Arthur La Porta

More Pejacevic Chamber Music, the Piano Trio, String Quartet, and Cello Sonata, from the cpo series.

#Pejacevic #classicalmusic

Pejacevic, Piano Concerto, Oramo, Donogue. A dense, richly conceived work in late romantic style. I listened to the symphony in the cpo series, the Chandos recordings strike me as more expansive with audio which is a bit more lush, less direct than those in the cpo series.

Mozart Cessation (Serenade) KV100, Marriner

A surprisingly substantial piece written by a 13 year old Mozart. Highlights are a prominent use of horn, a lovely second movement Andante, and the minor key trio of the third menuetto. Marriner/ASMF is very effective.

I've been involved in a little experiment to see if it is possible to nucleate some classical music discussion on this platform. It would appear that the answer is "no," at least in my experience.

Trump delusions remind me of Erdogan, who thinks the entire world is wrong and the way to lower inflation is to cut interest rates, which resulted in 85% inflation in Turkey (now moderated to about 40%).

Joachim Mendelsohn, Symphony No 2, one of five surviving works by this composer who was murdered by the Gestapo during the Warsaw uprising. Droll yet modern, imaginative use of the orchestra. Makes me wonder what his symphony No 1 would have sounded like. #classicalmusic.

The Chandos release containing unpublished Bacewicz String Quartets exposed me to Joachim Mendelsohn, a Polish composer murdered by the Gestapo during the Warsaw uprising, for whom only five works survived. The String Quartet and Chamber Symphony are congenial yet modern #classicalmusic #Mendelson

Listened to these two pieces again, my engagement with the Bacewicz increased, which is what happens when I am in sync with a composer. I also listened to the late quartet, which Bacewicz did not included among her numbered quartets. A brilliant work in Bacewicz' unique late style.

Bacewicz, early string quartet and Joachim Mendelson Oboe Quintet, Silesian Quartet and friends. The Bacewicz is a brief work, but I found it very engaging. The Mendelson also appealed to me, style not as thorny as Bacewicz, distinctly modern. #Bacewicz #classicalmusic

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Krenek, String Quartet No 8, Sonare Quartet. A single stretch of music lasting about 26 minutes. A texture, combining bowed playing with pizzicato notes, is very engaging to me. I don't know what it "means," but I like it. #Krenek #classicalmusic

Hartmann, Symphony No 2 and 5. I periodically have to remind myself that Hartmann doesn't work for me. (Metzmacher).

Krenek, Concerto Grosso No 2, conducted by Alun Francis. The Neo-baroque aspect of the music is most obvious to me in the fast movements. The slow movements contain compelling dissonant climaxes. Good performance, the audio lacks presence. #classicalmusic #Krenek
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Krenek, String Quartet No 6, Sonare Quartet. I work in five succinct movements, thorny but melodic and sensuous. I enjoy the intensity of this movement (which the record label, MDG, refuses to sell). #Krenek #classicalmusic

Krenek, Symphony No 4, Alun Francis. The symphonies strike me as less focused than the string quartets, but the forth symphony rewards attention, particularly in the final movement. Too much bass drum, though. #Krenek #classicalmusic
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Krenek String Quartet No 5, Sonare Quartet. An impressive, expressive quartet in three movements. Superb performance. It is a shame that MDG has effectively abandoned these recordings, which are not to be found in electronic or physical form. #Krenek #classicalmusic media.s-bol.com/gJ5WDmLzOynr...

Continuing with parts II and III are equally brilliant. Melody and rhythm emerges from complex figuration. Moments of transcendent beauty.

Martinu, Etudes and Polkas (Book I), Koukl. Enchanting short pieces, and it seems to me that only Martinu would think to combine these two genres in a suite. Koukl gives a satisfying account. #Martinu #classicalmusic m.media-amazon.com/images/I/615...

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Finished reading "Unsheltered" by Barbara Kingsolver. Like all Kingsolver books, a progressive fever dream. Interleaves two stories 100 years apart about families trying to find their way in a house that is (metaphorically and literally) collapsing on itself. #Kingsolver

Krenek, String Quartet No 3, Sonare Quartet. This is a tense work in five movements, sounds atonal, with engaging melodies and harmonies that are at times harsh, and at times sensuous. Enjoyed in a satisfying performance. #Krenek #classicalmusic

Krenek, String Quartet No 2, Sonare Quartet. An intense work in three movements, slow-fast-slow. Remarkably dissonant and sensuous. The Sonare Quartet set from MDG is the only complete traversal, and it was a wild goose chase to find it. #classicalmusic #Krenek i.discogs.com/sBFXaY7nR8Ws...

I was inspired to listen to Milestones (the Miles Davis version) again after many years.

Is that supposed to be a reference to the Mikes Davis album?

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Listening to Martinu's Fantasia and Toccata for solo Piano. A brilliant piece. Koukl's recording more intense, Leichner more nuanced and poetic. #classicalmusic #Martinu
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Haydn, Piano Sonata No 56, Brautigam. (Yesterday was Pienaar.) The fortepiano sounds lovely in this music. #classicalmusic #Haydn #Brautigam
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Bach, Cantata BWV6, Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien. Another work by Bach which is richly expressive and well crafted. Harnoncourt is compelling. #classicalmusic #Bach #Harnoncourt
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My interest in Jazz has been mostly 1950's horn led ensembles (Sonny Rollins, etc). But I've discovered the Horace Silver Quintet, a group led by a pianist with elaborate horn arrangements, in addition to improvised solos. Wonderful #HoraceSilver #Jazz. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

Haydn, Piano Sonata No 56, Pienaar. A slow, extended opening movement, a brief, lithe finale. Performed with Panache. #Haydn #classicalmusic
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Krenek, String Quartet No 1, Sonare Quartet. An uncompromising work in 8 short movements. Atonal in structure, with a pervasive contrapuntal texture. MDG's audio is honest, if not voluptuous. #Krenek #classicalmusic
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Ruth Crawford Seeger, Music for Small Orchestra, Knussen. Probably atonal, melodic and sensuous, just a beautiful listening experience. #classicalmusic #RuthCrawfordSeeger
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