new commercial rec of Kontra-Punkte + Zeitmasze
Mark Stratford
Jerry Kohl
wrote:
> http://www.wergo.de/shop/en_UK/3/show,261747.htm
Although I thought this recording had already been discussed on this
group (it was released nearly a month ago), I'm pleased to address it
again. In addition to Kontra-Punkte and Zeitmaße, it includes new
performances of Refrain and the Schlagtrio. The latter is only the
second recording ever made, and it has quite a different balance and
internal energy than the earlier recording made under the composer's
direction. As Richard Toop observes in the booklet notes, the
performance of Refrain is more like the earliest recordings than
Stockhausen's re-thinking in the recording of Refrain 2000, especially
in the way the vocal exclamations relate to the instrumental sound.
Richard prefers that quality, and I think I do, too.
I personally like this new recording very much, though I have not yet
taken the opportunity to compare the versions of Zeitmaße and Kontra-
Punkte side-by-side with the several earlier recordings of these
works. My initial impression of Zeitmaße is that it is a bit glib--
perhaps just a little too confident--but certainly superior to the
earliest and third recordings (Boulez/Domaine Musical and Craft/LA
Winds). I think I still prefer the Danzi Quintet's astounding control
of dynamics, especialy the double reeds, and the London Sinfonietta's
breezy, almost reckless recording under the composer's direction will
remain the standard by which all others are measured. Nevertheless,
the second recording (Meyer Quintet, conducted by Stockhausen), made
only two or three months after the Boulez is still very impressive,
with a suitable edge and an authority that is astonishing considering
the ink on the score was barely dry at the time.
Kontra-Punkte I am not so sure about yet. The early Boulez recording
still stands up very well, and I have always been particularly fond of
the Maderna recording. As with Zeitmaße, the London Sinfonietta under
the composer's direction will remain a standard of comparison. There
are naturally also many radio recordings of Kontra-Punkte (as well as
of Zeitmaße), some of which, at least, are worthy of comparison.
--
Jerry Kohl <jerom...@comcast.net>
"Légpárnás hajóm tele van angolnákkal."
Mark Stratford
Thanks for your comments on this, Jerry. BTW - has anybody yet
listened to
Paradies from KLANG - for flute and layers 1,2,3 of Cosmic Pulses?
Mark
Jerry Kohl
wrote:
> Thanks for your comments on this, Jerry. BTW - has anybody yet
> listened to
> Paradies from KLANG - for flute and layers 1,2,3 of Cosmic Pulses?
Sorry to appear to be monopolizing the conversation (and I hope others
will offer their views as well) but, yes, I have heard Paradies. I
have not yet listened for a second time, and ordinarily I am reluctant
to express an opinion on but a single hearing, but it struck me on the
one hand as somewhat reminiscent of Kathinkas Gesang, and on the other
as certainly the most "active" solo part in those pieces from Klang
with electronic music from Cosmic Pulses.