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

EJ

Main Street....

nice smooth soul for a sunday

atb

kk

 Bitches Brew.

Grateful Dead - Anthem Of The Sun

Syd

Why?  For several months every year I become transfixed by the 1st movement of Rachmaninov's D minor Piano Trio.  After weeks of listening to The Borodin Trio version in the car daily, this morning I listened to the The Moscow Piano Trio, The Borodin Trio, Argerich, Kremer, Maisky and now Makhtin, Berezovsky, Kniazev.  I just put the Beaux Arts Trio in my wishlist as I don't understand why I do not have their recording yet?  Will seek other recordings out too.

If you think of the Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky Piano Trio's, for me, they are both synonymous with death, anger, tragedy and sorrow.  I personally cannot think of any other nationality that can portray (or likely understand) these emotions as effectively as that of a Russian (especially from this period, musically).  This music resonates very deeply with me.  Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Trio was in fact written after the death of Tchaikovsky as a tribute to his mentor.

Without tragedy or ugliness one cannot know what the heights of beauty should feel or look like nor will you appreciate it.  If you are attracted to the music of Rachmaninov you will understand this. intuitively.  In music this is expressed as tension and release.  Directionally, this is through rise and fall and especially through major and minor tonality.  Visually, if I were filming a movie or writing a book the opening of the D minor feels like a perfect scene for a handful of people in black, silently following a horse drawn casket to a country cemetery.  Fog, of course, is mandatory.  That low tonic D returning every bar in circular motion is also reminiscent of the spikes being driven into a coffin.  Later when the cello and the violin play off each other and rise heavenward above the angelic underlay of piano's safety net the effect is simply visceral.  To play this without being effected emotionally is very difficult. 

Shostakovich, of course, comes off as a much colder, almost sarcastic character, in comparison but the beauty is still their but is often veiled or in a different language than you would expect.  The Largo in the E minor Piano Trio is one such example of clear beauty but clearly tragic at the same time.  The piano part is very straight forward; a pattern of eight chords repeated until the end.  So this is very much about the violin and cello.  Normally, in a piano trio the pianist has so much going on that it is very hard to be fully focused on what your partners are doing (even though this is the goal).  This movement is a rare occasion where the pianist can and has to concentrate solely on the strings.  In the interplay between the voices of the violin and cello there is one point where the violin voice reaches below the voice of the cello.  If you listen closely, the violin then takes on a different character as it is going low and the same for the cello which is going high.  For some reason this point chokes me every time.  I don't know why but it does.  

Someone is probably wondering how one should derive so much joy out of such seemingly morbid music?  Well, everyone's mileage will vary but out of my investment, I intend to get my money's worth out of the music I enjoy.  Music is about life so all topics/emotions are fair game and should be experienced.  I guess that is why we are all here...

Doug

Haim, I am reaching for this now too.  This album has a special place in my heart with a lot of memories attached to it.  In 2004/05 my musical world took a step up and changed dramatically.   This was when my first exposure to Naim occurred and I had brought home a nice 5 series system and started down the road of no return.  Credo was one album I spent a lot of time with at then (especially the Beethoven).

Eight years later, I find myself as broke as can possibly be but feeling very rich; musically enriched, that is!

S

SSomehow I missed this when it was first released. Superb...

Time to chill out... mind you,  that's all I've been doing all day. Life is great!

Sharon Van Etten - Epic

Only 7 songs around 30 minutes long, but perfectly formed hooks & melodies.

Some of the album performed live...

Save Yourself - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye0Otkr33Ks&feature=relmfu

Don't Do It - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5DDgcrWv5o&feature=relmfu

One Day - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyglm78YJSo&feature=relmfu

Love More - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKTgHsmH8RY&feature=player_embedded

Bon Iver (Love More cover) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxmcQGeNcMc&feature=related 

Note to self: Must see Bon Iver 'live'

Tchaikovsky's Evgeny Onegin, in a brilliant performance.

EJ

Why? Stephen Kovacevich is hugely convincing in Beethoven's Op.31 sonatas. 

First play and enjoyed it. I must say that after a few more listens, Matte Kudasai could give the original a run for it's money. Looking forward to Vol. 2 and hearing Ian's take on one of my KC favoutites, Sailor's Tale.

Miss Mutter   playing Sibelius. Simply majestic performance.