|
|
Post by jandl100 on Feb 5, 2020 7:34:43 GMT
It is far from 'mainstream' classical, and definitely comes under the heading of 'contemporary', so I wonder what occasional dabblers in classical like John and MikeMusic might make of it? You make a good point and I can't even understand why it is that I love Glass, Ligeti, McCabe, Richter, Reich for instance, but I can't be doing with most of this or Birtwistle or Rihm, for instance? Reich, McCabe - nah, I'm averse to that to the point of strong dislike! I'm even bored by the 'sameness' of Glass now and I used to love the music. I was a big fan of Arvo Part, but can't be bothered with his music any more. Not sure there is any explaining it - we're all on our own musical journeys and they don't have to 'make sense'. 20 or 30 years ago I'm sure I would have been dismissive of the Nigel Clarke album as random noise. I enjoy it now. My initial response to your post was to think that you need melody and tunes in music, Martin, but you very much liked that Pettersson 7th synphony which barely focusses on melody at all, and the music of Gloria Coates that you (and I) like has nothing to do with melody to my ears, so it doesn't seem to be that. I think we all need to try new music, even things we have dismissed before, as you never really know what might now strike your fancy. |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 5, 2020 7:53:51 GMT
Yes, I agree that I am attracted to melody. However, the Coates (that I really like) and something like the Tangerine Dream albums Phaedra and Rubycon, are far more about texture/ambience/mood than about melody.
I love that streaming allows me to discover little gems every so often.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinch on Feb 5, 2020 14:41:09 GMT
I'm listening to this now while I continue to chip away at this pile of essays. Almost finished my first play - will let it go around a few times. But first impressions are good! The standout pieces for me are Loulan and Black Fire, but I've enjoyed it all. Question: is that the violinist doing the stamping during Pernambuco and The Miraculous Violin? Or is there a separate stamper?
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 5, 2020 15:05:09 GMT
Love the diversity of opinion we get with these album choices!
|
|
|
|
Post by Slinger on Feb 5, 2020 15:39:47 GMT
And the diversity of the albums themselves, Jules.
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Feb 5, 2020 17:09:32 GMT
I'm listening to this now while I continue to chip away at this pile of essays. Almost finished my first play - will let it go around a few times. But first impressions are good! The standout pieces for me are Loulan and Black Fire, but I've enjoyed it all. Question: is that the violinist doing the stamping during Pernambuco and The Miraculous Violin? Or is there a separate stamper? Yay.  -- I'm sure for most/all of us the whole point of this monthly album choice is to learn of new music and new interpretations of old music. So it's great when my choices can help others expand their horizons. Re: stamping. Hmm, good question! I've heard other recordings of the piece where it's fairly clear that the violinist is doing the stamping, but on this album it all seems too (wonderfully) violent, especially toward the end of Pernambuco, so my suspicion is that there is a separate stamper, at least in part. |
|
|
|
Post by petea on Feb 6, 2020 11:37:49 GMT
An interesting choice. I enjoyed both Pernambuco and The Marvelous Violin very much and found both engaged me from the start. I thought Loulan and Premonitions to be rather pointless additions and did not rally enjoy either. Samurai had the feeling of a film score to me and without visual queues it really did not hold may attention at and I thought it rather dull (in fact so muc so that I found myself distracted by a paper on nasal secretions!). Black Fire was better although still a bit score-like I found, but it did have some superb 'stages'.
All-in-all a very worthwhile listen. I don't think it a great album as such, but it is a good introduction and I will explore more. Certainly work 8/10 I reckon.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Feb 6, 2020 19:10:02 GMT
I found this a lot easier on me than the last 2 album choices
Pernambuco a bit outside I struggled to get into this
The Miraculous Violin got my attention and quite enjoyed this
Loulan was interesting starts off almost with a Japanese feel and then changes directions. Like watching a crazy drugged induced film with the sound score to match
Samurai is quite powerful
I quite liked Premonitions almost Close Encounters film score
Black Fire is quite dark but I am okay with this
I think a 4 a bit to outside for me but on the whole I can listen to it
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 6, 2020 19:36:26 GMT
You make a good point and I can't even understand why it is that I love Glass, Ligeti, McCabe, Richter, Reich for instance, but I can't be doing with most of this or Birtwistle or Rihm, for instance? I'm even bored by the 'sameness' of Glass now and I used to love the music. I was a big fan of Arvo Part, but can't be bothered with his music any more. I've never really understood the appeal of either, especially Glass ... |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 6, 2020 19:43:23 GMT
I love Glass. His music clicks with me at a fundamental level.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Feb 7, 2020 14:33:51 GMT
This has moments of interest for me.
Reminds me of some King Crimson bits
Bit too far out my normal listening
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 7, 2020 16:29:15 GMT
I listened to 'Samurai' on the big rig today - the timpani, percussion and bass at the start nearly rearranged my internal organs!
Dynamics are startling at times on this. It's pretty gripping stuff ... Am 'saving' this track to a playlist.
Nice one J.
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Feb 7, 2020 17:22:40 GMT
I listened to 'Samurai' on the big rig today - the timpani, percussion and bass at the start nearly rearranged my internal organs! Dynamics are startling at times on this. It's pretty gripping stuff ... Am 'saving' this track to a playlist. Nice one J. You need to listen to Pernambuco on the big rig as well  ... assuming your system can really do 'slam'.  |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 7, 2020 17:48:33 GMT
Oh gawd, ok will try it again next week but don't expect it to improve ... |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 7, 2020 21:30:06 GMT
I'm also listening on the big rig and it's a whole lot more interesting now. Slam and impact it does have! I think I was a little unjust with my scoring and will revise it to 6/10.
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Feb 7, 2020 22:10:11 GMT
I dunno - there's me a-sayin' that "Superb sonics are to be heard that will stretch your audio system to some of its limits" and you guys go and listen on PC speakers.  |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 7, 2020 22:36:58 GMT
Much as I'd love to take the big rig to work with me...
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 7, 2020 22:55:35 GMT
Truly great music will always transcend the limits of the playback medium employed ... |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 7, 2020 23:04:04 GMT
Truly great music will always transcend the limits of the playback medium employed ... There's more than a little truth to that, but 'difficult' music needs the helping hand of great sound quality in order to 'get' it. |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Feb 8, 2020 0:51:54 GMT
Can't believe this MartinT character - I bail him out and the geezer throws me under the bus!   |
|
... assuming your system can really do 'slam'. 
