https://open.spotify.com/track/2TySPqeAY9IOSOkuYkZiMp

The link's to the Portland Quartet recording, which I find the most successful from those I've heard -- not least because of the tempo in the first movement.

I think the quartet is probably a "hidden gem"

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1:09:43 PM UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> https://open.spotify.com/track/2TySPqeAY9IOSOkuYkZiMp
>
> The link's to the Portland Quartet recording, which I find the most successful from those I've heard -- not least because of the tempo in the first movement.
>
> I think the quartet is probably a "hidden gem"

Woops -- wrong link. It's not on spotify and it's not on youtube, which doesn't make it easy. Here it is on Qobuz

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/string-quartet-no-1-in-b-minor-the-portland-string-quartet/0023635065435

On 7/21/2023 8:18 AM, Mandryka wrote:
> On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1:09:43 PM UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
>> https://open.spotify.com/track/2TySPqeAY9IOSOkuYkZiMp
>>
>> The link's to the Portland Quartet recording, which I find the most successful from those I've heard -- not least because of the tempo in the first movement.
>>
>> I think the quartet is probably a "hidden gem"
>
> Woops -- wrong link. It's not on spotify and it's not on youtube, which doesn't make it easy. Here it is on Qobuz
>
> https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/string-quartet-no-1-in-b-minor-the-portland-string-quartet/0023635065435
>

My "go to" recordings are Griller (1954), Pro Arte (1980) and Stuyvesant (1939). I have the Portlands in the Piano Quintets and didn't like them as much as some others (Kocian, Pro Arte, American Chamber Players).

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 8:10:03 PM UTC+1, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 7/21/2023 8:18 AM, Mandryka wrote:
> > On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1:09:43 PM UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> >> https://open.spotify.com/track/2TySPqeAY9IOSOkuYkZiMp
> >>
> >> The link's to the Portland Quartet recording, which I find the most successful from those I've heard -- not least because of the tempo in the first movement.
> >>
> >> I think the quartet is probably a "hidden gem"
> >
> > Woops -- wrong link. It's not on spotify and it's not on youtube, which doesn't make it easy. Here it is on Qobuz
> >
> > https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/string-quartet-no-1-in-b-minor-the-portland-string-quartet/0023635065435
> >
> My "go to" recordings are Griller (1954), Pro Arte (1980) and Stuyvesant (1939). I have the Portlands in the Piano Quintets and didn't like them as much as some others (Kocian, Pro Arte, American Chamber Players).

I found the Griller rather too slow in the first movement, but I will try again. I didn't know Pro Arte recorded the first quartet -- I shall try to find it.

Anyway, for me it's a nice new discovery.

Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.

On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.

I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> > Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.

I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.

On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
>> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
>>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
>> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
>
> I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.

Also Concerto Grosso #1.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:45:54 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> >> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> >>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> >> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
> >
> > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> Also Concerto Grosso #1.

His Violin Concerto is pretty special.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:09:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Kart wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:45:54 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> > On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> > >> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> > >>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> > >> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
> > >
> > > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> > Also Concerto Grosso #1.
> His Violin Concerto is pretty special.
Try the version with Elma Oliviera.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:09:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Kart wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:45:54 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> > On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> > >> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> > >>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> > >> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
> > >
> > > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> > Also Concerto Grosso #1.
> His Violin Concerto is pretty special.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:15:09 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Kart wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:09:34 PM UTC-5, Lawrence Kart wrote:
> > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:45:54 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:
> > > On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> > > >> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> > > >>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> > > >> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
> > > >
> > > > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > > > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> > > Also Concerto Grosso #1.
> > His Violin Concerto is pretty special.
> Try the version with Elmar Oliviera.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 5:45:54 PM UTC-7, Frank Berger wrote:
> On 7/25/2023 8:16 PM, number_six wrote:
> > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 3:07:58 PM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> >> On Monday, 24 July 2023 at 20:43:40 UTC+1, Mandryka wrote:
> >>> Listening now to Terpsycordes Quartet playing Blach 2 - Why aren't these quartets better known? I can't remember ever seeing one programmed in a concert.
> >> I appreciate many of your other recommendations, but Ernest Bloch for me personally is a no-show as a composer. I've tried a few of his works and I disliked everything I heard for multiple reasons, melody, harmony, just about everything in fact. So in my case I have no problem believing that others just don't like his music much.
> >
> > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> Also Concerto Grosso #1.
Great piece, as is CG 2, but I figured he was less likely to've already heard the 4 Episodes.

On Thursday, 27 July 2023 at 02:08:24 UTC+1, number_six wrote:
> > > I'm a much bigger Bloch-head than you are.
> > > If you have heard his Four Episodes and didn't like 'em, then I'll suggest nothing further.
> > Also Concerto Grosso #1.
> Great piece, as is CG 2, but I figured he was less likely to've already heard the 4 Episodes.

Thank you all for your kindness, but I fear it's flogging a dead horse. I tried all of your suggestions.

I'm not doing any better with Simpson, either......

In article <cc32782d-209a-420b-9767-35caf94c9197n@googlegroups.com>,
Andy Evans <performanceandmedia@gmail.com> wrote:
>I'm not doing any better with Simpson, either......

How about Rubbra?

On Thursday, 27 July 2023 at 23:46:15 UTC+1, Todd M. McComb wrote:
> In article <cc32782d-209a-420b...@googlegroups.com>,
> Andy Evans <performan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >I'm not doing any better with Simpson, either......
> How about Rubbra?

Rubbra sounds more inviting after a short listen. Will check him out some more.

Bloch detractors will not thrill to my latest purchase --

I snagged a cd of Schelomo and other works
Ancerl on Supraphon