Classical Music Forum banner

Orchestral Transcriptions / Orchestrations

37K views 107 replies 30 participants last post by  Enthalpy 
#1 ·
Greetings my fellow forum members.

I would like to created a thread in which we can talk about anything that has to do with orchestrations, symphonic transcriptions and orchestral arrangements.
It's hard and painful to track down albums that have symphonic transcrisptions, thus a thread where people post their precious knownledge will be helpful to all of us.

We can talk about rarities and curiosities, about orchestrations that you have heard and suprised you, about orchestral transcriptions that turn out to be satisfying, about rare CDs that feature majestic symphonic transcriptions, et cetera...

Allow me to start with a rare, an "unprocurable" gem.
http://www.lyrita.co.uk/cgi-bin/lyrita_build.pl?filename=SRCD0216.txt
 
#2 · (Edited)
#59 · (Edited)
#4 ·
#10 ·
There are always the Arbos orchestrations of Albeniz' rather monumental "Iberia" suite for piano, which sound like psuedo-Ravel. He only orchestrated five of the twelve works, but after listening to the piano originals (and having played a few of them), I'll stick with the originals. They 'sound' well on the piano--crisp and rhythmic--the orchestrations tend to 'flatten' them out, at least IMO.

Tomj
 
#13 ·
There are always the Arbos orchestrations of Albeniz' rather monumental "Iberia" suite for piano, which sound like psuedo-Ravel. He only orchestrated five of the twelve works, but after listening to the piano originals (and having played a few of them), I'll stick with the originals. They 'sound' well on the piano--crisp and rhythmic--the orchestrations tend to 'flatten' them out, at least IMO.

Tomj
I concur. Stick to the original... Arbos did not impress me either.
However Stokowski's orchestration for "Festival in Seville" was lavish and sonorous.
http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN 9349

Le me remind you Mahler's re-orchestration

 
#12 ·
Schoenberg also did other good orchestrations, for example, of Handel & Monn...
Yes, I listened to samples of the Schoenberg arrangement of a Handel concerto grosso (Naxos recording, you suggested in another thread). Interesting and very modern sounds, while retaining the Handelian melody. It usually gets more fascinating when the period between original piece composition and transcription gets separated by a long period of time, as is this example here; Baroque by 20th century atonal composer.
 
#14 ·
Guys stop your grinnin' and drop your linen.
We wiil get badass orchestral transcriptions at the forthcoming BBC proms!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/atoz_composer.shtml

Prom 39: Bach Orchestral Transcriptions (Saturday 14 August 2010)
* J. S. Bach, orch. Stokowski Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (10 mins)
* J. S. Bach, orch. Henry Wood 'Suite No. 6' - Prelude; Finale (6 mins)
* Tarik O'Regan Latent Manifest (c5 mins)
(BBC commission: world premiere)
* Walton The Wise Virgins - suite (21 mins)
* Grainger Blithe Bells (4 mins)
* J. S. Bach, arr. Sargent Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 - Air (6 mins)
* Alissa Firsova Bach Allegro (c5 mins)
(BBC commission: world premiere)
* J. S. Bach, arr. Bantock Chorale Prelude 'Wachet auf, ruft uns due Stimme', BWV 645 (5 mins)
* J. S. Bach, arr. Respighi Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 (13 mins)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton conductor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/1408.shtml#prom39

Prom 63: BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Thursday 2 September 2010)
* Rameau Dardanus - suite (18 mins)
* Canteloube Songs from the Auvergne - selection (25 mins)
* Martin Matalon Lignes de fuite
(UK premiere) (18 mins)
* Musorgsky, arr. Henry Wood Pictures at an Exhibition (30 mins)

BBC National Orchestra of Wales, François-Xavier Roth conductor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/0209.shtml#prom63

Prom 67: Last Night of the Proms 1910 (5 September 2010)
* Wagner The Flying Dutchman - overture
(11 mins)
* Beethoven Rondino for wind octet (7 mins)
* Paganini, arr. Pitt Moto perpetuo (5 mins)
* Musorgsky, orch. Henry Wood The Peep-Show (13 mins)
* Bizet L'Arlésienne - excerpts (20 mins)
* David Matthews/Vaughan Williams Dark Pastoral - based on the surviving fragment of the slow movement of Vaughan Williams's Cello Concerto (1942)
(BBC commission: world premiere) (c11 mins)
* Dvořák Rondo in G minor (8 mins)
* Beethoven Overture 'Leonore' No. 3 (13 mins)
* Thomas Mignon - 'Connais-tu le pays?' (4 mins)
* Dvořák, orch. Henry Wood Humoresque in G flat major, Op. 101 No. 7 (4 mins)
* Wagner Kaisermarsch (10 mins)
* Wood Fantasia on British Sea-Songs (18 mins)
* German Merrie England - 'Who were the Yeomen of England?' (4 mins)
* Forster Mifanwy (3 mins)
* Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 in G major (5 mins)
* The National Anthem (2 mins)

BBC Concert Orchestra, Paul Daniel conductor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/0509.shtml#prom67


Prom 76: The Last Night of the Proms (Saturday 11 September 2010)

* Jonathan Dove A Song of Joys
(BBC commission: world premiere) (c5 mins)
* Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien (16 mins)
* Tchaikovsky arr. Rysanov Rococo Variations (19 mins)
* Parry Blest Pair of Sirens (11 mins)
* R. Strauss Verführung, Op. 33 No. 1
Freundliche Vision, Op. 48 No. 1
Ständchen, Op. 17 No. 2
Winterweihe, Op. 48 No. 4
Zueignung, Op. 10 No. 1 (18 mins)

* Chabrier Joyeuse marche (4 mins)
* Smetana Dalibor - 'Dobrá! Já mu je dám! … Jak je mi?' (3 mins)
* Dvořák Rusalka - Song to the Moon (6 mins)
* Vaughan Williams Suite for viola and small orchestra - Prelude; Galop (6 mins)* Wagner Lohengrin - Bridal Chorus (5 mins)
* Rodgers and Hammerstein Carousel - 'You'll never walk alone' (5 mins)
* Hans Zimmer Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Hornpipe (3 mins)
* Arne Rule, Britannia! (8 mins)
* Parry, orch. Elgar Jerusalem (2 mins)
* Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major ('Land of Hope and Glory') (8 mins)
* The National Anthem (2 mins)

BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek conductor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/whatson/1109.shtml#prom76
 
#15 · (Edited)
More CDs with orchestrations & orchestral arrangements


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN 8412


http://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHSA 5077


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN 5057

I would like to inform you guys, that Aryeh Oron is creating a rigorous-sedulous list for J.S. Bach orchestral transcriptions :
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/L-Orchestra.htm

It is still under construction, thus if you need/want to contribute, send him an e-mail :
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/How.htm#Material
 
#21 · (Edited)
I must admit that Mussorgsky-Ravel "Pictures" is a masterly work, but in the same time it is getting ridiculous already with the hundreds of existing recordings and the thousands of concerts for that work!...
I mean it is time we had ourselves introduced to other people's ideas for "Pictures at an Exhibition"!
Please for Christ's sake!

In the meantime, I am still waiting for this CD to arrive, in order to listen to Ravel's orchestrations for Chabrier & Schumann
 
#23 ·
Also, there is Copland's own orchestration of his stark Piano Variations, the Orchestral Variations. Ultimately I still prefer the original because the piano sounds so brittle, but the orchestral version is still spectacular. Appalachian Spring it is not!
 
#25 ·

http://www.classicrecords.com/item.cfm?item=SDBR 3070-200G

This release is a compilation of Stokowski/Houston performances recorded at the Houston Civic Center by Bert Whyte and originally released in 1960. Compositions include Stokowski arrangements of "Wotan's Farewell" and "Magic Fire Music" from Wagner's "Die Walkure", "Mazurka in A minor", "Prelude in D minor" and "Waltz in C sharp minor Op. 64 No2" by Chopin.....

http://www.emiclassics.com/releasetracklisting.php?rid=30140


http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4776118


http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4776121


http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4776115
http://www.classicalcdreview.com/afied.html

Purcell / Sir Henry Wood : New Suite
 
#30 ·


http://www.allegro-music.com/online_catalog.asp?sku_tag=HLE37527
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debussy-Pré...=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1302290899&sr=1-2
A special release compiled of previous acclaimed Hallé releases includes the complete orchestrations by composer Colin Matthews of the 24 Debussy Preludes. Previous releases of Matthews' Debussy orchestrations coupled with La Mer (HLE 7513) and Jeux (HLE 7518) were received with universal acclaim, with the former winning a highly prestigious Diapason d'Or award in France. This set includes the world premiere recordings of Mathews' stunning orchestrations of the Debussy Preludes, along with a Postlude written by the composer especially for this project, presented together for the first time at a special price.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Warner+Classics/2564686074
http://www.warnerclassicsandjazz.com/release.php?release=5917
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/w/war686074a.php

A few more orchestrations that deserve to be recorded once in the history of digital recordings.
Hans Kindler
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=08594
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=09767

Lucien Cailliet
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-ed/showdetailMain-ed.asp?CatalogNo=41002
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=12138

Damrosch
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-ed/showdetailMain-ed.asp?CatalogNo=57518#
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=07347
 
#31 ·
René Leibowitz' re-orchestration/arrangement of Night on Bald Mountain is excellent, as is his arrangement of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 for double orchestra. That one is not available on CD from what I know, at least not officially. Leibowitz was a prolific orchestrator, Rudolf Kolisch - Schoenberg's brother in law and right-hand violinist - particularly cherished his orchestration of Schubert's Violin Fantasy, D. 934, which he lovingly dubbed "Schubert's Violin Concerto". As far as I know it has never been recorded, I don't even know if it still exists.

Berio's orchestration/reflection on the Schubert symphony fragments, D. 936a has already been mentioned, it's one of my favorite arrangements ever - I prefer the Berio/LSO recording though. It also sports one of the most tasteful cover artworks in the classical record market:



One of the best Schubert discs ever in my humble opinion, gorgeously sung, played and conducted, a fine survey of various Romantic and early Modern arrangements by Berlioz, Offenbach, Brahms, Reger, Webern (the best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned) and Britten:


Rameau transcriptions have a long tradition as well, this one - arranged for and played on period instruments - is particularly recommendable, in many ways Rameau's unique sense of harmony and counterpoint emerges more clearly when there is no clash between the more percussive sounds of the harpsichord and the "singing" of the strings:
 
#32 ·
René Leibowitz' re-orchestration/arrangement of Night on Bald Mountain is excellent, as is his arrangement of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 for double orchestra. That one is not available on CD from what I know, at least not officially. Leibowitz was a prolific orchestrator, Rudolf Kolisch - Schoenberg's brother in law and right-hand violinist - particularly cherished his orchestration of Schubert's Violin Fantasy, D. 934, which he lovingly dubbed "Schubert's Violin Concerto". As far as I know it has never been recorded, I don't even know if it still exists.
Actually Leibowitz's Passacaglia was recorded in the '60s, but it's not available on CD as you said.

His orchestration of Toccata & Fugue BWV 565 is also for double orchestra, but I don't think that it has ever been recorded.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Leibowitz-Rene.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Leibowitz.htm
Yes Mussorgsky-Leibowitz Night on Bare Mountain is breathtaking. Very sonorous, bombastic percussions in there.:eek::cool: Moreover, Leibowitz extends the finale by adding his own ideas.
 
#33 ·
Yes, I know the Passacaglia was recorded for Reader's Digest in the early 60s. As for the Mussorgsky tone poem, though his interpretation differs greatly from Mussorgsky's own orchestral version I think his take on it is much closer to the original composer's idiom than Korsakov's limp orchestration of it.
 
#34 · (Edited)
Ya, for a composition that evokes a devilish/demonic feast, the Rimsky-Korsakov orchestration might sound a slightly limp, tepid and spruce. It needs more grotesque, infernal and ferocious anarchy. That being said, both Stokowski and Leibowitz deliver this.
I think the Leibowitz orchestrations deserve a digital recording, in any case . Had there been digital recordings, I would have enjoyed Leibowitz's idiosyncratic-idiomatic orchestrations to the extreme.
What do you think? What are the chances of them being recorded digitally?

Actually I am looking forward to these guys as well (to listen them). Hopefully recordings will emerge some day.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Boessenroth.htm

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Sanders-FG.htm

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Esser.htm
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top