What are you listening to now?

[Harvey]

Just listened to Marriner's Messiah. Now listening to Boris Godunov, 1869 version, Gergiev.

[Humoresque]

The late, great baritone Hermann Prey - singing, in particular, this beautiful song "Widmung" from Schumann's (early) song cycle "Myrthen". Prey had a magnificent voice and he died as far back as 1998 - much too soon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF-YV-hGLGM

[Peter]

The highly accomplished and rather Brahmsian piano quintet in E minor by the remarkable blind organist/composer Josef Labor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Labor

[Zevy]

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 / Van Cliburn; Kiril Kondrashin . A classic recording that I grew up with. (I really haven't grown up; but that's another story...)
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto / Robert Marcellus, George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra

[Megan]

Beethoven Waldstein 1st mvt (8years old)
Momoka Chiba



https://youtu.be/uTl_7ovLHJI?list=RDuTl_7ovLHJI

[Chris]

Beethoven Waldstein 1st mvt (8years old)
Momoka Chiba



https://youtu.be/uTl_7ovLHJI?list=RDuTl_7ovLHJI

Wow!

[Sorrano]

Beethoven Waldstein 1st mvt (8years old)
Momoka Chiba



https://youtu.be/uTl_7ovLHJI?list=RDuTl_7ovLHJI

That is incredible! Thanks for sharing. The interpretation isn't bad, either!

[Humoresque]

Liszt "Wienen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" for organ. This is a dark, somewhat gothic piece which Liszt composed after the death of his daughter Blandine. But its final section is an exultant evocation to the God in whom Liszt so fervently believed. Out of the darkness, light!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Tduh7-4Hc

I've been reading an essay about Liszt written by Schoenberg in his "Style and Idea: Selected Writings" where the Austrian describes Liszt as essentially a composer motivated by faith who "fell into error" with regard to music. Schoenberg wasn't impressed with Liszt's music but his essay becomes more philosophical than analytical and doesn't convince for a second. This is a problem I've encountered before when reading what musicians and composers say about music - they become philosophical and tend to waffle. Twenty or more years ago I might have felt inclined to 'believe' what they had to say; today I am far more skeptical and critical.

Actually, the more I listen to the beginning of this the more I am reminded of Purcell's funereal "When I am Laid in Earth".

[Humoresque]

Last year I presented a lecture on the music of Charles Valentin Alkan - a rather neglected composer. And I discovered this virtuosic piece by Alkan which I thought you might like! It's interesting and intelligent music: Etude op. 76 No. 3 "Rondo Toccata" and I don't recognize the name of the pianist -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-FhZJcviA

And, for a huge diversion from that, here's some 'concert' arrangements Gershwin made of his own songs - played here by Marc- Andre Hamelin: my personal favourite is "Liza" -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9o6PPSL88

[Chris]

And, for a huge diversion from that, here's some 'concert' arrangements Gershwin made of his own songs - played here by Marc- Andre Hamelin: my personal favourite is "Liza" -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9o6PPSL88

Ah, I love these. Always good to bring out at a party when people want to hear you play something, but don't actually want to sit and listen to anything for longer than one minute

I Got Rhythm was always my favorite.

[Humoresque]

Ah, I love these. Always good to bring out at a party when people want to hear you play something, but don't actually want to sit and listen to anything for longer than one minute

I Got Rhythm was always my favorite.

They're actually extraordinary arrangements George has made - knotty, jaunty and full of interesting rhythms and harmonies. I'd never before realized just what a plangent quality some his songs actually had until I heard them in this arrangement. In this genre often the words overwhelm the melody.

Interesting you make that comment about a party; at a recent dinner party my (musical) guests absolutely loved hearing these as I streamed them from the internet. An added bonus was the score on the screen.

[Chris]

Yes, and I didn't know Hamelin had ever played these. I really enjoyed his performances!

[Humoresque]

And I've found this (and others) played by Jack Gibbons in note-for-note transcriptions of George's own playing of them. These are also huge favourites of mine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arm8kj4T-cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V4fJ5OlnKw

It was always party time for George; what cared he about such things as the Depression. There's absolutely no evidence of this in his music! (There are links to other interesting clips on U-Tube which follow on from these pieces by Gibbons, one of them actually featuring George at a rehearsal.)

And I adore this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A94Ncds0_Vs

[Zevy]

Mozart: Grande Sestetto Concertante (after Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K.364) L'Archibudelli.
It's an anonymous early 19th century arrangement that is very good. I listened to it FOUR times!

[Peter]

Beethoven 'Elegischer Gesang'

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LyNefn0fM[/YOUTUBE]