What are you listening to now?

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in d (1940)

Very nice, I thought, and I realize that I have very little of his works.

Enrique, I need to listen to more Shostakovich, as well!

[Enrique]

#5 is an old acquaintance of mine. I take it you know symphony #1, Sorrano.

Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in d (1940)

[Sorrano]

#5 is an old acquaintance of mine. I take it you know symphony #1, Sorrano.

Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in d (1940)

Are you referring to Khachaturian or Haydn (#5)? I am not familiar with Khachaturian's symphonies, nor do I know many of his works. What I have heard I have liked very much.

As for the Haydn I have heard the first symphony a number of times, but still am not terribly familiar with it.

[Enrique]

My fault. I was pointing to Shostakovich's first symphony. This work signaled him as a promising avant-garde composer, though he later chose more conservative ways.

[Sorrano]

My fault. I was pointing to Shostakovich's first symphony. This work signaled him as a promising avant-garde composer, though he later chose more conservative ways.

I'm not sure I've heard the 1st, but have the 5th, 7th, and 11th. (I believe those are the right ones.) In my youth (with piano lessons) I was introduced to Shostakovitch about the same time as Kabelevsky and while they are not identical at all in style, they impressed me both in the same way. I've enjoyed what I have heard of Shostakovitch's symphonies, and just about anything of his I've heard. Sadly, I haven't heard as much as I would have like to. Somewhere I have a Symphonic score to one of the symphonies that appears as a handwritten copy. I think it's the 13th, but have never heard a recording of it. I will have to check when I get home.

[Enrique]

I was introduced to the 7th by a friend, but I dislike its dedicatory and association with warlike matters, as I dislike any celebrations of victory over Germany, a country that gave us Beethoven and so many other great things. Although not to be put beside Hegel or Beethoven or Gauss' accomplishments, Germany gave us the magnetic audio tape, such a dramatic enhancement in the world of hi-fi. Says Norman Eisenberg in a book: "... Research into magnetic recording, using a paper (and later plastic) tape coated with iron oxide, continued in Germany. When Radio Luxembourg was captured by the Allies in 1944, a huge tape machine was discovered whose fidelity surpassed that of the finest disk recordings. Transplanted to and further developed in America, magnetic tape soon became the ultimate in noise-free, wide-[frequency] range recording and reproduction".

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Bruch: Violin Concerto #1 in g, Op 26

[Enrique]

Smetana: Má vlast. He was justly called the father of Czech music. Not that I know Czech music, aside from some Dvorak and Janacek. But the title seems to imply greatness. Though some days ago I made the acquaintance of Jan Dismas Zelenka, kind of J.S.Bach of Czechoslovakia.

To make a good reasoning, we should have: Greatness implies to be called father of Czech music. Then, the following is valid: Smetana is great, therefor, Smetana should be called the father of Czech music. But I only have "to be called the father of Czech music implies greatness" which, from "Smetana is great" leads to no conclusion. Be on guard against the fallacy of affirming the consequent. Smetana could be great because he was an outstanding general.

[Peter]

I was introduced to the 7th by a friend, but I dislike its dedicatory and association with warlike matters, as I dislike any celebrations of victory over Germany, a country that gave us Beethoven and so many other great things. Although not to be put beside Hegel or Beethoven or Gauss' accomplishments, Germany gave us the magnetic audio tape, such a dramatic enhancement in the world of hi-fi. Says Norman Eisenberg in a book: "... Research into magnetic recording, using a paper (and later plastic) tape coated with iron oxide, continued in Germany. When Radio Luxembourg was captured by the Allies in 1944, a huge tape machine was discovered whose fidelity surpassed that of the finest disk recordings. Transplanted to and further developed in America, magnetic tape soon became the ultimate in noise-free, wide-[frequency] range recording and reproduction".

Of course Germany gave us many great things and it is a huge mistake to equate it now solely with Nazism which was a malignancy that took hold of the nation at that unfortunate time for many reasons. The 7th was supposedly begun even before the Nazi invasion and certainly was written long before any 'victory' - it is likely that the Leningrad Shostakovich had in mind was not the one that withstood the German siege. Rather, it was the one "that Stalin destroyed and Hitler merely finished off." So I think you should listen to the 7th more as a testament against oppression of any kind rather than the Soviet inspired interpretation that Shostakovich probably did not originally intend.

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Mozart: Nine Variations in D on a Minuet by Duport, K 573

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Shostakovich: "King Lear" (Incidental Music, 1940), Op 58a (Only caught the last part)
Lavry: "Three Jewish Dances"
Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in d, R 406

[Megan]

:John Williams
Suite: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Zubin Mehta.


George Frideric Handel
Theodora: Part II, scene 2

Singer: Susan Gritton. Singer: Neal Davies. Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort & Players. Conductor: Paul McCreesh.

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Debussy:
"Hommage a` Haydn"
"Études," Bk 2

[Enrique]

This morning:

Debussy:
"Hommage a` Haydn"
"Études," Bk 2

Somebody is listening to Debussy! A rare occurrence, if I am permitted to say. in the BRS, Sorrano. Today:

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.

[Sorrano]

Somebody is listening to Debussy! A rare occurrence, if I am permitted to say. in the BRS, Sorrano. Today:

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.

I rather like Debussy! This was on the radio, however, and I have little control over what they play. Debussy's piano music is so unique and has some very colorful sounds. The etudes were very enjoyable.