20th Century Psalms

On this CD:

1. Miserere, Psalm 50 for choir a cappella
Composed by Bernardino Rizzi

2. Psalm 90, for chorus, bells & organ, S. 152 (K. 5C37)
Composed by Charles Ives
Performed by Ulrich Meldau

3. Psalms of David, for chorus, 2 pianos, percussion, double bass & harp
Composed by Krzysztof Penderecki

4. Chichester Psalms for high voice, chorus, & orchestra
Composed by Leonard Bernstein
Performed by Ulrich Meldau

Tracks:

Symphony in Three Movements: I - Overture; Allegro
Symphony in Three Movements: II - Andante; Interlude: L'istesso tempo
Symphony in Three Movements: III - Con moto
Symphony In C: I - Moderato alla breve
Symphony In C: II - Larghetto concertante
Symphony In C: III - Allegretto
Symphony In C: IV - Largo; Tempo giusto, alla breve
Symphony Of Psalms: Part I
Symphony Of Psalms: Part II
Symphony Of Psalms: Part III

Amazon.com essential recording

Stravinsky was seldom the best conductor of his own music, but this disc of his three symphonies is an exception. In the first place, none of them are all that difficult to conduct--at least compared to some of his earlier works--and he seems to have been in particularly good form throughout these recording sessions. He gets a particularly enthusiastic response from his Canadian forces in the Symphony of Psalms--one of this century's great choral masterworks, and seems to really enjoy the neo-classical elegance of the Symphony in C. Of all of the individual releases from Sony's complete Stravinsky edition, this one has pride of place. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

About as Good as Stravinsky (the composer) gets........2007-01-16

After listening to several of his 'classical period' stuff, especially his operas, I was really pleased to listen to these works which contain elements which made his ballets the great works they are. Being a sucker for choral works, I especially liked the Symphonie of Psalms. Hurray for CD's of classic recordings.

A prized recording.......2004-07-07

Igor Stravinsky conducts three of his own masterpieces in this compilation of recordings from the 1960's. SYMPHONY IN THREE MOVEMENTS was inspired by wartime newsreels. The vitriolic outer movements show definite jazz and big-band influence - which the CBC orchestra glories in - while the second movement is of a classical tranquility and grace. The elegant SYMPHONY IN C was meant as a tribute to Haydn and Bach; but the haunting, unresolved bitonal chord that dissolves into silence in the end makes the work quintessentially modern. And the SYMPHONY OF PSALMS, one of the great religious works of the 20th century, is heavenly music; Stravinsky and his forces give it an austere reading of almost chamber-music clarity. These performances leave nothing to be desired. This CD has become one of my most prized recordings.

Essential.......2004-05-26

Who better to interpret a composer's music than the composer himself? This CD is an excellent introduction to these 20th-century masterworks. THREE MOVEMENTS bristles with explosive energy and PSALMS is austere and perfectly controlled, the lines of polyphony in the second movement coming through with extraordinary clarity. Not only is this a great recording, but it is an important historical document which tells us how Stravinsky intended these works to sound. As such, it could be an important reference to other conductors. I enjoyed this recording very much and I highly recommend it.

History more important than the Sound........2001-01-12

OK, so this recording was made a long time ago, and it shows.

Never mind! You will never hear grander performances of these three works. Who better to interpret Stravinsky's music than the composer himself?

The two orchestral symphonies are wonderful, but the prize on this recording is the Symphony of Psalms. The first time I ever heard the piece was at a San Francisco Symphony concert with Stravinsky conducting-- an electrifying experience. This recording, though it's of a different performance, captures that moment perfectly. I can close my eyes and see Stravinsky's tight, coiled beat-- can watch the concertmaster's eyes as he was transfixed by the composer's every move-- can see the awe-struck chorus members as they nervously blended with the orchestra.

And I can relive that moment when the sound died finally away and the audience leaped as one person to its feet.

If music can change people (and it can), then this music will change people forever.

Conductor-Proof Stravinsky: The Best of the Best.......2000-10-09

Stravinsky's version of "Symphony of Psalms" is MUCH, MUCH better than the Bernstein version picked over it in the Penguin Classical guide. It's odd that Stravinsky himself liked Bernstein's interpretation of his famous piece, considering his openly stated horror of 'interpretations' (such as Karajan's and Stokowoski's) and his life-long quest to write conductor-proof music, because his own version couldn't be more different; it has all the rough edges, rhythmic vitality, sense of danger, and precisely controlled tempos that Bernstein's lacks. Bernstein's version is for sleepwalkers only.

Tracks:

Kaddish, Symphony No.3 ( To The Beloved Memory Of John F. Kennedy): I : Invocation (Kaddish 1)
Kaddish, Symphony No. 3 ( To The Beloved Memory Of John F. Kennedy): II : Din-Torah (Kaddish 2)
III : Scherzo (Kaddish 3) - Finale. Fugue-Tutti
Chichester Pslams For Chorus And Orchestra: I. Pslam 108(Verse 2) & Psalm 100 ( Complete)
Chichester Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra: II : Pslam 23 (Complete) & Pslam 2 (Verses 1-4)
Chichester Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra: III. Pslam 131 (Complete) & Pslam 133 (verse 1)

Amazon.com

Leonard Bernstein's Kaddish, Symphony No. 3, from 1963 is probably his most famous. It's dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy, and comprises spoken and sung texts from Jewish prayers for the dead. It's quite dramatic, very listenable, and not at all pretentious, as some critics have avowed. It ranks with Shostakovich's harrowing Symphony No. 14 and deserves more attention than it usually gets. Which is damned little. The same goes for Bernstein's Chichester Psalms (1964). It's a very engaging choral work that celebrates the practice of psalmody or choral festivals, a kind of celebratory music we don't hear much. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Still the Kaddish of choice, probably.......2007-01-09

Anyone of a certain age can remember the flap caused by the premiere of Bernstein's Sym. #3 "Kaddish," which contains the composer's personal argument with God, as narrated by his wife, Felicia Montelegre. The text is full of ego and blather, and it created the first huge embarrassment for a beloved icon of American music. He would go on the decline as a composer and a public figure soon thereafter, with even more embarrassment over Mass, his ecumenical-hippie memorial to John F. Kennedy.

HOw does Kaddish sound in retrospect? It's still full of ego and blather, but that's part of LB's legacy. His estate has tried to soften the Lenny-give-it-to-God aspect by approving several revisions of the text, one of which LB himself conducts on DG. But why? The original is a rip-roaring show, and LB condeucts as if the world were coming to an end. The music in his first two symphonies is better by far, but Kaddish remains worthwhile. Chichester Psalms is a piece that has survived better, even if it is a direct imitation of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. The composer's recording is more or less definitive. I am giving 5 stars to the performances--you'll have to assess the music on your own.

Bernstein at His Best.......2006-03-03

This recording is a digital remastering of the two works, as originally recorded and issued on Columbia records. I listened to my old, now broken-down vinyl copies again and again, and am very pleased to have the works on CD. The performances are stunning and authoritative; the singing and the playing, exquisite; and the music, electrifyingly dramatic. This album is well worth owning!

Magnificently Performed.......2003-02-05

Leonard Bernstein's Kaddish Symphony is a powerful mass reflected on a Jewish background. With both the composer who is a Jewish American, and the first Cathloic president John F. Kennedy, whom Bernstein dedicated the music to after the tragic assisination, being pious believers of heritage, it's partly fit to empasize and create this "requiem" based on the pure Jewish heritage.

Bernstein's Kaddish is an incredibly powerful piece. Although it's hard to understand the Jewish words sung by the choir, the music itself shows its emotions of savagry, pain, and lament, and to top it off, the narrating voice of the music, played by Bernstin's wife, is more than enough to give importance to the "deep sense of kinship and loss that Bernstein felt" after the president had died. The words can show how remorseful Bernstein, and his wife, must have been.

Regardless of the mediocre technology of digital recording on this performance, this music is a definite buy for those who want anything about Bernstein, or wants to give into an American Tragedy. I don't care how great other performances may be; Bernstein's performance is enough for me.

On the other hand, Chichester Psalms, like the Kaddish Symphony, has no specific story, being based, this time, on Psalms 2, 23, 100, 108, 131, and 133. The first movement is joyous, the second movement is a sort of a 'hymn' sung by a male solo high as a boy would sing, and the third movement closes peacefully. I was especially moved by the third movement. The melancholy sounds of the strings in the beginning of the movement reminded me of the grim, dark lifestyles during the Jewish Halocaust, even though the subject might not have been intended in the music. I can consider the words and the sentiment in the movement to be a song of resettlement after the Nazi's attempted genocide of the Jews.

This performance with the New York Phil too, despite its recording technology, is absolutly unmatched. The only other recording I would listen is the one Bernstein performed with the Isreal Phil on Grammophon during his later years of conducting. By noticing the recognizable use of energy of Bernstein's youthful earlier performance, though, I would recommened this performance than the latter.

Generally, the two pieces are magnificently performed, showing how great Bernstein was. Unless you want really cle-e-e-an recordings, you won't be dissapointed.

ChichesterPsalms-A choral work or an orchestral work?.......2001-02-01

Although at first listen this piece is full of screeching and wailing, it is definitively Bernstein. The syncopated rhythms, odd time signatures, nods to American popular, blues and jazz idioms, as well as the explosive dynamics of this piece make it a fascinating listen. WHat I didn't like about this particular recording, led by the Maestro himself, is that one cannot understand much of the text. It is mushily inarticulated. The orchestra, however, is superb, especially the percussion, and the dynamics on this recording are well differentiated. The boy soprano in the 2nd movement(emulating boy David with his harp)sings gorgeously, but one can't understand a word of the Hebrew text of the 23rd Psalm, too bad.If only Bernstein had paid as much attention to the choir as he did to the orchestra, this would be a fabulous recording of a distinctive work.

Breathtaking!.......1999-07-10

I was not alive when President Kennedy was asassinated, but the dramatic lyrics of the Kaddish helps me to understand and appreciate the tragedy in a way I have never felt. Likewise, The Chichester Psalms are done extremely well. I would recomend this cd to anyone that can appreciate good music. It is truly pure heaven.

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Robert Craft Gives Us Special Stravinsky Choral Works

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Penderecki: Symphony No. 7 "Seven Gates of Jerusalem"

ASIN: B000I2IUSO
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Tracks:

Otche Nash (Pater Noster) - The Gregg Smith Singers
Ave Maria - The Gregg Smith Singers
Credo - The Gregg Smith Singers
Kyrie - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Gloria - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Credo - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Sanctus - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Agnus Dei - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
A Lyke-Wake Dirge (Versus I; Prelude) - Fred Sherry
Ricercar I: 'The Maidens Came' - Fred Sherry
A Lyke-Wake Dirge (Versus II; 1st Interlude) - Fred Sherry
Ricercar II: 'Tomorrow Shall Be' - Fred Sherry
A Lyke-Wake Dirge (Versus III; 2nd Interlude) - Fred Sherry
Westron Wind - Fred Sherry
A Lyke-Wake Dirge (Versus IV; Postlude) - Fred Sherry
Babel - David Wilson-Johnson
Psalm 38, Verses 13 And 14 - Philharmonia Orchestra
Psalm 39, Verses 1 To 5 - Philharmonia Orchestra
Psalm 150 (Entire) - Philharmonia Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Robert Craft Gives Us Special Stravinsky Choral Works.......2007-02-07

This CD is a grab bag, but a very special one. It contains five choral works, garnered from fairly recent recordings on the Koch and MusicMasters labels, sung and played by exceedingly sensitive musicians and led by surely the best Stravinsky conductor we have, Robert Craft. These are among the best recordings I've ever heard of these works.

Probably the most important, and certainly the best known, work here is placed last: the Symphony of Psalms, with the Simon Joly Chorale and the Philharmonia Orchestra. This performance very much emphasizes that the work is for chorus with orchestra, not an orchestral work with incidental chorus, and it is generally gentler than most performances one hears. The Simon Joly Chorale is simply sensational here, with subtle inflections and dynamics, clear diction and impeccable intonation. Craft wisely lets the music unfold without any special rhetorical flourishes and in this respect it resembles Stravinsky's own classic recording. The very slow opening ('Alleluia. Laudate.') of the final movement, Psalm 150, is ecstatic, making the irruption of the agitato section all the more effective. This is a superior Symphony of Psalms.

The disc opens with a cappella works, Three Russian Sacred Choruses, sung in Slavonic versions of the Pater Noster, Ave Maria and Credo. Texts with translations for these and the other works here are not in the Naxos booklet but can be found at www.naxos.com/libretti/symphonyofpsalms.htm . Craft conducts them slightly faster than Stravinsky does in his classic recording but they actually gain from that. The Gregg Smith Singers are the chorus.

Mass (1944-48) was written in New York but there is absolutely no new world influence in the work, unlike other things he was writing at the time. It is sung by The Gregg Smith Singers, the group who also recorded the work in 1960 and who have sung it innumerable times since. This is glorious performance that I prefer by a slight margin to Stravinsky's own version, not only because it is in much better sound but also because the choral soloists are better. They are given superb support by members of the Orchestra of St. Luke's. The orchestration is especially inventive, consisting as it does of two quintets, one of oboes and bassoons and one of trumpets and trombones.

Cantata (1951-52) is based on early English verses including the Elizabethan bridal song, 'The Maidens Came' and the traditional 'Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.' Written hard on the heels of Stravinsky finishing 'The Rake's Progress', the solos were written for two of the singers in that opera's premiere, Hugues Cuénod and Jennie Tourel. The musical forces, in addition to the tenor and mezzo soloists, are a female chorus (from The Gregg Smith Singers) and an instrumental quintet of two flutes, two oboes and cello. The excellent vocal soloists are Mary Ann Hart and Thomas Bogdan. The redoubtable Fred Sherry is the cellist.

Finally, there is the brief 'Babel' that recounts the Genesis story of the building and destruction of the Tower of Babel. The piece was originally part of a suite of works by several composers (including Schoenberg) that retold Genesis texts. The work has a narrator who reads from Genesis, Chapter 11, verses 11-19, with one chorus sung (by the Simon Joly Chorale) to 'Behold the people is one, and they all have one language.' The orchestra, quite prominent in the work, is the Philharmonia at the top of their form. I had not listened to my old recording of Stravinsky conducting the work in many years, but on comparison with it I find that narrator David Wilson-Johnson is much superior to John Calicos on the old recording, largely because he is less overtly, how shall I say, hammy.

This issue is impeccably presented and recorded. I would urge Stravinsky fans, even those who have earlier recordings, including those of the composer himself, to grab it.

Scott Morrison

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A Fabulous Introduction to Igor Stravinsky!!

The Essential Igor Stravinsky

Manufacturer: Sony
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Binding: Audio CD

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Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale, Dumbarton Oaks Concerto / Ward, Keeble, Soames, et al

ASIN: B00008NGAW
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Fireworks, Op.4 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Danse Infernale De Tous Les Sujets De Kastchei - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Berceuse (L'Oiseau De Feu) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Reveil De Kastchei - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Mort De Kastchei - Profonds Tenebres - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Disparition Du Palais Et Des Sortileges De Kastchei, Animation Des Chevaliers Petrifies Allegresse Generale - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Opening - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Shrove-tide Fair - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Charlatan's Booth - Philharmonia Orchestra
Russian Dance - Philharmonia Orchestra
Petrushka's Room - Philharmonia Orchestra
Introduction - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Les Augures Printanieres (Danse Des Adolescentes) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Jeu Du Rapt - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Rondes Printanieres - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Jeux Des Cites Rivales - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Cortege Du Sage - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Adoration De La Terre (Le Sage) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Danse De La Terre - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Andante - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
II. Napolitana - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
III. Espanola - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
IV. Balalaika - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
Ragtime For 11 Instruments - Toni Koves
Marche Royale - Columbia Chamber Ensemble
Petit Concert - Columbia Chamber Ensemble
Piano Rag Music - Igor Stravinsky
Sinfonia (Ouverture) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Gavotta Con Due Variazioni - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Sinfonia - London Sinfonietta
III. Allegro - Philippe Entremont

Tracks:

Part I. Exaudi Orationem Meam - London Symphony Chorus
IV. Capriccio - Cho-Liang Lin
Chant Sants Paroles - Israel Baker
Premiere Donne - Cleveland Orchestra
I. Tempo Giusto - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
III. Allegretto - London Symphony Orchestra
The Star-Spangled Banner - The Festival Singers Of Toronto
I. Intrada - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Circus Polka (For A Young Elephant) - CBC Symphony Orchestra
Scherzo A La Russe - Philharmonia Orchestra
III. Con Moto - London Symphony Orchestra
I. Allegro Moderato - Benny Goodman
Good People, Just A Moment - Colin Tilney
Tango - Columbia Jazz Combo
Greeting Prelude (For The Eightieth Birthday Of Pierre Monteux) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
II. Ma Tu, Cagion Di Quella - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Elegy For J.F.K. - Charles Russo
Fanfare For A New Theatre - Robert Nagel
II. Exaudi - Donald Gramm
III. Dies Irae - Donald Gramm
IV. Tuba Mirum - Donald Gramm
The Owl And The Pussycat - Robert Craft
Stravinsky In His Own Words - John McClure

Customer Reviews:

A Fabulous Introduction to Igor Stravinsky!!.......2004-05-19

Sony Music's "The Essential Igor Stravinsky" truly lives up to its title. This double-CD set includes nearly every important piece of work (either in part or in whole) by the great Russian composer. The set also presents the pieces in chronological order beginning in 1908 with "Fireworks" and ending in 1966 with his final piece, the short but simple "Owl and The Pussycat". In between, there are excerpts from Stravinsky's most famous works including the first part of "The Rite Of Spring" and highlights from the "Firebird" and "Petrushka" ballets. There are also lesser-known works included as well as his harmonically rearranged version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (a rendition which caused a stir in the early 1940's). The entire collection concludes with a rare recorded interview with Igor Stravinsky himself in which he remembers the infamous premere of "The Rite Of Spring".
The CD booklet includes detailed liner notes as well as a written tribute by Trey Anastasio of the band Phish. The sound quality of the recordings is amazing (even on the historic 1934 recording of "Piano Rag Music"). All in all, this an excellent collection of works by the great Igor Stravinsky. In a sense, this compilation gives the composer the 'rock musician' treatment. It's a 'greatest hits' album and a career-spanning retrospective that serves as an ideal introduction to Igor's music. Even if your not a fan of Classical music, it isn't difficult to listen to the works of Stravinsky and not be stirred.
Definitely The Essential Igor Stravinsky!!!

Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri; Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

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Oil & Vinegar
The concert of a lifetime!

Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri; Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Walton: Belshazzar's Feast; Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Missa Brevis

ASIN: B000003CX4
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

I. Ave Maria
II. Stabat Mater
III. Laudi Alla Vergine Maria
IV. Te Deum
Part I
Part II
Part III

Amazon.com

Robert Shaw was a splendid choral conductor--indeed, possibly the greatest of the 20th century (in America at least). When confronted with works for chorus and orchestra, however, he could be either very exciting or very dull. Like so many great choral trainers, his concern with problems of balance, intonation, and pronunciation in the chorus parts often led to a neglect of the orchestra, and an inability to "let go" when the music demanded it. Fortunately, this particular collection shows Shaw at his best. Like his superb recording of the Verdi Requiem, the Four Sacred Pieces really come alive in his hands--with the "Te Deum" particularly grand. Similarly, his Symphony of Psalms balances the objectivity of the composer's vocal and instrumental writing with an unaccustomed warmth and grace. Add to this Telarc's excellent sonics, and the results are very fine indeed. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Oil & Vinegar.......2002-01-31

Despite being superbly executed, this disc is a little bit strange. The pairing of Verdi and Stravinsky is as improbable as a fish needing a bicycle. However, aside from my programming reservations, this is another fine example of what Robert Shaw can do when he gets in front of a chorus. Verdi's hushed, a cappella Ave Maria seems atypical of Verdi's buoyant, expressive style - it is reverent but almost inelastic. The Stabat Mater rings out with a glorious grandeur only Verdi could produce. The Laudi is a beautiful yet simple piece with clear and beautiful lines for the Sopranos. It is so gentle it would not be out of place in the Abbey from the Sound of Music. The Te Deum is worth the 20 minute wait just to hear it explode from your speakers. The Symphony of Psalms is delicate, beautiful, powerful and full of Stravinsky's free-range woodwinds. I love his music, but I must argue that the Symphony of Psalms would have been better paired with any number of the other great sacred pieces of Stravinsky. This is my only complaint, that there is a disconcerting gear-shift moving from the grandiose Verdi to the sparse Stravinsky. However, if you enjoy both composers, you will not be disappointed with Shaw and his forces on this recording.

The concert of a lifetime!.......2000-11-17

I have heard this CD and let me tell you it brings me excitement and a glorius feeling every time I hear it! I sang all these pieces in high school and all these songs were just rewarding to sing and hear! The Atlanta Symphony Chorus and its sister the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra combine again to make a unique blend like no other two ensembles I ever heard together. I definately gave this CD the perfect 5 stars. From the haunting beauty of Igor Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms" to the well-written, glorious sounds of Giuseppe Verdi's "Quattro Pezzi Sacri", this is a CD that will bring you joy and pleasure.

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Symphony in Three Movements

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Recommended by Penguin Guide and Rough Guide
Bravissimo
Boulez and Stravinsky: Should be Perfect...
THERE WAS ROOM FOR MORE
Herreweghe in Boulez-disguise

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Symphony in Three Movements

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000031X7Y
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

Symphony Of Wind Instruments
Symphony Of Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra On Texts From Psalms 38, 39 And 150: Exaudi orationem meam, Domine
Symphony Of Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra On Texts From Psalms 38, 39 And 150: Expectans expectavi Dominum
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Amazon.com

In a way that oddly prefigures the stance of the "holy minimalists" so currently popular, Stravinsky declared that a motive behind composing his Symphony of Psalms was his "eagerness to counter the many composers who had abused these magisterial verses as pegs for their own lyrico-sentimental 'feelings'." The result issued in one of the 20th century's most perfect choral masterpieces. For all its objective austerity (violins, violas, and clarinets are exiled from the score), the piece is awash in fresh new sound colors and rhythmic vitality (with some family likeness to those Stravinsky explored in Les Noces and Oedipus Rex), ending in a poem of praise (Psalm 150) that radiantly answers the uneasy waiting of the middle movement (Psalm 40). Pierre Boulez maintains the necessary level of diaphanous precision, though he is a measure too sensuous, forceful, and even fast compared with Stravinsky's own visionary account of the work, enveloping the final "Alleluia" in an undeniably beautiful but seductive sheen. Boulez also offers a finely etched, incisive reading of Stravinsky's wartime Symphony in Three Movements that is strong on its astringent ironies. The composer's interests were clearly geared to the symphony more as an exploration of possible sound worlds than to its traditional form, even in his most neoclassical period, as in the ritualistic gestures of the Symphonies of Wind Instuments. It's a nice snapshot of earlier Stravinsky, though this disc would be even more compelling if it had instead included the Symphony in C to make a compendium of his best symphonies such as can be found on Georg Solti's Stravinsky collection. But listeners familiar with only the great Stravinsky ballets have a goldmine left to discover in these works. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Recommended by Penguin Guide and Rough Guide.......2007-04-09

Gets **(*) stars in Penguin Guide 2005/6 guide to classical recordings. Also recommended by The Rough Guide to Classical Music as the place to start for these pieces.

Bravissimo.......2006-12-31

All I can say, is that when I listen to this CD - I can't imagine how it could be performed any better.

The only other recording I have of the Psalms and Symphony in 3 Movements is conducted by the composer (including Symp in C). While this is certainly a fine performance, and perhaps more authentic to the composer's intentions, I find this interpretation to be prime.

To me this is like listening to a performance of Bach by a real baroque orchestra (tuning, gut-strings, style and all) - you just get the sense that it's correct.

This is one of Boulez's great gifts to music - his understanding of modern music - and his ability to perform avant-garde in a way that works. Though this music could hardly be concidered avant-garde (even in its day), it is still modern and takes a distinct interpretation to pull it off.

Furthermore, these are quite possibly masterworks of the prolific composer. They usually stand in the shadow of his ballet-trinity (Rite, Petrushka, and Firebird), so this would be a great buy for anyone who would like to become familiar with some of his best music.

Boulez and Stravinsky: Should be Perfect..........2006-10-07

For this listener there still remains to be recorded the totally convincing masterpiece of Stravinsky - the 'Symphony of Psalms'. Somehow in live performances this wondrous piece holds grandeur and both an intellectual appeal as well as one of the more spiritually beautiful works in the 20th century repertoire. Boulez comes close in this performance with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and yet there is a sense of distance in the tempi that keep the work grounded. It only takes an evening in the perfect acoustic of Disney Hall with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the LA Phil and the LA Master Chorale to prove just how magnificent the work can be: the rhythmic propulsions drive the work to the ultimate 'Alleluias' and 'Laudetes' that melt the heart.

But what Boulez misses in the Psalms he clearly owns the Symphony in Three Movements and gives a fine reading of the brilliant Symphonies of Wind Instruments, for 23 wind instruments (1947 version). The Berlin ensemble are responsive to every movement of his ticking mind and the results are performances that rank among the finest.

We will just have to wait for the definitive 'Symphony of Psalms': even Stravinsky's own Toronto ensemble recording doesn't make it sing the way it can....Grady Harp, October 06

THERE WAS ROOM FOR MORE.......2005-05-15

By now we presumably ought to know what to expect from Boulez. His approach does not greatly suit me in Mahler, but in Stravinsky Boulez suits me down to the ground. Stravinsky changed his compositional style at various stages of his long career, but at any stage the quality I look for most in the performance and recording of his work is clarity, and clarity is Boulez's long suit. On this disc you will find complete precision from the instrumentalists, distinctness in the singing, sharply `terraced' dynamic levels and a sergeant-majorish strictness in the rhythm. This is exactly as I like Stravinsky done, and the recording does the effect full justice. I got only one surprise from the tempi chosen, a slowish beat for the Symphonies of Wind Instruments. However I found the effect really very successful, and the other speeds are much as I am used to them and as I like them.

The disc comes with the title `Boulez 2000' and was recorded in 1999, which I suppose is close enough. The liner-note is actually quite thoughtful and helpful provided you can understand it in the first place. The sequence of thought is meandering and the expression is heavy and turgid - I found that after a page and a half of Mr Griffiths' ramblings I had to go back to the start and retrace my steps to be sure of what he was even talking about. However I credit him with one particularly insightful and memorable statement regarding the Symphony of Psalms, that `The prayers are being voiced...by other people while the composer constructs. His is the symphony: theirs are the psalms.'

I had half a mind to deny the disc a fifth star by reason of short measure. The playing time comes to only 52 minutes, and I can see no good justification for not including the Symphony in C along with the other three symphonies. However on the basis that I am reviewing what is there and not what is not there I think five stars fair and just given the quality of both performances and sound. Boulez and Stravinsky go back a long way. On the inside of the front leaf of the booklet there is a picture of the pair of them from 1957, with a thirty-something Boulez showing a startling resemblance to Marlon Brando at the same age.

Herreweghe in Boulez-disguise.......2003-09-07

First of all:
The Berliner philharmoniker play precise and with attack.
Never mind those comments people often make, as if Von Karajan never died.

The symphony in three movements here on disc is next to Stravinsky's own recording probably the best available.
It comes closer to Stravinsky's own view than any other I heard, except the andante is played slower by Boulez and I actualy like it better that way: extremely gentle and refined.

Stravinsky himself didn't care that much for highlighting the gentle sites in his music scores, therefore many recordings of the firebird for instance top his own recording, like (ofcourse) Boulez', Dorati's and Gergiev's.

The symphonies of wind instruments is given a melancholic feel wich I never heard in this work.
Boulez the iceman?
But to be perfectly honest, this work will never become one of my favorites.
Still one of the best performances I heard
Another great recording is from Reinbert de Leeuw

The symphony of psalms is a rather strange work to my ears.
Extremely beautiful passages with some honest devotion are followed by kitschy Carl Orf-like passages which gives me the feeling at times that this work was originally written as a movie score and not the symphony in three movements.
The performance however is great.
If I didn't know Boulez was the conductor I would have thought it was Herreweghe himself, such a warmth and intimacy and that mystique-like quality.

Yes perhaps this performance doesn't come so close to Stravinsky's ideal and perhaps some pinsharp orchestral focussing is traded for smooth and warm legato. But it works very well, as it works perfectly well for Herreweghe in his Bach recordings.

There you have it: a great disc of probably the best conductor alive.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic compilation
Stravinsky sorprendente
Wonderful - Especially The Violin Concerto!
A Great Compilation for Stravinsky Music!

Stravinsky: Symphonies and Concertos

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus)
Schumann: The 4 Symphonies
Bartók: Concertos
Stravinsky: Works for Piano
Alban Berg: Violin Concerto "To the Memory of an Angel" (1935) / Wolfgang Rihm: "Time Chant" Music for Violin & Orchestra (1991-92) - Anne-Sophie Mutter

ASIN: B0000041AF
Release Date: 1995-02-14

Tracks:

Symphony In C: Moderato alla breve - Tempo agitato senza troppo accelerare - Tempo I
Symphony In C: Larghetto concertante
Symphony In C: Allegretto - meno mosso - Tempo I - Piu mosso - Tempo I
Symphony In C: Largo - Tempo giusto, alla breve - Poco meno mosso
Symphony in Three Movements: Allegro
Symphony in Three Movements: Andante - Interlude (L'istesso tempo)
Symphony in Three Movements: Con moto
Symphonies for Wind Instruments

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In D: Toccata
Violin Concerto In D: Aria
Violin Concerto In D: Aria
Violin Concerto In D: Capriccio
Ebony Concerto: Allegro moderato
Ebony Concerto: Andante
Ebony Concerto: Moderato
Symphony Of Psalms: Exaudi orationem mea, Domine
Symphony Of Psalms: Expectans expectavi Dominum
Symphony Of Psalms: Alleluia, laudate Dominum

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic compilation.......2006-04-17

You won't be disappointed in this compilation ....all great
choices in the selection of numbers, although the highlight
does seem to be "Violin Concerto".

In terms of sound, it's also very clear, very well recorded,
and there's a balanced selection of moods on these 2 CD.

Stravinsky sorprendente.......2004-12-03

Que Stravinsky nos sorprenda no es algo nuevo, fue y sera para siempre un compositor innovador y sorprendente, pero al oir estas obras sabra que habia mas sorpresas en la cabeza del compositor ruso.
Comienza la audicion y nos encontramos con una sinfonia postmodernista en la linea clasica, brillante, genial; continua en esta linea la sinfonia en tres movimientos que es una obra extraordinaria, poco compleja para el genio rusa pero encantadora.
Sir Colin Davis se hace cargo de estas obras y al igual que como lo hace con Sibelius nos demuestra su versatilidad y manejo de la obrea sinfonica de cualquier autor.
Edo de Waart junto al conjunto de instrumentos de viento de Holanda se encarga de dos bellezas musicales de estructura casi camaresca son bellisimos, simples y originales.
Aparece ahora una genialidad, un concierto para violin cercano a Bartok si se quiere, solo para aproximarlo, grandioso, innovador, genial en la soberbia interpretacion del afamado Arthur Grumiax. Para este solista nada mejor que la orquesta del concertgebouw (de recio sonido)dirigidos por el prolijo Ernest Bour.
Finalizamos esta sorprendente coleccion con la Sinfonia de los Salmos, que es casi un oratorio,partes que podrian ser los tiempos de una sinfonia pero que, se acercan mas a momentos de una liturgia, son bellos simples, exultantes de luminosidad y reflexion. Igor Markevitch el director ruso de tomo y lomo, se une a la sinfonica de Rusia, a coros masculinos y otros solistas para entregarnos esta version generosa e impactante.

Wonderful - Especially The Violin Concerto!.......2004-05-28

This set is worth its modest price just to have Grumiaux in the Violin Concerto, with Ernest Bour and the Concertgebouw providing a virtual x-ray of this marvelous score. Grumiaux provides an object lesson for other violinists in how to combine extraordinarily crisp rhythm with soaring lyricism. Bour demonstrates once again how he was one of the 20th Century's most eloquent advocates of modern music. This is far and away the finest current reading - it very nearly eclipses my benchmark for this piece: Samuel Dushkin with the composer conducting in a 1935 Paris recording on DG.

A wonderful bonus is Markevitch performing the Symphony of Psalms. What a stunning reading! And such a glorious chorus! I actually prefer this reading to Stravinsky's own stereo account, and it comes close to the sheer ecstacy of the composer's antique 1931 recording.

Colin Davis is not one of my favorites, but I have to say he delivers crisp, no-nonsense accounts in both the Sym. in C and the Sym. in 3 Movements. Here, though, I still prefer the composer's various accounts in each work. Finally, the virtuoso Netherlands Wind Ensemble provides the best played versions of the Symphonies for Wind Instruments and the Ebony concerto I have had the pleasure of hearing. Once again, I marginally prefer the composer's mono accounts here: his version of the former was slower and more mysterious, and in the latter he had Woody Herman & Co. in full swing. But neither was as expertly played as these Dutch readings - and the sound here is simply terrific.

This CD set is a wonderful introduction to the kaleidoscopic variety of Stravinsky's music. Be sure to hear that Violin Concerto - it's one of the great performances of ANY concerto.

A Great Compilation for Stravinsky Music!.......2000-05-18

I have to say that I'm not the biggest Stravinsky fan and in fact I have something of a dislike for a lot of 20th Century music if you even call some of the 20th Century works music. So, why did I buy this CD? I'll get to that in a second. You see, I have only truly cared for one of Stravinsky's masterpieces and that was his Symphony of Psalms.

The Symphony of Psalms has always appealed to me for some reason or another and I can never quite put my finger on exactly what that one thing or another is. Perhaps it's the haunting melody that begins the piece in "Exaudi orationem meam" due to its sort of sensation of being forced along at a tempo that never rests and only builds. Then again, perhaps its the amazing "Expectans expectavi Dominum" with it's constant fading in and out of the main melody and constant evolution on throughout the end. There is also a section in "Laudate Dominum" which sounds as if it belonged in a horror movie scene due to the chant which the choir sings and the pianos accompany. What ever the reason there was something about this piece and this piece alone that I simply clingged on to.

So, why buy this CD? More importantly why even dare buy anything but just that piece of music and that piece of music alone. Well, I thought that I might as well, get this CD even though I knew, I just knew, I would dread all the other pieces on it. I just knew that I'd regret that I couldnt just buy the sections of the 2CD set that contained the Symphony of Psalms tracks. I just knew it.

To my surprise, I was dead wrong about this. I was so wrong in fact that when listening to the music you cant help but to feel as if it's slapping you for even doubting it's ability to entertain you and prove it's worthiness. I actually found myself listening to Stravinsky's Symphony in C and his Symphony in Three Movements along with his Violin Concerto in D and even listened to his Ebony Concerto. More surprising then that is that I actually enjoyed listening to them. I think it almost felt unbelievable even to myself that I was repeating a few of the tracks over and listening to them again and again. My only one that I didnt care for was his Symphonies for Wind Instruments which may simply require a hardcore Stravinsky fan to get into. These Symphonies before the Psalms pieces on the 2CD set were such fulfilling appetizers that when the "main course" so to speak came along I was just so captivated by this CD set that I almost didnt need to hear the choir pieces to know I had struck gold with this Stravinsky compilation. Incredible job by all conductors and their orchestra's from the always magnificent Sir Colin Davis to Igor Markevitch. Great CD that all Stravinsky hard cores simply must buy.

Poulenc: Gloria; Concerto for Organ; Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
Average customer rating:

A very welcome reissue--but why was it ever out of print?

Celebratory Music for All Seasons!

Poulenc: Gloria; Concerto for Organ; Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem, etc / Bryden Thomson

Poulenc: Gloria; Stabat Mater

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ASIN: B0002M5TAC
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

I. Gloria
II. Laudamus Te
III. Domine Deus
IV. Domine Fili Unigenite
V. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei
VI. Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram Patris
Concerto In G Minor - Michael Murray
Part I. - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Part II. - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Part III. - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

A very welcome reissue--but why was it ever out of print?.......2006-05-30

One of my most cherished CDs was a used copy of the Symphony of Psalms and the Poulenc Gloria, which was among Shaw's first CDs for Telarc. The only problem with that CD was that it was already well-used, and on the verge of being unplayable. So, naturally, I was horrified to find out--in the mid-90s--that the CD was out-of-print (the Symphony of Psalms was reissued in a coupling with Verdi's Quattro Pezzi Sacri). So, naturally, I bought this CD the day I saw it was available. At a mid-level price, this CD is hard to beat.

This CD contains those same two recordings, which are nearly impeccable. Both of these works contain strict instructions on performance, and Shaw captures them all perfectly. A couple of moments that stand out are the "Ad dexteram patris" in the final movement of the Gloria that Poulenc asks to be sung "like a murmur, almost imperceptibly," and the piccolo trumpet at the close of the second movement of the Symphony. Nevertheless, both works receive outstanding performances, and Sylvia McNair's solos in the Gloria are simply sublime.

And, as if simply reissuing the CD weren't enough, Telarc added a bonus, the Poulenc Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani. Not a very "flashy" work, it shows by turns both Poulenc's serious and playful moods. Michael Murray does an excellent job with the solo, and Shaw handles the strings admirably.

As I said at the beginning of this review, the original was one of my all-time favorite CDs, and I'm still wondering why Telarc ever allowed it to go out of print in the first place. But that won't stop me from recommending this CD now that it's back.

Celebratory Music for All Seasons!.......2005-11-29

Holiday season and the stores are filled with carols and pop tunes that seem further removed from Christmas every year. At the same time all the choral ensembles around the country are scheduling the Messiah and festivals of carols and it is refreshing to turn to less well know works on CD for instilling a warm mood, works that while perhaps are not particularly for the Christmas season are none the less celebratory and appropriate now - and anytime.

This release by the venerable Robert Shaw and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and Chorus reminds us just how fine a conductor he was. Poulenc's 'Gloria, for soprano, chorus & orchestra' is performed all too seldom. It is a bracingly modern work that alternates choral movements with orchestra separated by movements that include soprano solos - and some of the most graceful vocal writing in Poulenc's repertoire. Here Sylvia McNair is the right choice, her clearly focused voice has the range to breathe through the long arching lines with ease. The chorus, orchestra (especially the brass!) and soloist just blend beautifully.

Michael Murray is the fine soloist for Poulenc's 'Concerto for organ, strings & timpani in G minor', a mystical work that also calls forth thunderous organ passages. The contrast between the organ and strings with tympani allows the organ to solidly represent all of the brass and woodwind instruments and the effect is eerily dramatic. For years the old recording of these first two works with Georges Pretre conducting were the gold standard: that may now have changed!

Shaw wisely completed this grouping with Stravinsky's infectious 'Symphony of Psalms', another work that is slowly becoming a standard in orchestral repertoires for very good reasons. Here are the driving irregular pulsating rhythms that mark this period of Stravinsky's writing coupled with the ongoing fascination for the Russian orthodox music that he quoted throughout his career. Shaw and his Atlanta forces give a richly colored and broadly spaced reading and the sounds resulting from all three of these works is first rate. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, November 05

The Papal Concert to Commemorate the Holocaust

Average customer rating:

Just moved me to tears!!!!!!!

The Papal Concert to Commemorate the Holocaust
Howard Nevison , Lynn Harrell , Ludwig van Beethoven , Leonard Bernstein , Max Bruch , Franz Schubert , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Gilbert Levine , and Richard Dreyfuss
Manufacturer: Justice Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Bruch: Dol Nidrei; Bloch: Schelomo

ASIN: B000000NRD
Release Date: 1994-09-06

Tracks:

Kol Nidrei
Sym No.9 in c: III. Adagio Molto E Cantabile
Psalm 92
Sym No.3, 'Kaddish'
Chichester Psalms: Movt II
Chichester Psalms: Movt III
The Pope's Address - Pope John Paul II

Customer Reviews:

Just moved me to tears!!!!!!!.......2004-02-11

I was about 17 or 18 years old when I first purchased this CD, mainly because I'm a cellist and wanted a recording of the Kol Nidrei. After hearing Lynn Harrell's version of Kol Nidrei the first couple of times, I just couldn't stop crying. It was absolutely breathtaking! There's none other like Lynn Harrell. I also liked the Kaddish and the Psalm 23. Those were also moving. I'm not Jewish, nor have I had any family member die in the holocaust, but have cherished this music for quite some time now. A must-have if you like sorrowful, yet somber music.