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
Listening to Type O Negative. Don't really care who else is interested. Just enjoying it
On vinyl.
We are all familiar that Satie's music has somewhat of pensive strolling tempo. This one says 'Slow Music' on the cover and he wasn't kidding!
Jeroen van Veen takes a 100% liberty of Satie's 'free markings' and takes it to the extreme on this set.
I am not certain musically Veen's direction but a bonus track of Gymnopedie No.1 included here is a Steinway tuned to 1896 piano with a flatter balance which feels much more intimate sort of like listening to excellent mono recording from the mid century.
Interesting about this slow tempo is that once I get used to it, it no longer sounds so out of place. Veen creates the space that time stands still. This is a space fear of being not up-to-date or dealines do not matter any more. Each note sounds like a long bell from afar..
You have to be in the right mood to appreciate his efforts.
Streaming | 16/44.1 FLAC [Bandcamp] Download
Arc ~ Church (DiN35) (2010)
Some excellent ambient Berlin school electronica recorded in front of a live audience in a Philadelphia church during and as part of the annual Gatherings concert series in that city.
audiophile recording, just nice to end the day or start it...
We are all familiar that Satie's music has somewhat of pensive strolling tempo. This one says 'Slow Music' on the cover and he wasn't kidding!
Jeroen van Veen takes a 100% liberty of Satie's 'free markings' and takes it to the extreme on this set.
I am not certain musically Veen's direction but a bonus track of Gymnopedie No.1 included here is a Steinway tuned to 1896 piano with a flatter balance which feels much more intimate sort of like listening to excellent mono recording from the mid century.
Interesting about this slow tempo is that once I get used to it, it no longer sounds so out of place. Veen creates the space that time stands still. This is a space fear of being not up-to-date or dealines do not matter any more. Each note sounds like a long bell from afar..
You have to be in the right mood to appreciate his efforts.
Interesting. A few years back I bought the Reinbert de Leeuw Decca set for some of the rarer earlier works and was horrified by how slowly he took the classic stuff. After several listens I decided it wasn't the pace itself but the excessive rubato that tended to destroy any flow.
then this year I bought the Philip Corner Satie Slowly album, which is exactly that but played without the mannered breaks in tempi. It's greatly recommended (and 24 bit to boot!)
On freshly cleaned vinyl...
Great album, very intense...
Today's eclassical bargain. I've been really impressed with Nézet-Séguin in the concert hall, but his recordings haven't consistently brought that out. In the Symphonie Fantastique, his aim must have been to avoid the bombast and bring out the score's lyrical qualities. At first hearing I am hearing an underplayed, carefully managed performance - even the march lacks menace. If this was on Nézet's mind, I'm not sure I agree with him. Sound quality is good.
EJ
Replayed today at earth-shattering volume level - much better! The bells in V. creep me out like they're supposed to, the copper fills the room and the bass presents a lifelike simulation of a minor earthquake.
EJ
Ludwig Van Beethoven: Leif Ove Andsnes, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5
Choral Fantasy
A Beethoven Journey for me this week as well.
New vinyl...
We are all familiar that Satie's music has somewhat of pensive strolling tempo. This one says 'Slow Music' on the cover and he wasn't kidding!
Jeroen van Veen takes a 100% liberty of Satie's 'free markings' and takes it to the extreme on this set.
I am not certain musically Veen's direction but a bonus track of Gymnopedie No.1 included here is a Steinway tuned to 1896 piano with a flatter balance which feels much more intimate sort of like listening to excellent mono recording from the mid century.
Interesting about this slow tempo is that once I get used to it, it no longer sounds so out of place. Veen creates the space that time stands still. This is a space fear of being not up-to-date or dealines do not matter any more. Each note sounds like a long bell from afar..
You have to be in the right mood to appreciate his efforts.
Hi Kuma,
I am wondering what your thoughts are on the vinyl quality. I have been eyeing this for a while now and maybe his Einaudi, Part, and one titled Canto Ostinato.
I am actually quite happy (and relieved) now that you confirmed that he actually plays these in line with the title! I agree about being in the right mood but if I'm not mistaken I believe you play piano too (or used to?). Hopefully, you have a nice piano as you really need to play this music to get it. Or, I suggest you learn how to dream in slow motion...
Of course, you have to shut out the world and all distractions and chill out so to speak.
Alexander Scriabin: The Complete Works
Valentina Lisitsa, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Ivo Pogorelich, Jean Louis Steuerman, Svjatoslav Richter, Anna Gourari, Alexei Lubimov, Vladimir Horowitz, Roberto Szidon, Vovka Ashkenazy, Evgeny Kissin, Mikhail Pletnev, Kuss Quartett, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, Eliahu Inbal, Alexander Ghindin, Kirov Orchestra, Daniil Trifonov, Valery Gergiev, St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
I pulled the plug on this one about a month ago and so now very eager to get to work.
It is crazy, as I have a smattering of these recordings here and there (mostly the Ashkenazy) but to have everything in one box is always an incentive to splurge again - for the convenience but most to have a "complete" source of any composer available when needed.
I've said this before, but Ashkenazy seems to still grow as musician, and old age seems hardly - if at all - to have slowed him down. In these works, some of Scriabin's best works, he is a sure guide, even in the smallest works hinting that the notes themselves only barely touch the surface of the music and story between and beneath them. The recorded sound is close, warm, luxurious and very realistic. Candidate for recording of the year, for me.
EJ
EJ, it looks like I may not be done yet. Depends whether this is an all new recording or just a re-release of older material. Can you confirm if this is a new recording?
Thanks,
Doug
Fifteen years of high rotation. My first disc of Marin Marais purchased after hearing a piece played on WFMT radio. Before that I have never heard of the French composer.
I've said this before, but Ashkenazy seems to still grow as musician, and old age seems hardly - if at all - to have slowed him down. In these works, some of Scriabin's best works, he is a sure guide, even in the smallest works hinting that the notes themselves only barely touch the surface of the music and story between and beneath them. The recorded sound is close, warm, luxurious and very realistic. Candidate for recording of the year, for me.
EJ
EJ, it looks like I may not be done yet. Depends whether this is an all new recording or just a re-release of older material. Can you confirm if this is a new recording?
Thanks,
Doug
All new recordings, Doug. Can't confirm whether it ended up in Decca's complete set, however.
EJ
Streaming | CD FLAC rip
Joe Bonamassa | Dust Bowl (2011)
