Miaskovsky Silentium, Op.9

[eschiss1]

Can't seem to find my copy offhand, but Worldcat claims Keith Anderson wrote the notes to Stankovsky's recording for Marco Polo (recorded 1990 (Silence/Silentium), 1989 (12th symphony), released 1991), which fits with my memory. Now that the score is available, I'll have to give Silentium another try- I've never been impressed by the work (much or maybe at all), as I remember (unlike so much else by the composer, including especially the near-contemporary 2nd symphony, which seemed- and I expect will probably still seem, even in a better performance and recording of "Silence"- far more "sincere and passionate" a work.)

[sdtom]

Some of the Marco Polo liner notes were very sloppy and full of errors. I'm not surprised they misled you. Who wrote them? I am familiar with Poe's tales and Silence is one of his most powerful vignettes. It is really a prose poem.

I admit to feeling quite foolish about this now and will rewrite parts of it. The music notes came from Martin Anderson.
Tom

[adriano]

Yes, Ken.
It is also included in the 16-CD Warner Box of Miaskovsky's complete Symphonies conducted by Svetlanov

[Alan Howe]

Martin Anderson

or Keith Anderson?

[Gareth Vaughan]

Keith Anderson, I feel sure. I doubt Martin would have made such a mistake.

[Alan Howe]

Quite. Martin is meticulous.

[sdtom]

sorry again it was Keith
Tom

[sdtom]

I wondered where I got the name Martin and when I returned to look at the liner notes I discovered the producer was Martin Sauer the line directly above Keith Anderson.  I've sure made a mess of this one. Back to my Graener Symphony in D minor which by the way has an error also in the liner notes.
Tom

[Alan Howe]

Thanks, Tom. Not to worry.

[adriano]

Poe wrote not only a short story (he calls it "A Fable") entitled "Silentium", but also a Sonnet of the same title. It's about "a two-fold Silence - sea and shore - Body and soul".

[Alan Howe]

I nearly linked to the sonnet before realising it was the tale that Miaskovsky used.

[sdtom]

Thanks, Tom. Not to worry.

I appreciate that. I want all of the forum members to know how much I appreciate this site. I've been interested in classical music for nearly sixty years but lately because of this site an entire new world of composers is open to me I never realized existed. Just this year it's been Rudorff, Hoffmann, Witt, and Graener which would have never happened had it not been for this site.
Tom

[Alan Howe]

And we appreciate your presence here, Tom.