Haydn In Plain Sight: The Classical Music Thread

[Ojai Sam]

New Hollywood String Quartet Pays Homage to Legendary Original Chamber-Music Group

New Hollywood String Quartet has formed to pay homage to legendary original chamber-music group.

variety.com

 

[Ojai Sam]

 

[axolotl]

^ It's a good thing he's performing on harpsichord.

Spoiler

It seems his organ didn't have any stops.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Various Artists - Swingin' The Classics (rec. 1927-49, Publishers Central Bureau comp. 1981)

Today we find classical performers occasionally trying Gershwin, Sousa and Berlin on for size. But during the big band era, the great composers found their way into the popular repertoire on a regular basis. Publishers Central Bureau did a lot of research in the vast Columbia Records vault to find the 30 tunes gathered here in a 3 LP box. From Glenn Miller in 1937 to Gene Krupa in 1949, each bandleader put his own spin on Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and the rest of the old boys. Surprisingly, the popsters went even deeper to uncover the likes of Donizetti, Paderewski, Massenet and Bizet. The fresh arrangements show how much fun these skilled musicians had fitting the classics into a jazz-pop framework. These recordings also reflect the ubiquity of classical music in the mainstream culture of the day.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Neville Marriner, cond.) - Respighi: Ancient Airs And Dances (1976)

Classical music hasn't been immune to the label consolidation mania of recent years. This release originally appeared on Angel Records while it was EMI's American subsidiary devoted to longhair music. (Wait a sec, I guess you could say the same about Capitol .)



This was the label of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra which was founded in 1969 by none other than Neville Marriner. During his ten year reign as music director of the LACO, he recorded Ottorino Respighi's rarely heard Ancient Airs and Dances at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, California. These delightful compositions, as orchestral interpretations of melodies from Italian lute music of the 17th and 18th centuries, flew in the face of the period instruments movement. But they reflect Respighi's deep affection for music history.

Angel passed into the hands of giant Warner Communications when it acquired the EMI Classics catalog in 2013 for its Warner Classics label.


However, when WC released its 80-disc Marriner "Complete Warner Classics Recordings" box last year, this album was left out.


Other LACO recordings were included, so why not this one? No one seems to know why.

It certainly isn't for lack of artistic quality. The performances are sparkling and veteran engineer Carson Taylor utilized the legendary acoustics of Ambassador, known as "The Carnegie Hall of the West", to create an outstanding sonic landscape.

 

[axolotl]

^
I was all-set to this post, because of my affection for and admiration of Angel Records (I used to go into D.C. after college to browse through record stores around Dupont Circle). My collection of Ralph Vaughan Williams albums burgeoned due to Angel and EMI. Plus, I would pick up new Poseidon Society's issues of the works of Alan Hovhaness and usually other things that caught my eye.

Also, I have a special affection for Ottorino Respighi's Ancient Air and Dances. I can recall a few of the melodies even when I haven't heard this composition in over two decades. I intend to remedy that, as soon as I set up my audio system in my new home.

But, why would this wonderful composition be left out of the 80-CD box set? Label consolidation be damned.

Did someone bake a cake but forget the frosting? Did someone leave the cake out in the rain? I don't think that I can take it. 'Cause it took so long to bake it and something something recipe again. Oh, criminy!

 

[Ojai Sam]

^
I was all-set to this post, because of my affection for and admiration of Angel Records (I used to go into D.C. after college to browse through record stores around Dupont Circle). My collection of Ralph Vaughan Williams albums burgeoned due to Angel and EMI. Plus, I would pick up new Poseidon Society's issues of the works of Alan Hovhaness and usually other things that caught my eye.

Also, I have a special affection for Ottorino Respighi's Ancient Air and Dances. I can recall a few of the melodies even when I haven't heard this composition in over two decades. I intend to remedy that, as soon as I set up my audio system in my new home.

But, why would this wonderful composition be left out of the 80-CD box set? Label consolidation be damned.

Did someone bake a cake but forget the frosting? Did someone leave the cake out in the rain? I don't think that I can take it. 'Cause it took so long to bake it and something something recipe again. Oh, criminy!

Axo, I figured you might be familiar with this music. Angel Records were a big part of my growing up as my mom grabbed several of them as cutouts at the supermarket, including this gem:



Much of the speculation about the omission of Ancient Airs and Dances from the box revolves around licensing issues but I have my doubts. My CD copy was released on EMI Classics which is now controlled by Warner. I'm more inclined to suspect that creative considerations played a sinister part. Perhaps someone with the label or Marriner's estate just doesn't like orchestral pastiches of Renaissance and Baroque works.

 

[axolotl]

Axo, I figured you might be familiar with this music. Angel Records were a big part of my growing up as my mom grabbed several of them as cutouts at the supermarket, including this gem:

View attachment 14971

Much of the speculation about the omission of Ancient Airs and Dances from the box revolves around licensing issues but I have my doubts. My CD copy was released on EMI Classics which is now controlled by Warner. I'm more inclined to suspect that creative considerations played a sinister part. Perhaps someone with the label or Marriner's estate just doesn't like orchestral pastiches of Renaissance and Baroque works.

Speculation is allowed and welcomed in this realm, as distinct from, say, legal pleadings.

What a gorgeous cover. Despite this album being released over half a century ago, I still felt I had to count the hands and fingers.

...and, being me, I wondered, "Whatever does she see up there?"

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Every Sat and Sunday morning listen to classical music and for the past several years been going through the 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Listen to Before You Die
Down to 10 - all pretty long operas like Parsifal and Prokofiev's War and Peace
But should finish up early this year with Wagner's Ring Cycle (which, c'mon, is FOUR pieces/operas but the book counts as one...jeez!)

So first of all, when I finish this list, I hope I don't die - tempting fate...OTOH when I did the 1001 Albums and Song lists I still lived, so hoping that still holds up

Next Year: my wife and I will be doing our first classical listening series together with the help of the 50 Greatest Composers book, each week choosing a different composer's piece off their recommended pieces list.
The family that plays together...

Also discovered a book by Clemency Burton-Hill, Year of Wonder - Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day, which has a short <15 minutes piece (or section of a piece) for each day

So some good listening will continue in 2026!

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day to Day

Nice book with a small piece or part of a larger piece is presented each day for one's listening enjoyment. Seven days in and all have been wonderful - all also less that 10 minutes so very doable

Selections so far
Bach - Mass In B Minor: Sanctus
Chopin - Etude No. 1 "Waterfall"
Hildegard von Bingen - O virtus sapientiae
Beethoven - String Quartet No 13: V. Cavatina
Antonio Lotti - Crucifixus
Max Bruch - Violin Concerto No 1: 1. Allegro moderato
Francis Poulenc - Les chemins de l'amour

Especially enjoyed the Bruch which I had not heard before

 

[axolotl]

Especially enjoyed the Bruch which I had not heard before

Listening to the Bruch now.

In the interim, babylon.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

David Orlowsky & David Bergmuller - Alter Ego (2022)

The above Year of Wonder daily listen already leading me to some cool music
The other day's selection was Giovanni Kapsberger's "Toccata Arpeggiata" - after a Spotify search, I chose this recording with clarinetist Bergmuller and lutist Orlowsky

Such a great rendition, decided to check out the whole album today which has their very modern sounding takes on pieces by Henry Purcell and John Dowland in addition to some originals. The two instruments sound beautiful together. Really enjoying this

 

[axolotl]

^
Thank you. This is directly up my alley.

I purchased it a few moments ago.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Now Listening
Adolf Wiklund - Piano Concerto No. 1

 

[Ojai Sam]

E. Power Biggs & The Boston Brass Ensemble (cond. by Richard Burgin) - Music For Organ And Brass (1960)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

This album is subtitled "A New Sound In America" and it truly was. Everyone knew Bach but the ebullient charms of the "Intonazioni D'Organo" by Gabrieli and Frescobaldi became even more irresistible when paired with an incandescent brass group like the Bostonians.

E. Power Biggs was rightly regarded as a major innovator in his day. By the time this album was released he had been recording for four decades, almost singlehandedly putting classical organ on center stage in the New World.



E. Power Biggs (1906-1977)

Trivia note: The "E" stood for Edward. Has he opted for jazz, Eddie Biggs might have rated right up there with Jimmy Smith.

 

[axolotl]

E. Power Biggs (1906-1977)

Trivia note: The "E" stood for Edward. Has he opted for jazz, Eddie Biggs might have rated right up there with Jimmy Smith.

Or Rock, with Keith E. Merson.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold (Daniel Barenboim/Bayreuth Festival)



Well, it’s taken awhile but finally at my 1001 album in the 1001 Classical Recordings to Listen to Before You Die list
Ending with Wagner’s Ring Cycle which should really be four separate entries as it’s four operas, but, bless their heart, the editors lump all 15 hours as one entry.
So will take perhaps much of the week, but starting now with the first and shortest of the four, Das Rheingold

 

[axolotl]

Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold (Daniel Barenboim/Bayreuth Festival)

View attachment 15506

Well, it’s taken awhile but finally at my 1001 album in the 1001 Classical Recordings to Listen to Before You Die list
Ending with Wagner’s Ring Cycle which should really be four separate entries as it’s four operas, but, bless their heart, the editors lump all 15 hours as one entry.
So will take perhaps much of the week, but starting now with the first and shortest of the four, Das Rheingold

Will you casually listen, will you attentively listen, or will you follow them word-for-word with the libretti?

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Will you casually listen, will you attentively listen, or will you follow them word-for-word with the libretti?

No, he'll listen to it synchronized with the Wizard of Oz.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold (Daniel Barenboim/Bayreuth Festival)

View attachment 15506

Well, it’s taken awhile but finally at my 1001 album in the 1001 Classical Recordings to Listen to Before You Die list
Ending with Wagner’s Ring Cycle which should really be four separate entries as it’s four operas, but, bless their heart, the editors lump all 15 hours as one entry.
So will take perhaps much of the week, but starting now with the first and shortest of the four, Das Rheingold

I salute your devotion, Zeeb. As yet I’m still at #497, Harnoncourt’s version of Dvorak’s New World Symphony from 1893). It is surprising to me that the editors chose nearly 500 works from the 20th Century. But that period is not my strong point so it will be highly educational.

I listened to Barenboim’s Bayreuth Ring Cycle in its chronological place (#394 for those keeping score) and enjoyed it immensely. He managed to present its majestic power without bombast.