What are you listening to now?

[Cetto von Cronstorff]

Missa Solemnis - a terrific account by Eliot Gardiner.

Unfortunately this recording is marred by Catherine MacIntosh's appallingly off-pitch violin solo in the 'Et incarnatus'. It's a real pity that Gardiner didn't have the guts to make her practise the intonation.

[Michael]

Unfortunately this recording is marred by Catherine MacIntosh's appallingly off-pitch violin solo in the 'Et incarnatus'. It's a real pity that Gardiner didn't have the guts to make her practise the intonation.

Do you mean the "Benedictus"?

Michael

[jman]

a recording I made of "gute nacht" and "der leiermann" from the winterreise cycle....a classmate of me asked wether I wanted to accompagny him...he had the Dietrich fischer Dieskau edition of the songs...I looked at the score..we practised for like 30 min in 2 days...and then recorded it...it's far from perfect...but I still like the outcome we did

for those whom would like to hear us have a go at them

http://www.sheezyart.com/view/1043099/ *gute nacht*
http://www.sheezyart.com/view/1043091/ *der leiermann*

I really loved your recordings of the Schubert, for such little rehersal time you two really put together some good performances, if you record more with your friend, let us (or let me) know.

Funny, because those two songs are two of the three songs from the cycle I am studying for a 19th Cent. History listening test later on today. So I'm perusing greats from the early half, Schubert Quintet, Schumann's Carnaval, Mendelssohn's Octet, Reformation Symph., Berlioz requiem among many others.

[Hofrat]

The second half of the Archduke Rudolf birthday special:

1. Variations on a theme by Prince Louis Ferdinand for piano and violin in F (1810).
2. Sonata for piano and violin in F minor (1812).

Susan Kagan, piano
Josef Suk, violin
Recorded by Koch

The violinist is the great-grandson of Dvorak and grandson of the composer Josef Suk.

[Chaszz]

I've been hankering for a Brahms Fifth Symphony, so I am trying to get into his chamber music to fill the void. I've tried his string quartets to no avail, but his piano-based chamber music is great. Currently listening to the Piano Trio Op. 87, and the Piano Quintet. I hazard the opinion that, in chamber music, Brahms needed the piano to get him going.

[Sorrano]

On the way back from a viewing, last night (a friend passed away) I caught the last two movements of Beethoven's final quartet (Alban Berg Quartet) and thought it a very appropriate work for the occasion. Nicely done, too!

[Peter]

I've been hankering for a Brahms Fifth Symphony, so I am trying to get into his chamber music to fill the void. I've tried his string quartets to no avail, but his piano-based chamber music is great. Currently listening to the Piano Trio Op. 87, and the Piano Quintet. I hazard the opinion that, in chamber music, Brahms needed the piano to get him going.

What about the string sextets? Wonderful music. I agree with you about the piano chamber music, the quintet is very fine and I especially love the slow movement. In a similar vain I also recommend the Elgar piano quintet (again especially the slow movement). Continuing the chamber music theme I've been listening to the amazing Mendelssohn octet - what an achievement for such a young man!

[Chaszz]

What about the string sextets? Wonderful music. I agree with you about the piano chamber music, the quintet is very fine and I especially love the slow movement. In a similar vain I also recommend the Elgar piano quintet (again especially the slow movement). Continuing the chamber music theme I've been listening to the amazing Mendelssohn octet - what an achievement for such a young man!

You are right about the Brahms string sextets - I have a CD around somewhere but have misplaced it!

One critic declared that Mendelssohn never again reached the level of his early works, the octet and the Midsummer Night's Dream overture. (I don't remember who said it.)...If frequency of listening to a work is a measure of its true worth, from my own experience I would have to agree.

I will try the Elgar - thanks.

[Megan]

Leopold Stokowski ,
Two Ancient Liturgical Melodies.
Bournemouth Symphony Orch.
Jose Serbrier / Conductor.

Sublime !

[Megan]

Brahms Hungarian Dance no. 5

Here is a great site introducing kids to Brahms and classical music in a light hearted way with brief talks .

[HaydnFan]

Brahms Hungarian Dance no. 5

Can you get any more of a common piece? Haha, just kidding...have fun with it, it is a decent piece of music!

[Tony John Hearne]

Schoenberg "Transfigured Night" Supremely exciting and passionate musc On AOL Radio, perhaps an unlikley source of quality music but free and certainly worth a listen

[Joy]

Tonight on NPR Beethoven's Symphony No 6 "The Pastoral"
which I think evokes the beauty of the natural world around us performed in downtown Los Angeles.

[Peter]

I've been listening to two (controversial) realisations of the oldest notated music in the world - the Hurrian hymn found in Ugarit (modern Syria) dating from around 1400BC. Prof. Kilmer's 1972 interpretation of this is highly controversial as it suggest harmony and the diatonic scale were known at a far earlier date than was assumed. Having heard it I'm sceptical of this, but it was interesting to hear anyway!

[Chaszz]

The Brahms string sextets and as Peter says, they are superb. There goes my theory that Brahms needed a piano in his chamber music to make it great - joining 70 or 80 other theories of mine in history's dustbin...