Post by yb January 31, 2007 (1 of 11)
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Il liked it very much. Very impressing music. Very clear and crisp sound. the listeners seems between the musicians. The microphones where near the musicians and the instruments, one can hear their breath.
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Post by Beagle January 31, 2007 (2 of 11)
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I just received the latest disc, SQ 1 & 2. Bartók aficianados will obviously order both discs, so I put the question to all of those who have no inclination to buy either: Should I bother to do a review of these discs? What would you like to know about them and/or the music?
HINT: I had two friends over last Saturday, and towards the end of an evening which included Bach and Beatles, JC said 'play anything you want'. I cued up the Linn/Mackerras 'Music for Percussion, Celeste & Orchestra'. JC said 'What's this? I like it!'. 'Brace yourself, JC, you LIKE BARTÓK...'. 'NO! Bartók is... all tone-rows and atonal whatzit'.
Not at all. Cf 'Night thoughts on listening to Bartók':
/showthread/10839/11464/y#11464
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Beagle said:
I just received the latest disc, SQ 1 & 2. Bartók aficianados will obviously order both discs, so I put the question to all of those who have no inclination to buy either: Should I bother to do a review of these discs? What would you like to know about them and/or the music?
HINT: I had two friends over last Saturday, and towards the end of an evening which included Bach and Beatles, JC said 'play anything you want'. I cued up the Linn/Mackerras 'Music for Percussion, Celeste & Orchestra'. JC said 'What's this? I like it!'. 'Brace yourself, JC, you LIKE BARTÓK...'. 'NO! Bartók is... all tone-rows and atonal whatzit'.
Not at all. Cf 'Night thoughts on listening to Bartók':
/showthread/10839/11464/y#11464
I already have it on order and expect it sometime in February. So I don't need your review to decide whether to purchase. HOWEVER! I like reading your reviews....so don't let us down here.
Thanks,
Bruce
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Post by Beagle January 31, 2007 (4 of 11)
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Windsurfer said:
...so don't let us down here.
Okay, I'm on the job.
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Post by Arthur January 31, 2007 (5 of 11)
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Beagle said:
I just received the latest disc, SQ 1 & 2. Bartók aficianados will obviously order both discs, so I put the question to all of those who have no inclination to buy either: Should I bother to do a review of these discs? What would you like to know about them and/or the music?
HINT: I had two friends over last Saturday, and towards the end of an evening which included Bach and Beatles, JC said 'play anything you want'. I cued up the Linn/Mackerras 'Music for Percussion, Celeste & Orchestra'. JC said 'What's this? I like it!'. 'Brace yourself, JC, you LIKE BARTÓK...'. 'NO! Bartók is... all tone-rows and atonal whatzit'.
Not at all. Cf 'Night thoughts on listening to Bartók':
/showthread/10839/11464/y#11464
Beagle:
I've always been on the fence about Bartok. Somehow I've never been able to love him even if I've respected him. I am definitely curious about these recordings and some respected opinions might push me over the edge.
Thanks,
Bret
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Post by zeus January 31, 2007 (6 of 11)
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Arthur said:
I've always been on the fence about Bartok. Somehow I've never been able to love him even if I've respected him. I am definitely curious about these recordings and some respected opinions might push me over the edge.
These are seminal works from the 20th century. You may though want to start with the more approachable early quartets:
Bartok: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 - Parkanyi Quartet
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Post by yb February 1, 2007 (7 of 11)
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zeus said:
These are seminal works from the 20th century. You may though want to start with the more approachable early quartets:
Bartok: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 - Parkanyi Quartet
And of course, the concerto for orchestra, often coupled with the music for strings, percussion and celesta. For example Boulez's version, (Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Miraculous Mandarin - Boulez) or Reiner's (Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra etc. - Reiner). Both are superb.
For a lot of people, Bartok is one of theses composers that one love or hate it. On must go beyond the initial fear (this music is sometimes frightening, and be "converted" to love it. For me, it is exagerated. Bartoks's music is not atonal.
Bartok is far more accessible than Shoenberg and Berg's late works, or the Second half of XXst century like Boulez or Stockhausen.
(off-topic : Boulez's compositions in SACD would be extraordinary, especially in multichannel : IRCAM does sound spatialisation for 30 years).
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Post by Beagle February 1, 2007 (9 of 11)
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zeus said:
You may though want to start with the more approachable early quartets...
I'm going to risk a blow to the head with a thunderbolt, zeus, but... I find Bartók's six quartets to be ALL full-blown mature Bartók, even though written over a period of 30 years. If I had to pick an entry point into them, I would pick Qt 5, 2nd mvt.
My recommendation for easing into the waters of Bartók is the same as several notes above: Concerto for Orchestra and/or Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. I really, really like the Linn/Mackerras disc for its clarity:
Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste etc. - Mackerras
I don't think Miraculous Mandarin, which Bartók described as "confronting the audience with apache ferocity", is a good entry point.
--------------
I will say no more for now -- because you guys are stealing all my best lines from Review no. 1... (it's written, and I'll post it in a day or so).
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Post by samadhi February 3, 2007 (10 of 11)
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Thank you for the review, Beagle. I love this disc and I can't wait to get the new one with Nos. 1 and 2. I hope 3 and 4 are on the way.
If you check the last page of the booklet, you'll see that the recordings were made in the Doopsgezinde Church, Deventer (Netherlands).
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