Spinning Today (Classical version)

Vaughan Williams - Concertos for Tuba and Oboe/The Lark Ascending - Jacobs, Black, Zukerman, Barenboim (DG, 1977)

http://www.simister.com/public/vw.jpg

A nice charity shop vinyl find from a while back that I've only just got round to cleaning and playing.

I'd never heard Vaughan Williams' Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra in F minor before - and very enjoyable it is too; light and playful, but the stand-out is Zukerman's Lark Ascending which is fabulous and is now my favourite version of this piece. Now listening to the Oboe concerto, which is also excellent. 99p well spent :cool:

Stanford and Finzi Clarinet Concertos - Thea King/Alun Francis (Hyperion, 1980)

http://www.simister.com/public/stanford.jpg

More charity shop vinyl. The Stanford is new to me and I really enjoyed it. I've a few other versions of the Finzi, which isn't a piece I really can get into.

Nice, Keith - RVW is one of my favourite composers. :thumbsup:

This afternoon Chez-Jerry ....

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...QL._SX300_.jpg

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

Nothing too deep, but very pleasant listening. :)

http://c3.cduniverse.ws/resized/250x...58/6684558.jpg

Impressive in all ways.
ANGRY music!

Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5

BBC National Orchestra of Wales, cond. Tadaaki Otaka.

Attached to this months issue of the BBC Music magazine.

Like Beethoven's Ninth - I'm looking for the definative version of the Shostakovich 5. Sadly this is not it - I find it to be a relatively pedestrian reading: so much so, I prefer Bergland's EMI recording.

You could do much worse than Previn and the LSO, Barry. If you can find a copy, that is.

http://cdn.7static.com/static/img/sl...283898_500.jpg

Cor, lummy.

I'm not always persuaded by Perahia (e.g. his Mozart) but this hits all the right buttons for me. :)
Of course, having members of the Amadeus Quartet to hand does not hurt at all.

Shosty 5?

Yes, Previn is good, but so is Ashkenazy with top flight Decca digital sound :thumbsup:

http://store.universal-music.co.uk/c...25d_medium.jpg

A really clever cover, too! ... look at the shadow ;)

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

Very enjoyable.
Ron Corp once bought a CD of mine on eBay. We had a little online chat afterwards - nice guy! :)
I had some of his CDs already, including this one - I think I gushed a bit and encouraged him to write a violin concerto! :lol:
No sign of that yet, though. :(

http://www.musicweb-international.co...ld_Rhondda.jpg

Interesting, this. Performed with a computerised "virtual orchestra".
Fairly laid back music, for the most part, but tuneful and enjoyable.

http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music/...170x170-75.jpg

Nice. :)

http://rymimg.com/lk/f/l/0d4f4317d44...ca/4316317.jpg

Also good. The 'brass quintet concerto' is lively and fun, the violin suite is quiet and memorably tuneful and fluid. The other pieces are good, too, melodious rather than tempestuous on the whole.
The CD is stupidly cheap on Amazon Market Place ;).


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...KL._SY300_.jpg

Superb! Powerful & emotive. :thumbsup:

Julian Bream - Baroque Guitar

Vinyl

1966 US Pressing RCA Victor Red Seal.

Plays Beautifully and Sounds :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dantheman91

Julian Bream - Baroque Guitar

Vinyl

1966 US Pressing RCA Victor Red Seal.

Plays Beautifully and Sounds :eek:

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I have the UK pressing dated 1975. It was one of my favourite recordings musically although, strangely, Bream is not my favourite guitarist for Baroque music (thats Brabec) However, I have yet to manage to clean it properly after the damn Discostat left residue all over the LP. Even after I rinsed it off afterwards. Pretty annoyed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gordon Steadman

I have the UK pressing dated 1975. It was one of my favourite recordings musically although, strangely, Bream is not my favourite guitarist for Baroque music (thats Brabec) However, I have yet to manage to clean it properly after the damn Discostat left residue all over the LP. Even after I rinsed it off afterwards. Pretty annoyed.

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Hi Gorden

I picked this up from the tip this morning a long with a load of other classical LP's and a few others just chucked in a skip ready for land fill there no consideration for what the LP's are to collectors so i dig them a a full bag full and more and just went on my merry way. The problem is i DON'T see the point of chucking perfectly good records away but i cannot being to imagine the stuff i have missed due to the inconsideration of IDIOTS oh its a skip i will just put it in there :spank:.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dantheman91

Hi Gorden
I picked this up from the tip this morning a long with a load of other classical LP's and a few others just chucked in a skip ready for land fill

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It is after all, outmoded technology and only fit for landfill. So says my brother. Actually, thats not true any more as he came out here for the first time a little while ago and the sound of the records astonished him. He had only heard CDs since they came out - he dumped all his LPs at once. Told me afterwards - cheers.

He was, before he retired, an electronics engineer who was one of the team leaders on the blue streak rocket. He should know eh?

I'm sure wonderful gems are chucked every day:(. Such is progress?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gordon Steadman

It is after all, outmoded technology and only fit for landfill. So says my brother. Actually, thats not true any more as he came out here for the first time a little while ago and the sound of the records astonished him. He had only heard CDs since they came out - he dumped all his LPs at once. Told me afterwards - cheers.

He was, before he retired, an electronics engineer who was one of the team leaders on the blue streak rocket. He should know eh?

I'm sure wonderful gems are chucked every day:(. Such is progress?

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Hi

it used to be a different story years ago when my dad was co owner of a a record shop most of the stuff in the shop was at the time from the tip but that was years & years ago and we are not so lucky no but the odd gems do come up. Maybe i'm stuck in the past but those days were good also the HI-FI we used to pick up was :eek:. Sad no longer allowed to sell electrical gear :(

.

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

My goodness, I have never heard such a dynamic and powerful recording of this marvellous symphony.
Dynamic changes (and there are a lot of them in Bruckner) are hairpin sharp and pin-you-to-the-wall abrupt.
Brass is raucous and thrilling.
Cor.
:thumbsup:

Popped into my local record shop in Wrexham today (Moonlight Records), and purloined the following... First off, from the 1950s, three rather nice (minty) vintage Decca FFRR 10" records, which I always find sound wonderful, (all £1 each):

Strauss - Rawicz and Landauer playing Johann Strauss. The Blue Danube/Tik-tak/Tales from the Vienna Woods.

Tchaikovsky - Casse-Noisette. Opus 71 'The Nutcracker', with L'Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris, conducted by Anatole Fistoulari.


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/845/bzj7s.jpg


Grieg - Holberg Suite, with The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Karl Munchinger.


Also the following standard 12" albums (all £1 each):

Grieg - Piano Concerto in A Minor, with The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anatole Fistoulari. Falla - Nights in the Gardens of Spain, with The New Symphony Orchestra of London, conducted by Enrique Jorda, on Decca FFRR (orange Label), from 1956.

Debussy - "La Mer", Three Symphonic Pictures. Ravel - "Daphnis et Chloé" Suite No2, "La Valse", with The Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli, on Pye Golden Guinea Collector Series Records, from 1964.

Vaughan Williams - A London Symphony (revised version, Symphony No2), with The Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli, on Pye Golden Guinea Collector Series Records, from 1958.

Beethoven - Symphony No.9 in D Minor 'Choral', with Wilma Lipp (soprano), Elizabeth Hoengen (alto), Julius Patzak (tenor), Otto Wiener (bass), and The Pro Musica Symphony Orchestra Vienna, conducted by Jascha Horenstein, on Vox Records (produced in Vienna), from 1958.

Rimsky-Korakov - Scheherazade Symphonic Suite OP.35, with L'Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris, conducted by Ernest Ansermet, on Decca FFRR (orange Label), from 1964.

Holst - The Planets, with The London Symphony Orchestra (with chorus of female voices), conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, on Decca FFRR (orange Label), from 1965.

Bach - Toccata Adagio and Fugue. Handel - Basso Ostinato. Mendelssohn - Variations "Vater Unser im Himmelreich". Krizhanovsky - Largo (Dies Irae). Driffill - Toccata. Featuring Feike Asma playing organ. Recorded in St John's Church, Gouda, on Philips Microgroove Records, from 1959.

Sibelius - Karelia Overture. King Christian II-Suite. The Bard/Festivo, with The Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Gibson, on EMI Records, from 1967.

...and this digitally recorded choral album, from 1986 (identical, as shown below):


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/837/7xw2.jpg


Not a bad wee haul for the princely sum of £12! :)

Marco.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

My goodness, I have never heard such a dynamic and powerful recording of this marvellous symphony.
Dynamic changes (and there are a lot of them in Bruckner) are hairpin sharp and pin-you-to-the-wall abrupt.
Brass is raucous and thrilling.

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I didn't think you had an SACD player, Jerry. Or were you playing the CD layer?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MartinT

I didn't think you had an SACD player, Jerry. Or were you playing the CD layer?

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CD layer, Martin. ;)

I've had a few SACD players, but they just annoyed me!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

I've had a few SACD players, but they just annoyed me!

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Do you mean the particular machines you tried didn't sound good? I can't see how the SACD format could annoy you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MartinT

Do you mean the particular machines you tried didn't sound good? I can't see how the SACD format could annoy you.

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Strangely, they brought out an unexpected OCD side to my nature - I got fixated on only buying and listening to SACDs. :mental:

The other 99%+ of my collection wasn't getting played, even though it generally held better musical performances. Totally potty and very, as I said, annoying. :rolleyes:

The only solution was to get rid of the SACD machine. So I did. :)

I tried it a few times - some bloody thing every time! :doh: :lol:

http://www.musicweb-international.co...4/melartin.jpg

These again! Yummy.
... on CD. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

Strangely, they brought out an unexpected OCD side to my nature - I got fixated on only buying and listening to SACDs. :mental:

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I know what you mean but that didn't last long for me because, as you say, there are so many great CD-only performances. I hardly notice these days except for a few SACDs that show a clean pair of heels to any CD. It never affects my listening selections.

At last, I've found my perfect version of the Stabat Mater :)

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

Followed by (necessarily, for what could compare?) something completely different ...

http://i.prs.to/t_200/pragaprd350038.jpg

Bloch's 2 piano quintets. A bit thorny and challenging at times, but always interesting.
It arrived yesterday in the post and I played it 3 times during the day!

Sorry, I couldn't find a larger image!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

At last, I've found my perfect version of the Stabat Mater

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Only £4.92 in Amazon. I couldn't resist as that looks like a great line up.

It's just wonderful, Martin - the pacing and articulation are spot on, the vocals are pure magic.

I bought the Alessandrini version that you (I think) previously recommended, but after an initial period of enjoyment due, I suspect, to its sheer individuality and clarity, it began to sound mannered and too minimalist to me ... and is currently up for sale on eBay!

It'll be interesting to see what you think of the Hogwood.

http://altocd.com/wp-content/uploads...1012_cover.jpg

More flamboyant than the piano sonatas recently reported on.
I'm a bit baffled why these concertos are not better known.

L’Arpeggiata Christina Pluhar – ‘All’ Improvviso’
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...bL._SX355_.jpg

(2004) Alpha 512


Bach – ‘The Trio Sonatas: BWV 525 – 530’
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417V7bj08LL.jpg

Heinz Holliger (oboe), Tabea Zimmerman (viola), Christianne Jaccottet (harpsichord) and Thomas Demenga (cello)
(1987) Philips 422 328-2


And, though they might be deemed a little ‘lightweight’ for some:

Gershwin – ‘The Best of Gershwin’
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31DF640CQYL.jpg

Tracks taken from various Naxos recordings. Richard Hayman and his Symphony Orchestra.
(2000) Naxos 8.556686


Jacques Loussier – ‘The Best of Play Bach’
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/316D1YNNE9L.jpg
(1985) Start SCD 1

omg - Bach / Loussier -- the auto-spell check changed it to lousier - that's more like it :lol:
Makes me cringe - where's a running from the room while upchucking smilie when you need one. :scratch: ;)

Isn't it wonderful how we all have different tastes. :)

Last night ....

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

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518IvQTsNKL.jpg

I post on this thread, simply because that is what I am playing. It is just for the record; I don't expect you to like my choices, just as I may not like yours.

That's fine, Barry. What makes you think I believe otherwise?

I was just expressing my own opinion.
As I said in my previous post -- "Isn't it wonderful how we all have different tastes. :)"
And I meant it, too!
:cheers:

At the moment in my disc spinner ....

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

Bedřich Smetana – ‘Má Vlast’
Boston Symphony Orchestra, cond. Rafael Kubrik

Antonín Dvořak – ‘Slavonic Dances Op. 46 and Op.72
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Rafael Kubrik.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...9L._SY355_.jpg
1971 DGG 423 769-2

and

‘The Dawn of Romance – Songs and music of the early troubadours of Provence’
Martin Best

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...hunt/010-5.jpg

The Ginastera Piano Concerto is interesting, Jerry. I have a different recording, but can't remember who by at the moment. I'm in the garden getting roasted...

I'm hiding indoors in the cool - and listening to the Ginastera Harp Concerto again.
It's rather good, in a brassy rhythmic effervescent South American way!

Spinning at the moment, chez Jerry --->

http://www.vinylvendors.com/Pictures...vine421253.jpg

On vinyl. :wowzer:

1st time I've listened to an LP in several months, my interest re-kindled by a visit to Jake lordmortlock where I helped him set up his lovely new VPI tt. :thumbsup:

I'm listening thru the phonostage of my vintage Marantz quadraphonic receiver, thence to my Grado 325i headphones.
And very good it sounds as well. I do like Levine's Brahms. :)

Schubert Trout Quintet by the Hungarian Quartet.

Good bass playing which sounds great on the phones. Must listen of the main rig tomorrow. Just doing sort of background listening at the mo. Difficult though, the damn music keep grabbing my attention.

Oboe Quintets: Berhard Crusell ‘Divertimento in C Major Op. 9; Rodolphe Kreutzer ‘Grand Quintet in C Major; Antonín Reicha ‘Quintet in F major Op. 107’

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...zL._SX355_.jpg
(my copy is on Hyperion CDA66143 (1984), and has a similar cover)

Sarah Francis (oboe) with the Allegri String Quartet.

http://www.thespacebar.co.uk/ebayscans/77159.jpg

On vinyl. :)
HS-I was an excellent Beethoven conductor and these recordings are from Decca's Golden Age. :thumbsup:

Szymanowski - Piano Music Volume 2 Martin Jones

CD

Nimbus Records

1995

http://www.arnoldrosnermusic.com/wp-...01/8559347.jpg

Listening on headphones as I type - this is very enjoyable. Romantic and melodious, big-boned, orchestrated with subtlety, fine sq. :thumbsup:

Discantus, campus stellae. Gregis Pastor

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

It's just wonderful, Martin - the pacing and articulation are spot on, the vocals are pure magic.

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I received the Pergolesi yesterday, Jerry, and I have to agree that it's truly wonderful. Kirkby and Bowman make a superb pairing and they have kept it less operatic (than, say, the Bonney / Scholl recording) and better enunciated. Lovely!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MartinT

I received the Pergolesi yesterday, Jerry, and I have to agree that it's truly wonderful. Kirkby and Bowman make a superb pairing and they have kept it less operatic (than, say, the Bonney / Scholl recording) and better enunciated. Lovely!

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That's great, I'm really glad you like it, Martin. :)

Playing now ....

http://www.musicweb-international.co..._Symphony2.jpg

Greig –‘String Quartets: No. 1 in G minor, Op. 27 and No. 2 in F major, 1891’

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SX355_.jpg

Chilingrian Quartet

Hyperion Helios CDH55299 (2007)

These are new to me – pleasant enough but not really gripping.



Carl Nielsen – ‘Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 and Aladdin, Suite for Orchestra, Op. 34’

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image...713c0210.L.jpg

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Myung-Whun Chung.

BIS CD-247 (1983)

Superb - A good system work out!

I like Grieg's chamber music - less popular than his orchestral works, but still well worth investigating, imo. String quartets, violin sonatas ....

I have this 3 CD set, and enjoy it a lot.

http://www.t2entertainment.nl/upload...achterkant.jpg

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http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IM%2Bpli4WL.jpg

Wow. Bought in charity shop yesterday and blown away by it last night. :wowzer:

Kind of a mixture (in different sections) of Philip Glass and mediaeval chant. And it works well!

Followed by ....

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...1L._SY300_.jpg

Woo! Gives the Sparf / BIS recording a run for its money. :thumbsup:

This is excellent, playing as I type ...

http://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/ima...s/8.570875.jpg

Hmm, not so sure about this ...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCnKi2PCya...aydgiulini.jpg

A bit slow and ponderous. Almost grinds to a halt at times.

An all-vinyl evening yesterday.

http://img.cdandlp.com/2012/11/imgL/115756297.jpg

Old fashioned Bach playing - and none the worse for that! :)

http://assets.rootsvinylguide.com/pi...jochum_5106701

I do love Jochum's 8th - I also have this pairing on his DG LP release.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTRSjgOR3U...ch+Mus.Off.jpg

And finally, a good old fashioned hairdo from the Dame (to be) Kiri Te K.

http://www.offtherecord.ie/images/so...203%20(52).JPG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jandl100

I like Grieg's chamber music - less popular than his orchestral works, but still well worth investigating, imo. String quartets, violin sonatas ....

I have this 3 CD set, and enjoy it a lot.

http://www.t2entertainment.nl/upload...achterkant.jpg

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http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IM%2Bpli4WL.jpg

Wow. Bought in charity shop yesterday and blown away by it last night. :wowzer:

Kind of a mixture (in different sections) of Philip Glass and mediaeval chant. And it works well!

Followed by ....

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...1L._SY300_.jpg

Woo! Gives the Sparf / BIS recording a run for its money. :thumbsup:

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Thanks for that Jerry. I'll give the Greig another spin!

Apropos the Four Seasons - how would you rate the Pinnock/English Concert recording with The Drottingholm Consort's recording?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry

Apropos the Four Seasons - how would you rate the Pinnock/English Concert recording with The Drottingholm Consort's recording?

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Similarly energetic, but less idiosyncratic. I suspect Standage/Pinnock is closer to Vivaldi's intentions, let's face it Sparf's interpretation is kind of weird! - I like them both.