Brittany does not typically listen to 'churchy stuff', but I did give the full recording a listening shortly after you made this post. Thank you for inspiring others and me to devote time to this masterpiece. How 'spiritual' this is, even if one (like me) is not particularly religious. A little like Spem in Alium, you can lie down and let these gorgeous sounds 'float' around you from each side (all 8 of them). My favorites are the Gloria V (flute on top, organ on bottom, soprano/tenor; what a delightful combo with the main theme so gently descending - beautiful). Also love that first soprano/alto duo (bonus points, Ludwig's voice). If those aren't Baroque trumpets, the sonics do a convincing job of making them sound so at the beginning of the Gloria. Love it!
Listened to Dona nobis pacem last night, so beautiful. I love how the voices rise in waves, each wave higher, until they are joined by the fire of the brass and the rolling thunder of the timpani. Human voices and divine brass blend together.
Really odd how Karajan is portrayed as some how a war criminal for some people, Bohm and Wand were much more wedded to Nazi ideals. Karajan married a Jewish lady didn’t he? More to the point - Richter, Rostropovich Gilels etc all must have bern members Stalin’s regime and subsequent parties. They weren’t and never have been damned with their party membership. It’s a little thing really but odd.
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a recording of any of the great choral works - Bach’s B Minor Mass, or Haydn’s Creation say, in one sitting. This is the great advantage of concert performances - they force you to consider the works as a whole.
I've never listened to this the whole way through, but your post has inspired me. Just finished listening to "Gloria IV: gratias agimus tibi". Chills and goose bumps. An extended cresendo of beauty.
You've inspired me to give it a full listen, although I don't have the stamina to listen to the entirety in one sitting. Listening to great music is exhausting. Even jazz musicians play 40 on, 20 off. Lots of neurons firing.
I really enjoyed the Karajan-Nazi asides. Given today's climate, needed.
Brittany does not typically listen to 'churchy stuff', but I did give the full recording a listening shortly after you made this post. Thank you for inspiring others and me to devote time to this masterpiece. How 'spiritual' this is, even if one (like me) is not particularly religious. A little like Spem in Alium, you can lie down and let these gorgeous sounds 'float' around you from each side (all 8 of them). My favorites are the Gloria V (flute on top, organ on bottom, soprano/tenor; what a delightful combo with the main theme so gently descending - beautiful). Also love that first soprano/alto duo (bonus points, Ludwig's voice). If those aren't Baroque trumpets, the sonics do a convincing job of making them sound so at the beginning of the Gloria. Love it!
Very rewarding for me to read, thanks.
Whenever I need to cultivate hope in this deeply flawed world, I turn to the Dona nobis pacem. It never fails to comfort — truly music of the spheres.
Totally -- I can't wait to hear this live one day.
Listened to Dona nobis pacem last night, so beautiful. I love how the voices rise in waves, each wave higher, until they are joined by the fire of the brass and the rolling thunder of the timpani. Human voices and divine brass blend together.
Love your description of this movement, William. Divine, indeed!
Really odd how Karajan is portrayed as some how a war criminal for some people, Bohm and Wand were much more wedded to Nazi ideals. Karajan married a Jewish lady didn’t he? More to the point - Richter, Rostropovich Gilels etc all must have bern members Stalin’s regime and subsequent parties. They weren’t and never have been damned with their party membership. It’s a little thing really but odd.
I don’t know enough about the politics of the others but Shostakovich was famously a pained Stalin party member.
I read a bio of him that argued his music signifies the struggles of living in the USSR.
There was no choice for artists under Stalin and the later State cultural committees of the Soviets. Everyone had to be a party member.
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a recording of any of the great choral works - Bach’s B Minor Mass, or Haydn’s Creation say, in one sitting. This is the great advantage of concert performances - they force you to consider the works as a whole.
I listened to very few all at once before this Bach project. They're sort of not meant for your living room...
Oh, he heard it, for sure. The performance was inside his head.
Ha!
Reminds me of this classic:
https://theonion.com/i-have-an-ipod-in-my-mind-1819584018/
Wonderful post. Great little closing item. And I love you how love Peter Schreier.
He was new to me before this project. So glad to have found him.
I've never listened to this the whole way through, but your post has inspired me. Just finished listening to "Gloria IV: gratias agimus tibi". Chills and goose bumps. An extended cresendo of beauty.
Great! Did you listen to this recording or choose another?
I went with a different recording, didn't want to be distracted by thinking about von Karajan's background:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6Hx5uBujzA1k9bebRIpDUN?si=tfAqgPT4THmZD7YKhLszig
You've inspired me to give it a full listen, although I don't have the stamina to listen to the entirety in one sitting. Listening to great music is exhausting. Even jazz musicians play 40 on, 20 off. Lots of neurons firing.
I really enjoyed the Karajan-Nazi asides. Given today's climate, needed.
Thanks -- this piece would work well in two one-hour listens.