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

Wim Mertens - Educes Me. The more I listen, the more I like the music of this Belgian, contemporary classical/new age/avant garde composer. Most of Merten's works are on Tidal.

I might just buy this, as a "keeper" on CD, to see if it can sound any better than excellent.

On CD:-

A + 3 | WAV

(2005)

The wonderful Harry Manx, for anyone that doesn't know his music give it a try. This is an old live album of his, so perhaps start with something like the excellent Mantras For Madmen available (as are a number of his albums) on Tidal.

Haim Ronen posted:

Released in 1991.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZm3JbzFzrQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkqDEh-fXVI

I always found this performance quite 'percussive' - enjoyable but not the most melliflous reading.

G

Klyde posted:

Wim Mertens - Educes Me. The more I listen, the more I like the music of this Belgian, contemporary classical/new age/avant garde composer. Most of Merten's works are on Tidal.

I might just buy this, as a "keeper" on CD, to see if it can sound any better than excellent.

Try the 'Belly of an Architect' soundtrack if you are warming to Mertens Klyde.

G

Nice music by Kenny Wheeler.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):  Shai Wosner (piano) | Ralph Kirshbaum (cello)

Complete Sonatas & Variations for Piano & cello

Funny how marketers like to force the narrative over just being accurate.  These have always been Sonatas for Piano and Cello.  Small point but it is a point none-the-less.  Then you see the cellist dominating the scene and with a faceless pianist in the background.  So my little battle here is totally my own.  Scared for life it seems, I have since made this my hill to die on .   It all stems from one too many people over the years referring to me as "the accompanist" when playing with violinists, cellists, or together in the form of a piano trio.  Ignorance is bliss I suppose but this and other things I have experienced have meant that the gauntlet had to be thrown down .

The truth is that Beethoven really designed these works with a mutual symbiosis in mind.  While the piano does play a slightly more important role (carrying the melodies as well as the harmonies) we don't need to complicate this.  Bottom line is that Beethoven was really one of the first to bring the piano out of the accompanist role and equalize the roles.  This means that the two instruments are really having a conversation among equals.  The piano says something and the cello replies back (or vice versa) and so these sonatas have this conversation going on from start to finish.  This dialogue is being tossed back and forth and this is what Kirshbaum and Wosner do very well here.  

The problem with any combination of strings with piano is that the piano can easily overpower the string player(s).  In this recording the balance is very good.  The cello has its lovely voice (hats off to Kirchbaum) and the piano is responding in a very sympathetic way (hats off to Wosner).

A great recording all around in this music that is very important to me.

GraemeH posted:

Klyde posted:

Wim Mertens - Educes Me. The more I listen, the more I like the music of this Belgian, contemporary classical/new age/avant garde composer. Most of Merten's works are on Tidal.

I might just buy this, as a "keeper" on CD, to see if it can sound any better than excellent.

Try the 'Belly of an Architect' soundtrack if you are warming to Mertens Klyde.

G

Thanks Graeme, I'll try " Belly of an architect" later.

Teddy Thompson - Separate Ways

Attractively dark.

C.

I'm in the mood for Kenny Wheeler tonight. Another great album of his. This time in a quintet setting.

I'll know to write  T e d d y  next time!

C.

All this talk of Teddy - 

Teddy Thompson - A Piece Of What You Need

Christopher_M posted:

I'll know to write  T e d d y  next time!

C.

Yes. I've just found out what you mean Chris...

Stevee_S posted:

A + 3 | WAV

(2005)

The wonderful Harry Manx, for anyone that doesn't know his music give it a try. This is an old live album of his, so perhaps start with something like the excellent Mantras For Madmen available (as are a number of his albums) on Tidal.

 

Think the best place to start is Wise and Otherwise or Dog My Cat and then go on from there as I still think they are his best albums.

He wasn't actually going to release the above Live album at one point as he only sold it at his shows.  A number of us asked him if he would put it on general release and to his credit he did so.

Saw him live last year, great night and very friendly guy.

Been waiting for this to come out on Vinyl for an age.

I now have it.......Marvellous

On Vinyl

Raider posted:

Been waiting for this to come out on Vinyl for an age.

I now have it.......Marvellous

On Vinyl

Great album which I play quite regularly.

Beethoven - The Five Piano Concertos Daniel Barenboim recorded 1968 

I bought this box set for £5.99! It's taken a time to get a system worthy of playing them. Just cleaned with my newly acquired Loricraft PRC4 and L'Art du Son cleaning solution, and sounding really good. Classical music costs very little in Oxfam, and you are supporting a good cause. If the vinyl is poor they give you a refund. The best shops are in areas where music is appreciated and families want to support Oxfam.

Now for some bluesy Jazz Guitar

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

On Vinyl

The French duo via my French Amp...

Air - Talkie Walkie

In the mood for some Prefab Sprout this evening:

Regards,

Vlad

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Quartet - Rip, Rig & Panic. 1990 CD rip. Quite the band (Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, Elvin jones). Rec. 1965.