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Hello Pengelli

Thanks for clarifying your take on Khrennikov. We seem to be in agreement and indeed I too could describe some of the playing of the orchestra under the baton of Svetlanov as phenomenal!

Thanks Mark for correcting a rather too obvious typing error - I'm a lousy typist!

Was Khrennikov Stalin's musical enforcer?  He certainly had the approval of Stalin as far as his music went and he indeed won the Stalin prize in 1941. In 1948 he was appointed the Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers, a post he held until 1991. According to Wikipedia, "he is credited by some (who?) for protecting and helping many Soviet composers".

My answer to your question is I don't really know as I simply do not have the background information required to answer your question with any degree of certainty. I can see though why many would subscribe to that view but having read Shostokovich's memoirs, it might be that he only appeared to tow the official party line. Perhaps other members of the forum can shed more like light on your question?

Dear all - just a quick apology for the spelling mistakes in the prvious post. Of course the correct spelling is Khrennikov! Sorry!

Hello Mark/Alan - are you able to correct the typing mistake in the subject heading?

I'm getting old!

cheers
Dennis

Having been alerted to the music of Noskowski and impressed by all the glowing reports of his works on the forum, I immediately bought the Sterling cd (I have already posted my views on this cd under"Noskowski sym no 1"). I loved his music so much I had to find more. Subsequently I bought the cd of his piano music and also the cd of his symphonic poem "Step" ("Polish symphonic music of the 19th century"). I wanted however to hear more of his symphonic works but sadly, at this moment, only sym no 1 is commercially available (Sterling are planning to release sometime in the future sym 2 + 3!).

Mark however very kindly came to my rescue and made me a copy of sym 3 which he had recorded from radio. Thank you again Mark ( the sound quality is excellent!).

Listening to the symphony for the very first time, and not even bothering to look at the programmatic titles of each of the 4 movements, I was instantly enthralled by the music! I knew though that the symphony bears the title "From Spring to Spring" and it's very easy indeed to associate a season with each of the movements; from the quiet, sensual opening of movement 1 (it lives up to its"con affezione" title, to its final triumphant welcoming of the return of a new Spring, via the delicate, almost pastoral feeling of movement 2, to the joyous autumnal celebratory dance of mov 3 ( this movement has almost a Raffian Allegro feel to it?). There is also a very satisfying feeling of symmetry about this symphony as the opening theme of the first movement also closes the symphony.

I note that there has been some discussion in the forum about progression in Noskowski's symphonies, with perhaps the suggestion that there isn't in fact much progression. I cannot comment on that, as that is not my field of expertise. For me though, the question is largely irrelevant. I prefer to listen to each symphony and judge the work on its own merits. To my mind, the overall tone of each symphony, the feelings that Noskowski is trying to convey, are quite different. In symphony no 1, Noskowski is trying to make strong, bold statements and there is a certain grandure to the music. In the third symphony, the mood is overall, much lighter, more joyous! Is the third better than the first? I don't know but I love both immensely!

What do other members think of symphony no 3?

P.S. Does anyone have a recording of symphony no 2? I would love a copy and would be very grateful!

Every day I read all the new posts on this forum. On two occasions I came across Tikhon Krennikov : once in the thread "cds that stay in the box" (!) and once under "Pashchenko". On impulse, I listened to an audio extract on the net and instantly liked what I heard and proceeded to buy whatever cds I could find. I now have 2 symphonies, 2 PCs and 2 VCs. Also on order is the cd with all 3 of his symphonies. No surprise then that I say I really love Khrennikov's music! In many respects, I feel he is following on in the footsteps of Prokofiev (I love Russian music and Prokofiev is one of my favourites). Like Prokofiev, his music is full of spikey rhymns and he also has a penchant for slightly dissonant passages throughout his works. I do not however find these either abrasive or jarring. On the contrary, they are part of Knrennikov's vocabulary and I find them very appealing. I have to say though that I would not dare to suggest for a moment that Krennikov approaches the same level of lyricism that one associates with the best of Prokofiev's work. If however you like Prokofiev, then I can certainly recommend Khrennikov. May I ask you Pengelli what you mean by your "guilty cd pleasure"?

Do any other members of the forum know or like Khrennikov's music?

I know I opened a different thread on another composer - Einar Englund - but I would like to quickly refer to him also here as he too, to my mind, is rather like Khrennikov in the sense that his music equally at times is highly reminiscent of both Prokofiev's  and even more so Shostokovich's music (Englund, born 1903). Surprisingly, only one other member in this forum knows Englund's work (referred to sym 2 only). My collection comprises his 7 symphonies and 5 of his 6 concertos (I can't find his flute concerto!) and I like his music every bit as much as Krennikov's!

Do no other members know of Englund's music? (too modern?)

Hi JimL

I too think that Rufinatscha's music is truly great and fully deserves to be far better known. Everyone is saying that his 6th is the best, although I note that Peter says he prefers the 5th. I would like to hear the 5th firstly before making a final judgement, the idea being to contrast the 2 symphonies. Naturally I am ordering the 5th! What is your take on the 2 symphonies? Which do you prefer and can you say why? I also intend to order the other Cd of his two earlier symphonies in order to have an even better overview of his music. I am very grateful to all the members who have spoken so glowingly of his music and thereby introduced me to another superb composer.

Cheers
Dennis

Hello Peter

I read Alan's reply first and replied to his email, without realising initially that you too also kindly replied to my posting. Thank you for taking the time to give me your advice. I much appreciate it. As you can see from my previous posting, the CD arrived today!I am really excited about the prospect of listening to sym no 6 and I know I will like it and then immediately order sym no 5!!! I now know that I will have to be patient though awaiting its arrival! Of course I will let you know what I think of Rufinatscha's music.

Kind regards

Hello Alan

Thank you for your kind reply. I am pleased to say that the CD turned up today (post marked Innsbruck 4 Sept)!!!  I am looking forward to listening to Sym no 6 this weekend and will almost certainly order sym no 5 next. I can't imagine not liking Rufinatscha's music, especially in view of what both Mark and you have said!

Thanks again for your advice.

Hello Peter 1953

I was so taken by what everyone had said about Rufinatscha that I ordered his 6th symphony on Tiroler Landesmuseum without having heard even a note of his music. I placed my order from here in the UK on 25 August. Sadly the CD has still not arrived. I have since sent 2 emails to them - I speak German -but I haven't received an answer to either email. I am starting to think that either my CD has gone missing or there is a problem. TL have cleared my payment. Do you have any comment as you obviously know the Austrian Museum?

cheers
Dennis

Hello HerbieG

Glad to find another member who rates Melartin as highly as I do. Do you have a particular favourite symphony? As is clear from the above, my own preference is sym no 4 (also historically his most popular). Equally, I am particularly fond of the VC, which, as I have already said, is a very beautiful work, especially with its main theme, so lyrical, which recurs throughout the three movements.

cheers
Dennis

Hello Ilya

I just wanted to give you a huge Thank You for allowing me and indeed all the members of the forum the chance to download both the VC and the CC. I spent this morning listening to both works and loved them!  The sound quality for me was good and in no way distracted me from fully appreciating the beauty of both works.Bortkowiecz now figures on my list of favourite composers and I will be looking out for any and all future releases of his works.

Again, many, many thanks!

Hello Izdawiz

I bought the Witt cd based on your recommendation. I too think the flute concerto is lovely. The 2 symphonies are also lovely as well. Thank you.

Hello Syrelius

I too would like to recommend Madetoya's 3rd and also the Gliere. Am very fond of both composers.

thanks Peter for the Hyperion link. Am going to listen to all the audio samples. I like all of his music and I must confess, I like both his symphonies almost as much as the PCs!

Einar Englund (1916-1999), Finnish composer and pianist.

I discovered this composer through Amazon's "recommendations for you" and was immediately attracted to a piece of music called "the great wall of China". I purchased the cd, which also contained symphonies no 4 and 5. I was immediately hooked!

Englund composed 7 symphonies, 6 concertos (I have all bar the flute concerto - does anyone have it?), plus a large number of other works.

Englund is considered a Neo-classicist and his music is strongly influenced by Shostokovich and Stravinsky, with a nod towards Bartok and also Prokofiev.

Each of the symphonies make most interesting listening : the slow movements are elegiac, the scherzi have tremendous flare ( the scherzo from sym 4 is my personal favourite and could almost have been written by Shostokovich himself!) and his finales are often triumphantly heroic. Sym 4 is my overall favourite and interestingly Englund composed the work to honour the memory of the passing of Shostokovich and Stravinsky. Sym 6 is likewise a favourite and bears the subtitle "Aphorisms". A 6 movement work for orchestra and choir, it is a lovely work, strangely haunting! Sym 2 "The Blackbird", also very appealing, is described by Naxos as being "acknowledged as one of the 20th century masterpieces"!

Who says modern composers cannot write wonderful music in traditional mode?

If you love Shostokovich and Prokofiev, as I do, you are sure to like Englund too (try listening to audio samples on either Jpc or Amazon)!