[net.music.classical] Best recordings of Charles Ives

rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) (06/21/85)

I want to begin a small record collection of major works by Charles
Ives (orchestral pieces, the "Concord" piano sonata, some chamber works,
songs) and would like to know what are considered the best, or at least
very good, recordings available.  I realize that not many pieces of Ives
have been recorded, & that not many alternate performances of a given
piece exist.  So, information on any recordings, regardless of quality,
not usually listed say in Schwann's catalog would also be useful.

I'm particularly interested in fine performances of early pieces for
small ensembles (like, eg, "Calcium Light Night") & of the orchestral
suites (that include, eg, "The Hoosatonic at Stockbridge", "Central
Park in the Dark", "The Unanswered Question").

						Regards,
						Ron Rizzo

rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (06/26/85)

> I want to begin a small record collection of major works by Charles
> Ives (orchestral pieces, the "Concord" piano sonata, some chamber works,
> songs) and would like to know what are considered the best, or at least
> very good, recordings available.  I realize that not many pieces of Ives
> have been recorded, & that not many alternate performances of a given
> piece exist.  So, information on any recordings, regardless of quality,
> not usually listed say in Schwann's catalog would also be useful.
> 
> I'm particularly interested in fine performances of early pieces for
> small ensembles (like, eg, "Calcium Light Night") & of the orchestral
> suites (that include, eg, "The Hoosatonic at Stockbridge", "Central
> Park in the Dark", "The Unanswered Question").		Ron Rizzo

CBS' Masterworks Portrait series has an edition of Ives that includes
Symphony No. 3 plus both "The Unanswered Question? (whither tonality?)
and "Central Park in the Dark" that I am fast wearing through to its
other side.  "Central Park in the Dark" is an exquisite piece that starts
off strange and gets stranger (suddenly interspersing "Hello My Honey Hello
My Sweetie Hello My Ragtime Gal" in the middle of everything in a very
bizarre way).  (It's currently the background music on my answering machine
announcement, succeeding "Perfect Love" and Partch's "Daphne of the Dunes".)
The record's number is (CBS Masterworks Portrait) MP 38777.  Highly recommended.
-- 
Like aversion (HEY!), shocked for the very first time...
			Rich Rosen   ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr

dep@allegra.UUCP (Dewayne Perry) (06/28/85)

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For Ive's choral music, I have a Columbia recording with
the Gregg Smith Singers taht is quite good.  On the one
side it has General William Booth Entering Heaven and on the
other side a collection of varied pieces including various
psalm settings.

Dont know if it is still in print though, but Gregg Smith
usually does a first class job if you happen on some other
Ives performed by him.

Dewayne