What are you listening to now?

[glindhot]

My club's music presenter celebrated Benjamin Britten's forthcoming centenary by playing:
Simple Symphony
Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
A Shepherd's Carol
Hymn to the Virgin

[Sorrano]

This morning:
Dvorák: Theme and Variations in A-Flat, Op 36
Fibich: Theme and Variations in B-Flat

[Sorrano]

This morning:
Britten: "Peter Grimes:" Four Sea Interludes, Op 33a
FOERSTER: "On the Sea"

[Enrique]

Rimsky-Korsakoff: Great Russian Easter Overture, op.36
Bach:

• From his violin concerti, the slow movements.
• Some numbers from the mass in B minor.

I wonder: were there not female singers in the time of Bach? Was not one of his wives a singer in a choir? As the answer seems to be in the affirmative to me, I don't understand why in so many performances of his choral music the altos are sung by men. By the way: in a typical choir, the singers are divided into four groups. What is the name for any of these groups? As a category, it ought to receive one. Example: France can be divided into 96 groups of people. Each one of the 96 has a particular name, but there is a name that describes any of them: department.

[Sorrano]

Enrique, I'm not sure when women actually became part of the choir, but typically men and boys used to sing all the parts. Boys sang the soprano and alto parts and men sang the tenor and bass. Although there were counter-tenors that could sing the alto and soprano parts, as well. The early church choirs were all male, but I'm not sure about the operas.

[Enrique]

Thanks for that. Well yes, Sorrano, the Church was severe in this point and women stayed at home while men enrolled in all kind of activities from ancient times (I know only men acted in Greek theater but not so sure about the choir in those representations). I thought Bach was from the dividing line towards our side. I'll skim the "choir" article in the Grove's anyway.

To the thread matter: lots of popular music.

[Enrique]

Later on:
Tchaikowsky: Simphony no.6, movement III:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bviS_Wt3L6M[/youtube]

I've been impressed by this today (don't know the orchestra). They do it so well! The 3rd movement es overwhelming (but the right word, as I know, is avasallador! I must be person no. 1000001 in stating that.

The orchestra could be the Berliner Philharmoniker with high likelihood.

[Sorrano]

This morning:
Glazunov: Two Pieces, Op 22
Tchaikovsky:
Chorus, "Neapolitan dance song"
"Capriccio italien," Op 45

[Enrique]

Several works by Britten, in a radio program, called Opera Club.

[Peter]

Several works by Britten, in a radio program, called Opera Club.

Yes it was the centenary of his birth and there are quite a few programmes on the BBC about this - I have to say I'm not really a great fan, but I recognise he was a fine musician and had technical mastery.

Listening to Guilmant organ symphony no.2.

[Quijote]

I have to admit that I "blow hot and cold" concerning Britten. Sometimes I think "wow", other times I think "Hmm ...".
Never have that problem with Beethoven! Well, apart from 2 or 3 'lesser' works.

[Peter]

I have to admit that I "blow hot and cold" concerning Britten. Sometimes I think "wow", other times I think "Hmm ...".
Never have that problem with Beethoven! Well, apart from 2 or 3 'lesser' works.

I always feel the flattering comparisons with Mozart are over the top! Mozart I love, not so Britten.

[Sorrano]

This morning caught the last part of:
Tchaikovsky: String Sextet in d, Op 70, "Souvenir de Florence"

[Sorrano]

This morning:

Hummel: Piano Concerto #3 in b, op 89

Very nice work! It's a pity not to hear his music more often.

[AeolianHarp]

This weekend:

Choral Fantasy
Pastoral Symphony
Ghost Trio
Andante WoO 57
Symphony no 5

And Clara Schumann's etude.