Vox Humana Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 A guilty thought came to me this evening - not for the first time. I was playing through Thalben Ball's Edwardia (in the "Hovingham Sketches" volume). The chromaticism is the ultimate in treacle (and in D flat major, of course), but it's ever so well done. I really shouldn't like it, but I do! GTB's piece inhabits the same slushy sound world as Sidney Campbell's Lento from his Canterbury Improvisations, which carries an apologetic note reading something like "one who improvises every day may perhaps be permitted the occasional excursion into this type of harmony". (Occasional? When it came to improvising it was the harmonic style Campbell preferred above all others!) Campbell asks for 8 ft stops on all manuals to be coupled together, the idea being that by juggling the different swell boxes you can get a wealth of subtle variations in the tone colour and volume. I've no idea whether GTB expected his piece to be registered in the same way, but it suits it down to the ground. The lugubrious harmony demands a lugubrious registration! Both pieces go for atmosphere over content and, really, they are rather tasteless (though taste is a matter of fashion and they may be thought less offensive today than they were 30 years ago). What pieces do you secretly like that you know in your heart of hearts you really shouldn't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Coram Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Crucifixion. Know it's tired and slushy but I find it really incredibly effective. I was at the performance in Salisbury Cathedral last night where it was done with symphony orchestra, arr. Barry Rose. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Lauwers Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Do you mean Stainer's "Crucifixion"? We would agree! Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Wooler Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Do you mean Stainer's "Crucifixion"?We would agree! Pierre <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh yes. Stainer's Cucifixion. Jolly good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Lauwers Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Oh yes. Stainer's Cucifixion. Jolly good idea. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Isn't it? "Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow",....One could sing it the whole day! Would be quite effective, tough completely unfashionable... Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprondel Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 What pieces do you secretly like that you know in your heart of hearts you really shouldn't? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Gooood question indeed. In general, my answer would be Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (I always feel a bit dirty after having listened to it). I don't know of any organ work that has the same high-level combination of artful meanness, appallingly plain harmony and theme construction, refined vulgarity and an overall appeal to the lowest instincts. Of course, there is the motto to the Whitlock sonata "On hearing the second Rachmaninov in spring", but I am not sure if he means the piano concerto or the symphony. And the sonata I find much more interesting than both. Ah -- I know! Elgar's transcription of Bach's the C-Minor Fantasia and Fugue. Admittedly orchestral music, but also a tasteless abuse of a very dignified organ work. As well as sheer diabolical fun. Best, Friedrich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 In general, my answer would be Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (I always feel a bit dirty after having listened to it). =================== I just love transcribing Ketelby's "In a monastery garden" even though I hate gardening and have many bad habits. Of course, there's always Lemare's "Andantino (no.1)" for those of a particularly strong disposition. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Lauwers Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Would you not help me with my garden, MM? http://www.pbase.com/emmiegray/pierre (Open day June,10...) Well, hum, how to explain that...There *may* obtain some rather out-of-date english organ and choral music as an outdoor accompaniment. We apologize by advance for the inconvenience. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Gooood question indeed. In general, my answer would be Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (I always feel a bit dirty after having listened to it). I don't know of any organ work that has the same high-level combination of artful meanness, appallingly plain harmony and theme construction, refined vulgarity and an overall appeal to the lowest instincts. Best, Friedrich <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But 'Rach 2' is wonderful - and serious - music! Surely you are joking? (With reference to the 'appalingly plain harmony' and 'refined vulgarity'.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Would you not help me with my garden, MM? http://www.pbase.com/emmiegray/pierre <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ============== I love gardens, when other people dig them and cut the grass, but my own garden of choice would be made from football-stadium "Astro-turf" and plastic flowers. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Jones Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 For me, the naughty but nice pieces would probably have to be the Lefebure-Wely Sorties in E flat and B flat. I know, I know, its music only fit for the playground, but I like them because they don't take themselves too seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Fowler Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 In general, my answer would be Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (I always feel a bit dirty after having listened to it). =================== I just love transcribing Ketelby's "In a monastery garden" even though I hate gardening and have many bad habits. MM <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Fowler Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 A little while back I was asked to play `In a Monastery Garden' as a request before Evensong. I happen to have a couple of orchestral bird whistles and with the help of two of the choir was able to give an effective performance to the extent that our then elderly Churchwarden, who had suffered from birds getting into the (sorry - his!) church in the past and had taken great precautions to stop them, spent some considerable time after the service looking for real birds until I realised what he was up to and put him right. I did not have time to find a suitable piece of scaffold pole for the tolling bell `bell'. FF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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