Finishing up

I finished up listening to the Bach Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord which I began yesterday. They're wonderful. I heard the last piece, Violin Sonata No. 6 in G, BWV 1019. The disc comes with extensive notes, written by the harpsichordist Peter Watchorn, who also happens to be a founder of the record company that published it, Musica Omnia. I found it hard to read while listening, so I put it away for later. The music is just too beautiful to ignore. (I was able to eat breakfast while listening. Nothing interferes with eating!)

Hearing music like this makes all the trouble I've taken setting up the HiFi worth it. It does make me feel a bit smug. I can live with that.

I didn't realize until reading the notes for the cd that these sonatas are thought of so highly. Bach wrote a lot of music, and I guess I have some major gaps in my listening.

I also finished the Schumann disc from yesterday, hearing Robert Schumann's Piano Trio No. 3 in G-, Op. 110. It's fine, a bit depressing. I like the Clara Schumann trio I heard yesterday better. Maybe because it's more of a morning piece, more upbeat. The Robert Schumann stuff is more sad, harder to take first thing in the day. This disc also comes with extensive notes, which I have yet to read.

Next I listened to Beethoven's 8th Symphony. I really enjoy this set with Frans Bruggen conducting the Orchestra of the 18th Century. Even over the mp3 stream (I don't own this set yet) the drums and basses sound really full. The first time I played one of these Beethoven Symphonies (I think the 4th) I was stunned by how much drums there were (timpani). I'd never heard it like that before. Changed my idea of the piece altogether. Much more fun. 

I read a review of this cd set that was a bit tepid, but I've been enjoying it a lot. Sometimes the tempos are a bit different from the usual, but the sound is very fine.

I am currently listening to an exploration of all the Beethoven symphonies by Robert Greenberg. They are published by the Teaching Company; I purchased it from Audible.com. This is the second course I've heard from Greenberg. I also listened to How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd edition. I recommend both whole heartedly. Mr. Greenberg knows his stuff and his delivery is light enough and fun enough to keep going through what are quite long sets. The Beethoven is 24 hours, the Great Music set is over 36 hours. I listen while exercising or driving. 

After the Beethoven I tried hearing some Schubert, but I guess I'd had enough and should have stopped there. All in all a good listening morning which left me happy and satisfied.