful 3rd movt from the 8th. If I had to pick just 3 minutes to introduce someone to the music I'd recommend starting roughly 20'15 through 23'15

[Peter]

Transcriptions of Bach from one medium to another often seem to work, don't they? That said, is Olafsson's ample use of the sustain pedal an attempt to recreate the "acoustic" of the organ in its usual performance space?

Absolutely to both your points!

[Quijote]

Here's another transcription of the above, this time for string trio:

[Peter]

Here's another transcription of the above, this time for string trio:

Works very well, Bach is just so universal and the music seems to transcend any medium.

[Fredrika]

Beethoven Violin Concerto and Romances, solo violinist Charlie Siem. The album has (according to Spotify) come out this year, and I was very pleased to hear how fresh the sound was. Romance in F is superb with a little more upbeat tempo than usual.

However, yesterday I took the time to listen to Jordi Savall's take on the 9th symphony and was gravely disappointed! I love Savall's work but somehow the crown jewel, the finale of the 9th, just lacked right tempos (to my ear) and even some horn passages - seemed unbelievable but that's how it sounded to me. I'd love to hear what people here have thought of Savall's Beethoven interpretations!

[Sorrano]

I'm going through a Bruckner phase at the moment and the older I get the more I have come to appreciate how great he was - his music certainly does require repeated hearings as first impressions are not reliable and the sheer scale of the symphonies demand full concentration over a long time.

Here's the wonderful 3rd movt from the 8th. If I had to pick just 3 minutes to introduce someone to the music I'd recommend starting roughly 20'15 through 23'15

Do you find a particular conductor more favorable to your tastes? I particularly like Haitink; his 8th is my preferred, perhaps, of all Bruckner works.

[Peter]

Do you find a particular conductor more favorable to your tastes? I particularly like Haitink; his 8th is my preferred, perhaps, of all Bruckner works.

You can't go wrong with Haitink, but I can't claim to know all the major recordings. I've heard Tintner and Celibidache but I have Karajan's 1988 version of the 8th with the VPO which I prefer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrO9...l=ThikkKlassik

[Peter]

Beethoven Violin Concerto and Romances, solo violinist Charlie Siem. The album has (according to Spotify) come out this year, and I was very pleased to hear how fresh the sound was. Romance in F is superb with a little more upbeat tempo than usual.

However, yesterday I took the time to listen to Jordi Savall's take on the 9th symphony and was gravely disappointed! I love Savall's work but somehow the crown jewel, the finale of the 9th, just lacked right tempos (to my ear) and even some horn passages - seemed unbelievable but that's how it sounded to me. I'd love to hear what people here have thought of Savall's Beethoven interpretations!

I haven't heard his 9th, but I have his recording of the Eroica which attempted to recreate the original Lobkowitz orchestra, using the same size orchestra - the results are interesting, but you have to recall that at the first public performance, Beethoven had larger forces available.

[Zevy]

I haven't heard his 9th, but I have his recording of the Eroica which attempted to recreate the original Lobkowitz orchestra, using the same size orchestra - the results are interesting, but you have to recall that at the first public performance, Beethoven had larger forces available.

Is that the Eroica performance by "Ensemble 28"? I have the CD in my collection.

[Fredrika]

I haven't heard his 9th, but I have his recording of the Eroica which attempted to recreate the original Lobkowitz orchestra, using the same size orchestra - the results are interesting, but you have to recall that at the first public performance, Beethoven had larger forces available.

Interesting, so Savall has interpreted B's symphonies already before 2020? I was referring to the very recent project, the "Beethoven Revolution" where Savall conducted all 9 symphonies using the original metronome markings and with an orchestra consisting of period instruments.

I was very touched by his idea to be as loyal to the original as possible, and for example the 8th revealed new depths to me. That's why I had quite high expectations for the 9th which, unfortunately, were not fulfilled. I'm so puzzled about the "missing" horns I think I will dive into the original score to seek the truth!

[Quijote]

[QUOTE=Peter]

Listening to this wonderful performance of Bach's 6th 'cello suite played on a violoncello de spalla - a "shoulder" 'cello:

Remarkable and wonderful sound - I had no idea such an instrument existed and I see it has 5 strings which would make the 6th suite more playable.

That's right, there's no doubt that Bach's 6th suite for solo cello on a 5-string instrument is much easier to play - no "high-altitude" thumb positions! I love that 5-string "shoulder cello" version that I posted above. Check out this 5-string cello version played by Dutch maestro Anner Bylsma (RIP). If I remember correctly, this was recorded in the late 70s, when the HIP movement really took off.

And this (the Gavotte from the same suite):

[Quijote]

I posted ths before and it's a bit early - should be for the 4th Sunday of advent - but it's such a great piece!

Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn BWV 132

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bss-rU_zgWo

[Quijote]

Deleted post, video available only by clicking on the link above.