Dave's Faves No. 80 (Brian)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 7-9; 31; The Tinker's Wedding (comedy overture). Royal LIverpool Philharmonic, Charles Groves and Charles Mackerras (cond.) Warner
Check Out the Dave's Faves Playlist: • Dave's Faves 
Видеоклипы
The Symphony No. 3, on Hyperion conducted by Lionel Friend, is a surprisingly accesdible. even a tuneful work. I always enjoy hearing it!
I attended the 2011 proms performance of the Gothic. After a cymbal crash I saw something I had been waiting years to see. The cymbal player dropped the cymbals. A player in front helped him retrieve them. However, there was so much going on, the incident was seen but not heard. If you weren't watching, you wouldn't know.
The strap broke on one of them apparently. During the quiet choir-only intro of the fifth movement, the cymbal was passed along the line of (many) percussionists, a new strap was fitted, then it was passed back.
You can hear the crash on the recording of the Proms performance. I was there too and it was exhilarating!
Because of your videos I recently purchased a couple Brian Naxos CD's and having a blast with them...Thanks👍
That is awesome!
I totally agree with you about the end of Symphony no. 9. One of the most exhilarating final minutes in 20th century music. Thanks for including Havergal Brian & your analysis of his music is spot on
I have been a Brian fan since 1977... In that year I read Malcolm MacDonald's first volume about the symphonies, was fascinated, and a year later I heard symphonies 8 and 9, and was hooked for life. Even became the first Dutch member of the Havergal Brian Society in 1983... Thanks for including Ol' Havergal!
Hello Johan. How's tricks? Still a Symphony 10 LSSO fan?
@@john1951w Always. Those kids still gave us the best Tenth yet!
I was introduced to Havergal Brian
by my inorganic chemistry professor
who was a member of the committee of The Havergal Brian Society.
I wonder who that was... I remember a Professor Vivian Moses...
I only have Martyn Brabbins’s Gothic Symphony. I must get that EMI two-fer though. For those that haven’t the Brabbins, I can wholeheartedly,recommend it.
I confess to being a near-completist when it comes to Brian and yes, all 32 symphonies are now available in modern recordings. We've even got alternative performances of some. The problem with Brian isn't so much the composer himself as the reaction to him. A bit like politics these days, for the most part it seems you're either a Brian fanatic or you think he's an irretrievable, incompetent lunatic.For me, there isn't a Brian work that doesn't contain some beautiful moments and interesting ideas. Equally, there's plenty of not-so-good stuff and a few works for the converted only. Anyone who really wants to take him on should look for Macolm MacDonald's books. MacDonald is certainly a believer and a skilled enough musical analyst to make a strong case for the composer. At the same time he's sane enough to admit there are duds in the Brian canon. Of all composers, I find he's one that requires, and repays, repeated listening. 50 years after I bought my first Brian recording, the Leicestershire Schools lp of symphonies 10 and 21, I'm still making discoveries every time I go back to him. And I'm happy to say I'm goitreless, shower every day and still have my own teeth.
Another amazing discovery for me. I hope this very talented composer some day gains a larger audience. Thanks David!
Hare Lips? Goiters? Skin Diseases? Sounds like my kind of music. Seriously, I should give this set a listen. I bought the Boult 1966 performance of the GOTHIC on the Aries label (2 LPS); it was all we had back then and is actually quite listenable. I also bought a few more LPS-- Colin Wilson/Wales Symphony (also on Aries), Fredman and the London Phil, etc....attempting to patch together a good sampling of Brian's Symphonies. Ultimately, I moved on to more promising composers and repertoire.
I actually carried on a mini-exchange of letters with critic Paul Rapoport in Fanfare magazine (spring '91?) when the Marco Polo "Gothic" was released; I advocated a more realistic, less-adoring approach to the music which, for all its monolithic grandeur, is more than a tad overblown. Still, it's fascinating listening every once in a while. But I'll continue to be very selective with Brian's music, lest I end up in the company of the cultists you so artfully described in the opening of your talk. LR
Such a pity Groves didn´t get to record more. Boy did he conduct with a swagger. The English Bernstein.
Us brainiac Brianiacs are an even odder lot than the sort from Planet Baxia (although there is quite a bit of overlap). Brian was an utterly unique composer, even if he was no Beethoven and not to everyone’s taste. Over the years I’ve scooped up just about every Brian CD and LP I can get my hands on, including this stellar specimen. A good launching pad for those wishing to explore this classic classical cult conductor.
I confess that I’ve heard very little of Brian’s music. But I do have very hazy memories of hearing the work broadcast on NPR. A search on the Mighty Google revealed that the performance in question was a 1980 radio broadcast by Ole Schmidt and the London Symphony, performing in the Royal Albert Hall. NPR measured their listeners’ response by encouraging listeners to send in a request for a little blurb on Brian. According to an article published at the time by the Havergal Brian Society and now posted on their website, about 500 American listeners wrote letters. I was one of them. To be honest, my impression at the time was that the Gothic was long and aimless. Perhaps I should revisit it.
The Schmidt performance is superb. A friend of mine played the fiendish xylophone solo and a young lad in the chorus fainted and fell down a couple of stairs next to him during the concert!! The Gothic, to my ears, is patchy.
I would - it’s quite extraordinary.
I hope that a much less “gnarly” Brit, George Lloyd, will be featuring soon in this series! I know you share my great affection for his music.
Absolutely wonderful stuff. The 11th is my favorite.
Oh no, it's 80 already. I feel so old :-)
When I think of Brian (I love the music of this quirky composer), I think of Alkan and Magnard. They were also a bit off-centre (sorry about the "re" in "Centre", Dave, I am an Aussie and we did not become as independent of the Brits as you guys did) and their music is also - to my mind-an acquired taste. But I agree, that Brian's music is a matter of sifting through chaff to find the wheat. I have yet to sit through the "Gothic" in one sitting, however I have sat through complete movements.
Magnard 3rd. Needs to be played.
Well I was knocked out by the 10th Symphony and also his 6th (Sinfonia Tragica).
A lot of advocacy by Robert Simpson helped raise Brian's profile
There is a great recording of No 28 by Stokowski very powerful, compact, pithy and tragic, give it a listen😀
Which recording of the 10th do you suggest?
@@john1951w the only recording I know is the one mentioned below, Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra.
Was also shown on a TV documentary back in the day.
Sounds like the path Sibelius could have taken with his unfinished 8th Symphony!
I am definitely a Brian fan , mainly cos he was neglected and there is a psychological need in me to get past the unfairness of that.
Maybe I felt neglected growing up so I like to identify with unfashionable causes. No harm in being passionate and if Brian had decent professional recordings and a perfornance tradition we could all judge fairly his music.
I am still waiting for recordings of The Tigers and Agamemnon, had bootleg tapes, but lost them.
The music is genuinely intriguing, and expresses new sonic landscapes.
@@sansumida The Brabbins version is obviously more polished but the LSSO is more atmospheric and gripping once you put the odd patch of dodgy intonation to one side. It has a certain magic and feeling of discovery to it. I love the piece. I have already posted a link to the TV programme on here. Brian is a very mixed bag!!
I suggest you listen to no. 28 on Naxos, too. The tempi are correct and the sound is superb. (Stokowski is exciting, I grant you that. And his slowing down things does bring out all kinds of details.)
Dave, to continue listening to Brian's symphonies, are the Naxos recordings recommended?
Yes they are. Very much so.
@@john1951w , thanks very much.
You fan find reviews on ClassicsToday.com. Have a look.
@@DavesClassicalGuide , thanks. I'll look for them.
Dave...you ARE the albino monk, you just have a gong-mallet in your cell instead of a flagella!! ;-)
One of my criticisms towards Brian's style is the excessive use of percussion in many of his works. It doesn't make much sense in the musical argument, it's like if he was trying too hard to impress listeners. Other thing I've noticed is how the way he frustrates a climax that is approaching in several of his symphonies. It's kind of annoying to me. I respect the composer and his fans, but I don't include myself in that group.