Unsung Composers

The Music => Recordings & Broadcasts => Topic started by: Alan Howe on Friday 28 December 2018, 23:50

Title: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Friday 28 December 2018, 23:50
We've mentioned Alberto Nepomuceno's Symphony in G minor (1893) at UC before, but here's the announcement of its first commercial recording:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8539076--alberto-nepomuceno-symphony-in-g (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8539076--alberto-nepomuceno-symphony-in-g)
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: eschiss1 on Saturday 29 December 2018, 03:48
was its LP recording on Festa Discos non-commercial ? (I also see a 1991 CD which does look to be non-commercial, issued by a school, and a 1996 CD on Construtora Lix de la Cunha.)
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 29 December 2018, 09:41
You're correct, Eric. Mike Herman over at MusicWeb has these two entries in his discography ITALIAN, PORTUGUESE, SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN SYMPHONIES from the 19th Century to the Present:

Symphony in G minor (1893)

Roberto Duarte/Orquestra Sinfônica da Escola de Música da UFRJ
( + Oswald: Elegy and Miguez: Prometeu)
ORSEM CD EM UFRJ 001 (1991)

Edoardo de Guarnieri/Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira
FESTA LDR 5.018 (LP) (1960s
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 29 December 2018, 09:47
I'm sure, though, that the Naxos will be the first widespread commercial release of the symphony.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Mykulh on Saturday 29 December 2018, 19:40
Thanks for this good news. Now there are 3 listings of this charming symphony in my discography. Hopefully, other romantic symphonies from the vast reaches of Latin America will be unearthed and recorded in the near future.

Mike
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 29 December 2018, 22:21
Thanks, Mike, for all your diligent work in making available these invaluable discographies. Glad there's now one more added to this particular listing.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: jasthill on Sunday 30 December 2018, 04:30
The Naxos logo on the front of the album cover says Naxos - The Music of Brazil, something I've not noticed before.  An examination of the repertory of the concert series at the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra shows they play a plethora of Brazilian composers.  They have appeared on the Naxos CD's of Villa-Lobos guitar music playing some individual Villa-Lobos orchestral compositions.  Who knows maybe another Naxos series.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 30 December 2018, 13:12
The orchestra featured here, the Minas Gerais Philharmonic, is based in the capital of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, a city of 2½ million people. The MGP was formed ten years ago.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: jasthill on Tuesday 01 January 2019, 00:15
Aha! Look at the liner notes for this release:

https://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.574067&catNum=574067&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 01 January 2019, 01:09
So we can expect a series...
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: jasthill on Tuesday 01 January 2019, 03:19
More info - Brasil em Concerto - release from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign affairs (article is in portuguese - google does a reasonable translation job).

http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-BR/notas-a-imprensa/19767-projeto-brasil-em-concerto
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Mark Thomas on Friday 01 February 2019, 09:00
I'm looking forward to this release, and the sound bites now available at online retailers are certainly encouraging. The Symphony promises to be a tuneful work in the Germanic tradition (Nepomuceno was taught by Herzogenberg), whereas the other works sound colourfully Latin.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: eschiss1 on Friday 01 February 2019, 10:23
I think we used to have an upload of another recording of the symphony, and in any event I've heard an LP recording of it several times. I can confirm that. (European tradition, anyway, maybe specifically Germanic, I couldn't tell just by listening iirc...) Very tuneful and also passionate as I recall, I was glad to make its acquaintance.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: eschiss1 on Thursday 18 April 2019, 09:21
This disc has now been reviewed on Musicweb (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Apr/Nepomuceno_sy_8574067.htm), by the way.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 22 April 2019, 22:20
Pace Rob Barnett's review, I think the orchestra is first-class. I certainly can't hear any deficiency in the string department; on the contrary, I think they have a lovely, full sound - as befits the music. A really first-class disc in every way, beautifully recorded.

Do give Nepomuceno a try. The Symphony's extremely attractive in its lyrical fervour and packs quite a punch.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: eschiss1 on Monday 22 April 2019, 22:31
no argument from _me_ on the last bit, I've been enjoying the symphony since hearing an LP of it some years ago (I think that version has been uploaded to our downloads board, or possibly a more recent, broadcast recording)
Note to self: find better review to link to next time! :)
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Tuesday 23 April 2019, 07:19
"...cause to crib"!!! Surely he means "carp". To crib is to steal, copy or plagiarize.
Title: Re: Nepomuceno Symphony in G minor
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 23 April 2019, 14:11
Or perhaps "gripe"?