Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Re: Recommended Music

'Spanish Orchestral works'
Composer: Joaquín Rodrigo, Isaac Alb�niz, Joaquín Turina
Conductor: Charles Dutoit, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Performer: Carlos Bonell (in Rodrigo), Alicia de Larrocha
Orchestra: Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Audio CD (30 Oct 1995)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Decca
ASIN: B0000256ZO

�6.99 on Amazon

or (the same performance, older release, some difference in couplings)
Composer: Joaquín Rodrigo
Audio CD (31 Dec 1993)
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Decca
ASIN: B00000E3CB
(used copies form �3.74)

In each case, one of the couplings is Rodrigo's Fantasía para un gentilhombre (also played by Bonell) which you may come to like almost as much as the concerto

Charles Dutoit's many Decca recordings with the Montreal SO in the 80s and 90s were famous for their sound quality. Something to do with the church they used to record in, as I recall.

How about a well performed and recorded Mendelssohn's 4th--the "Italian"? I have Rodrigo's Concierto De Aranjuez with the Romeros playing with the San Antonio Symphony, Victor Alessandro conducting. It's a SACD remake in stereo and 3 channel of the 1967 recording on Mercury Living Presence. Wilma Cozart Fine did the original CD transfer. It's been a while but I think I got it from CD Universe. I enjoy it on my 5k's and can't wait to hear it on my soon to arive 52k's.

I come to Meridian as a music lover who wants to get more out of his collection, rather than as a hi-fi lover who wants to make the most of his system.

Having skimmed through this thread, it seems that there isn't much emphasis on electronic or world music. Since acquiring my M kit, I have been playing examples of everything I can get my hands on. However, the majority of my collection is electronic music, world music or fusion music of one sort or another and I was wondering if any of you had specific recommendations of items in those genres that have been particularly well produced.

Thanks

Not sure if this is what you have in mind by world music, but if you want something a little different you could try 'Nightingale': Japanese Art Songs sung by Yoshikazu Mera (Bis CD-889) Excellent recording, and the purest of countertenor voices (some of you may have hard him singing Bach cantatas.

If that is too classical, try 'Csardas' (Hungarian Gypsy Music played by Ferenc Santa and his Gypsy band: Naxos 8.550954- at �5 you can't go that far wrong)You should try this if you have never heard the sound of a tarogato - a bit like a clarinet, but more rustic)

An old favourite of mine is 'The Flight of the Condor' - a lovely selection of Latin American music used as a soundtrack for one of the BBC's best wildlife documentries of the 1980s (BBC CD 440)

Thanks Michael,
that is indeed food for thought. And I like Classical music - particularly contemporary stuff from Steve Reich & Philip Glass but also the big guns of the past. I enjoy (but don't yet own) Toru Takemitsu's Rain Tree, and the Kodo drummers and all sorts of other Japanese music, so I shall see if I can find the Yoshikazu Mera to try out.

I have dipped my toe into some Hungarian folk music in the past and wasn't exactly enthralled; I am more taken with things like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Amampondo.

And I can enjoy Latin American music too. Some of your suggestions could probably be found from a decent music library so I'll have a look...

I love just about all of Oliver Shanti's records, but best are probably "Well Balanced", "Shaman 2" and "Tai Chi Too". Just sit and close your eyes, play at (relatively) high volume.

I have been rediscovering some of my favourite discs, now upsampled on (or through) my new G91. They really do sound better! One disc that seems especially sweeter for it is Bach: Solo & Double Violin Concertos (BWV 1041-1043, 1060) played by Andrew Manze and Rachel Podger with the Academy of Ancient Music on the Harmonia Mundi label. You can buy this via Amazon for about �5, or in a good music shop for just a couple of pounds more.

Don't be put off by the drippy angel with a violin on the cover (yuk). The disc inside is nothing like that. It includes the great D minor double concerto. The sublime interplay of the two solo violins, especially in the beautiful slow movement, makes this one of my all time favourite pieces, but everything on this disc is top drawer.

Some critics object to the fact that Manze sometimes embellishes the solo part, but I love that, and it makes the recording distinctive.

Also check out a live performance of the D minor double concerto from the Proms, in three parts on Youtube. This would doubtless annoy the purists even more (because they take more liberties) but how can anyone fail to see or hear the joy in it?

Coming in April is the latest Porcupine Tree CD/DVD-A catalogue re-issue , 'Lightbulb Sun ' with the promise of a similar re-release for the previously limited ' Recordings' to follow before Christmas .

Good Stuff!

~M~

Yeah but it really breathes more freely on the MCH SACD; no upsampling required. :-)

Kal

In the mean time PT fans need to check out the Polish prog outfit, Riverside. Mike, my local prog-rock and ambient music guru and proprietor of an authentic local"record shop", turned me on to this band and their latest titled ...Rapid Eye Movements. Mike said, "Take it home and have a listen. I'm so sure you'll like it that I'll refund your opened copy if you don't." Well he won't be getting it back. In fact I just ordered copies of all Riverside's earlier work. Riverside's sound is rather like post-Lightbulb Sun PT in that it has some "heavier moments" but with almost "A-Ha" like vocals (remember them?). Only played on our secondary living room system and in the car so far as the Big Rig is going through a few changes at the moment but my first impression is that it is a great recording. Fantastic tunes and highly recommended!

Happy Trails!
Vince@Freewheelcycle.com

There seem to be regular requests for recommendations for particular pieces of music. For classical, 'BBC Music Magazine' and 'Gramophone' both speak with authority; and 'HiFi News' reviews more widely, and gives as much weight to sound quality as performance. 'Gramophone Classical Good CD Guide' is an absolute mine of information, and includes composer biographical extracts from 'The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music'.

BBC Radio 3 reviews new releases every Saturday, starting at 9.00. At 9.30 there is 'Building a Library' which reviews all recordings of a particular piece and plays extracts. Their final recommendation is also listed cumulatively on the Radio 3 website (although they often tend to favour hiss and scratch ie. old recordings). All the above also include music/opera DVDs.

For live music the lunchtime concerts often offer stunning sound and are a good way to become acquainted with performers and composers. 'In Tune' Monday -Friday, 17.00-19.00, mixes recordings, live music and interviews. The sound quality is invariably outstanding.

Hi Gents

When the first batch of Genesis remasters were released last year, I was pretty excited...I'd waited so long to hear these brought up to date, and for those first five reissues, I was chuffed to bits.

The next batch is available, ie albums from 1983 to 1998, and to my dismay, I see that they are being slated for the low quality of mastering. It looks as though they have been thrown together for the iPod generation...very compressed and overly loud sounding.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...amp;pf_rd_p=139042391&pf_rd_i=468294

What a bummer. We can only hope that the final batch, from the early years, is done properly, or it's back to the 1994 remasters or vinyl. Pah!

Cheers

George