Important new Sorabji recording

[ronde_des_sylphes]

".. the pique of his output"
 

[ahinton]

".. the pique of his output"
 

!!! Well, it certainly seems to have "piqued" at least one member here!...

Best,

Alistair

[gep]

So this garbage represents the "peak" of his output.
God help us.

I do wonder what you think of the following quotes (perhaps you know the source, but if not, I will tell you after you have given your answer)

“The initial force of a composition is the invention of some definite theme, and not the desire to describe a given emotion by musical means. Thanks to that primitive and mysterious power, whose mode of action will forever be hidden from us, a theme, a melody flashes on the composer’s mind. The origin of this first germ cannot be explained, but must simply be accepted as a fact. When once it has taken root in the composer’s imagination, it forthwith begins to grow and develop; the principal theme being the center round which the branches group themselves in all conceivable ways, though always unmistakably related to it. The beauty of an independent and simple theme appeals to our aesthetic feeling with that directness, which tolerates no explanation, except, perhaps, that of its inherent fitness and the harmony of parts, to the exclusion of any alien factor. It pleases for its own sake, like an arabesque, a column, or some spontaneous product of nature – a leaf or a flower.”

“The most important factor in the mental process which accompanies the act of listening to music, and which converts it into a source of pleasure, is frequently overlooked. We here refer to the intellectual satisfaction which the listener derives from continually following and anticipating the composer’s intentions – now, to see his expectations fulfilled, and now, to find himself agreeably mistaken. It is a matter of course that this intellectual flux and reflux, this perpetual giving and receiving takes place unconsciously, and with the rapidity of lightning flashes. Only that music can yield truly aesthetic enjoyment which prompts and rewards the act of thus closely following the composer’s thoughts, and which with perfect justice may be called a pondering of the imagination.”

“We cannot acquaint anybody with the ‘subject’ of a theme, except by playing it. The subject of a composition can, therefore, not be understood as an object derived from an external source, but as something intrinsically musical; in other words, as the concrete group of sounds in a piece of music. Now, as a composition must comply with the formal laws of beauty, it cannot run on arbitrarily and at random, but must develop gradually with intelligible and organic definiteness, as buds develop into rich blossoms.”

I will leave to others to discuss wether they find the above does, or does not, apply to Sorabji's music in particular.

[thalbergmad]

The "Holland Hinty" has further graced us with a short post.

[gep]

The "Holland Hinty" has further graced us with a short post.

You seem to think I am from Holland, which I am not. Neither am I a 'Hinty' (whatever that may be), nor do I know anyone of that description.

As for my post, please do note that most of that post consists of quotes, and these texts are not by me. The source thereof is in fact from a time that quite a few of the 'neglected (piano-)concertos' you value (and often quite rightly so) were written.
I really am curious to read what you think of the contents of these quotes!
 

[thalbergmad]

I haven't read them. I am busy pulling off my Klingons.

[gep]

I haven't read them. I am busy pulling off my Klingons.

Nasty; perhaps you should wash them more often? 

[thalbergmad]

I have the Sequentia Cyclica score as toilet paper and I expect it to last 15 years.

[ahinton]

I have the Sequentia Cyclica score as toilet paper and I expect it to last 15 years.

Where did you acquire it? Certainly not from me! And, since any copy of it that you do have will be a photocopy, might I recommend that you desist from putting it to the use that you suggest here, as it is likely to be painful at best and dangerous at worst.

That said, your statement here appears contradictory to the extent that, if you expect that score to last 15 years, you won't have been putting it to the use that you mention during that time...

Best,

Alistair

[gep]

I have the Sequentia Cyclica score as toilet paper and I expect it to last 15 years.

Wow. I am amazed! So you do actually get scores of music you detest? Why? To have a nice 'oh horror' moment every time you see it? Or perhaps it's a bit of a naughty pleasure, so vehemently denied yet secretively so 'give me more, give me harder' delighted in? Oh gosh, I dare not ask what use you put that big, long, sturdy binding-comb to... 

[ahinton]

Wow. I am amazed! So you do actually get scores of music you detest? Why? To have a nice 'oh horror' moment every time you see it? Or perhaps it's a bit of a naughty pleasure, so vehemently denied yet secretively so 'give me more, give me harder' delighted in? Oh gosh, I dare not ask what use you put that big, long, sturdy binding-comb to... 

I believe that it is indeed as wise as it is discreet of you to refrain from asking that question...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/specialist-classical-chart/

No. 23.

For any 7-CD boxed set to reach such a position is an achievement in itself. I am sure that Piano Classics will rightly take this as an endorsement of its determination to play its part in putting recordings of Sorabji on the map where they belong and that their faith in this repertoire will be seen as well placed, especially now that Abel Sánchez-Aguilera's 2-CD boxed set of Toccata seconda has already been advertised as due for imminent release.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Can't wait

[ahinton]

Can't wait

Fortunately, you won't have to!

Best,

Alistair

[gep]

For those interested, an informed review by Jed Distler:
https://www.classicstoday.com/review/a-stunning-sorabji-premiere-from-jonathan-powell/


(NB: an informed review need not be a positive review, of course! Happily, here it is positive!)

[thalbergmad]

How about an uninformed view.
Its crap

[ahinton]

How about an uninformed view.
Its crap

By your own admission (in which at least your honesty is appreciated), your view is indeed uninformed so, yes, I agree that said view is undoubtedly crap!

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Whilst mere evidence that a news item on a piano forum on the subject of a new Sorabji recording has been read is not and cannot of itself be a reliable indicator of potential sales, the very fact that, in the "Keyboard Music discussion" section of Pianophilia - see https://www.pianophilia.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=11 - the one on Sequentia Cyclica has been read 478 times and that on Toccata seconda 112 times at last glance (just now) undoubtedly provides some indication of the amount of interest in these two items.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Between the two new Sorabji recordings on Piano Classics, there have now been 900 reads on Pianophilia...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

And on this forum there has been substantially more reads on Last Post Wins.
It proves nothing.

[ahinton]

And on this forum there has been substantially more reads on Last Post Wins.
It proves nothing.

That "there has been substantially more reads on Last Post Wins" indeed proves nothing beyond itself...

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

Between the two new Sorabji recordings on Piano Classics, there have now been 900 reads on Pianophilia...

You felt you had to necro a month-old thread, just so you can bring about the ability to talk about Sorabji???

Alistair - these people:



...have asked me, to ask you...

...to kindly shut the f@#k up. If you could please do so, it would make the world a FAR better place. Do it for the sake of humanity.



Even Mr. T. would like you to shut up.

[ahinton]

You felt you had to necro a month-old thread, just so you can bring about the ability to talk about Sorabji???

Who started the thread? What is its subject if it isn't Sorabji? I did not have to post in this thread; I chose to do so. I therefore see no point in your question, as there isn't one.

As to the rest of your post, which I cannot be bothered to dignify with a response, you've repeated it elsewhere over and over again to no effect, so it is equally pointless.

[perfect_pitch]

Alistair - these people:



...have asked me, to ask you...

...to kindly shut the f@#k up. If you could please do so, it would make the world a FAR better place. Do it for the sake of humanity.



Even Mr. T. would like you to shut up.

[ahinton]

Alistair - these people:



...have asked me, to ask you...

...to kindly shut the f@#k up. If you could please do so, it would make the world a FAR better place. Do it for the sake of humanity.



Even Mr. T. would like you to shut up.

Off topic

[thalbergmad]

Astounding you should accuse others of off topic.

[ahinton]

Astounding you should accuse others of off topic.

Leaving aside that it was an observation and not an accusation, what's off topic about Sorabji in this thread?

Come to think of it, some members seem not to mind writing about Syrian refugees in a thread about Brexit...

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

Alistair - these people:



...have asked me, to ask you...

...to kindly shut the f@#k up. If you could please do so, it would make the world a FAR better place. Do it for the sake of humanity.



Even Mr. T. would like you to shut up.

[ahinton]

Alistair - these people:



...have asked me, to ask you...

...to kindly shut the f@#k up. If you could please do so, it would make the world a FAR better place. Do it for the sake of humanity.



Even Mr. T. would like you to shut up.

Were that the case, you should know what to tell them all.

Off topic again.

[gep]

To - hopefully - return this thread to a more topical direction:

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Apr/Sorabji_sequentia_PCL10206.htm
Nothing to add to that!

[ahinton]

To - hopefully - return this thread to a more topical direction:

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Apr/Sorabji_sequentia_PCL10206.htm
Nothing to add to that!

Indeed - except, perhaps, that it's high time that this thread IS returned to a more topical direction!

In fact, it's perhaps one of the most cogently expressed and informative reviews of this set yet!

Best,

Alistair