Ronald Stevenson

[ahinton]

Happy birthday, Ronald Stevenson!

Today, this master of Scottish music and one of the great pianists of the latter half of the last century celebrates his 80th birthday.

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

Seconded! I think I'll celebrate by listening to his Passacaglia on DSCH (not now, its almost 3 am here).

[ahinton]

Seconded! I think I'll celebrate by listening to his Passacaglia on DSCH (not now, its almost 3 am here).

One of his finest works, I think - and a landmark of 20th century piano literature. Which recording do you have? The piece has so far been played, to my knowledge by John Ogdon, Raymond Clarke, Murray McLachlan, Peter Sievewright, Mark Gasser and Jørgen Hald Nielsen as well as by the composer himself (I'm not entirely certain if that list of performers is comprehensive, but I'm sure someone will say so if not!). So far, the composer and the first three pianists mentioned above have recorded it and I've heard all of those recordings, but I've only ever heard it performed live by Mark Gasser and the composer. Top of the tree, for me - and by some distance - is the composer's superb account of it; he recorded it twice and the latter of these recordings, on the Altarus label, remains available although it was made as long ago as 1990.

Best,

Alistair

[minor9th]

I have Ogden's "DSCH" on LP--I'll definitely give it a spin today! I wish EMI would issue it on CD.

[ahinton]

I have Ogden's "DSCH" on LP--I'll definitely give it a spin today! I wish EMI would issue it on CD.

Ogdon, please! Yes, I wish they'd reissue it, too.

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

I have the Raymond Clarke recording. I would someday like to hear the composer's take on it. I would like to hear more of Stevenson's recordings as a pianist, period.

[ahinton]

I have the Raymond Clarke recording. I would someday like to hear the composer's take on it. I would like to hear more of Stevenson's recordings as a pianist, period.

Then you need to investigate the Altarus catalogue. We issue all Altarus's CDs from here, so if you send me an email at sorabji-archive@lineone.net I can email you an Altarus catalogue. There are several recordings of Stevenson both as pianist and as composer on that label.

Best,

Alistair

[minor9th]

Ogdon, please! Yes, I wish they'd reissue it, too.

Best,

Alistair

Oh damn...I know better...please chalk it up to a typo!

[minor9th]

Has anyone heard Murray McLachlan's DSCH recording? Wow! I just bought it on i-tunes, and now I want the CD--compressed digital downloads don't do the recording justice. It's definitely an suitable modern replacement for Ogdon's until his is released on CD. One puzzling aspect of the sound, though, is the apparent use of phasing during "Nocturne"--does the score call for such an effect? It couldn't be reproduced live unless the piano were mic'd through a PA system.

[richard black]

One puzzling aspect of the sound, though, is the apparent use of phasing during "Nocturne"--does the score call for such an effect?

Phasing? There is an indication in the score that the volume should be turned up and then down in radio performance or recording, if that's what you mean. And it has been done at least once in live performance, with the composer playing - I know 'cos I was there. The PA system used was specially devised for the occasion. There are other specialy effects, including stuff inside the piano (very briefly but ingeniously). The composer's recording on Altarus includes all of these, others include some or none.

[retrouvailles]

Phasing? There is an indication in the score that the volume should be turned up and then down in radio performance or recording, if that's what you mean. And it has been done at least once in live performance, with the composer playing - I know 'cos I was there. The PA system used was specially devised for the occasion. There are other specialy effects, including stuff inside the piano (very briefly but ingeniously). The composer's recording on Altarus includes all of these, others include some or none.

I can't find this notation in my score. What page is it on?

[minor9th]

It sounds faintly like a wah-wah pedal or chorus effect that electric guitarists use...back in the 70's they were called phasers--gives a slight swirling sound.

[retrouvailles]

It might be the resonance of the overtones ringing out from the silently depressed keys that Stevenson calls for. Around what page do you hear this effect? I would ask for the time in the piece, but we have different recordings. And the "phasing" would probably come from the increasing and decreasing of volume.

[minor9th]

I don't have the score...it's at 1:24 in the Nocturne in McLachlan's version--right after a complete statement of the theme in low octaves.

[retrouvailles]

Yup, that is it then. It's the part with the silently depressed chords. The "phasing" you hear is the overtones ringing out from the strings of the silently depressed chords after other notes are struck. The volume alterations give it that effect. I have heard this done in other recordings, namely in Geirr Tveitt's own recording of his Piano Sonata No. 29.

[minor9th]

OK, thanks. I've heard other pieces that use "silently depressed chords", which creates interesting resonances, but they didn't sound as electronic as this one does!

[retrouvailles]

It's quite an interesting effect. I kinda wish that more people would do it at times, with tasteful discretion of course.

[minor9th]

Perhaps it's a result of i-tunes' compression. I just ordered the CD and will report back once I receive it.

[retrouvailles]

It isn't. I checked over my score and it does indeed call for it in radio performances. It's written finely, so I didn't catch it at first. It even has little hairpins under the notes.

[minor9th]

Ah, OK, thanks. Still, I think the enormous dynamic range that the piece requires and McLachlan delivers deserves a CD!

[retrouvailles]

I think I might get that CD soon also. Or maybe the Stevenson recording. The Raymond Clarke recording leaves much to be desired. The piano is pretty bad too.

[minor9th]

Agreed!

[minor9th]

The CD arrived today--McLachlan admits to adding some electronic processing, so that's what I am hearing. Frankly, it's rather annoying and detracts from that part, as does the suddenly closer perspective, but it's only for one small section.

[retrouvailles]

I like the addition of the electronic processing. I'll have to get McLachlan's recording someday, even though I think he is a bit too safe sometimes.

[Etude]

What kind of processing, like reverb, EQ and stuff like that?

[retrouvailles]

What kind of processing, like reverb, EQ and stuff like that?

No, its merely a raise in volume in a part of the piece where overtone resonance is achieved. Stevenson calls for it in the score for any recorded performance.

[Etude]

Ah I see.  I borrowed the score of this piece from a library once and I didn't look at the whole score so I must have missed that, but I did have a play through of a fair bit of the start on the piano. 

[ahinton]

I'll have to get McLachlan's recording someday, even though I think he is a bit too safe sometimes.

Well, you couldn't say that for the composer's own! Totally under control and almost over-prepared, yes, but far too much elevated excitement to merit the description "safe"!

Best,

Alistair

[minor9th]

No, its merely a raise in volume in a part of the piece where overtone resonance is achieved. Stevenson calls for it in the score for any recorded performance.

It's more than that...it's definitely an electronic swirling sound like Jimi Hendrix used! Whatever it is (chorus pedal, wah-wah pedal, rotovibe, phaseshifter), it produces a bit of hiss, and even the hiss has this effect). I used to be a recording engineer--this effect is not merely the result of raising the volume.

[retrouvailles]

Hmm, well, I'm just going by what Stevenson has in the score. It's all the more reason for me to check out another recording.

[Etude]

I've heard it now, it sounds like a phaser effect.

[Etude]

bump.  Anyone know where I can get the score of Passacaglia on DSCH?

[retrouvailles]

Any Stevenson score can be ordered from the Ronald Stevenson Society:

https://www.ronaldstevensonsociety.org.uk/index.asp

[Etude]

Thanks!