Understanding 20th Century Music

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

By the way, I got the Emerson Quartet doing the Debussy and Ravel string quartets. As you said, the Ravel is a terrific piece of music. It has a great deal more structure and finesse than the orchestral works I have. Very enjoyable.

This one is getting enough air time here at home so I will have it in the memory bank.

Thanks again Fred.

More than welcome, Mike. And the Debussy ain't exactly chopped liver, either.

The thing to remember about Ravel vis a vis his orchestral works, is that almost all of them were written for piano, then orchestrated later; only a few were written outright for orchestra.

Given that you enjoyed Ravel's string quartet, you must check out the Piano Trio, the Sonata for violin and piano, and the Sonata for violin and cello.

All best,
Fred

Fred, did you see my previous posts about your recordings?

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

I have "Remember the River" and I ordered "Since Forever".

I was so glad to see you on Amazon. I bought "Remember the River" from a crappy little shop in Philadelphia over the internet, and they took three weeks to deliver and got the order wrong the first time.

Amazon is so much quicker and cleaner, and many, many more people will see your work.

You're gonna make so much more money, you'll be able to come here to New Orleans and do a couple of gigs at "Snug Harbor" :-)

I enjoy your music, and feel real pride in buying your work, because of our relationship here on the forum, and the great musical insights you have provided me right here.

My only real complaint would be that I don't hear enough of you here on the forum.

Thanks, Mike, I really appreciate the kind words. Please let us know what you think of Since Forever when you get the chance.

I'd love to come down to New Orleans to play ... just waiting for the proverbial phone call.

And I'd love to contribute more to the forum, but have to carefully ration myself lest I spend too much time on the computer and not enough at the piano.

By the way, too late for you this time around, but the Naim Label itself offers one of the best deals around on their site (naimlabel.com) ... CDs are $15, shipping very reasonable. And they offer downloads in all flavors, from mp3s at 320k, higher res than iTunes (192k) or Amazon (256k), to 16bit/44kHz CD quality downloads, and even hi-res 24bit/96kHz WAV and FLAC files. Obviously, the higher the quality the higher the price, but very competitive, and for those with the gear to reproduce it (and the ears to hear it!), the 24/96 files sound mind-blowing.

Thanks again, Mike.

All best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:
I'd love to come down to New Orleans to play ... just waiting for the proverbial phone call.

Send me a set of promotional materials I can leave with club owners, and I will put on my nicest suit and talk to every club owner in town that books out-of-town bands, with my CDs in hand :-)

I know where to go.

By the way, WWOZ, the local jazz station, will play any jazz CD you bring them, no charge. If you provide a sheet, they will do a 30 second bio/promo for you. You get played 2 or 3 times regardless, but if they like you, you get 20 plays over the course of a month.

I know the fellow who runs the station, I did some computer work with them.

If you like, e-mail me at meschman@webdsi.com.

Mike, thanks so much for your generous offer. I will be in touch.

All best,
Fred

OK Fred. I have a selfish motive. If I get you booked here, we may get a chance to meet in person over food and drink.

The food and drink here is nothing to sneeze at :-)

Last night we watchced "Great Performances" on PBS. It was the opening concert of the Los Angeles Philharmonic with their new conductor. They did a John Adams piece, and Mahler Symphony No. 1. Both were sensational.

John Adams is new to me. There was much in it that I enjoyed. The performance was absolutely brillant.

Can anyone recommend some recordings of the works of John Adams?

One final note. Based on what I heard last night, there is no finer orchestra in the world than the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Particularly striking was the trumpet, trombone and saxophone solos in the John Adams.

I've never heard better.

Interestingly I went to a concert last night by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (of the UK). Conducted by Charles Dutoit

They played:
1) Ravel - Ma Mere L'Oye
2) Elgar - Cello Concerto in E
3) Dvorak - New World Symphony.

It was a great evening, partly because the concert hall in Eindhoven has superb acoustics. Very popular and I only managed a seat on assignment 3 months ago which was right up at the back of the hall. Nevertheless all the subtlety and where required power of the performance was fully portrayed.

Ravel: This suite was witten in 1908 made up of several movements. ( I can list them if wanted ). It is a beautifully light work almost ethereal at times that was played with great subtlety by what amounted to a full Orchestra ( minus the majority of Brass - sorry Mike), but augmented by a Harp, what looked like a small upright version of a clavichord, and a xylaphone. I assume Dutoit had taken the trouble to 'sound' the hall before the performance because he kept it at just the right volume to reach the whole audience wihout destroying any of the delicacy. Totally different from the famous Bolero and other pieces with spanish characteristics to them. Worth seeking out for a peacefull listening interlude.

Elgar: The full orchestra including all the brass and a lovely young lady Cello soloist Sol Gabetta hailing from Argentina. She is quite small and stick thin but she got impressive tone and volume out of her cello ( no microphones just the acoustic). Not a 'Jacqueline Du Pre' but then she was a unique and for ever will be associated with the Elgar. He always conjures up my British homeland for me. I prefer his Violin concerto but the Cello piece is still very enjoyable.

Dvorak; Full blast. The Orchestra enjoying itself. Conducted with panash wich added to the sense of relaxed enthusiasm, Very together in the ensemble sections, great crescendos. I was gald I was at the back of the hall. The Brass had the chance for a good blow.

All early 20th century compositions ( Dvoraks New World was actually written in 1893). Nothing experimental but good music.

Geoff

Geoff P, have you finished with Stravinsky?

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff P:

Ravel, Ma Mere L'Oye: This suite was witten in 1908 made up of several movements. ( I can list them if wanted ). It is a beautifully light work almost ethereal at times that was played with great subtlety by what amounted to a full Orchestra ( minus the majority of Brass - sorry Mike), but augmented by a Harp, what looked like a small upright version of a clavichord, and a xylaphone. I assume Dutoit had taken the trouble to 'sound' the hall before the performance because he kept it at just the right volume to reach the whole audience wihout destroying any of the delicacy. Totally different from the famous Bolero and other pieces with spanish characteristics to them. Worth seeking out for a peacefull listening interlude.

The small upright keyboard was most likely a celeste, which is a sort of keyboard glockenspiel.

I think Dutoit is one of the best conductors of Ravel. I strongly recommend his recording with the Montreal Symphony of the entire Ravel orchestral works, a 4-CD set, if you can find it.

Best,
Fred

Fred...Thanks for the recommendation. What with this and the Pollini Beethoven and the Mitsuko Uchida ( who I am going to see solo in a couple of weeks )recommended on the WTC thread I am going to be flat broke.

Gave a listen this morning to Sholmo Mintz playing the Prokofiev Violin Sonatas.

This is some of the most sublime music ever written. The third movement of the 1st sonata is particularly beautiful.

No one had a greater gift for melody than Prokofiev.