My listening post this morning is in the cafeteria of one of the local grocery store chains. At this hour, there are only two older gentlemen sharing this space with me. There was a third guy. But he left.
Shortly after I took this picture, these two cats left, too.
And now I’m here alone.
Which I don’t mind at all.
I’m here to people watch and listen, not get interrupted all the time – which happens when I’m at other locations where people know me too well.
Before I write any more words about German conductor Gunter Wand (1912-2002), North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major, I need to mention Trappist monk, author, poet, contemplative Thomas Merton. It was 50 years ago today (December 10, 1968) that he died, rather unexpectedly, in Thailand while at a conference.
It’s not possible to calculate the impact Fr. Louis has had on the world. A half century after his untimely death, he’s still be talked about, written about, read, and revered.
Rest In Peace, Fr. Louis.
Now, back to our regularly schedule programming.
I’ve encountered Maestro Wand seven times previous to this morning, on…
Day 17. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 35. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 53. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 71. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 89. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 107. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 125. Rating: “Meh!”
Three “Meh!” and four “Huzzah!” ratings.
What will today bring?
I’ll know in about a half hour.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 8 in F major), from this particular conductor (Wand, at age 74) and this particular orchestra (North German Radio Symphony Orchestra), at this particular time in history (October & November, 1986) on this particular record label (RCA Victor Red Seal, now owned by Sony) is as follows:
I. Allegro vivace e con brio…………………………………9:23
II. Allegretto scherzando…………………………………….3:48
III. Tempo di menuetto……………………………………….4:43
IV. Allegro vivace………………………………………………….7:46
Total running time: 25:00
My Rating:
Recording quality: 3 (a bit of top end missing, sounds flat to me, but – on the bright side – hardly any tape hiss or ambient noises)
Overall musicianship: 3 (a snoozefest; uneven, briefly soars in some spots, plods in others)
CD liner notes: 4 (a booklet in each CD jewel case; the essays on Symphonies 2 and 4 are brief but informative. In addition, the bulk of the text is in German, although the essays are also translated into English and French )
How does this make me feel: 3 (“Meh!”)
This was a total snoozefest, which isn’t even a category in my rating system.
Out of eight performances, Maestro Wand has three “Meh!” and three “Huzzah!” ratings.
That’s not terrible. But it’s not great, either.
Oh, well.
There was no punch to this performance, no dynamics, no excitement – not even in the coda to Movement IV, which usually crackles with life (in the right hands). It sounded like Lawrence Welk playing something for the old folks at the rest home.
I listened to Maestro Wand’s performance 3-4 times all the way through. Each time, I wondered why it never seemed to lift off, to soar. It seemed fettered, capped somehow.
Movement I started out with promise – as it always does – because it’s such a cool melody. But that’s as good as this performance got. Even the powerful ending to Movement IV didn’t get a rise out off the hairs on my arms. My toes were not tapping. My head was not bobbing.
The recording is mediocre. The performance is less than that.
Where’s the energy?
“Meh!”