Spinning Today (Classical version)

After a tiring day, this is perfect music to chill out to ...

https://covers.believedigital.com/600/4039956916017.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/5MaPRR7khaoRBgPGXWKPod

This is decidedly yummy, the mood of the pieces varies from lushly romantic to quite astringent ...

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Non...aroton-CD].jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Z2p4nbUZpZPbEeCEd1QLV

One of the nominations for this year's Gramophone awards.
It is rather good.

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https://open.spotify.com/album/5RvFKjuNW9doYha0HvCXbS


A difficult piece to follow, that.
Something completely different is required.
This hit the spot.
The first (20 minute) piece is dedicated to Frank Zappa.
It's a percussion piece and the sq is extremely impressive!

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG...er=allrovi.com

https://open.spotify.com/album/0lLvQPrh1EB6yffm6Ffela

20thC avant garde classical music for those that don't really like it ...
Aka the acceptable face of modern atonal classical music.

Great stuff! :)

http://rymimg.com/lk/f/a/5822e80d939...b9/2885256.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/0yLfWKLs8DW5dCDdz1ly0q

A superb recording of Barber's Knoxville soprano and orchestra work.
No over-projecting operatic soprano here, Linda Hohenfeld's voice is pure simplicity itself, just right for the work imo. Beautifully recorded, too,

And the other works, new to me, seem good, too.

http://www.daedalusbooks.com/Product...tImg/57212.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OeG2JQu8FYnLgY9r3sXlk

I'd be the first person to admit that I don't really 'get' Elgar's symphonies.
I don't get the way the themes are constructed, I don't get the way the music develops, I don't get the way it comes together as a coherent musical whole as to my ears they don't.
But they have a great reputation and I do enjoy many of the various bits of which the music is constructed.
(I have the same problem with the violin concerto, don't even get me started on the big choral works).

Every now and then I come back to the symphonies and try again with new or old recordings. I figure that maybe if I just persevered I can become a True Elgarian. So many people enjoy them greatly, I hate to think that I am missing out.

I may have finally struck paydirt in the 1st symphony.
One of the truly great world class orchestras has recorded the 1st symphony, and lord be praised I am really enjoying it!
What do you mean the Thuringen Philharmonie Suhl isn't a great world class orchestra?
Surely Stephen Somary is a household name conductor?
No?

Ah well, I really enjoyed this, and am doing so again at this very moment. :)

It's probably brash and way too 'obvious' and lacking in Elgarian nobilmente for the true connasewer but it at last, finally, is allowing me to enjoy the music as a whole rather than as a series of disconnected bits.

I would be very interested in the thoughts of True Elgarian Believers here, if any.

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https://open.spotify.com/album/1BdY3HMGFsh5pteiVBErOU

http://snvinyl.co.uk/WebRoot/Daily/S...be4951-mv2.jpg

Vinyl

Michael Colina.
Who he?
Modern composer of these 2 excellent concertos - one for violin, one for guitar.
With thanks to Fanfare magazine for their reviews -- another good but obscure composer.

http://payload307.cargocollective.co...onder-CD-1.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/35Zs0vWyoYpJx5GOzMtSRS

... which led me on to another very fine set of works by Colina.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDY3WDUwMA...XYd4Y/$_35.JPG

https://open.spotify.com/album/0MW0fx02tZtfFBAr2JtEEE

Alan Hovhaness.
Beautiful music, not for every day - but every few months I have another dose.

In ecstasy over these two yesterday ... mystically beautiful, soaring fanfares ...

For some reason I have a feeling that Grant and Brian would both enjoy this music. :)

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https://open.spotify.com/album/6lC70AgbnDcFRVNqYzzO4L

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https://open.spotify.com/album/3ATAaUMOQhGIkBPux3mQ0D

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This selection never quite soars as high as it should. Shame.