Franz Lachner: Symphony No. 4

[tpaloj]

Lachner's music should be given a chance. I think we'd be missing something important without it, even if his fate as a composer was to be overshadowed by his contemporaries.

Maybe you'd enjoy the 4th that I created some time ago, in case you hadn't already heard it?
https://youtu.be/5UYqVd0OBRw

[Alan Howe]

As discussion of L4 seems to have got lost in the thread where it was originally posted, I thought it might be worth re-starting it here...

[Alan Howe]

It might be a good idea to get the materials to Gernot Schmalfuss...

[Gareth Vaughan]

Likewise, I agree with Alan's suggestion.

[dhibbard]

Thank you... just now listening to this.

[Tapiola]

This is the kind of releases I expect: fresh and interesting music, not pieces that have been recorded already.

https://www.eclassical.com/labels/cpo/franz-lachner-symphony-no-4.html

As a filler, CPO included the Andante for brass instruments in A-flat major.

In addition, the webpage includes the booklet.

[eschiss1]

Ooh, I was wondering if a commercial recording of this work, memorably synthesized by one of our members a little while ago, was on its way. Good good news.

[Tapiola]

The effort of some members to render music via specialized software is rather admirable, but I prefer to wait for proper recordings of the piece in question to appreciate the work in all its glory like in this case.

[tpaloj]

This is great news, excellent work, CPO! Can't wait to hear it.

I can't believe it's already been 5 years since I created my rendition of the symphony with Dorico & Noteperformer sounds. The discussions on Lachner's symphonies here at the time led me to attempt the undertaking. Though, upon reflection, many of the tempi in my rendition were on the slower side: I do wish I had done a few things differently. In comparison, the times on the CPO record look about right.

[eschiss1]

Back when I used software-more-like-Finale I enjoyed putting together MIDIs myself especially of works that hadn't yet been recorded (e.g. a string quartet by Robert Fuchs.) Anyhow, always assuming the performance is good enough on the new release
- oh, it's already available, has been since 31 January, and is streaming on Amazon Music unlimited - no waiting needed, actually, hrm! -- well...

[Alan Howe]

The new recording can be heard here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFrPZxRUlxM&list=OLAK5uy_lf2YY442UK3UvR_WPNGP4qBfhoA-MsO2Y

[Mark Thomas]

Though, upon reflection, many of the tempi in my rendition were on the slower side: I do wish I had done a few things differently.

You are too modest, Tuomas. Your excellent realisation has stood us in very good stead until this commercial recording came along. Many thanks for your great work.

[Alan Howe]

Agreed, Mark. Well said.

[Alan Howe]

You've got to love Lachner's ambition. If only he had had a pair of musical pruning shears handy; there's a 30-minute symphony trying to get out of the thicket of repetitions here.
My question: how does Schubert get away with it in his 9th? By virtue of genius?

[Ilja]

When I excise all direct, consecutive repetitions I'm left with 35 minutes of music. But that still leaves two big repeated sections in the first two movements so Alan's estimate of half an hour of original music checks out.

Interestingly, both this symphony and the third contain a massive amount of such copy-paste work. The 5th is different, though; here, Lachner does a lot more with the material. much is still basically the same music, but there's more modulation and re-phrasing going on.