Recent posts

#1

Composers & Music / Re: Did AI just kill classical...

Last post by Alan Howe - Today at 18:11

I take your point.

I just wondered whether AI-derived classical music (which is surely going to be unfamiliar) counts as 'unsung'? In the above brief article the violinist Daniel Kurganov says that he had some sort of hand in 'creating' the new music in the video...

#2

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: BBC Proms 2024 Season

Last post by eschiss1 - Today at 17:52

Heard a lot of grumps on Facebook about the less-classical concerts and pieces in these Proms, but I'll say that my opinion of the grumping can be summed up along the lines of wanting to have cake and eat it too, what with arts funding having been slashed, one, and nothing coming from nothing, two...

#3

Composers & Music / Re: Did AI just kill classical...

Last post by John Boyer - Today at 17:12

Interesting topic, Alan, but does it really pertain in any way to our remit, unsung composers?

#4

Composers & Music / Did AI just kill classical mus...

Last post by Alan Howe - Today at 16:28

<<Violinist and creator Daniel Kurganov has released a new video. Listen to it here and see if you start to ask yourself some questions...
https://www.thestrad.com/video/did-ai-just-kill-classical-music-a-video-from-violinist-daniel-kurganov/18010.article

Kurganov shares: 'How do we understand what is good string playing? What exactly have we learnt about the intricacies of nuance and beauty? Is it a mystery? Can it be taught or understood in explicit terms? Or can it only be emulated and passed on from one emotional being to the next? I would like to gently challenge all of our preconceptions with this sample of music.

'What you are hearing is music entirely composed by and played by Artificial Intelligence. My role was minimal, limited to guiding the AI with simple text instructions. This represents a groundbreaking moment advancement in technology—and this is the dumbest these tools will ever be. So, we must ask: are we seeing the end of classical music as we know it, or does this mark a new beginning?'>>

#5

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Music by Max d'Ollone (187...

Last post by Richard Moss - Today at 16:27

A long time has passed I think since we last discussed Max'd'Ollone but I thought members might be interested in some new recordings (on YOUTUBE),performed by the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra (in Virginia). 

The conductor, David Grandis, has been working with Max's grandson Patrick to bring to life works never heard of either for a long time or at all.

The works I've found so far are:
LES VILLES MAUDITES (also on Bru Zanes'release, I believe), LES FUNÉRAILLES DU POÈTE and LE TEMPLE ABANDONNÉ (these last two are stated to be world premier performances (excluding their original outings a century ago'.

Haven't yet listened but having enjoyed his previously released orchestral works, I'm hoping these too are as entertaining.

As well as the YOUTUBE notes accompanying the videos, there is some further background to be found via this link:

https://florentschmitt.com/2019/09/04/french-american-conductor-david-grandis-talks-about-discovering-the-music-of-french-composer-max-dollone-and-championing-his-music-in-the-concert-hall/

Just a heads up for you but any additional details welcome if anyone has them.

Best wishes

Richard

#6

Composers & Music / British Cello Concertos (Chand...

Last post by Alan Howe - Tuesday 14 May 2024, 12:35

An excellent Chandos 2-for-1 set, including Cello Concertos by Finzi (one of his best works), Bax (hyper-late, late romantic), Moeran (beautiful, elegiac) and Stanford (Irish Rhapsody No.3) - plus the Bliss, which probably lies beyond the bounds of this forum:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8117054--british-cello-concertos

#7

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Recording of Raff's Samson

Last post by Mark Thomas - Monday 13 May 2024, 14:35

The selections do indeed give an excellent survey of what Samson has to offer, and also a good idea of the quality of the performance and recording. Buy with confidence!

#8

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Recording of Raff's Samson

Last post by Alan Howe - Monday 13 May 2024, 10:23

The eleven excerpts at Schweizer Fonogramm give a good idea of the general 'feel' of this large-scale opera which, had it been performed in the late 1850s, would surely have sounded very modern in the age of Meyerbeerian grand opera, rivalling even early Wagner.

I must give Cornelius' Der Cid (1865) another listen, for comparison purposes.

#9

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Vilma von Webenau Piano Qu...

Last post by eschiss1 - Monday 13 May 2024, 01:07

so they missed her cello sonata, published in 1949, weird... and available on the recording.

#10

Recordings & Broadcasts / Re: Hugo Kauder Symphony No.1 ...

Last post by eschiss1 - Monday 13 May 2024, 01:03

Good