Getting into composer grooves?
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It’s really Kev who should have started this topic, since he does it all the time. But I do it too, and not only because I’m “forced into it” like I am now with the collection walkthrough (still deeply entrenched in Elfman, at ALICE now).
Something or other happens — maybe someone posts about a score or composer in a forum — and you find yourself entrenched in a composer’s work for a period of time.
I’m guessing it’s not just me and Kev who experience this with regular intervals. Anyone else?
Yeah, I often have those phases. On occasions like special birthdays or when we loose someone I often listen to many scores in a row. Or topics as on the STAR TREK anniversary occasion I try to re-listen to score I haven’t for some time.
Yes Thor. As you say…ALL THE TIME.
It will only take an odd comment or post bump from someone that will have me scurrying to the 4 corners of my CD collection, to recap what I loved about that/those particular scores in the first place.
Even worse is when it’s someone I’m not overly familiar with, or have heard very little by.
That can end up costing me a small fortune (I’m one crazy/impulsive buyer and it doesn’t help that I have a nice budget of disposable income to play with, aside from paying for holidays and treating the two G-ids).
And if I had a quid for the amount of times the missus says ‘MORE CD’S!!!’ when the next barrage drops through the letterbox…well…I’d have…???
A hundred quid?? Two hundred?? 😉
Thankfully, I lay them next to her clothes, shoes, bags section to compare size/space whatnot (yes, it’s a lame argument, but it’s all I’ve got!!) 😃With me that can happen when I have an enlightening or shifting experience that sheds a new light on a musical aspeçt that I missed before, for example listening to an old score that I just found so so and suddenly clicks with me and I find it awesome suddenly. That can lead to re-evaluate many other works of that composer, especially those I struggled with, too.
Yes, that happens, it can happen with composers (I am somewhat in a Lalo Schifrin phase right now), or type of composition (I had a “Bach’s keyboard compositions phase”) or even a single composition (like a “Turangalila phase”, where I probably listened to twenty or more different recordings within the span of a few weeks).
(like a “Turangalila phase”,
A what?
You surely know Pierre Boulez’ grand central symphonic work? 😉 That’s even more “hardcore” to listen to different versions of the same work and not just a “composer run”.
I had a Schifrin walkthrough when he passed. But as much as I like him – or anyone else – and he is really varied I had to stop in the middle because I needed to listen to something else again…
Ah. Yes, it’s probably been brought up before, but I had forgotten it. I admit, I haven’t listened to much Boulez in my life.
I admit, I haven’t listened to much Boulez in my life.
Me neither. It’s probably the only work I have listened to because it is so famous. I have it digitally and it’s grand but a tough listening. Been years I think.
The “Turangalîla-symphonie” is actually a large scale symphony by Olivier Messiaen, not by Pierre Boulez, who incidentally called the piece once dismissively “Brothel Music”. Olivier Messiaen was a teacher of Boulez, and Boulez actually conducted several of Messiaen’s pieces, but not the “Turangalîla”, which may be Messiaen’s most famous orchestral work.
I had a phase a few years ago where I noticed fascinating differences in articulation in the “”Turangalîla-symphonie”, which is scored for large orchestra, percussion, piano, ondes martenot, celeste, etc.
So I listened to probably over two dozen recordings of this (quite enormous) piece within a comparatively short time span. I guess I was in the mood for it. I find Messiaen quite accessible really, not at all “difficult” music.Messiaen, I know a little bit more. I play his “Les Enfants de Dieu” every Christmas, and I remember sampling the Messiaen disc in my dad’s Classikon series (from Deutsche Grammophon) in the 90s. But I must admit I’ve never found myself in a Messiaen “groove”! 😉
The “Turangalîla-symphonie” is actually a large scale symphony by Olivier Messiaen, not by Pierre Boulez
Ah, what a faux pas… Of course… No idea why I confused these… Did Boulez ever conduct it nevertheless? I have a Grammphone recording with a conductor named Myung-Whun Chung btw.
No, as I said up there Boulez never actually conducted the piece (and was famously dismissive of it). He conducted other works by Messiaen though. I have seven recordings of the Turangalîla myself, though not the one conducted by Chung (though I have other Messiaen recordings by Chung, whom I consider a wonderful Messiaen interpreter. Ironically, despite of having listened to quite a few Turangalîlas, Chung’s I haven’t listened to yet).
In fact, Chung’s recording of “Éclairs Sur L’Au-Delà” was my “entry card” into Messiaen, the first Messiaen recording I bought/heard.Heard the name before but I think I haven’t heard a single work by him. Any recommendation for a start?
Alan Hovhaness is an interesting composer, his music is very filmic, dramatic. My first encounter with his music was STAR DAWN (released on Delos Records), which I bought in 1995. I picked it up because of the cover and wanted to explore some new composers, and that CD is still very special to me. It contains the titular symphony, and the charming chamber score for THE FLOWERING PEACH (incidental music for the stage play). If you want to hear beautiful, elegant passages for brass, that’s a very good start. It was my start in any case.
Two of his most famous works are his Symphony No. 2 “Mysterious Mountain” and the orchesterpiece “And God created Whales”, which includes actual whale song.
Hovhaness was a highly prolific composer, who wrote many different types of music, large orchestral works, piano works, etc…. even though I always enjoyed his music whenever I encountered it, I’m afraid I have neglected him far too long.Hovhaness never followed any musical trends, so he was never a “serialist” or a “minimalist” or anything. He once said, and I just looked up the quote, it’s in one of the CD booklets I have: “My purpose is to create music not for snobs, but for all people, music which is beautiful and healing. To attempt what old Chinese painters called ‘spirit resonance’ in melody and sound.”
That’s very much like Hovhaness’ music sounds: straightforward expression, direct, without mannerisms or artificiality. Very accessible music, so while his “Symphony No. 2 “Mysterious Mountain” sounds like a logical start (it’s been recorded several times), you may just browse your preferred streaming service for some Hovhaness and jump right in. 🙂
Yesterday, I listened for the first time to his Symphony No. 1 and 50, both could also serve as great entry points.
No need to be “afraid” of Hovhaness, his music is very accessible, especially if you know film scores.
Two of his most famous works are his Symphony No. 2 “Mysterious Mountain”
I just realized that I have that of course as it is on one album with Williams’ FIVE SACRED TREES. Somehow it didn’t have any lasting impression. But to be fair even to the Williams I didn’t listen for some time and have no exact memory of it right now…
I discovered it on that Williams album, and it outshines anything on it. One of my favourite classical pieces of all time. Because of that, I’ve long WANTED to get into a Hovhaness groove, but I never got around to it.
I guess, I’m the odd one out, as I don’t think I ever listen to a single composer exclusively for any length of time. If there’s someone new that I’ve just heard of, I might sample a few scores on streaming to see if I might be a fan or invest in their work i.e. pay attention to their score releases and works, etc. But I guess I like variety. I also like to cook that way too. I won’t ever eat the same breakfast day after day, for example, and I know there are many people who do. I guess I really like diversity…well, apart from my film music genre of choice when it comes to what I listen to regularly, funny enough.
That’s fair, and admirable, Cailin. By the way, we should have a food/recipe thread on the board, like we had on Maintitles in the old days. If anyone should start one, it’s you. 🙂
This chat led me to dig out my FIVE SACRED TREES CD and give it a long overdue re-spin.
First, I’d forgotten how enjoyable and accessible the Williams Bassoon Concerto is.
I generally dismiss most Williams classical efforts as a bit of a slog (although I love his Violin Concerto and I’m probably being harsh in general, as I had been with the Bassoon piece).
The Takemitsu is okay but barely leaves an impression.
Yes, the Hovhaness is very enjoyable too, although quite a bit of it sounds more like Vaughn-Williams to me.
The short final piece – Old & Lost Rivers (4’44) by Tobias Picker – is quite lovely as well.
I’m a sucker for gentle, yearning, Copland-like Americana and this one is right up my street.
This will probably lead to all the other John Williams classical CDs getting a re-listen now.I guess, I’m the odd one out, as I don’t think I ever listen to a single composer exclusively for any length of time. If there’s someone new that I’ve just heard of, I might sample a few scores on streaming to see if I might be a fan or invest in their work i.e. pay attention to their score releases and works, etc. But I guess I like variety. I also like to cook that way too. I won’t ever eat the same breakfast day after day, for example, and I know there are many people who do. I guess I really like diversity…well, apart from my film music genre of choice when it comes to what I listen to regularly, funny enough.
I can relate to your post, Cailin.
What I find odd sometimes, that the time when I long for a certain score is rarely the time when it is made available. Certain scores on my wishlist for a long time. And when I almost forgot about them they suddenly get reissued. So, I purchase them, and I am happy to have them. But I am absolutely not in the mood to listen to them. So, I kind of tormenting myself through them and start to wonder if my expectations weren’t too high.This will probably lead to all the other John Williams classical CDs getting a re-listen now.
For Williams’ concert music I also have to get into a certain kind of grove. Here it makes sense to listen to more than one piece. Treesong is for me a good starter into that World, as is the bassoon concerto.
By the way, we should have a food/recipe thread on the board, like we had on Maintitles in the old days. If anyone should start one, it’s you. 🙂
Haha, thanks Thor. Though I only cook vegetarian food, so I’m not sure that’s all that interesting to the rest of you.
As far as I am concerned absolutely okay. While I am still “omnivore” I am reducing meat for a few years already. All that matters is if it is delicious.
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