Classical (darker/heavier/obscure/less "traditional", etc.)

[FreakAnimalFinland]

http://www.oehmsclassics.de/cd.php?formatid=208&sprache=eng

Sabine Liebner as pianist, Oehms classics is the label.


I have been captured by this Italian guy, Salvatore Sciarrino. His violin compositions is something I have been after, but can't find the piece I'm looking for on CD. Settled for Paino Sonatas II-V - 4 Notturni cd on Cypres Records, and it is one of the more demanding piano pieces. 72 minutes of something, what often sounds as if someone would simply hammer whatever random anti-notes and throwing in hurricanes of fast high toned diarrheas. All his piano works, what I know from youtube, seems very similar. His has very unique way of using the fast high notes.

And perhaps another would be Jessica Kuhn on solo cello, on Thorofon records, doing 10 minutes Frangis Ali-Sade piece followed by 52 minutes of Giancinto Scelsi Trilogia. Brilliant use of cello, and I would guess Scelsi is known name for many, but as a guy, who is far from expert on the field, it's curious to read nice linernotes of this character. His refusal to give promotional pictures of himself, only offering drawn symbol consisting circle and line. And his method of composing. These piece from 1956-65, simply improvised by Scelsi, recorded on tape. Given to someone to write notes. Slightly altered by "composer" again, and then piece was done. No wonder they sound like utmost stream of gut feeling, rather than actual "composition". Lowest strings resonate with great sound and cd offers good dynamics and sound.

[holy ghost]

Shostakovich, only getting bleaker and bleaker as the years progressed in Soviet until the '70s. This one is pretty classic, but still very doomy, far from uplifting..!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSoKpCXWF0Q&feature=related
Some of his symphonies are rather heavy as well, I think no.7 ("Leningrad Symphony"), second or third movement, very war-like with this menacing snare ostinato...

I bought his complete works box set a few years ago and really enjoyed delving into his string quartets and chamber music which was much less scrutinized than his symphonies, those are particularly incredible to hear. It was a costly venture to buy that set (well I guess 33 discs for 100 dollars is pretty good) but well worth the investment.......

[FreakAnimalFinland]

So far easiest the best Giacinto Scelsi CD I have come across: "Natura Renovatur" ECM NEW SERIES 1963.
3 songs are violoncello solo by Frances-Marie Uitti and 3 songs are orchestra conducted by Christoph Poppen.
This been played several times and also to some friends who appreciated it very much.
And to also recommend ECM label, since it is really good in presentation. Extensive liner-notes, good photography, good design. While majority of classical falls into category of what the fuck were they thinking, ECM actually does it so well, there is already 2 art books about their cover art.
It appears that majority of this CD is composed on method of ondiola improvisation. Electronic instrument able to only play one note at the time, so chords are not possible to play. Making it very suitable as base of violin piece. While I would think this kind of string instrument minimalism would be common and easy to find, yet I have not heard much that could compete with elegance of this recording.

Morton Feldman "string quartet" CD, 78 minutes long piece of avantgarde violin music... of course different. Basically very trademark of his style of composition, but stays so far away from magnificence of above, that I probably need to give it distance and listen at later times.

Considering starting to distribute some selected titles of classical music. Not sure if people who buy noise at FA, care much, but wouldn't hurt keeping few selected favorites in shelves....

[Andrew McIntosh]

ECM has been a true label of distinction for years now. The material they carry is broad, mainly categorised as classical or jazz but with a lot of variation. I first brought a compilation album (Selected Signs II) a few years ago which included Heiner Goebbels "Suite For Sampler And Orchestra", but for the most part music varying between folk, jazz, electronic, and so on (although not a lot of darker, heavier material in this instance - actually a lot of very richer, uplifting material). They take exceptional care with their releases, packaging often involves cardboard stock envelopes around the actual jewel case, decent booklets, and so on. They take beauty seriously which is a rare thing today.

[Litharge]

Jón Leifs has been a favorite of mine for several decades with several compositions approaching near "industrial" intensity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4iFB5iW7ks

Some other favorites:
Krzysztof Penderecki - Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBVYhyXU8o

It's only been in the past 1.5 years that I've finally started purchasing works by Penderecki, after having known the name for so long.  I've now added Leifs and Scelsi to my list of items to pick up in the near future.

A search of the forum doesn't turn up Elliott Carter, and I'd recommend his mid and later period works; often sparse, downbeat, and abstract.

Can anyone recommend an online source for buying classical and avant-garde works -- ideally something other than amazon.com?

[SKY BURIAL]

Mentioned Allan Pettersson (a bit more traditional than some of the aforementioned composers) earlier but here's some excerpts:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyp5KJW7Jd0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr88H39QiWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9KWPqcciw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC7k6CF_2JA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPct3IxEpdg

[xdementia]

I've been checking out a lot of the recommendations in this thread. Really great stuff.

[WCrap]

the long trailer for the Jani Christou documentary 'Anasparastasis' is now online with english subtitles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv-ZJh1ezLo

and here is the project's website
http://anaparastasis.info/

[Bloated Slutbag]

Soundtracks should get their own thread, as should Kubrick. Both culminate beautifully in the Dr Strangelove soundtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_d7wa0cxDU

Okay, not "dark" in that shitass Darth Vader B-movie concept that so many of us are suckers for (myself emphatically included), but, er, moreso, er, because of that. Fuck you.

Lynch Inland Empire soundtrack features most of the worthier Penderecki, including them shites from The Shining. Ripped the whole movie, dialog included, as a piece of "dark classical music" and still plays nice.

EDIT: seriously now. Treated as an extended "dark classical music" video, the movie just about nails it

[Bloated Slutbag]

So far, most of the artists named in the Wiki article on Spectralism have returned memorable dividends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_music

I particularly like this line, near the top:

"More recently (2003) the Istanbul Spectral Music Conference redefined the term "spectral music" to encompass any music that foregrounds timbre as an important element of structure or musical language"

...which could be paraphrasing any number of proposed definitions for noise. I like how several artists accused of belonging to the Spectralist school have rejected the term as too "reductive". Any of this sound familiar?

Most of those currently active in the "spectral" vein - or "hyper spectral" vein whatever they call it - seem to be moving toward larger productions, which may or may not be a good thing, but at least translates into plenty of melodrama. I do rather dig the Hugues Dufourt pieces "pour piano"; which have also served time as home manipulation material: switch the piano with more "classic" industrial-strength metal percussion, let some rough feedback bleed through, drop some vocals on molesting the fetishized object of choice, and you are off...

[Bloated Slutbag]

So far, most of the artists named in the Wiki article on Spectralism have returned... plenty of melodrama.

I was thinking actually of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMGDRVx5yiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZorKItzQJbE

(I admit I only looked her up because Saariaho was the most exotic sounding name in the wiki article, at least from where I sit.)

This particular performance is fairly laid back in its presentation, but there's something about layered choral/chants that serves to "darken" the proceedings. Without voice, you've basically got industrial. People like Vivenza may be held in rapt horror/awe of the "mysterieuse force humaine" (in the machine), but literalism has its attractions too. Plus of course I dig the noiseworthiness of the attendent densities cum harmonicaness.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Kaija Saariaho is regarded among most important Finnish contemporary composers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsI-TYNR138&feature=related
(....For string quartet and electronics....)

But like said so many times, if you see ANYWHERE, such lady with such name, it's just about as luring as buying Kaija Koo CD at random, hah. You just can't know how good it might be, unless you're deep into classical music "scene". Above mentioned piece wouldn't be out of place from record shelves of someone who appreciates even Alchemy Of The 21st Century CD, even if in reality its almost like night and day..

[SKY BURIAL]

Been listening to Charles Ives' Universe Symphony quite a bit. The composition remains unfinished because of his constantly shifting vision for the work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GegWx6L0AfI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyK7QqeF5GA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScwfO-aZago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN7Pp3IITRE

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Kaija Saariaho is regarded among most important Finnish contemporary composers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsI-TYNR138&feature=related
(....For string quartet and electronics....)

But like said so many times, if you see ANYWHERE, such lady with such name, it's just about as luring as buying Kaija Koo CD at random, hah. You just can't know how good it might be, unless you're deep into classical music "scene". Above mentioned piece wouldn't be out of place from record shelves of someone who appreciates even Alchemy Of The 21st Century CD, even if in reality its almost like night and day..

Well, been listening the CD with above mentioned composition being part of it.

Finnish label ONDINE has released a lot of her works and this label is widely celebrated and awarded for it's quality releases. Nowadays this label is part of Naxos, which somehow makes it feel "cheap", though not sure if there is any real reason for it...
Of course they look pretty much as any classical music CD, but for example this Kaija Saariaho  "Du Cristal... A La Fumee" / "Sept Papillons" / "Nymphea", is brilliant. It does offer extensive liner notes in Finnish, German, French and English. It's 68+ min in length.
Her work is not really melodic. It's more of just texture of instruments. There are also compositions which are based on orchestra and two lead instruments which are electronically effected/processed, meaning they operate on different level of sound style or volume compared to normal range of such instrument.

In Finland, Fuga is the place to find all classical music you may need. Prices may be around 20 euro CD range, but they do have pretty much anything you need. Store just moved in Helsinki. I did visit the old location few months ago and curious to see if new one is different?

[bitewerksMTB]

Kaija Saariaho

Good stuff!