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

Hires FLAC.

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Piano Quartets:  Daniel Hope (violin), Paul Neubauer (viola), David Finckel (cello), Wu Han (piano) 

Gustav Mahler:  Quartet in A minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello (fragment)

Robert Schumann:  Quartet in E-flat major for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello op. 47

Johannes Brahms: Quartet in G minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello op. 25

There is a small percentage of music written in major keys that is simply awesome.  The Schumann piano quartet belongs in this camp.  If any piece really deserves to belong in a proper minor key though I think this quartet could of made the leap.  Schumann is definitely a guy who wrote music that belongs in the interesting minor mode side.

Brahms of course shows us how its done.  Today will likely turn in to chamber music Sunday with Johannes Brahms.  His chamber music fits me like a glove.

The players here are really excellent and a power group of sorts.  Of course, David Finckel of Emerson String Quartet fame is married to pianist Wu Han.  These two together are the artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall.  These two alone can form parts of solo, duo, trio, quartets, quintets etc.  You see piano and cello is at the heart of every good thing.  There piano trio brings in Philip Setzer (another colleague from the Emerson SQ).

Paul Neubauer teaches at Julliard and was the youngest violist with the New York Philharmonic at one time.  Daniel hope also was the youngest member of the Beaux Arts Trio for its last six years.  

I think we'll hear much more from the various groups possible from these guys.  I for one am looking forward to anything that has a piano and cello in it in some form or other.

Nice fat sound...

Streaming | Deezer Elite

On vinyl...

Spending the day listening to CDs my daughter gave me for Father's Day. 

Now: 

This is my first Tedeschi Trucks album.  Very good on first listen. 

This is less energetic than the other album of the same group, but as enjoyable as the other....

R

First listen.  Pretty engaging. 

because it is the longest day, and the start of summer. It is a shame it is a bit cloudy.

D

Streaming Wav

Followed by...and recommended by JN

Which then led me on to;

Streaming | FLAC rip CD

Just before the nitty gritty of the U.S. open gets underway later, this "best of" from a great and famous son of Washington state. What a beautiful state it is too, several very happy months spent living and touring around  there. 

Richter's studio recording of the Dvorak piano concerto isn't as good as it should have been, with these artists involved. All the same, I don't know of a better recording. Listening to a 24/96 remaster from 2011.

EJ

Streaming wav this has a very haunting mellow and chilled vibe probably my favorite Mazy Star album

First listen.  Felt average, which disappointed me since I like Rhett Miller and really like Black Prairie.  Will listen to it more to see if it improves for me. 

Now: 

My Dad is a big Johnny Cash fan, and eventually got me to appreciate and like Mr Cash.  Since can't see him today, figured I would connect through some music. 

On vinyl.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own

(2003) CD   First listen.  The first song, 'Stop', has got me moving. 

Doug,

Curious to find out what you think of it.

The sound of piano in that particular CD is warm and atmospheric but nice intimate recording. Slightly closed down and veiled but no peakiness. Very little distortion through the frequency range and it gives a realistic tonal colours and presense. Surprising that period insturment has this much bottom end. 

He's got the singing hands and the fortepiano becomes almost like a time machine going back in Schubert's time. There is a significant more bloom so pianist lets the note breath longer which probably creating a lovely life like living soundscape.

First play on vinyl - purchased from The Music Exchange in Nottingham last weekend 

So hear this, something completely different! So good to hear the Boys playing around and coming up! with some Awesome tunes.