Weinberger - Schwanda: Polka and Fugue, Reiner - CSO

[Jan96106]

I like Schwanda der Dudelsackpfeifer so much. The music sounds so happy.

[JHJennings]

It's been FAR TOO LONG since we've all heard Weinberger's Polka & Fugue from his swashbuckling opera, "Schwanda" -- Sit down and listen to this!

[7845lptape]

Does anyone have the Ormandy/Minneapolis version from the early 1930's they can download? Really a very good version.

[mrotwist]

Interesting fact about Reiner and the organ. It would have tempered his anger just to eliminate the organ entirely. Of course, he knew that wouldn't sell, so he jazzed up the piece by trying to drown it out.l Shades of Leopold Stokowski, who used to do his own thing with many of the pieces he recorded, instead of following the composer's intent! The result was often interesting, but irritated most purists no end!

[G6Jeremy]

if you never played the piece, then shhh...dont criticize, just enjoy...

[WimGrundy]

Comments and music make for quite a history lesson here. YouTube is the best thing since Gutenberg!

[poopoo111222333]

Please listen to everything before the ending. The intonalion between the first, second, and third trumpets is great! At the end there is an extra trumpet doubling. They did this a lot. He came in cold after sitting there for a long time.The intonation went out the window at this point.

I don't remember why Reiner was pissed about the organ. This story was told to me a long time ago by my former teacher who was not pleased with the results.

[poopoo111222333]

reiner was pissed about the organ, so he told the brass to play as loud as they could at the end. Well - they did and there were some clams and bad intonation. He was making faces and shaking his fist wanting more. The players wanted another take but reiner wouldn't do it. The players were following the direction of the conductor. Get off of their backs!

[robertgift]

@poopoo111222333  In marching band I played trumpet. For fun we (brass)would sometimes play as loudly as possible hoping to hear our echos off distant buildings! Still, we played in tune.

What was Reiner's problem with the organ - other than the orchestra being sharp tuning to the oboe instead of the organ - to which they SHOULD have tuned?

Organ A remains 440 Hz. Orchestras are getting sharper and now around A444.

[PENNSY671E]

@robertgift "Organ A remains 440 Hz. Orchestras are getting sharper and now around A444." I have perfect pitch and have also noticed this. At first I wasn't sure, but now that someone else has heard the pitch-up, I want to ask why this phenomenon - or is it deliberate ? I am curious.

[robertgift]

@PENNSY671E String players feel thatheir instruments sound brighter when "tighter", so that may be the reason for the gradual increase. At one time, A was 435! (I have an old 435 tuning fork.) Some carillon bells purchased by orchestras have been tuned to A444. I also have perfect pitch but cannot discern the orchestra being at A444.

[evildude109]

I also play the trumpet, but I will not go on and on about how much better than you I am ( just kidding )

I actually like the effect of having the unison trumpets a few cents off. I don't know why but I just think it sounds cool. This is of course just my humble opinion

[robertgift]

More than a few cents.

A whole dollar and change!

Yes, imperfect intonation makes it sound warm and not sterile. There is no such thing as perfect intonation, anyway.

Buthat was too far off.

When I have tuned a pipe organ, it sounds clearer, especially important in the polyphony of Bach and Reger.

Weinberger studied with Max Reger!

[ForminaSage402]

Ok the tuning comment can be valid for parts of the video. 7:42 is very obviously not in tune between two cornet parts, and one even fracks a note. Still, it's an outstanding recording judging by quality and sheer power emanated.

[SusanSally88]

played it in 07 for festival. love the song

[MrJoshuaHaines]

Loved it!

[BronxBornBroad]

DELIGHTFUL!!!

[robertgift]

What a wonderful, festive crowded cacophony!

And the fugue subject is so tuneful and rhythmic.

Love this piece.

Nice going, Jaromir.

Wish I could have met and thanked you.

[robertgift]

Do we hear influence of Max Reger?

He wrote some mighty organ works and fugues which are very full and complicated.

I would like to arrange this work for organ.

But it would be too difficult and fall far short of the original.

Come-on trumpets and horns - INTONATION!!!

We need a better performance.

[Badgerness27]

I believe Weinberger studied with Reger in Leipzig so it's highly likely he absorbed lessons on structure, counterpoint and "absolute music".

I agree, the brass playing gets a little ragged towards the end, probably a combination of a part marked fff, big bore American instruments and the end of a recording day. I have heard that Bud Herseth said that this is the loudest he's ever played on any recording, which must have been quite something.......

[robertgift]

Thanks, Bad.

I played trumpet in high school marching band.

A few times we played as loudly as possible, hoping to hear our echo off distant buildings!

We still managed to play in tune.

There is no need to play that loudly indoors, especially with strings and other less powerful instruments.

I suspect one player was purposely exaggerating for effect. Or else he could not hear himself and correct.

This would be a wonderful recording had they not somewhat ruined the end.

[fasttech17]

ps you MIGHT have played in tune but you sounded awful there is a big difference between any marching band and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra that's why they get paid to play and you do not!

[5191263]

Sure it sounds terrible, it's hilariously out of tune. That's the point.

[hbdieste]

I have the CD, and it´s REALLY wonderful. From the audio quality point of view, it´s impeccable, even better than some "modern" recordings. And, of course, it´s one of the best interpretations of this piece. Fritz Reiner at its best!!!

[nishita96]

i play i violin (in a 2nd player XP) we r playin this piece for contest an we r playin clock symphony 2!!!

[robertgift]

nishita96

Why reveal your low IQ, 96?

Your attempt at English already displays it, moron.

[fasttech17]

Excuse me but you're the moron. That brass section played more in tune then you ever did in your "high school marching band". Just because you played trumpet does not give you the liberty to bash an outstanding recording, no matter how smart/great you think you are. Appearing to be smart does not impress anyone. Sure three trumpets are playing unison and one note is skewed big deal. If you would have heard this performance live..you would have been astonished.

[robertgift]

Yes, no need to bash the recording - the brass already did.

Had I heard it live, I'd be laughing at the brass. (Excepthat I'd be angry at ruining this wonderful work.)

I play trumpet and tuba.

Several of us in HS were outstanding. We knew how to play in tune.

[fasttech17]

You are wrong. The problem is you don't have the aural concept to now what outstanding is. But there is no sense bickering.

[robertgift]

We had excellent intonation and ambouchure.

Now, I am a paid classical organist and carillonneur.

I am paid NOT to play my Sousaphone on Denver's 16th Street Mall.

[DeliciousManager]

I thought there was only one clock symphony, not 2!

[EuropeanArchive]

Thanks. It's incredible how good these '50s Reiner recordings still sound...

------------------------

Greetings,

Rolf

Historical classical recordings

European Archive, Paris

[saxmasta]

I love this, Im playing it in the Chattanoooga Youth symphony,not much of a Tuba part though, 85% cues to know where I am at in the music.

[saxmasta]

wtf at 4:10 some sort of super beast tuba?

[DeliciousManager]

Most likely a CC contrabass tuba. Nice!

[robertgift]

I'd love to have the megatuba.

It must come apart to be transported.

Does it have a name?

[billbamberg]

There are only a few around, and they are one BIG piece

[robertgift]

Does the bell not come off that tuba?

How heavy is it?

I would expect some disassembly to allow less difficult transport.

Also to allow repair of that one tube somewhat dented.

I play the pipe organ with huge pedal pipes up to 32' long down to CCCC.

Would love to play that tuba, too.

Don't know any pieces where it is used.

[malthechal]

Who is the Orchestra and the conductor?

[Freakizimi]

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Fritz Reiner.

Bud Herseth on 1st Trumpet!

[malthechal]

Thanks for responding.

I have a 33 rpm record of Resphegis Fountains of Rome and Polka and Fugue is on it.Sir Eugene Goosens is the conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra.