What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.IX)

Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2013

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Popey

With thanks to Naim and their 40% off offer:

Neil Cowley Trio - The Face of Mount Molehill. On vinyl.

And very nice it is too!

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by GraemeH

My 'go to' album when trying a new bit of kit. In this case the SN2 & bare HDX and the very encouraging results are quite a pleasurable surprise. G

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by dav301

On CD:-

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by EJS

Cheers,

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Tony2011

Originally Posted by dav301:

On CD:-

Mr. Cool! Thanks for the inspiration.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Paper Plane

Real double-bass slappin' rockabilly!

steve

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by BigH47

Rush - Roll the Bones

Trivia point: The track where's My Thing has the music that WRC used to use when on Screensport or Motors back in the day.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by BigH47

The Enid - Invicta, via Spotify

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by naim_nymph

CD - [made in Japan - import / 1999] ¥1,470 ...how much? : )

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Tony2011

Are there any serious Jazz listeners who do not own a copy of this?

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Florestan

Johann Sebastian Bach: Martin Roscoe (Piano)

Bach Piano Transcriptions - Volume 4

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548 "Wedge"

Trio Sonata for Organ no 5 in C major, BWV 529: 2nd movement, Largo

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 663

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 711

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 662

An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 720

Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, BWV 658

Chorale Preludes (6) BWV 645-650 "Schübler": no 3, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 647

Chorale Preludes (6) BWV 645-650 "Schübler": no 6, Kommst du nun, Jesu, BWV 650

Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend', BWV 655

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, BWV 665

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659

Chorale Preludes (6) BWV 645-650 "Schübler": no 5, Ach bleib' bei uns, BWV 649

Fantasia super Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 735

Concerto for Organ solo in A minor, BWV 593 (after Vivaldi)

Samuil Finberg (1890-1962) is next up in Volume 4 of this Bach series. I could be wrong but what I sense immediately is the differences between Feinberg and Busoni. Feinberg just seems to be the introvert in comparison to Busoni - the extrovert and possible the likely candidate for the look at me award. Feinberg on the other hand seems quite content to just enjoy playing in his own corner - satisfied to just make music and play some Bach.

Of course, this could all come down to the pianist here, Martin Roscoe, who is quite different to Demidenko.

To give you an idea of who Feinberg was, there are some nice quotes from Feinberg's book, Pianism as an Art, in the program notes. I thought I would include one from an Feinberg article entitled The Pianist's Mastery:

What is fairest in a transcription? To force oneself to preserve the original text as precisely as possible – in the prior knowledge that, on the piano, an organ work’s expression will be significantly reduced? Or to try to find a maximum of light and shade, to create a sort of pianistic equivalent of the organ’s power, even if that implies an inevitable dose of enrichment and addition to what had originally been written? In each different situation, everything depends on the gifts and the artistic initiative of the contemporary pianist or composer who is preparing a transcription of a work by Bach. In other words, one might preserve the original text of a work almost completely – and, at the same time, smother the charm of the original in such a half-transcription. Or one might rework the original, creating a pianistic equivalent of it – and, despite everything, in so doing reveal the greatness of Bach’s music all the more strongly.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Haim Ronen

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Florestan

Frédéric Chopin: Ingrid Fliter (Piano)

Complete Waltzes (20):

Waltz in E flat major, Op. 18 "Grande valse brillante"

Waltzes, Op. 34

Waltz in A flat, Op. 42

Waltzes, Op. 64

Waltzes, Op. 69

Waltzes, Op. 70

Waltz in A flat

Waltz in E

Waltz in E minor

Waltz in E flat

Waltzes, Op. posth.

In total, although this isn't definitive, it is thought that there may be around 36 Waltzes kicking around somewhere. Normally the core consists of the first 19 waltzes here. The 20th included here is the spurious Valse in F-Sharp Minor (called also Valse mélancolique). It is very nice that Fliter has included this rarely heard piece.

Surprisingly, while busying myself by collecting dozens and dozens of recordings of the old and new testament, I realized lately that I've been ignoring other favourite composers. Tonight that happens to be the Chopin Waltzes.

So I'll throw the gauntlet down right off here. I personally would be surprised (and happy) if I could hear a better played set than what Ingrid Fliter gives of here. That includes big name dead guys and anyone since. To be fair, this is only going to make sense in my world and may not translate well to yours. Quite possibly you will be underwhelmed after such an effusive buildup. I have many other great recordings as well but this suits what I feel like currently. Just say I'm more than pleasantly surprised that this recording delivers something beyond the ordinary and gives me much pleasure.

What I hear (or want to hear) is what I imagine in my head anyway whilst at my own piano and Fliter has a similar style but in spades. What I hear is a lot of joyous music making - an imagination is a rare thing it seems these days. Listen closely and you will hear rubato, energy, some melancholy and character. The music breaths with life under her fingers. Her touch/tone changes with her mood. A run or trill sometimes just sparkles or at other times trails off in bliss.

It isn't about speed or just a bold charge through like so many tend to do. This doesn't usually interest me. This recording does have enough in it to keep me interested and intrigued. Not entirely perfect (nothing ever is) but pretty compelling on a whole.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by matt podniesinski

On vinyl.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by DrMark

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by matt podniesinski

On vinyl.

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Haim Ronen

Post Scriptum: Wolfe Brederode Quartet ECM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgD6lX5Snno

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by smiglass

Originally Posted by Tony2011:

Are there any serious Jazz listeners who do not own a copy of this?

No!

Posted on: 31 July 2013 by Phage

Awesome rock album and it is soundtrack! Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Probot, Nirvana etc.) once again has masterminded this little gem. Filled with top notch musicians, even sir Paul McCartney sounds listenable