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Post by jandl100 on Feb 28, 2017 11:03:58 GMT
Peter Sculthorpe (29 April 1929 – 8 August 2014) was an Australian composer. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_SculthorpeI find his music broodily atmospheric and excitingly rhythmic by turns. There's often a grandeur to it that appeals strongly to me. Modern but he avoided anything in the way of classical avantgarde tendencies (sighs of relief from TASers after my George Crumb debacle  ) He composed a wide range of music from solo piano to opera. This month's album focuses on his orchestral output, and includes the Australian aboriginal instrument, the didjeridu, as soloist. That's either going to work for you or it isn't! Personally, I find it a fascinating musical texture that works well.  Sorry, Jules, I think you will have a hard time finding it on vinyl, but quite a few CD copies are available on Amazon UK for £6-£7. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0002TL530/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=usedI'd suggest further listening to some string quartets if such things take your fancy ... And this Requiem for solo cello and renaissance style choir is unusual and interesting |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 28, 2017 12:49:29 GMT
I tried.
Too much of it is off key
A few good bits but not enough for me to want to keep it
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 28, 2017 13:17:36 GMT
Off key. Well, OK, it sure isn't a Tchaikovsky symphony or the Four Seasons., fab though they are. I'm onto this album at the moment. ... yum ... it's probably off key as well! On key is overrated.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 28, 2017 13:58:27 GMT
ooh you little tinker Jerry - another new one for me! |
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 28, 2017 14:29:44 GMT
I like to go off the beaten track. Ever since I discovered internet streaming and Spotify it's been a huge musical adventure for me. So much interesting music, so little time.  |
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Post by Slinger on Feb 28, 2017 16:14:27 GMT
I have his "Requiem" so I look forward to giving this one a go.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 16:08:24 GMT
Not for me, it has a lot going on in it which is interesting, but the overall sound isn't really to my taste.
2/5
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Post by Slinger on Mar 1, 2017 16:18:31 GMT
Much to like about this, including the virtuoso Didgeridoo  (can you tell what it is yet?) Some of the string parts are almost Mahler-like (think 5th Symphony), the whole thing starts out a bit Richard Straussy and I even noticed a bit of Waltzing Matilda in there. On the negative side a lot of it is typical "composer in search of a tune" fare, to me any way, but at least the percussion steers away from the oft heard man-falling-down-concrete-stairs-with-a-basket-of-cutlery style to cover the gaps. I also think that there's a fair chance you'd put your back out trying to dance the "Dance Song" but perhaps that's just my age. 2 1/ 2 from me, which I've rounded up to 3. I wouldn't buy it but it wasn't actively toxic either. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2017 21:43:23 GMT
but it wasn't actively toxic either. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2017 21:46:36 GMT
Earth Cry is interesting but there really is too much digeridoo in there. A small amount goes a long way. I love the brass work in Mangrove. Songs of Sea and Sky seems a little disjointed, but I really need to listen to it again. Some nice moments in there and I hear Paul's link with Mahler, not a bad thing at all. I'll give it 3/5.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 2, 2017 7:28:55 GMT
I'll try you folks with a more conventional "March, Part the 2nd" next week. Paul - did you try the Requiem with solo cello that I linked to? (a different piece from the Req you already have, I think). For didjeridu-less Earth Cry try this, it really is quite powerful and atmospheric music .... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2017 11:24:18 GMT
I didn't Jerry, but I shall. I did find a Piano piece by Peter Sculthorpe on Spotify that I liked a lot.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 2, 2017 13:44:31 GMT
Too many Pauls!
Paul / slinger is a cello fan, so I thought he would be particularly interested in a cello work.
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Post by Slinger on Mar 2, 2017 15:32:21 GMT
Paul - did you try the Requiem with solo cello that I linked to? (a different piece from the Req you already have, I think). Silly me, I didn't realise there was more than one Sculthorpe Requiem. The one I have is the "Requiem for didjeridu, choir & orchestra." I'm listening to the "Cello" one now, and the choir is lovely but 2 movements in and the cello is only just holding it together and slip-sliding all over the place. Movement 3 and we're into the pizzicato and bowing together. Not a solo cello then, it must be two solo cellos. On to the Lacrimosa and the beautiful choir/Gregorian chant is back...so is some vaguely atonal cello, both plucked and bowed. Movement 5 - Libera me. There are parts of this whole requiem that make me feel that way. The cello is now trying to be all things to all me, both sweet and brutish, ending with a cello-fart. Last movement, Lux Aeterna - The choir is back again, with, thank goodness, some 'musical' cello. Now the two solo cellos are playing. The bowed cello is playing the 'melody' while the pizzicato cello is being plucked at seemingly random intervals. Overall I preferred the choir to the cello(s) but there wasn't enough of it to attract me to the piece. I am glad I experienced it though. |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 2, 2017 15:48:16 GMT
Thanks for the running commentary! I seem to be happier with modern style atonality than most folks here. I enjoyed the mix of new and old. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2017 16:02:05 GMT
Too many Pauls! Paul / slinger is a cello fan, so I thought he would be particularly interested in a cello work. Oops... |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 7, 2017 14:59:07 GMT
Sorry to be late to the party! Much to my surprise (I confess) I really like this. Very expansive and highly atmospheric - reminds me of a good 1960's western film score and that's not a bad thing .... If you took out the didgeridoo I could totally imagine the darker parts in an Akira Kurosawa samurai film. As such it is more of a soundscape than a more traditional linear work with obvious motifs and melodies .. So Jerry has been on target with both his offerings this month - I'm going to have to give this a 5, as 'wow, I enjoyed that'! |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 7, 2017 15:28:28 GMT
Bloody hell. I'm losing my touch.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 7, 2017 15:29:33 GMT
btw - there's a didjeridu-less orchestral album link with much overlap in a previous post.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 9, 2017 14:47:38 GMT
LOL. I actually like the didg in it!
I've been having a look at his vinyl releases and there ain't so much ...
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)
(can you tell what it is yet?) Some of the string parts are almost Mahler-like (think 5th Symphony), the whole thing starts out a bit Richard Straussy and I even noticed a bit of Waltzing Matilda in there. On the negative side a lot of it is typical "composer in search of a tune" fare, to me any way, but at least the percussion steers away from the oft heard man-falling-down-concrete-stairs-with-a-basket-of-cutlery style to cover the gaps. I also think that there's a fair chance you'd put your back out trying to dance the "Dance Song" but perhaps that's just my age. 21/2 from me, which I've rounded up to 3. I wouldn't buy it but it wasn't actively toxic either.
