tangotreats
06-01-2014, 02:20 AM
Elgar - The Sketches for Sym. No. 3 elab. by Anthony Payne (video and audio)
SIR EDWARD ELGAR
The Sketches For Symphony No. 3
elaborated by
Anthony Payne
BBC Proms Premiere | World Television Premiere | Second Performance
BBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by
Sir Andrew Davis
VIDEO of the complete concert (MKV format, H264 video) with FLAC audio - https://mega.co.nz/#!wt4mlTTJ!NeCCiWkN1He6R2CNf0BS6Uyj6v5YNPQd35S21Bf k8q0 (61:44) [762mb]
VIDEO of the complete concert at YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnor-Hg7Utc (61:44)
Music Only - FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!dhxVwQCY!fzd1k2Kv0FhZqUUNdK5Kl1_DewI7R7QVBcmWcl7 AZeA (55:10) (241mb)
Music Only - MP3 (LAME 3.99.5 -V0) - https://mega.co.nz/#!otIQ0bCJ!I3wO_Uj6L2Da0KtwSijJm08xO6JTbLtc3hU-Nyil2sQ (55:10) (90mb)
The story of Elgar's third symphony is well known - but briefly, the composer started writing the work but unfortunately succumbed to cancer shortly after, leaving only sketches. On his deathbed, he is said to have stated (emphatically) that the work should be destroyed and certainly never completed ("tinkered with") after his passing. Although the sketches were published by Elgar's friend and confidant Billy Reed a few years later, the family prevented unauthorised completion just as the composer had desired. In the mid nineties, fuelled by renewed interest in the work (driven largely by Anthony Payne, who had been intimately familiar with it since the 1960s) and with the knowledge that the surviving fragments would soon fall out of copyright, Elgar's descendants came to a decision. Realising that after the copyright had expired, their control over the sketches would cease, they decided to commission Anthony Payne - the man whom they felt knew the music the best - to complete the symphony. He did so, and the work received its premiere in 1998, to (mostly) rave reviews.
The arguments continue to rumble on, even today: Was it right to complete the symphony in defiance of the composers wishes? Did Payne's completion do justice to the sketches? My own personal thoughts are a hearty "yes" to both questions; the idea of this glorious music dying with Elgar turns my stomach. Of course, it's never ideal for another composer to "pastiche" the style of another - but in this instance I genuinely believe - as do many critics and listeners alike - that the final product is a completely valid, musically excellent, thoroughly Elgarian work.
The new work was premi�red in early 1998 in the Royal Festival Hall, and received its Proms premi�re in August; it is this performance presented here. We are most fortunate that the concert was broadcast on television; enabling us to see and hear this historic performance again and again.
You have no idea how happy I am to be able to make this available. This recording has been missing for the better part of a decade, and I had somewhat given up hope of seeing it again. This afternoon, whilst searching for something completely unrelated, it appeared. I took a deep breath and put in the tape, fully prepared to discover that it had deteriorated or didn't play at all. I was proven wrong! Despite the recording taking place in "long play" mode, the tape was of good quality (a British-made Scotch cassette) and time has been very good to it. Picture quality is above average for a long play recording, and the sound is almost spotless; dynamic, low-noise, full-range stereo that compares very favourably to CD. In the main programme, I have included lossless audio.
The picture, for those who are interested in such things, is at an aspect ratio of 1.53:1 - the BBC upgraded their production path to widescreen in the mid nineties, but didn't broadcast widescreen until Digital TV services began in November of 1998. During the "transition" period, therefore, it was common practice to show 16:9 material in this "compromise" aspect ratio.
In addition to the video presentation (which is well worth watching) you also get "just the symphony" so to speak, as FLAC files - these have been slightly edited to remove the typical mid-movement "stretch and cough" noise (which can be distracting if you're looking exclusively to enjoy the music away from the live concert atmosphere) and also some unfortunate sporadic applause at the end of the first and second movements. Finally, the "just the symphony" edition is presented additionally in MP3 format (LAME 3.99.5 -V0) for those thus interested.
BONUS FEATURES:
The Interval Feature
A 20 minute television mini-documentary, presented by James Naughtie, chronicling the history of Elgar's "mythical" third symphony. It contains passages from the original sketches, performed by David Owen Norris and Robert Gibbs, as well as interviews with Elgar's God-son Wulstan Atkins, other members of the Elgar family, and Anthony Payne himself. It's a fascinating potted history (featuring rare archive footage of Elgar, George Bernard Shaw, and an excellent primer if you're not familiar with "SYM III" or its turbulent history.
Video (MKV format, H264 video) with MP3 audio- https://mega.co.nz/#!9hwFFaQb!CAx_0ySeTS3NiREix5z8LT3vehUgnUN04Zzvgv4 AR88 (20:20) (85mb)
"Sketches from Symphony No. 3"
A 32 minute radio documentary from 1995 (before Payne had completed the symphony), featuring a selection of the sketches (performed by Keith Swallow, and the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier) with interlinking commentary by Payne.
FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!c1YEhbIS!IqfIFneYFJU4W2eEhL9j3FTbOW9wm4z1DvD1SeK 781c (31:36) (102mb)
NMC's "The Sketches for Symphony No. 3"
The complete surviving sketches, performed by David Owen Norris (piano) and Robert Gibbs (violin) - again, with a more detailed commentary by Payne in which he explains how he was able to fit the jigsaw puzzle together. Orchestral passages are performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.
FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!chIyCBhI!e1_AqCk08EIbIMYspYYJNHZfsoxfDIwJTStA9fY sQRw (69:28) (269mb)
SIR EDWARD ELGAR
The Sketches For Symphony No. 3
elaborated by
Anthony Payne
BBC Proms Premiere | World Television Premiere | Second Performance
BBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by
Sir Andrew Davis
VIDEO of the complete concert (MKV format, H264 video) with FLAC audio - https://mega.co.nz/#!wt4mlTTJ!NeCCiWkN1He6R2CNf0BS6Uyj6v5YNPQd35S21Bf k8q0 (61:44) [762mb]
VIDEO of the complete concert at YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnor-Hg7Utc (61:44)
Music Only - FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!dhxVwQCY!fzd1k2Kv0FhZqUUNdK5Kl1_DewI7R7QVBcmWcl7 AZeA (55:10) (241mb)
Music Only - MP3 (LAME 3.99.5 -V0) - https://mega.co.nz/#!otIQ0bCJ!I3wO_Uj6L2Da0KtwSijJm08xO6JTbLtc3hU-Nyil2sQ (55:10) (90mb)
The story of Elgar's third symphony is well known - but briefly, the composer started writing the work but unfortunately succumbed to cancer shortly after, leaving only sketches. On his deathbed, he is said to have stated (emphatically) that the work should be destroyed and certainly never completed ("tinkered with") after his passing. Although the sketches were published by Elgar's friend and confidant Billy Reed a few years later, the family prevented unauthorised completion just as the composer had desired. In the mid nineties, fuelled by renewed interest in the work (driven largely by Anthony Payne, who had been intimately familiar with it since the 1960s) and with the knowledge that the surviving fragments would soon fall out of copyright, Elgar's descendants came to a decision. Realising that after the copyright had expired, their control over the sketches would cease, they decided to commission Anthony Payne - the man whom they felt knew the music the best - to complete the symphony. He did so, and the work received its premiere in 1998, to (mostly) rave reviews.
The arguments continue to rumble on, even today: Was it right to complete the symphony in defiance of the composers wishes? Did Payne's completion do justice to the sketches? My own personal thoughts are a hearty "yes" to both questions; the idea of this glorious music dying with Elgar turns my stomach. Of course, it's never ideal for another composer to "pastiche" the style of another - but in this instance I genuinely believe - as do many critics and listeners alike - that the final product is a completely valid, musically excellent, thoroughly Elgarian work.
The new work was premi�red in early 1998 in the Royal Festival Hall, and received its Proms premi�re in August; it is this performance presented here. We are most fortunate that the concert was broadcast on television; enabling us to see and hear this historic performance again and again.
You have no idea how happy I am to be able to make this available. This recording has been missing for the better part of a decade, and I had somewhat given up hope of seeing it again. This afternoon, whilst searching for something completely unrelated, it appeared. I took a deep breath and put in the tape, fully prepared to discover that it had deteriorated or didn't play at all. I was proven wrong! Despite the recording taking place in "long play" mode, the tape was of good quality (a British-made Scotch cassette) and time has been very good to it. Picture quality is above average for a long play recording, and the sound is almost spotless; dynamic, low-noise, full-range stereo that compares very favourably to CD. In the main programme, I have included lossless audio.
The picture, for those who are interested in such things, is at an aspect ratio of 1.53:1 - the BBC upgraded their production path to widescreen in the mid nineties, but didn't broadcast widescreen until Digital TV services began in November of 1998. During the "transition" period, therefore, it was common practice to show 16:9 material in this "compromise" aspect ratio.
In addition to the video presentation (which is well worth watching) you also get "just the symphony" so to speak, as FLAC files - these have been slightly edited to remove the typical mid-movement "stretch and cough" noise (which can be distracting if you're looking exclusively to enjoy the music away from the live concert atmosphere) and also some unfortunate sporadic applause at the end of the first and second movements. Finally, the "just the symphony" edition is presented additionally in MP3 format (LAME 3.99.5 -V0) for those thus interested.
BONUS FEATURES:
The Interval Feature
A 20 minute television mini-documentary, presented by James Naughtie, chronicling the history of Elgar's "mythical" third symphony. It contains passages from the original sketches, performed by David Owen Norris and Robert Gibbs, as well as interviews with Elgar's God-son Wulstan Atkins, other members of the Elgar family, and Anthony Payne himself. It's a fascinating potted history (featuring rare archive footage of Elgar, George Bernard Shaw, and an excellent primer if you're not familiar with "SYM III" or its turbulent history.
Video (MKV format, H264 video) with MP3 audio- https://mega.co.nz/#!9hwFFaQb!CAx_0ySeTS3NiREix5z8LT3vehUgnUN04Zzvgv4 AR88 (20:20) (85mb)
"Sketches from Symphony No. 3"
A 32 minute radio documentary from 1995 (before Payne had completed the symphony), featuring a selection of the sketches (performed by Keith Swallow, and the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier) with interlinking commentary by Payne.
FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!c1YEhbIS!IqfIFneYFJU4W2eEhL9j3FTbOW9wm4z1DvD1SeK 781c (31:36) (102mb)
NMC's "The Sketches for Symphony No. 3"
The complete surviving sketches, performed by David Owen Norris (piano) and Robert Gibbs (violin) - again, with a more detailed commentary by Payne in which he explains how he was able to fit the jigsaw puzzle together. Orchestral passages are performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.
FLAC - https://mega.co.nz/#!chIyCBhI!e1_AqCk08EIbIMYspYYJNHZfsoxfDIwJTStA9fY sQRw (69:28) (269mb)