Conor's listening Blog

2010-08-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

2010-08-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Bach Bender Day 7! - Listened to the above recordings over the last several days - have ordered a new version of Bach's Organ Works and planning some Birthday Bach purchases as well so the Bach binge looks set to continue for another few days at least :).

2010-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Bach: Cello Suites
Bach: Christmas Oratorio
Bach: English Suites
Bach: P & F's for Organ

2010-08-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Bach: Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786
Bach: Three-Part Inventions, BWV 787-795
[Disc 3]
Bach: Toccata & Fugue In F Major, BWV 540
Bach: Chorale Partita, BWV 767, "O Gott, Du Frommer Gott"
Bach: Toccata & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 538, "Dorian"
Bach: Chorale Partita, BWV 768, "Sei Gegrüßet, Jesu Gütig"
Bach: Passacaglia & Fugue In C Minor, BWV 582
[Disc 2]
Bach: Trio Sonata No. 1 In Eb Major, BWV 525
Bach: Trio Sonata No. 5 In C Major, BWV 529
Bach: 3 Chorale Preludes, BWV 645, 650, 654
Bach: Prelude & Fugue In B Minor, BWV 544
Bach: Prelude & Fugue In C Minor, BWV 546
Bach: Canzona In D Minor, BWV 588

Bach: French Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV 812-817

2010-08-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

[Disc 1]
Schumann: Piano Quintet In Eb Major, Op. 44
Schumann: Piano Quartet In Eb Major, Op. 47
[Disc 2]
Schumann: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63
Schumann: Piano Trio No. 2 In F Major, Op. 80
Schumann: Piano Trio No. 3 In G Minor, Op. 110

[Disc 3]
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 18 In G Major, D 894, "Fantasy"
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 14 In A Minor, D 784, "Grande Sonate"

[Disc 1]
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 In Bb Major BWV 1051
[Disc 2]
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050
Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 In C Major, BWV 1066
Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 In B Minor, BWV 1067
Bach: Concerto For Violin, Strings & Continuo In A Minor, BWV 1041
[Disc 3]
Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, BWV 1068
Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 4 In D Major, BWV 1069
Bach: Concerto For Violin, Strings & Continuo In E Major, BWV 1042
Bach: Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings & Continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043, "Double"

[Disc 1]
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 1 In Bb Major , BWV 825
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 6 In E Minor, BWV 830
[Disc 2]
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 3 In A Minor, BWV 827
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 4 In D Major, BWV 828
Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 5 In D Major, BWV 829

2010-08-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

[Disc 1]
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 1, W 42
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 3, W 142
[Disc 6]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 4, W 129
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 9, W 457
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 11, W 481

[Disc 2]
Rossini: Maometto II - Overture
Rossini: Ricciardo E Zoraide - Overture
Rossini: Sinfonia Al Convetello - Overture
Rossini: Sinfonia Di Bologna - Overture
Rossini: Semiramide - Overture
Rossini: Il Viaggio A Reims - Overture
Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia - Overture
Rossini: L' Italiana In Algeri - Overture

Finished listeing to the Villa-Lobos set: excellent works and recordings! - I really enjoyed this cycle and hope to return to it often.
First listen to the Rossini overtures - I have had this set for a couple of months and just gotten around to listening to it as I have been focusing on Chamber Music.

2010-08-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

[Disc 1]
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 13 In A Major, D 664
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 7 In Eb Major, D 568
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 9 In B Major, D 575
[Disc 2]
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 16 In A Minor, D 845
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Major, D 850, "Gasteiner"

[Disc 1]
Schumann: Piano Quintet In Eb Major, Op. 44
Schumann: Piano Quartet In Eb Major, Op. 47
Schumann: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63

[Disc 6]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 4, W 129
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 9, W 457
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 11, W 481

2010-08-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

[Disc 5]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 5, W 263
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 10, W 468
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 13, W 503

[Disc 2]
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 16 In A Minor, D 845
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Major, D 850, "Gasteiner"

Schumann: Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17

Vine: Symphony No. 1, "Microsymphony"

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6 In Eb Minor, Op. 111

2010-08-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

[Disc 1]
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 13 In A Major, D 664
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 7 In Eb Major, D 568
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 9 In B Major, D 575

[Disc 5]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 5, W 263
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 10, W 468
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 13, W 503

2010-08-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

[Disc 19]
Haydn: String Quartet No. 59 In G Minor, Op. 74/3, H 3/74, "Rider"
Haydn: String Quartet No. 60 In G Major, Op. 76/1, H 3/75
Haydn: String Quartet No. 61 In D Minor, Op. 76/2, H 3/76, "Fifths"
Haydn: String Quartet No. 68 In D Minor, Op. 103, H 3/83 (Incomplete)

[Disc 4]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 2, W 100
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 12, W 496
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 16, W 526

[Disc 2]
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 4 In A Major, BWV 1055
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1056
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 6 In F Major, BWV 1057
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 7 In G Minor, BWV 1058

2010-08-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

[Disc 3]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 7, W 435
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 15, W 523
[Disc 4]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 2, W 100
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 12, W 496
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 16, W 526

[Disc 1]
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, BWV 1052
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 In E Major, BWV 1053
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 3 In D Major, BWV 1054
[Disc 2]
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 4 In A Major, BWV 1055
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1056
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 6 In F Major, BWV 1057
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 7 In G Minor, BWV 1058

2010-07-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

Bach: Goldberg Varitions
Bach: Keyboard Partitas Nos. 4, 5 & 6
Barber: Violin Concerto
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Elgar: Violin Concerto
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1

2010-07-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Bach marathon! - Started listening early and listened to the above recordings (too many to list individual tracks!).

2010-07-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

[Disc 3]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 7, W 435
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 15, W 523

[Disc 4]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 2, W 100
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 12, W 496
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 16, W 526

Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 27/1
Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 27/2
Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 27/3, "Ballade"
Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 27/4
Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 5 In G Major, Op. 27/5
Ysaÿe: Sonata For Solo Violin No. 6 In E Major, Op. 27/6
Ysaÿe: Poème Élégiaque, Op. 12
Ysaÿe: Rêve D'Enfant, Op. 14

2010-07-29T14:27:00.001-07:00

[Disc 2]
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 3, W 112
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 8, W 446
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 14, W 519

First listen to these quartets - the first Disc in this new set was excellent so I am looking forward to exploring these works :).

2010-07-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 7
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 8
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 9

2010-07-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 1, W 42
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 3, W 142
Villa-Lobos: Cello Sonata No. 2, W 103
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 2, W 105

First listen for the Cello Sonata/Piano Trio No. 2.

2010-07-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

[Disc 18]
Haydn: String Quartet No. 56 In Eb Major, Op. 71/3, H 3/71
Haydn: String Quartet No. 57 In C Major, Op. 74/1, H 3/72
Haydn: String Quartet No. 58 In F Major, Op. 74/2, H 3/73

Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 1, W 42
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 3, W 142

2010-07-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

Martinů: Piano Trio No. 2 In D Minor, H 327
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 3 In C Major, H 332
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H 193, "5 Short Pieces"
Martinů: Duo No. 2 For Violin & Cello, H 371
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 1
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 2
Martinů: Cello Sonata No. 3

Familiarizing myself with thses recently aquired works - I have listened to the Piano Trios a few times over the last week or so and am starting to appreciate them, they have some particularly nice moments and are generally interesting. The Cello Sonatas are in a similar vein so I will end up liking these too I think - they are probably a bit more turbulent in mood than the Trios but still easy enough to appreciate.

Following the Martinu I will probably listen to Disc 18 (Op's 76 perhaps?) of my Haydn SQ's set and then finish for the night with more chamber music (it doesnt look like my recent enthusiasm for Chamber Music is going to fizzle out any time soon!).

2010-07-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

[Disc 3]
Mozart: String Quartet No. 14 In G Major, K 387, "Spring"
Mozart: String Quartet No. 15 In D Minor, K 421
Mozart: String Quartet No. 17 In Bb Major, K 458, "The Hunt"

[Disc 17]
Haydn: String Quartet No. 52 In Eb Major, Op. 64/6, H 3/64
Haydn: String Quartet No. 54 In Bb Major, Op. 71/1, H 3/69
Haydn: String Quartet No. 55 In D Major, Op. 71/2, H 3/70

More String Quartet listening this afternoon - Haydn SQ #55 has a particularly nice slow movement.

2010-07-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 3, W 142
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 4, W 424
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 5, W 389
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 6, W 392
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 6, W 399
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 1, W 99
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 17, W 537

Woke up early and spent the morning listening to some old and recently arrived Villa-Lobos Discs - very enjoyable!. I am really starting to appreciate this composer who I was recommended on a CM Forum - his voice is Modern, Romantic and approachable with a bit of Bombast, I like it a lot.
I was very taken by my first listen of the String Quartets and think I am going to really like this cycle. The Piano Trios are also early listens and seem promising as well.

2010-07-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 In Eb Major, Op. 100, D 929
Schubert: Piano Trio In Bb Major, D 28, "Sonata"

Martinů: Piano Trio No. 2 In D Minor, H 327
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 3 In C Major, H 332
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H 193, "5 Short Pieces"
Martinů: Duo No. 2 For Violin & Cello, H 371

Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 1
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 2
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileira No. 3

Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 1, W 42
Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio No. 3, W 142

2010-07-25T02:38:00.000-07:00

Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 24 In F Major, K 376
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 25 In F Major, K 377
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 28 In Eb Major, K 380
Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 32 In Bb Major, K 454

Haydn: String Quartet No. 49 In B Minor, Op. 64/2, H 3/68
Haydn: String Quartet No. 50 In Bb Major, Op. 64/3, H 3/67
Haydn: String Quartet No. 51 In G Major, Op. 64/4, H 3/66
Haydn: String Quartet No. 53 In D Major, Op. 64/5, H 3/63, "Lark"

Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 In Bb Major, Op. 99, D 898
Schubert: Adagio In Eb Major, Op. 148, D 897, "Notturno"

Some more listening before bed.

2010-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Martinů: Piano Trio No. 2 In D Minor, H 327
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 3 In C Major, H 332
Martinů: Piano Trio No. 1, H 193, "5 Short Pieces"
Martinů: Duo No. 2 For Violin & Cello, H 371

First listen to this recently arrived disc - These works appear to be less turbulent than Martinu's Cello Sonatas which I had a first listen to yesterday and on first listen seemed quite Romantic. I think I will end up liking these works and keeping these Martinu Discs.

Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 65, B 130
Dvořák: Piano Trio No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 90, B 166, "Dumky"

I have listened to Dvorak's Piano Trios several times now and these 2 Trios seem to be the most interesting of the 4. The Dumky Trio is especially nice and is pretty much one long Adagio!.

2010-07-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49
Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66

This is probably my 3rd or 4th listen to these pieces now so they are beginning to become embedded in my memory - they are pleasant well composed pieces with tranquil Adagios.
The performance is good and the sound generally fine if not slightly boxy. These are becoming amongst my favourite Piano Trios.

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K 451
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 18 In Bb Major, K 456
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 In F Major, K 459

This was my first pass through these fine Piano Concertos and I am now on Disc 4/8 from this set. I have been slow progressing through these recordings and am still at the cursory listening stage due to my recent interest in chamber music. First impressions are good although I am still at the stage where i cant really tell the Concertos apart yet! - These still appear to be very fine works. Listened twice to this selection due to lack of concentation on the first pass through!.

2010-07-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Fauré: Violin Sonata No. 1 In A Major, Op. 13
Fauré: Violin Sonata No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 108

This Box-set is lovely!

Haydn: String Quartet No. 42 In C Major, Op. 54/2, H 3/57
Haydn: String Quartet No. 44 In E Major, Op. 54/3, H 3/59
Haydn: String Quartet No. 45 In A Major, Op. 55/1, H 3/60
Haydn: String Quartet No. 46 In F Minor, Op. 55/2, H 3/61, "Razor"
Haydn: String Quartet No. 47 In Bb Major, Op. 55/3, H 3/62
Haydn: String Quartet No. 48 In Bb Major, Op. 64/1, H 3/65

One of my latest listening projects is getting to know the Haydn SQ's - I think this one will take me a while as there are 22 Discs in this complete set!.