Rearranged
June 26th, 2008 Posted in classical music, mp3, shostakovich
Well, we’re starting to get back into music again over here, despite having had a bit of a down few weeks. Sometimes your brain needs a break — everything’s all cyclical, right? A musical rediscovery which is right now dominating the highly in demand speaker-time is this guy:
Which contains, beyond the very sexy cover photo, the 15th symphony of Shostakovich arranged for six musicians, three of whom are percussionists. Kick arse. Here’s an example from the cheerfully sly third movement, first a Haitink conducted rendition of the orchestral version:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
And here is the same section performed by the sextet:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
They particularly seem to relish those impudent little glissandi at the end.
I love hearing pieces arranged for completely different instruments: aside from letting you distinguish all kinds of things that are either masked or you are accustomed to in the original versions, there is something purely delightful about listening to a familiar piece played in an unfamiliar way. Although, you purists out there might disagree…
You can buy the CD online over at DG, if you’re interested.
Tags: classical music, shostakovich
June 26th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
No need to quarrel with the “purists.” Transcriptions have been done by the greatest since forever (just take Bach for example), for just the reason you mention: throwing more light and different lights on a familiar scene. Think of photographing with an infrared filter.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Agree with JonJ. It would take a very narrow-minded “purist” to object to a well-crafted transcription, and transcriptions have a long and noble lineage. Before recordings, a piano transcription was often the only way to get to know a symphony or to play it in your own home, for example.
I actually really like listening to transcriptions of orchestral works before I hear them in concert. It refreshes the memory and heightens awareness without dulling the experience of the real thing.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Good points guys. It would have to be a pretty unhumorous type of purist to take offense at a transcription.
This actually made me realize that I’d love to have a collection of piano transcriptions of, well, pretty much every symphony I am fairly familiar with. I don’t know if these are readily available, but I’ll have a poke around.
Ben
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
IMSLP has opened its doors again: http://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page!
They have quite a few piano transcriptions of orchestral works, but since they have a newer date than that of the original composition, they might not be public domain.