What are you listening to now?

[Quijote]

My God, things are far worse than I ever thought......

Oh, they are much worse than you ever thought, PDG !

Interesting linguistic question : 'far' worse, or 'much' worse? At supermarket chains one sees the check-out counter with a sign saying "Ten articles or less". 'Fewer', no?
Is our argument qualitative or 'quantitative'? Sorrano?

Come on, PDG! Only ten postings to go. I'm supporting you, really I am !!!!!!!!!!

[Quijote]

This morning I heard the finales of both Clara and Robert Schumann's piano concerti. Clara's impressed me more than Robert's, but then that is just a first impression.

We note, Sorrano, that one work 'impressed' you more. We note with interest your avoidance of the term 'better'. The adjective 'impressed' is a far more apt term when talking about music. So, we finally can agree on at least one point.

[Quijote]

Or 'much' more apt? I don't know.

[PDG]

Oh, they are much worse than you ever thought, PDG !

Interesting linguistic question : 'far' worse, or 'much' worse? At supermarket chains one sees the check-out counter with a sign saying "Ten articles or less". 'Fewer', no?
Is our argument qualitative or 'quantitative'? Sorrano?

Come on, PDG! Only ten postings to go. I'm supporting you, really I am !!!!!!!!!!

Financial support is the best kind. Please send cheque or used banknotes...

Yes, it's "fewer" not "less"; "much worse" not "far worse", etc. But as Churchill said to a grammar-preaching snob: "Madam, that is something up with which I will not put!".

[Quijote]

Financial support is the best kind. Please send cheque or used banknotes...

Yes, it's "fewer" not "less"; "much worse" not "far worse", etc. But as Churchill said to a grammar-preaching snob: "Madam, that is something up with which I will not put!".

Moi, un snob?

[Sorrano]

We note, Sorrano, that one work 'impressed' you more. We note with interest your avoidance of the term 'better'. The adjective 'impressed' is a far more apt term when talking about music. So, we finally can agree on at least one point.

I could have said, "I liked Clara's concerto BETTER."

[Quijote]

I could have said, "I liked Clara's concerto BETTER."

Aaghhghh !!! You said the 'b' word (forget the 'f' word!) !!!
OK, Sorrano we've had our 'sparring' moment. What about the Simpson comment about Bruckner's 4th (the finale) being a 'failure'? I'm not trying to catch you out, I honestly want to hear your opinion. Let me start : I kind of 'half' agree with Simpson : in the finale Bruckner makes a build up in the introduction that is awesome (forgive this over-used Californian adjective), and when the main theme (happy Lander-type theme) comes in after an almost apocalyptic beginning it does seem rather a let down. Why didn't Bruckner revise this, I wonder?

[Sorrano]

Aaghhghh !!! You said the 'b' word (forget the 'f' word!) !!!
OK, Sorrano we've had our 'sparring' moment. What about the Simpson comment about Bruckner's 4th (the finale) being a 'failure'? I'm not trying to catch you out, I honestly want to hear your opinion. Let me start : I kind of 'half' agree with Simpson : in the finale Bruckner makes a build up in the introduction that is awesome (forgive this over-used Californian adjective), and when the main theme (happy Lander-type theme) comes in after an almost apocalyptic beginning it does seem rather a let down. Why didn't Bruckner revise this, I wonder?

This evening I listened to the Bruckner 4th (Eugene Jochum conducting the Has 1878-80 version). First, I do not consider Bruckner to be a Romantic composer. His orchestration and harmony are 19th Century, but the technique is not. He is interested in symmetry and balance, not just within the movements but with the symphony as a whole. I think that most people that do not care for his music are expecting Schumann or Mahler but this is not the case with Bruckner. With that in mind, I do not agree at all with Simpson's evaluation. From the coda to the final note I find a most exhilarating climax to the entire work, especially with the allusion to the descending 5th in the first movement.

What you said about the introduction I do agree that the follow up theme from that climax is a bit of a let down. It reminds me of my composition professor warning me about reaching climaxes too early in a work; it is a let down.

I like many things that Simpson wrote (you'll like this) but the metaphors nearly drove me nuts. Unlike Simpson I cannot view the 4th as a failure in any way; I found it to be magnificent, particularly the Jochum performance.

[Sorrano]

This morning it was Dvorak's 1st Symphony. Great music!

[Peter]

Debussy and Ravel's string quartets.

[Michael]

"Blue Danube" courtesy of this very discussion forum!

(This may need some explaining. I heard a couple of orchestral pieces from this site while posting today but Chris assures me it is not a new addition. Maybe I was getting the music from another site or maybe I am slowly going bonkers. I haven't heard anything since.)

[Joy]

Debussy and Ravel's string quartets.

Ravel's String Quartet in F is one of my favourites.

[Joy]

For me Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto a real beauty courtesy of the radio. By the way, on this day in 1881 he's Violin Concerto receives its premiere with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Alfred Brodsky agreed to perform the violin solo after Leopold Auer declared it "impossible to play."

[Sorrano]

For me Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto a real beauty courtesy of the radio. By the way, on this day in 1881 he's Violin Concerto receives its premiere with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Alfred Brodsky agreed to perform the violin solo after Leopold Auer declared it "impossible to play."

Congrats on reaching 2500 posts!!

[ruudp]

it's the morning of 5 dec over hereso a Recording of The requiem of mozart has found it's way in my repetorium today to commemorate his 216th death day...and right now I'm shamelessly listening to an improvisation of myself I recorded.