The Music Thread

[KevinJS]

Beethoven's 9th symphony is still one of my favourite pieces of music. It has stood up to the tests of time quite well, and celebrated its 200th anniversary this year. First performance was in 1824 and was famously conducted by the (stone deaf) composer himself.

Over the years, there have been various takes on the piece, with piano transcriptions by Franz Liszt, re-orchestration by Gustav Mahler and a chamber orchestra version which used only 26 musicians, including the choir.

This recording, by Ben Zander, is unique, attempting to use Beethoven's metronome markings throughout in an attempt to come closer to the composer's intentions. Does Zander get it right? Leonard Bernstein didn't think so, but it's interesting anyway.

Talking of alternatives, here's an excellent version played on 2 pianos and timpani. Well worth an hour of your time.

 

[KevinJS]

Mahler Symphony #8. Known as the Symphony of 1000 because the original performance, conducted by the composer, required 1008 musicians.

 

[KevinJS]

 

[KevinJS]

 

[scifan57]

 

[scifan57]

 

[scifan57]

 

[scifan57]

This is from the live recording of the Carnegie Hall concert on January 16, 1938.

Benny Goodman brings jazz to Carnegie Hall | January 16, 1938 | HISTORY

On January 16, 1938, swing jazz music has its high‑brow coming out party at Carnegie Hall, with a concert featuring big band sensation Benny Goodman. Jazz has been called “America’s classical music,” a label that does more than just recognize its American origins. The label also makes the case...

www.history.com

 

[Pinkpoison]

View attachment 116056

I like Mozarts Requiem though he never managed to finish it.
It's still debated as to who actually finished it.

 

[KevinJS]

I like Mozarts Requiem though he never managed to finish it.
It's still debated as to who actually finished it.

The most likely candidate is FX Süssmayr. The premier was played at Mozart's own funeral.

Now playing:

Eivør - Slør

Eivør is from the Faroe Islands and sings in Faroese, Icelandic and English.

 

[Pinkpoison]

The most likely candidate is FX Süssmayr. The premier was played at Mozart's own funeral.

Now playing:

Eivør - Slør

View attachment 116066

Eivør is from the Faroe Islands and sings in Faroese, Icelandic and English.

Yes, he does seem the most likely....
Have you seen Amadeus?
I've watched several times....

 

[KevinJS]

Yes, he does seem the most likely....
Have you seen Amadeus?
I've watched several times....

No. I have the soundtrack album, but have never seen the movie. I was just wondering where to go next, so thanks for the inspiration. The only piece of music in that movie that was not composed by Mozart was Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Most people know that Mozart died young, but he lived into old age compared to Pergolesi, who snuffed it at 26. There are many ways of performing the piece. My favourite is boy soprano and countertenor, which was the method used in what is supposed to be THE definitive version, by Sebastian Hennig and René Jacobs.

This recording, by Alois Mühlbacher and Christian Ziemski, follows the format and uses Nisi Dominus, by Vivaldi, as a disk filler. Alois was a very successful boy soprano himself as a member, and soloist, of the St. Florianer Sängerknaben. Not at all sure why chucking him in a fish tank was supposed to add to the musical experience, but I suppose there have been even stranger album covers.

 

[Pinkpoison]

No. I have the soundtrack album, but have never seen the movie. I was just wondering where to go next, so thanks for the inspiration. The only piece of music in that movie that was not composed by Mozart was Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Most people know that Mozart died young, but he lived into old age compared to Pergolesi, who snuffed it at 26. There are many ways of performing the piece. My favourite is boy soprano and countertenor, which was the method used in what is supposed to be THE definitive version, by Sebastian Hennig and René Jacobs.

This recording, by Alois Mühlbacher and Christian Ziemski, follows the format and uses Nisi Dominus, by Vivaldi, as a disk filler. Alois was a very successful boy soprano himself as a member, and soloist, of the St. Florianer Sängerknaben. Not at all sure why chucking him in a fish tank was supposed to add to the musical experience, but I suppose there have been even stranger album covers.

View attachment 116072

Interesting, I'll listen out for that piece next time I watch it...
It's a great watch but sad too...
I originally had it on VHS tape, now I've got it on DVD, it's an old copy, the type you have to turn over half way through, I don't think it was ever played, I got it in eBay.

 

[KevinJS]

Mahler: Symphony #7 (studio version) from this box:

Tennstedt had completed his cycle of Mahler symphonies, and had embarked on a second round, featuring live performances but, unfortunately, died before he could complete the whole thing.

 

[KevinJS]