Colin Harvey Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Possibly Mors Et Resurrectio, from Trois Paraphrases Gregoriennes? (Yes, the same volume as the Te Deum!) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Shame we can't humm to each other over the discussion board!! Yes, I think it was from Trois Paraphrases Gregoriennes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted March 13, 2006 Author Share Posted March 13, 2006 I was just thinking that while the organ has Bach (as does the violin and clavier), we don't really have a Beethoven or a Chopin who took the music on and really is one of (note: not sits with) the musical greats.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> =================== I would suggest Reger, but then I would, wouldn't I? (Anyone who catches a plane to hear Reger, has to be a bit of an enthusiast!) Is the problem that of French Impressionism, which although wonderfully atmospheric or exciting, has tended to dominate the musical mind of organists well beyond the sell-by date? I'm sure German musical composition has not collapsed "per se," but I cannot help but think that organ-music sort of died when music turned away from the contrapuntal forms. That said, I have spent a lot of time (too much!) digging around for modern and contemporary music which inspires, and I have certainly found a great deal which lays hidden; hence my interest in Eastern Europe, which hung-on to the older styles to some extent, but combined them with more modern harmonies and ways of doing things. But apart from Reger, and he was the best part of a century ago, there is certainly no comparable major musical figure of whom I am aware, other than Hindemith. Now, like him or loathe him, Hindemith was very able and very inventive. My instinct tells me that, within the modal (sometimes invented modes) of his writing, and the counterpoint therein, there is a way forward which awaits development. In all other genres, and espcially in America, his influence is still felt to-day from his great teaching skills whilst he was at Yale. The only comparable figure is Petr Eben, and whilst many do not like his music generally, he IS a very major composer with an enormous Opus-list in all sorts of genres. Incidentally, Eben has written some beautiful choral and vocal music; the former of which has more than a hint of "Anglicanism" about it. My interest in relatively obscure or unknown modern and contemporary Czech music was originally sparked by the question of which composers for organ, if any, were connecting or had connected with main-stream music in the recent past. Both Smetana and Dvorak wrote organ-music....not particularly great organ music.....but it exists. Klement Slavicky was quite a major Czech composer, and his music seems to offer something both challenging and interesting to the virtuoso organist or pianist. I just have the funny feeling that the next great organ and main-stream composer may well emerge from Eastern Europe rather than France, Germany or England. It's just that there is a combination of new-found freedom, opportunity, increasing prosperity, good education, a rich musical heritage and a desire to express all that. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Powell Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Shame we can't humm to each other over the discussion board!! Yes, I think it was from Trois Paraphrases Gregoriennes... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There's a quick sample here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000006Z...=samples&n=5174 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 =================== I would suggest Reger, but then I would, wouldn't I? MM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (*Whimper*) Surely you cannot include the superb (and joyous) fugue from the Fantasy on 'Wachet Auf'?! I occasionally play this at Christmas. I really like it - and the counterpoint is good - it works in a linear fashion. The chords in the last line are just, well PHWARR!! :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 There's a quick sample here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000006Z...=samples&n=5174 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What - of you humming? :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Oh for goodness' sake - I meant to edit the thing - not quote it. Tsk! Tsk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Oh - Boys' Practice - have to go. Back later. P.S. - How about hated choral works, too? (Ernest Walker, et al.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldsmith Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Gosh, with Mendelssohn, Dupre, Langlais etc. dropping like flies, I'm beginning to wonder what people actually LIKE? (And I'm choosing to ignore some curious remarks made elsewhere on this board about JSB.) I'm sure though, that there's often quite a difference between music which is satisfying to perform, and that which is satisfying to listen to, particularly to the non-player. And in the same way that the first recording/performance heard of a piece makes an indelible impression, so do pieces which we learn at particular times, and critical faculties desert us (me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Powell Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 What - of you humming? :angry: <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I could hum like that I wouldn't be working for a living, I can assure you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjf1967 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Oh - sorry, I cannot get on with these, either. My apologies, Stephen; particularly since I believe that you recorded them! Then there is Easthorpe Martin's Evensong. Now this may have been tongue-in-cheek, although I do not think so, but I find it absolutely execrable. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You're quite right pncd - I did record them. Still available from all good record shops of course :angry: Evensong - lovely stuff. Do you know the Dubois Marche des Rois Mages? - you stick a pencil or similar on top b with a flute 4 and then off you go. Garbage of the most exalted variety, and all done in the utmost seriousness, which makes it funnier. I play it very couple of years to cheer myself up after Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjf1967 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I've heard a few of the smaller pieces (can't remember which ones) and I've generally like it. There was one piece I heard that I really liked - I asked the organist what it was and I've now forgotton. It was quite low and dark in texture, with a lot of repeated chords and a lot of brooding energy. It was electric! So I keep an open mind about Langlais, Te Deum aside... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Chant Heroique (9 Pieces)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjf1967 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Gosh, with Mendelssohn, Dupre, Langlais etc. dropping like flies, I'm beginning to wonder what people actually LIKE? (And I'm choosing to ignore some curious remarks made elsewhere on this board about JSB.) I'm sure though, that there's often quite a difference between music which is satisfying to perform, and that which is satisfying to listen to, particularly to the non-player. And in the same way that the first recording/performance heard of a piece makes an indelible impression, so do pieces which we learn at particular times, and critical faculties desert us (me). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> On the subject of likes - Alain. I think he's more intriguing and innovative than Messiaen, much as I love the latter. Who knows where A's rhythmic experiments (viz Trois Danses) might have taken him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Harvey Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 There's a quick sample here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000006Z...=samples&n=5174 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No, it wasn't that. Much quicker, I think the chords were in triplets... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Arghh! Liszt! How could I have forgotten Liszt? All that bombast and hot air. Or anaemic insipidity. And Reger. The Black Forest Gateau of music. Now which of the two is worse? I dunno. Liszt, I think. :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Powell Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 No, it wasn't that. Much quicker, I think the chords were in triplets... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Then I think Stephen may have cracked it for you - Chant Heroique? The chords are certainly in triplets - I think it's in 15/8! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Harvey Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Chant Heroique (9 Pieces)? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Is it this: http://www.pilarcabrera.com/mp3/pilar/langlais1.mp3 I think it was the one. Yes, I rather like it! I think I'll have to learn to play it to see whether it's better than Mendelssohn. Wish me (lots of) luck!! :angry: Many thanks to you for helping me find this piece of music again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted March 13, 2006 Author Share Posted March 13, 2006 (*Whimper*) Surely you cannot include the superb (and joyous) fugue from the Fantasy on 'Wachet Auf'?! I occasionally play this at Christmas. I really like it - and the counterpoint is good - it works in a linear fashion. The chords in the last line are just, well PHWARR!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ========================= No,no,no! I ADORE Reger's music....I've travelled under severe hardships to hear it, like Bach went to Lubeck. Meine Gott! Imagine....Car to Yeadon in the wee-small hours, wait for an hour in the bar/restaurant, plane to Amsterdam Schipol, (breakfast), get frisked by Dutch security , catch a train which fails to stop untl it gets to Leiden, back up the track, change trains, go to Haarlem, walk to either Bavo no.1 or Bavo no.2, real ice-cream in a cone.....REGER (swoon)....another ice-cream in a cone....eat terrible Dutch sandwich, walk to station, catch train, end up in Eindhoven after falling asleep, back to Schipol, fight my way through customs and check-in, hum Reger themes as I sit among awful, sleazy, pleasure-seekers retuning home (the few Dutch on board assume that I am some crazed Lutheran missionary who knows something about jet-engines and metal fatigue) , fight my way out of Yeadon Airport, get frisked by Asian security :angry: , retrieve car from car-park (paying £20 for the privilege )....drive home, stroke/feed the cat, go to sleep happy. I just don't have Bach's talent, that's the difference! MM MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I see nobody's mentioned Caleb Simper yet. Or doesn't that qualify as music? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjf1967 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Is it this: http://www.pilarcabrera.com/mp3/pilar/langlais1.mp3 I think it was the one. Yes, I rather like it! I think I'll have to learn to play it to see whether it's better than Mendelssohn. Wish me (lots of) luck!! :angry: Many thanks to you for helping me find this piece of music again! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's certainly the Chant Heroique - glad you've tracked it down again! It's a good piece I think. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Powell Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I see nobody's mentioned Caleb Simper yet. Or doesn't that qualify as music? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> With reference to Simper and J H Maunder, I found this quote: "....Composers with ridiculous names: their names are about the one thing these composers couldn't help; other aspects of their activities are less innocent." (Ralph Vaughan Williams on Simper and Maunder) Ouch :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headcase Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I happen to like the Langlais Te Deum. Anyone remember David Lepine's LP from Coventry, years ago, with the most thilling account I can recall. The chordal sections were quite majesterial and the middle section (Te Domine speravi) was bursting with suppressed energy which just boiled up for the final onslaught. Now, where did I put me Dupré Deux Esquisses ...? H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 No offence - just a difference of taste, which is what this thread is all about. But there are some gems I think - what about the 4th movement (Communion) of the Suite Medieval, or No.1 of Huit Pieces Modales? Both are beautifully crafted miniatures. Some of the bigger stuff is a bit angular, but I do love the Te Deum.............. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The two books of 'Orgue de Choeur' type pieces on two staves have some nice miniatures - Priere and Prelude Modale especially. AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Powell Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 The two books of 'Orgue de Choeur' type pieces on two staves have some nice miniatures - Priere and Prelude Modale especially. AJJ <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks, I don't know these pieces at all. Any idea who publishes them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted March 13, 2006 Author Share Posted March 13, 2006 And Reger. The Black Forest Gateau of music. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ======================== I fainted............... MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I see nobody's mentioned Caleb Simper yet. Or doesn't that qualify as music? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think I did a few days ago. There is also Oliphant Chuckerbutty. The name alone is enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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