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

Kate York "Sadlylove"

Rush. The Spirit of Radio. Greatest Hits 1974-1987. On CD from 2003. I much prefer to listen to Rush on vinyl, but for now, this hits the spot nicely. 

Don't know much about their music, but see it on here from time to time.  Will be doing some exploring.

regards

Jeff A

Giving Elgar's Violin Concerto a try.

George, 

I sort of gave up on this set for now. I need to listen to others.

I am having difficult time enjoying this piece. Perhaps its length or maybe the performers. ( Neither Menuhin or Boult are not my fave )

It would be interesting to listen to the '32 recording with the Sir Elgar you mentioned. It is said to be even slower than this '66 Boult recording. I think neither Sammons or Henry Wood are well known in the US but their Op.61 sounds better than this '66 Menuhin/Boult? 

At any rate, I was expecting something more along the line of Elgar's Cello Concerto, but this one is different. It wants to be romantic and organised like such yet this particular set is not doing much for me.

Now interesting that Heifetz is known for his technical ability but thought as *cold*. I don't hear that at all in his playing. To my ears, he's more of a hot blooded fiddle player than many love his direct way of communicating.

p.S. This IS WAY better! I can't even get through Menuhin/Boult's 3rd movement. Here there is more urgency and drama albeit the styling is a bit old fashioned. It's all right. It's got more power. 

Dear Kuma,

I did not say so to avoid prejudicing you against the late Menuhin recording, but I never found it compelling, and I love this concerto.

Sammons is quick-silver and sweet by turns as the music requires. It is not the most technically splendid recording even by the standards of 1929, but it is good enough for the orchestra to be heard clearly at least, and Sammons comes through beautifully. It is rather a quick performance if you look at the timings. Much shorter in time duration than either of Menuhin's recordings, though it never once feels driven.

Elgar himself was not fond of Heifetz performance of the music, but that is for another day perhaps. 

I have twice heard Tasmin Little play it at concerts, and she is fantastic. I don't know if she has recorded it though. 

The Sammons recording is a strange case for me. In reality the performance is so fine that even the recording is no obstacle for me. And with such a commanding reading, I have not ever thought of getting another recording, though I would never part with Menuhin's 1932 recording with Elgar. 

I do have the later Menuhin recording in the box set dedicated to Boult's EMI recordings. It is not uploaded to m y iTunes though. That probably tells you what I think about it!

Naxos has the Sammons recording on CD, and it is a sympathetic transfer.

ATB from George

PS: It is funny but what seems old fashioned in style in Sammons playing is in fact completely stylish playing of the period and how the work is ideally played! It is historically informed performance [HIP] practice of the most secure kind and without any guess-work! I am glad you found this as I think it may bring you to love the Concerto, which is the best any recording of great music can hope to do!

ewemon,

Glad to see you got the new Mellencamp. On vinyl? I'd be interested to hear what you think of it 

Amos Lee "Mission Bell"

Bell X1 "Bloodless Coup"

 Basically Bull: Keyboard Works of John Bull & Others  Alan Feinberg performs some of the most avant-garde works for the “virginal” – a prototype of sorts of the piano—from John Bull, William Byrd, and Orlando Gibbons, among others. These works are recorded for the first time on a modern piano.

Double vinyl

First side of the vinyl LP from this mgea-box. Sounds amazing.

Had a new Dynavector 'XX2 II' cartridge fitted to my LP12 this week here is just a small selection of records played between watching le tour de france, test cricket & world cup football.

Graham

The "Ultra LP" of Jack White's Lazaretto - I just love watching my Ittok go backwards on Side One!

Quad33 wrote:

"Had a new Dynavector 'XX2 II' cartridge fitted to my LP12 this week"

I'm a big fan of Dynavector cartridges & that's a great selection of albums.

This one brings up hazy memories (and not just because it was such a long time ago) of my long lost student years.

OOps - missed the album insert.  Here it is:

Of its time, but a great album nonetheless.

John Vanderslice "Romanian Names"

And after a memory jog from another thread, another album from the 70s:

and a hi-res download from Linn (before they decided to narrow their range):

Much better than the standard CD rip!

Went out for a blast on my motorbike today - that was really great, but to waken me up properly:

ripped to FLAC from CD. Can't believe there is anyone who doesn't like a bit of Dr Feelgood.

Thanks Hmack, the new cart sounds great 

Sunday morning music.