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

Johann Sebastian Bach:  The Art of Fugue - Angela Hewitt (piano)

Even in Bach's time he was criticized for writing music that was too complex.  As Angela Hewitt writes in her program notes,

It is interesting that at a time when composers were beginning to turn towards the simplicity and elegance of the galant style, Bach’s music became even more contrapuntally complex. Back in 1737 the composer Johann Adolf Scheibe had attacked Bach’s style in an anonymous letter, calling his music ‘turgid’ and ‘confused’, saying it was overladen and extremely difficult to play. Bach’s supporters came to his defence. Not surprisingly, Bach didn’t change his style one bit, but instead gave us glorious creations of even greater complexity.

In his advertisement for the publication of The Art of Fugue in 1751, C P E Bach wrote:

Those who are knowledgeable in the history of music will admit that such a work, in which the entire study of fugue is so thoroughly elaborated upon a single theme, has so far nowhere appeared. Since all the parts involved are singable throughout, and one is as strongly worked out as the other, each part has been given its own system, with the appropriate clef, in score … Nevertheless, everything has at the same time been arranged for use at the harpsichord or organ.

This is the Bach recording of the year, I would think.  Exceedingly wonderfully played and realized.  Severely complicated music resulting in an astounding intellectual exercise really.  Very satisfying though - profound and sad at the same time. 

Slavic Nobility:  Violina Petrychenko (Klavier) 

Alexander Scriabin:

2 Poemes op. 32;

3 Mazurken op. 3;

Klaviersonate Nr. 2

Viktor Kosenko:

2 Poemen Legenden op. 12;

3 Mazurken op. 3;

Klaviersonate Nr. 2 

Serkin on piano.

Der Junge Bach:  Martin Stadtfeld (Klavier) 

Johann Sebastian Bach (adaptions by Martin Stadtfeld):

Choral BWV 739 „Wie schöne leuchtet der Morgenstern“;

Toccata & Fuge d-moll BWV 565;

Passacaclia c-moll BWV 582;

Johann Sebastian Bach:

Chromatische Fantasie & Fuge BWV 903;

Capriccio sopra la lontananza de il frato dilettissimo BWV 992;

Stefan Heucke (transcription):

Choralvorspiel „Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten“

Alexander Scriabin:  Andrei Korobeinikov (Klavier)

Etüden op. 2 Nr. 1, op. 8, op. 42, op. 49 Nr. 1, op. 56 Nr. 4, op. 65, Klaviersonate Nr. 7 op. 64 "Messe Blanche" 

Scriabin Etüden are very interesting works (as are the Preludes).  It is very interesting to follow Scriabin through beginning to end and see clearly the distinct divisions in the evolution of his musical voice from a quasi romantic to atonal.

Domenico Scarlatti:  Igor Kamenz (Klavier)

Sonata in d major, K96

Sonata in e major, K381

Sonata in d major, K119

Sonata in b minor, K197

Sonata in e major, K135

Sonata in a major, K322

Sonata in a minor, K109

Sonata in d minor, K141

Sonata in d major, K492

Sonata in g major, K146

Sonata in c minor, K11

Sonata in f major, K17

Sonata in b minor, K27

Sonata in b minor, K87

Sonata in e major, K380

Sonata in a major, K209

Sonata in a major, K101

Sonata in d major, K29

Johannes Brahms:  Ophelie Gaillard (cello), Fabio Di Casola (clarinet), Louis Schwizgebel-Wang (piano)

Sonata for cello and piano no. 2 in F major, Op. 99

Sonata for cello and piano no. 1 in E minor, Op. 38

Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A minor, Op. 114

And with this amazing music it is back to work for me.

About eight years ago I took my then 11 year old son with me to a Rush concert (Snakes and Arrows). It was an interesting dichotomy of audience members; the gray hairs and the teens. I paid a premium for twelfth-row center-section seats. Well worth it. Musically they were much better than when I had seen them in the 1984 Grace Under Pressure tour. Getty's voice was a bit strained, but the song set was fabulous. We had isle seats and my son was directly in front of Alex. He was so inspired that he took up the guitar right after. He still plays casually today and loves Rush. Great memories shared together and we still talk about it.

Better take your second option. Don't worry guys it won't be long before it is out.

Listening to the "Companion Audio" CD of the new Houses of the Holy Super Deluxe box set:

Enjoying the Companion Audio in this set:

Yes, me too. People have been unkind about the bonus tracks but I'm enjoying them. The 24/96 isn't the revelation that I was hoping for though. Maybe my ears are past it!

They could have been better Graeme (there are some STUNNING outtakes and alternate versions of "No Quarter" out there in bootlegland, for example), but still, Page has chosen versions which have by and large evaded the bootleggers and as a fanatical fan who has to have everything, I'm quite enjoying them.

CYPHER 7 - SECURITY

On 200g Classic Records vinyl...

I do hear some things I haven't heard like that before. But it looks to be more available in the first two album, then in the current published albums.

On CD:-

alt-j - An Awsome Wave

Belle & Sebastian

"Write About Love"