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

Wilco (the Album)

Followed by:  Band of Horses  - Acoustic At The Ryman

Piano des lumières de Bach à Mozart:   Edna Stern (Piano => Steinway Fabbrini)

A remarkable disc on so many levels based on program / music alone but as always with me it is hard to enjoy any great music to the degree it deserves if it doesn't sound impeccable (the instrument and the outcome whether live, in a home, or on a recording).  Edna Stern is always very interesting in her views and ideas and I respect her for this, however, a few recordings I had trouble enjoying due to the piano chosen.  In this case though, this is such a superb instrument, recording and outcome that I cannot hardly believe my ears.  

My lifelong dream has always been to have a house full of pianos and instruments.  Sadly, all my goals ended in a highway robbery and working hard at winning the lottery doesn't seem to be paying off (yet).  Of the pianos I dream of though my starting lineup would be a Hamburg Steinway, New York Steinway, Bechstein, Blüthner, and Bösendorfer (and there are many more to name).  As of this week though, I definitely would add a Hamburg Steinway-Fabbrini.

This is not a new piano brand but a piano that is modified by Angelo Fabbrini.  Not sure what he does but to me it sounds like he modifies or replaces the hammers and changes other factors as I do not hear very much reverberation.  I hear a clear, dark, bell like tone and this is perfect for this and most music that I could imagine playing.  Anyway, I love many different pianos and their characteristics for different music and I think this Steinway-Fabbrini recorded here is very special and a brilliant choice.  This will go very high on my shelf of special discs.  Bravo Edna Stern!

The new music for me is the Galuppi and the CPE Bach.  Very special music indeed!

Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach:  Ana-Marija Markovina (Piano)

The Complete Works for Piano Solo

It is time to continue to grow.  After realizing that I have a rather large collection of music and that it might mainly consist of twenty to twenty-five different composers and of that the bulk of my library falls under maybe a dozen composers.  I am perfectly happy but I think it is time to add one more.  I may have some CPE Bach here or there kicking around (like the Edna Stern example above) but I am a completist and eventually I need to hear it all so I jumped at this opportunity.  It was just his 300th birthday celebration earlier this year so I think it was high time.

This will keep me busy for quite some time over the coming years!

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

Like "Lonerism" so picked this up.  First listen. 

Sergei Rachmaninov:  Evgenia Rubinova (Piano)

Evgenia Rubinova, a very refined pianist who searches for meaning in the music.   These are very unique interpretations and not typical at all and so of course I like this aspect.  The impression I get is like at the beginning of a piece you are at a distance and coming in to join her and the opposite occurs at the end  (pp <<< ff >>>pp).  So you get this sort of macro-arch over the whole piece.  Nicely recorded too.

Franz Schubert:   Dora Deliyska (piano)

Impromptus D. 899 Nr. 1-4

Ungarische Melodie D. 817

Adagio in G major, D 178

Fantasie D. 760 "Wanderer-Fantasie"

DVD:

Schubert - Ungarische Meldodie D. 817

Liszt / Bellini - Reminiscences de Norma

Another fine disc.  I certainly like her style, sensibility and musicality throughout.  Too many highlights throughout to point out but certainly at the top of the list is the Adagio of the Wanderer Fantasy and the Andante con agitazione section in the Liszt / Bellini "Reminiscences de Norma."

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

Love and Longing:  Yoonie Han (Piano)

A nice recording and a nice program.  I'm still very much in my Liszt mode and this disc is devoted to more than half the program.

Broken Bells - After The Disco

Pictures At Eleven

Robert Plant | Format: Audio CD

Bitches Brew

 Miles Davis | Format: Audio CD

Clementi is a real treat especially on a Sunday morning....

Recommended by EJ who unfortunately left us. Doug, do you have this recordings?

Frank Zappa  -  The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life  -  2 cd. Half of "One Size Fits All" album is on this live recording. 

Haim, no, unfortunately I do not have this recording.  In my neck of the woods this one costs nearly $2,000  per oz which is higher than gold 

It's not that bad $13.75 on Amazon.

Sure, I was exaggerating but your price is for MP3 download and I don't do this.  There is one for $29usd but else wise there are two for $107 or $154usd.  Originally I only looked on Amazon.ca and the only options were in the mid $45 to $63 range.  Still a high price in my books.

Night Stories: Nocturnes - Jenny Lin (piano)

Works perfectly fine for me as Morning Stories too.

Fantasies:  Stanislav Khristenko (piano)

This was recorded at Sono Luminus in Boyce Virginia which is the same place as the Yoonie Han disc and on the exact same piano.  Same engineer / producer but the only difference being the choice of microphone.  I prefer the Yoonie Han outcome on sound - a little warmer / less bright.

So, is it the player, the piano, the recording equipment, my replay equipment, my room, my cables, my lack of improper setup/cable dressing, my lack of dusting, the fact that I never power down and I listened to this through a thunder storm, me (as some would argue their is never any difference in sound / equipment - it is only my mood and psychological balance at any given time that effects the outcome)?

Ludwig van Beethoven:  Cremona String Quartet 

Quartet for Strings no 4 in C minor, Op. 18 no 4

Grosse Fuge for String Quartet in B flat major Op. 133

I love that album!

Have been listening to Kari Bremnes' "best of" called "Fantastisk Allerede". The song I'm currently playing called "Grågåsa" is one of the most beautiful songs I know of. Can be heard here if if anyone is interested: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uRsEGZzRbEc

Hi Doug,

that price was for a s/h CD in very good condition. Check the Market Place On Amazon.com