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

Angela Hewitt - Plays Handel and Haydn

From allmusic.com:

Angela Hewitt's 2009 Hyperion disc of keyboard works by Handel and Haydn suggests that with her playing of Bach and Beethoven, the Canadian pianist has been taking time away from what she clearly ought to be doing, because she seems ideally equipped for the music of Handel and Haydn. She has the clarity of tone to elucidate the lines and the dexterity of technique to articulate the filigree, the intensity to get down in the slow movements and the velocity to get going in the fast movements. While those qualities would serve her equally well with any composer, Hewitt also has the vivacity of spirit to bring these particular composers' music to life. Her take on Handel's Chaconne in G major and suites in F major and F minor captures all the nuances of that composer's characteristic invention. Her approach to Haydn's Variations in F minor and Sonata in E flat major reveals all the subtleties of that composer's distinctive warmth and wit, as well as, in the Variations, his dry-eyed pathos. Recorded in crystalline digital sound, this disc deserves to be heard by all of Hewitt's fans, as well as her detractors.

On CD:-

Derek & The Dominos - Layla and other assorted love songs

Dusty mentioned above, that reminds me of... well enjoying all these 0s and 1s: Numbers don't lie

because We are the battery human

and we Cut them down in the passes

before we Come to the bar

in order to look out for Frankie's gun and drink a glass of Lagavulin

1973 - vinyl - US pressing...

Now Playing.......

Rag'n'Bone Man - Human

The album cover grabbed my attention and the mention and comment of "No matter my mood, no matter the weather, this one is always a winner ............ what a voice!" from DAVE MARSHALL had me doing a search on Tidal and taking it out for a spin.

Through two tracks and this is some nice music and his voice does grab your attention, thanks for the mention.

seakayaker posted:

Now Playing.......

Rag'n'Bone Man - Human

The album cover grabbed my attention and the mention and comment of "No matter my mood, no matter the weather, this one is always a winner ............ what a voice!" from DAVE MARSHALL had me doing a search on Tidal and taking it out for a spin.

Through two tracks and this is some nice music and his voice does grab your attention, thanks for the mention.

Good to read that you're enjoying this one, so ...........................

Here's another Brit blue eyed soul boy, and it's also out there on Tidal.

   Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks.

   Something of a concept soul album from a guy previously known only as a rapper .......... but, it works, IMHO. 

dave marshall posted:

seakayaker posted:

Now Playing.......

Rag'n'Bone Man - Human

The album cover grabbed my attention and the mention and comment of "No matter my mood, no matter the weather, this one is always a winner ............ what a voice!" from DAVE MARSHALL had me doing a search on Tidal and taking it out for a spin.

Through two tracks and this is some nice music and his voice does grab your attention, thanks for the mention.

Good to read that you're enjoying this one, so ...........................

Here's another Brit blue eyed soul boy, and it's also out there on Tidal.

   Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks.

   Something of a concept soul album from a guy previously known only as a rapper .......... but, it works, IMHO. 

Good choices chaps 

Miles Davis 'Greatest Hits'. Columbia  compilation from 1969. Vinyl

I'm liking the new Tricky record "ununiform". Bit of a headbanger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5MmnHAjw8o

Just Finishing up.......

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

.....enjoyed this album a couple of weeks ago and wanted to take it out for another spin.

Just finished.....

Now Playing.....

Freddie Hubbard - Live in Warsaw 1991

Time for a little jazz and some horns!  A Fantastic Album!!!

Had to dig this out of an old HDD as you guys reminded me I hadn't played it in years.

Angela Hewitt - Rameau

I was looking for Rameau's music played on a piano and I found this beautiful recording by Angela Hewitt

From allmusic.com:

Rameau on the piano? It's not altogether unheard of -- there were a handful of classic recordings made by Robert Casadesus back in 1952 -- but, despite many recordings of Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti on the piano in the digital age, there's been precious little Rameau on the piano until this Angela Hewittrecording of three complete suites from 2006. By choosing the Suite in E minor from the Pièces de clavecin of 1731 plus the Suites in G minor and A minor from Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin, Hewitt has for the most part stayed away from the more evocatively titled works and stuck to the standard stylized Baroque dance forms of the allemande, courante, and gigue. Justly celebrated for her cool and clean Bach recordings, this strategy works well for Hewitt. Without seeming to resort to the sustain or the mute pedal, she floats Rameau's lines and melodies, and without seeming to exaggerate the accents or dynamics, she gives Rameau's rhythms a wonderful sense of lift. In the deliberately evocative movements from the G minor Suite -- "La poule," "Les sauvages," and especially "L'egiptienne" -- Hewitt seems to bring less to the music -- her interpretations are remarkably straight -- and to get less out of it -- her performances are remarkably bland. Still, as an alternative to Rameauon the harpsichord, Rameau on the piano works well enough to merit an occasional listening, and Hewitt's will more than likely remain the Rameau on the piano of choice for years to come. Hyperion's sound is warm, round, full, and deep.

A fine recording of Bach's partitas. 

Staying with Angela Hewitt

From allmusic.com:

For many listeners, the keyboard works of Gabriel Fauré epitomize French music of the fin de siècle, typically because its languorous melodies and subtle harmonies are at times evocative of late Romantic parlor music. Yet Angela Hewitt defends Fauré's piano music from such a superficial judgment, demonstrating that it is much more substantial in content than the conventional piano pieces of the time, and that the difficulties one encounters in his music are akin to the complexities in Bach. Hewitt's polished performances of the Thème et variations, two Valses-caprices, three Nocturnes, and the Ballade are proof of her longtime commitment to this music, and her penetrating insights into Fauré's expressions and technical artistry reveal levels of inventiveness that are often missed in less competent performances. Of course, having played Fauré for most of her life, Hewitt has intimate knowledge of the music, and her sensitivity and control communicate precisely the effects she wishes, so the music never seems sloppily sentimental or vaguely sketched. Instead, one is reminded at times of her crisp interpretations of Bach, especially at points where the chromatic counterpoint and cadences almost approach Baroque style. But Hewitt lets the music have full expression, so the emotions and colors that Fauré intended come across with poetic elegance, and Hewitt proves herself a true authority on this composer's music. Highly recommended.

That Fauré is excellent. The Rameau looks interesting; I will download it later from the Hyperion website. There is a superb box set of Fauré piano music by Kathryn Stott that is well worth investigating if you don't already have it. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

That Fauré is excellent. The Rameau looks interesting; I will download it later from the Hyperion website. There is a superb box set of Fauré piano music by Kathryn Stott that is well worth investigating if you don't already have it. 

Hi HH, that's the only recording I have of Fauré. I think it's really good. I will check out the boxset since I enjoy Fauré's music. Regards, Jeroen.

Now it's time for some Bach. Joshua Rifkin - Six Favourite cantatas

I enjoy selected cuts on this as alternate takes to the original.

Not too keen on any of the Ann Margaret stuff...but interesting variations on other tunes.

1973 - vinyl - UK pressing...

Zoltan Kocsis - Bach: The art of fugue