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Post by julesd68 on Mar 10, 2022 13:52:01 GMT
Apologies for the delay to this month's Album Choice! For your entertainment and edification I offer some prime Bartok. A composer who certainly polarises opinion but I defy you to be unmoved by the 'Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta' composed in 1936. Some useful background on Wiki - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_Strings%2C_Percussion_and_CelestaThe first movement for me conjures up a dark, malignant force slowly seeping into every pore of one's body and attempting to seize control of one's mind. If the body puts up a fight in the second movement, the third feels like it has all but surrendered. Given the otherworldly atmospheres it induces, it won't be a surprise to hear that it has been featured in film soundtracks on numerous occasions, most famously with The Shining. It has been recorded fairly extensively over the years by some of the finest conductors and orchestras but here I offer the Susanna Malkki and Helsinki Phil, which was well received back in 2021 and of course has the sonic benefit of those talented recording engineers at BIS. I hope you enjoy.  |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 14:22:34 GMT
Thanks Jules, for something different to listen to. I hardly know this at all so I shall listen with interest.
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Post by Slinger on Mar 10, 2022 17:29:10 GMT
Not for me, I'm afraid, Jules. but you probably guessed that. It did, indeed, " move me" but only away from the hifi. Every time the music found something resembling a melody it seemed to tap it on the shoulder, shout " you're it," and scamper off again, in search of something else a bit melodic. The first 5 minutes or so passed almost pleasantly, although Mr Bartok and I will have to disagree on the meaning of " tranquillo," I fear, and possibly andante too. In fact, if I'm honest, the whole first movement was " OK-ish" and it reminded me a bit of Satie attempting Aaron Copeland. From there on in though, by the time the fourth movement came around I was desperate for something to like about it when the Satie/Copeland stuff surfaced again, with a bit of the Warsaw Concerto for good measure. That ending though? I loved it, and not just because the music had stopped. I was picturing the audience at the piece's premiere bewildered, looking around at their neighbours, wondering where the music suddenly went.  I enjoyed the Concerto a lot more. I found it much more cohesive. 3/ 5 |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 17:38:31 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 18:01:15 GMT
The opening mood is reminiscent of Gayaneh by Kachaturian. Sombre and mysterious. Then it gets more frenzied. I confess I had to look up Celesta to remind myself what it is. However, unlike Paul, the music is holding my attention and I'm quite enjoying it. This sounds like one of those pieces (like The Rite of Spring) that must be fantastic played live.
The 4th movement gets quite jaunty, doesn't it? Now it's starting to sound a little Shostakovich in parts.
4/5.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 10, 2022 18:14:37 GMT
Not for me, I'm afraid, Jules. but you probably guessed that. It did, indeed, " move me" but only away from the hifi. Every time the music found something resembling a melody it seemed to tap it on the shoulder, shout " you're it," and scamper off again, in search of something else a bit melodic. LoL!!  Brilliant. Joking aside I'm genuinely surprised it didn't do more for you Paul. Of course it's not "melodic" in a Warsaw Concerto vein but I find it most evocative and it keeps me feverishly gripped like a good bit of Scandi Noir ... You can only vote for this piece so do your worst! |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 10, 2022 18:16:51 GMT
The opening mood is reminiscent of Gayaneh by Katchaturian. Sombre and mysterious. Then it gets more frenzied. I confess I had to look up Celesta to remind myself what it is. However, unlike Paul, the music is holding my attention and I'm quite enjoying it. This sounds like one of those pieces (like The Rite of Spring) that must be fantastic played live. The 4th movement gets quite jaunty, doesn't it? Now it's starting to sound a little Shostakovich in parts. 4/5. Agreed on all points! And yes, I would love to hear it live too, great idea - will look out for a performance. The 4th movement is actually often played much quicker but I still like this reading - for comparison try Kocsis or Solti in the final movement. |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 11, 2022 17:53:54 GMT
I'm undecided on 4 or 5 stars - need to be able to hear it on my system to be sure.
Some more opinions on the piece would be most welcome - if you enjoy film soundtracks this might interest you!
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Post by John on Mar 11, 2022 19:08:35 GMT
I catch up on Sunday
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Post by John on Mar 14, 2022 16:52:38 GMT
I liked it more than I expected, but at the same time, it is not something I would go out of my way to listen to again
It creates a lot of dissonance in the music. Not overly jarring but, at the same time, hard to find a melody.
I am somewhere between a 2 or 3. I think it will have to be a two as I am not likely to choose to play it again. However, it did not have me wanting to change to something else
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 14, 2022 18:37:04 GMT
Thanks John!
I confess that I had a suspicion you would find it more entertaining than you did, which is why I wanted you to give it a whirl ...
If we use a dictionary definition of melody, then I personally find plenty of it in the work -
"a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying"
"the aspect of musical composition concerned with the arrangement of single notes to form a satisfying sequence."
However, the Bartok doesn't offer a stereotypical concept of 'tuneful' melody - it's not something you will be humming along to in the bathroom etc |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 16, 2022 15:54:24 GMT
Along with the 3rd piano concerto, this has been my favourite Bartok for quite a few decades.
There isn't much else of his music I am at all drawn to. The Concerto for Orchestra comes in a fairly poor 3rd but still a fair way clear of the rest of the field.
4/5 from me.
I'll give that Helsinki recording a listen, my own fave has been this one with a Hungarian orchestra conducted by Zoltan Kocsis.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 17, 2022 11:37:53 GMT
Yes the Kocsis is great, much stronger tempo than Helsinki but I like both.
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