Alexander Glazunov : From the Middle Ages, Suite for orchestra Op. 79 (1902)

[@markprecious]

I regret that I have but one Like to give for this album!

[@darrylschultz9395]

Dem's powerful words man!

[@brunoszwajcer6404]

Remarquable de beauté. L'orchestration est somptueuse.

[@potrelviewer9536]

So beautiful, yet so unplayed by great orchestras. Classical music is like an iceberg: everyone knows what the tip is all about (Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert), but there is so much composers who wrote equally beautiful music that remains unheard.

[@John_Fugazzi]

So true. The introduction of the CD is what began the change. Before then the big labels recorded the warhorses of the concert repertoire over and over and the idea was to hear various famous artists do the big works. All fine, I suppose but there was always so much you read about but never got to hear. Cd's broke the stranglehold that the majors had on LP's and numerous independent labels sprang up who were repertoire oriented. I'm so glad they did.

[@paulbeard4218]

So very true, regretably .

[@frankborder]

everyone's stuck at the tip...they gotta use the frog of classical music

[@timcallahan2986]

@@John_Fugazzi Thank you, that is a great piece of info. Records International was part of that.; Joe Cooper, who owned Vogue records in West Los Angeles. Sanders Chase, who owned Record Collector in Hollywood. Varese Sarabande, met them thru Sanders, did a couple of record cover designs!

[@darrylschultz6479]

Maybe the reason it's unheard is because sound doesn't travel so well underwater.😖👍

[@stephanjwilliams]

Listening to this piece for the first time... wow. AMAZING.

[@arizonastrip73]

So much elegant music and so little time to hear it all. Every day can be a new discovery and thanks to youtube you can search and harvest new composers every day.

[@julianfwong]

Glazunov wrote very amazing suites no matter other culture-driven or Russian-driven... First movement has sublime passages. Thank you for uploading.

[@johnsharp8632]

A very fine piece by a favourite composer of mine. Why do so many people commenting always want to draw comparisons with other composers, instead of extolling the merits of the work in question?

[@jlzguitarman]

This piece is exceptionally well orchestrated. Glazunov was certainly a master of orchestration.

[@timcallahan2986]

He studied under Rimskii Korsakov! And GERSHWIN adored him but was was rejected as a student, sadly.

[@reneehut1000]

Only yesterday i heard of this magnificent composer on classic radio. Só lucky i did, I’m intrigued and absolutely love what i have discovered so far 😍.

[@acuriousergeorge]

He is so underrated, in both orchestral and piano music. I've come to the conclusion that people who program music for orchestras don't know the literature very well.

[@1966bdc1984]

I suspect that they do, but program what they think (or know) audiences want to hear. I always assumed that orchestras (American ones, at least) are hesitant to schedule works by lesser-known composers because most people aren't willing to pay to hear something unfamiliar that they might not like. I guess the programmers figure it's better to present Beethoven's 5th symphony yet again and have a full house than to risk low ticket sales.

[@jakew520]

@@1966bdc1984 the unfortunate truth

[@philzmusic8098]

I agree. No Haydn. No Tchaikovsky suites or 1st Symphony. No Bizet. No Cherubini. The same five Mozart symphonies over and over. No Bartók. No Boris Tchaikovsky (no relation), the 20th century's greatest Russian composer.

[@sidlori1592]

@@1966bdc1984 Part of the reason (I think!) that American orchestras are hesitant to schedule works by lesser-known composers...is because that more often than not, they've conditioned audiences to expect "garbage" (my opinion) if the name isn't Beethoven, Mozart, etc. In other words, if you don't recognize the composer's name, you aren't likely going to enjoy it--so why waste the time going? Cleveland Symphony has literally programmed a concert of Schubert's 8th symphony with Alban Berg in between each movement. I mean, come on! I'd make the 2.5-3 hour drive to a Cleveland Symphony concert more often if they didn't constantly program concerts with "sound effects" for half (or more) of the concert--as a world-class orchestra concert is truly a spectacular thing to enjoy in person...as long as it doesn't sound like an orchestra tuning up for half of the program. It's been argued that Bach wasn't appreciated until a century later--well, atonal sound effects are over a century old, and they still sound awful. To most of us anyway. Oh, and I'm a millennial.

[@jimstokes6742]

Love the mysterious music. Lovers hidden away in the time of plague in the first movement is wondrous.

[@ChrisBreemer]

I do believe this to be Glazunov’s best work, more consistently satisfying then even his best symphonies. Perhaps one of the finest Russian orchestral suites of all times. His gorgeous themes, and treatment of them, are second to none. It makes me wonder why Glazunov is not considered on a par with, say, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Not fair ! Damn good recording from these Russian forces too, though I would dearly want to hear this from e.g. the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

[@sovietclassic5301]

Chris Breemer , quite fair. Glazunov was not bad composer but... Tchaikovsky? there were hundreds of good Russian composers but only several of them are known on the west. look up the vid "top 30 Russian composers", I am sure you have never heard about 4/5 of them

[@ChrisBreemer]

@@sovietclassic5301 Just noticed your comment. Of course Tchaikovsky was a more consistently great composer than Glazunov. But Glazunov at his best was as good as Tchaikovsky at his best, is what I meant to say. I checked that top 30 list, there were 12 names totally unknown to me. Strange list... Khrennikov there but not Medtner, Lyadov, Balakirev, Lyapunov, Myaskovsky ? And Sviridov ranked above Prokofiev ?

[@minacciosa]

@@ChrisBreemer I would disagree, respectfully. Glazunov is among the greatest that Russia produced by virtue of his superior technique, generous melodic inspiration, and rock solid command of the balancing of those elements in virtually any given work. His contrapuntal skill is so great that it consistently goes unnoticed as it is seamlessly integrated with the most felicitous of melodic and harmonic invention. A great example is the 2nd Piano Concerto which is certainly not his greatest work, yet an extremely lovely one. The theme (and subsequent motives) is used and transformed constantly underneath an unceasing flow of melody. The impression is a work that moves with great lightness yet there is nonstop development throughout that lends it a weight that nevertheless does not manifest as heft. It's kind of a technical marvel. Glazuniov's developmental approach shows him to be influenced by Beethoven which sets him apart from every other Russian composer of the time except Taneyev. The symphonies are his greatest achievement and the culmination of all of this is the 8th, which should (and still could) be a repertory work. Indeed, the last five symphonies are all masterworks. Everything in balance seemed to be his credo which is quite opposite of Tchaikovsky. Perhaps it is the imbalance in Tchaikovksy's music which gives it its enduring appeal. That guy was great - and also nuts.

[@ChrisBreemer]

@@minacciosa There's nothing to disagree about. Both composers are great in their own right. Glazunov a bit more classically oriented, Tchaikovsky more emotional and impulsive. Glazunov's piano concerti, for all their polish, poise and beauty, don't capture me as much as Tchaikovsky's high-octane concerti. My favorite symphony is the 7th, especially the magical second movement, one of Glazunov's best pieces IMO. The 8th does not do much for me, it's good of course but not half as memorable as the 7th.

[@paullewis2413]

I’m not the greatest admirer of Glazunov’s symphonies, however, I’m inclined to think that the Prelude to this work is among the most glorious music ever written.

[@denisdavidoff624]

Really fascinating music! He has has unique style... Undoubtedly, very underrated, though beautiful and insiring!

[@rupertsibelius7512]

How was I to know that on this very ordinary day I was going to get abundantly lucky and blessed by hearing with my very little ears this miraculous music by Glazunov?

[@goognamgoognw6637]

It's a beautiful comment, this is how i feel about classical music. It almost passed me by in my life until the ripe age of 23 (my family has no interest in it whatsoever and it was repudiated even and switched off if ever on TV or radio). Given how much i have loved it ever after I gained my independence now a long long time ago, i am certain had I been allowed to discover it at a young age i would have wanted to become a professional musician, but i am only an amateur now. i am highly sensitive to classical music more than most people, even among professional musician friends or in concert halls judging by how casual and irreverent even other people feel about it.

[@grimjim100]

Greatness comes to those who deserve it.

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@grimjim100 Dat's a relief to hear!🤟🤪

[@michaelpatterson2955]

Majestic opening! Melodic conclusion. Music for the mind, the emotions, and the will. Thanks for posting this!

[@kniazigor2276]

Merveilleuse oeuvre avec ce prélude si émouvant, tellement proche par son lyrisme de Rachmaninov. Merci Rodders pour ce beau cadeau ! Marvelous piece with this prelude so moving, so close by his lyricism Rachmaninov. Thank you Rodders for this beautiful gift!

[@extrasalt4595]

Such compositions remind me that Glazunov deserves more credit than he generally recives, especially as concerns his role of reconciling opposing trends in Russian music. Hoomeyow!!

[@grimjim100]

1) Prelude: Allegro 2) 9.30. Scherzo: Allegro Assai 3) 13.10. Serenade du troubadour: Andantino. 4) 16.50 Finale Great work! Why don't orchestras play this? it's so much better than most of the crap that passess for music!!! .

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Outstanding work-- yet underrated.

[@heavy21metal]

00:00 Prelude: Allegro 09:30. Scherzo: Allegro Assai 13:10. Serenade du troubadour: Andantino. 16:50 Finale

[@sidrossoff]

The prelude to this work, as played by Fedoseyev, has a breadth and grandeur to it. Other recordings I have of it seem to rush fences. Good ambience for an analogue recording.

[@maxmerry8470]

Magnificent writing makes this one of the greatest of all orchestral suites! Instrumental textures and colours heighten the senses in a feast of aural delight. The performance is stunning as well.

[@steveegallo3384]

Max Merry -- No....That's my opinion....and I'm sticking to it !

[@steveegallo3384]

@@maxmerry8470 -- His THIRD Suite....You don't think so?

[@steveegallo3384]

@@maxmerry8470 -- Sorry, Max....I was re-visiting YOUR Comment of "3 years ago"...on Top!

[@steveegallo3384]

@@maxmerry8470 -- YOU are perplexed, Max? I have been Perplexed for over seventy years...and counting. I INVENTED Perplexity and receive a Royalty when ANYBODY gets Perplexed or even Befuddled, for it's my Intellectual Property! (Not to put too fine a point upon it, but could I have been inspired by "“The heavens themselves, the planets, and this centre, Observe degree, priority, and place, Insisture, course, proportion, season, form, Office, and custom, in all line of order. Take but degree away, untune that string, And hark, what discord follows! each thing meets In mere oppugnancy,…” [Ulysses in Act I, Scene iii, Troilus and Cressida])

[@steveegallo3384]

Max Merry -- True....this is as much a Colossus as Glière's Second.......MONUMENTAL!

[@hughcapetien]

Just love those spacious, gigantic and sweeping Russian symphonies that you would find in Mussorgorsky, Borodin, Tanayev, Gliere, and Rimski-Korsokov.

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

Agreed! Another great, Rachmaninov, seems to have been influenced by Glazunov (among others). But, wow, I hear the flowing, sweet, emotional melodic writing of a Puccini here, as well.

[@acrataarcano8008]

Its simply sublime

[@easyaspi1177]

Love this! Love the way it opens! Mysterious!

[@gunnarhallstedt484]

The second part of the Prelude reminds a little of the last five minutes of Sergey Taneyev - Overture "Oresteia", Op. 6 (1889).

[@bowerdw]

Incredible!

[@MegaCirse]

Când lumea slăbește în jurul nostru, când structurile unei civilizații se clătesc, este bine să ne întoarcem la ceea ce, în istorie, nu slăbește, ci dimpotrivă redă curaj, adună pe cei despărțiți, liniștește fără vânătăi. Este bine de reținut că geniul creației este și el la lucru într-o poveste sortită distrugerii 💦💥

[@dencairns2228]

Absolutely Brilliant 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@tehaueter]

Absolute favorite Glazunov work and mesmerizing performance by Fedoseyev...Thanks for the upload....another LP that deserved a digital transfer.....

[@ChrisBreemer]

Totally agree. This suite is my favorite Glazunov also. Well, shared first place with the near contemporary 7th symphony. Very good performance although I think I marginally prefer Jarvi's with the RSNO if only for the more modern sound and more polished playing.

[@easyaspi1177]

Outstanding music. The story that goes along with the three movements explains the music.

[@skyfacer9626]

I regard this as a symphony. As such , it's the finest one this composer has written. Yes, I know it's not a symphony but that's the way I approach it when listening to it.

[@philipsanders9192]

It was a raft in a dark ocean of lonelyness of my first heart break.

[@commando4481]

Masterpiece

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

Superb, beautiful piece. Very gifted composer. The 60s were quite the hefty decade; a working list of known / fine / great composers (no particular order): Debussy, Delius, Parker, Pierne, R. Strauss, Dukas, Glazunov, Nielsen, Sibelius, Kalinnikov, Satie, Beach, Koechlin, Bantock, Roussel; Joplin, Albeniz, Granados, Charpentier, Mahler, MacDowell, Wolf, Jan Paderewski, Arensky, ... ?

[@jimstokes6742]

Much of this vast musical array came from London Decca and EMI on the continent. Started with the invention of the consumer LP record in 1948. London Decca was on the pioneers. And the pioneer of "high fidelity" exploited by one of their engineers as FFRR, full frequency range recording.

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

@@jimstokes6742 Hello Jim ! Great to hear from you, happy holidays !

[@65attila]

Exciting and beautiful.

[@robertfrankgill5962]

As an Englishman I feel a strange affinity with the tune in the last movement that bursts out in its full grandeur at 18:23. Makes me think of troubadours, Norman castles, knights and damsels in distress. Mind you, there's plenty of that in the much earlier Characteristic Suite too. I *adore* Glazunov's Symphonies too, especially Nos. 4 & 5. edit: 18:25... I may not know much about music but one of the things that does it for me is the chord of B flat in the key of C major gives it a kind of modal sound. Assuming it's in C major, which it most probably isn't.

[@richardmcgowan6383]

18:25 sounds like the Nutcracker Suite. But also a bit like Elgar or someone like that.

[@jksteven1]

Glazunov was a prolific composer and why he is not considered to be Russia's top composer (even over Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov) is beyond me. It believe he truly defines the "Russian sound" throughout his magnificent repertoire.

[@russian_classic]

Jk Stevenson, have you heard music by Tchaikovsky? listen to Swan Lake. 54 brilliant melodies

[@jksteven1]

Oh, I agree. I am not downgrading Tchaikovsky at all, but just saying Glazunov has a truly "Russian" sound which seems to my ear to be superior to many other Russian composers (plus he is prolific!)

[@spiritualatheist1]

I love the first movement - I wish he had developed it into a symphony. Shades of R. Strauss tone poems and Puccini - color and drama.

[@carrieheidbrier1925]

I love it as it is - symphonies and concertos are for people with long attention spans and time on their hands; I feel like suites like this are underrated among the classical elite!

[@marcusgraubner8378]

Amazing 😋😊

[@carlosshosta9040]

Amazing!!

[@markbeck8384]

Haven't listened to this in quite a while. I like many of the Glazunov suites I know; but there are a lot of others I haven't tried yet. Thanks

[@philipsanders9192]

What a magnificent aural tale.

[@PauloCesarMaiadeAguiar]

Amazing Dear. Many thanks for to share this dear Fantastic

[@edgargancino5264]

Majestuoso, lo acabo de descubrir ahora....

[@goognamgoognw6637]

Glazunov wrote beautiful music and we owe him a lot for orchestrating and completing some of Borodin's music when he passed away. But i have wondered why is Glazunov not quite recognized on the same stature as even more dominant composers. Listening to this beautiful piece, i think i have the answer. He excelled in every area of composition but seemed to have neglected one most important aspect : rhythm. Rhythm is what miraculously gives birth to unexpected melodies and polyphonic morphing opening doors to musical miracles and makes the harmony breathe and alive when some important notes fall off beat in a musical line . He seemed to have overlooked working on developing that aspect. Everything else he was a master at.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

goognam: I wish you had given some examples of particular passages in works you prefer and suggested points in this suite where Glazunov missed his chance. As it is, you have drawn a conclusion without providing any support for it. Neither do you explain your rapturous reaction to unexpected rhythms. I mean, "miracles", "miraculous"? That would require you to swoon every time you hear one of them. I would advise keeping a bottle of smelling salts nearby when listening to Prokofiev. In addition, no examples of rhythm making "the harmony breathe," nor a definition of breathing harmony, whatever that might be.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

@@AndreyRubtsovRU "I find your analysis a bit shallow." Without explaining why . Is there any reason your readers should value your assessment above goognam's? You haven't provided one.

[@musicaserra4704]

06:39 Again the Gondor Theme

[@luccalee3335]

brazuka aqui porra curtindo esse som vibe cachorro

[@musicaserra4704]

04:24 The Gondor 4 Age Theme From THe Return of the King by Howard Shore

[@alpcnar5877]

amazin

[@martinprochazka5280]

Nice

[@nss4472]

В Аллегро Ассаи ясный привет Сен-Сансу с его "Пляской смерти" и даже Чайковскому с его Шестой (буквально одним тактом или двумя)) Может, и ещё есть)

[@nss4472]

А, ну и в серенаде привет всей Испании))

[@franciscoruiz3040]

At the beginnin of the scherzo you can hear the music of the Fantástica from Héctor Berlioz

[@jimstokes6742]

There is much better interpretation of this 1st movmnt here on KZbin. Can't recall what ork though. The last movmnt is OK.

[@johnny1992black]

00:10 i love it!!

[@bgccallahan4116]

Rodders, I wish we had connected back in the late '70s whean I finally was making enough bucks to collect all these works. I may have material in LPs that you could feature in my stash...how could we share it?

[@brankalazarevic7951]

Bozanstveno

[@Vessanpönttöpää]

good music ,thanks. his own russia country is hitting this music, but also a little universal music.

[@GGCampina]

Hi, does anyone know the name of the album cover artist?

[@robertfrankgill5962]

GGCampina I have the album on vinyl and I've just had a look. Sorry! His/her name isn't given.

[@GGCampina]

@@robertfrankgill5962 oh well, thanks for checking

[@darrylschultz6479]

Yes, his mum and the rest of his family would know his name for sure, as no doubt would a few fellow painters-and it's quite likely he has a few acquaintances he meets occasionally at the local pub who would be able to say who he is. Cheers-glad I could help.🤟😉

[@DottoreSM]

is it just me, or he quoted "tristan und isolde" at 4:31 ?

[@sogeking1586]

Is that Berlioz at 9:53?

[@Dragan8Djokic]

Dies irae motif

[@vladimirkhlebnikov186]

Op. 9 on the fig. WHere is truth?)

[@maxmerry8470]

Vladimir Khlebnikov, Opus 9 refers to the "Characteristic Suite" and not to "From The Middle Ages".

[@stephanjwilliams]

4:23

[@someshheble1204]

Is it just me or is that a hat tip to the Nutcracker Suite, at around 18:48 and again at 19:00?

[@michaelengel3045]

min 9:30.

[@benischechtman1221]

eu não