What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2014
On the cusp of 2015, we start a new thread...
Anyway, links:
Volume X: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-be-interested-vol-x
Volume IX: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...16#22826037054683416
Volume VIII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/12970396056050819
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
Michel Block: Piano Works
J.S. Bach | Godowsky:
Andante In C Major. Aria From Sonata No. 2 In A Minor For Solo Violin, BWV1003
From Bach to Scriabin - it is all the same to me - some of the finest music ever written. This disc represents such a small percent of the total possible and it is such a fine album. Sometimes the greatest musicians are the ones you would never hear about and the masses have no interest in.
If I had 200 Sviatislav Richter discs to choose from alongside this recording, I wouldn't hesitate a millisecond before choosing a disc like this first. Thanks Haim.
Doug,
Somehow I came across a review of Michel Block's disc while hunting for Cynthia Raim's Brahms recording (which I still can't find) and decided to try him. I never heard of him before:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Block
...from the Wikipedia link:
His playing was characterized by a rich singing tone, lyrical phrasing, transparent voicing, and wonderful dynamic control. Now widely considered to be one of the great pianists of the 20th century, and a favorite among cognoscenti, his peers and the public alike continue to regard him as a pianist's pianist. In 1997, Block retired from teaching and lived a quiet, uneventful, and happy life.
This first sentence confirms and says my exact impression. These attributes represent so much of who I am and what I hold dear in music. This is why I am without question so attracted to this. I didn't need the words - only my ears - to realize something special here (for me, anyway).
Nothing wrong with Richter. I like him too but this is just miles closer to my own musical aspirations.
By the way, the Cynthia Raim Brahms is available from Arkiv Music but it is currently on backorder. I will order this at some point but am waiting for the next recession so that our dollars return to par first 
Tchaikovsky: Boris Petrushansky (piano)
Jahreszeiten (The Seasons) op. 37a
Jugendalbum (Album for the Young) op. 39
I have been in a Tchaikovsky mood lately and have two very good Seasons recordings (Vassily Primakov and Pavel Kolesnikov. Shortage of Op. 39 so this one is good as it gives me both on one. Many more to come as the search begins. It is really so bazar too that I don't even have the complete scores of either of these sets. This omission will get corrected this week as I make my list and will be checking it twice.
Tchaikovsky did not write a great deal of piano music (compared to most of main composers) but what he did write, I am starting to really see the musical value in.
Go-Between: Zwischen Tanz und Traum: Raluca Stirbat, Klavier
Cesar Franck: Prelude, Choral et Fugue
Claude Debussy: Images II
George Enescu: Pieces Impromptues pour Piano op. 18
Mihail Jora: Joujoux pour Ma Dame op. 7
Bela Bartok: 6 Rumänische Tänze
I certainly haven't listened to the Franck, Debussy, and Bartok enough recently so this was an excuse to do so, The Enescu and Jora are relatively new to me as well.
Go-Between: Zwischen Tanz und Traum: Raluca Stirbat, Klavier
Doug,
Is that the pose of the day, listening only to musicians who are holding their chin? I am planning to look for a performer with a double chin..
Raim's disc is out of stock everywhere. I ordered from the UK Block's Chopin's Mazurkas.
Inspired by previous post:
Elvis Costello - vinyl
and now:
Imperial Bedroom - original vinyl -
His best and/or my favorite.
After watching the documentary on the beeb the other night I got all nostalgic...
First off
and now...
Both on 180g...
Trespass is good but Nursery Cryme is just the dogs doodies! ;-)
The Musical Box was the first Genesis track I ever heard c. 1974. still my number one ever band.
Might get Foxtrot in before the end of the afternoon.
If you want an album to stretch your system in all directions then this is the one...
Still brilliant to my ears but exposes the limitations of the low end of my system where you can hear the gaps where sounds should be occasionally.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion - really enjoying it on Spotify Premium on my second system (Unitilite + Guru QM10s) and thankful that houses here are built to withstand 6.5 on the Richter scale!
If you want an album to stretch your system in all directions then this is the one...
Still brilliant to my ears but exposes the limitations of the low end of my system where you can hear the gaps where sounds should be occasionally.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion - really enjoying it on Spotify Premium on my second system (Unitilite + Guru QM10s) and thankful that houses here are built to withstand 6.5 on the Richter scale!
Glad you're enjoying it - Homelands is the best track for me, with the percussion instruments really providing an amazing test of the range and agility of the system when turned up.
Wonderful live too.
After watching the documentary on the beeb the other night I got all nostalgic...
First off
and now...
Both on 180g...
Trespass is good but Nursery Cryme is just the dogs doodies! ;-)
The Musical Box was the first Genesis track I ever heard c. 1974. still my number one ever band.
Might get Foxtrot in before the end of the afternoon.
Have recorded that documentary for watching later. Difficult to chose between Trespass and Nursery Cryme. Selling England by the Pound and Trick of the Tail shade them both in my view but it's great to have so many excellent albums to enjoy from Genesis' early days.
Great album, Tony. May have to put this on later today.
Pat
Earlier:
(2014) CD Dobro instrumentals
Now:
Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal
2000 CD (original release - 1967)
Marie Vermeulin made name for herself with Messiaen, and especially this recording. Considering how little known and appreciated Messiaen's output for solo piano is, yet how much more approachable than the famous Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps, this is A Good Thing. The recording itself is spectacular (in high-res), another reason for hearing this disc / download.
Cheers
EJ
Listened to it during the workout, great sax solos...
Now enjoying Haydn...
On vinyl.
