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Joshua B. Lilly   27/8/2003	Subject: Symphony Nr.9 'Im Sommer' Message: Raff`s music has over the last couple of years grown to be a nearly unbearable obsession. Hardly a day goes by when I don`t at least hear at least one movement of his, in my car or at work I have his music playing constantly. And whenever I can, in the evenings, I love to listen with full attention. If I had to list who I considered the three greatest composers of all tie, Raff would be one of those three. Along with Clementi, I consider him the absolute greatest orchestrator ever, and I think he is THE greatest symphonist. Anyway, I could rant on about Raff`s music all day long, especially his symphonies... suffice it to say, he`s the only composer that I continue to love more and more after repeated exposure, it never seems to get old, even much Mozart has gotten a little too "familiar" over time for me. Ever since I first heard that heartachingly beautiful opening to the 9th symphony, I`ve been hooked, especially on the first movement, which right now along with the first and second movements of the 8th is my favourite symphonic movement in all history. Raff`s orchestration had reached perfection, but in the opening movement of the 9th there appear some of the most gorgeous melodies ever penned. There appear to me to be THREE major, memorable themes in this work. And I love how the "main" theme is hinted out a couple of times by woodwinds before it fully materialises. Unfortunately, I can`t find anything about this symphony at all. I`m interested vaguely in audience reports or critic writings, just out of curiosity. Also, did Raff himself write or say anything about this work?
John Boyer   29/8/2003	RE: Symphony Nr.9 'Im Sommer' IP: Logged Message: In the "Resources" section of this website, Mark Thomas writes: In his book "Forgotten Symphonists? Studies on Joachim Raff, Carl Reinecke and the Imitation question" Matthias Weigandt discusses in fascinating detail Raff's symphonies nos. 4, 5, and 9, together with Reinecke's 1st. symphony. The book reviews the art of the symphony between 1850 and 1890 and in particular addresses the accusation of a lack of originality in Raff's symphonic music. This work has proved so popular that it is now offered at a new, lower price! In German. * Title: "Vergessene Symphonik? Studien zu Joachim Raff, Carl Reinecke und zum Problem Epigonalität" * Author: Matthias Weigandt * Pages: 348 * Publisher: Studio Verlag(Berliner Musik Studien; Bd.13) - 1997 * ISBN: 3-89564-033-6 * Price: €25- -------- Carol Bevier's extensive dissertation, "The program symphonies of Joseph Joachim Raff", describes all Raff's programmatic symphonies in detail together with a fascinating review of Raff's life and general compositional style. * Title: "The program symphonies of Joseph Joachim Raff" * Author: Carol Sue Bevier PhD * Pages: 447 * Dissertation for The University of North Texas, 1982 * Available from UMI - dissertation reference no: 8217616 * Price: $38.00 + Tax (2000) ----- The first is in German, so you're on your own. I own a copy of the latter. While Bevier doesn't share your views on Raff's status as either composer or orchestrator, her analysis is quite throrough.
FERNANDO OLIVA.   02/9/2003	RE: Symphony Nr.9 'Im Sommer' IP: Logged Message: Dear Friends: I apreciate some information about Clementi. I never listened any Clementi´s work. Was he an early romantic composer? Recently I discovered Goetz music throughout this Forum, and can buy three CD´s of Goetz music, including two wonderful Piano Concertos. Thanks in advance, Fernando.
John Boyer   02/9/2003	RE: Symphony Nr.9 'Im Sommer' IP: Logged Message: Muzio Clementi was a classical composer, 1752-1832, which makes him older than Mozart, who was born in 1756.
Joshua B. Lilly   09/9/2003	RE: Symphony Nr.9 'Im Sommer' IP: Logged Message: There are only six surviving complete symphonies by Muzio Clementi Clementi`s six symphonies are divided into two stages, an early one (before 1800) and a later one. We know that he wrote at least FOUR early symphonies, two of which are lost, two of which were published and survived; these were the only orchestral works of Clementi ever published during his lifetime. These two symphonies can be heard on Chandos #9234, in the Contemporaries of Mozart series. From the later period, he wrote a minimum of six symphonies, and based on surviving music reviews from the 1810s and 1820s, probably more. Four survive, and a single movement from two others, so we know there were at least six. These works were very popular for a few years, and in my opinion Clementi was, along with Raff, the greatest orchestrator of all time. He used what became known as "Brahms Chords" before Brahms was even born, especially in the endings of the outer movements. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000ATM/qid=1063115667/sr=1-22/ref=sr_1_22/104-2751814-3086317?v=glance&s=classical The so-called "First Symphony" was actually probably his 5th, and this is found on that same CD that I describe above. This Chandos disc is an excellent introduction to Clementi`s music, and the "First" Symphony grandly showcases his incredible orchestral abilities and, in the first movement, his ability to craft exciting Romantic melodies and content. There are, I think, three sets of the four "big symphonies" (I think they also usually include the two surviving symphonic movements, which are performed these days under the names of an "overture" and independant "minuet"). If you like great orchestration, I can`t recommend enough Clementi`s surviving "big" symphonies, the later ones. The Chandos disc is terrific, though