underdiscussed classical composers I have dug

a thread for the guys whose names you run across as references. digging Oskar Fried really hard this week - one of the first to conduct Mahler, and one who knew Mahler personally; he fled Germany for Russia when the Nazis came to power and some recordings of his work survive only on the soundtracks of state films. Historical recordings of him conducting Mahler are, to me, a revelation - if people wonder about directions other than the ones Bernstein sort of instituted (which I have less of an issue with than some Mahler-lovers, I think Lenny's all right & did a service to history), Fried is to me at least as interesting as Bruno Walter.

But! this thread is about his compositions, 'cause I also grabbed a disc with four of his compositions. One's very much in the German pre-WWII confrontational-theater sort of tradition, I don't know what to call that but you know - painterly music, libretto spoken in that "we're being DIFFERENT" early 20th. c. way that to me has aged badly. But his Fantasy on "Hansel & Gretel"[i]Verklärte Nact are gorgeous, clearly in that big-canvas line with Bruckner & Mahler & R. Strauss but sort of in a sweeter, more sentimental vein. Really really really good music

nice thread idea

half of my nominations for this are early 20th c russian piano music

a good primer;

http://www.allmusic.com/album/preludes-to-a-revolution-w126544

stanchinsky & roslavets especially

i've really been digging this guy - nothing earth shatteringly innovative, which is probably why he isn't all famous and stuff. but, his compositions are uncommonly perdy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Boccherini

i'm listening to his Stabat Mater right now, it is v nice

yeah I'll be picking up that Jenny Lin record, thanks nak! shall we continue this on reg. ilx?

yah def

u wanna start thread or shall i