Peter Lundin ([log in to unmask]) wrote about Charles Ives:

>This is all about his 4'th symphony, which prior to two weeks ago I had
>only heard in a more than dissapointing recording by Michal Tilson Thomas
>(Here we go again) - BTW this recording I was told use special edition
>score that only call for one conductor....

The first complete performance was given by Stokowski in 1964.  He found
it necessary to employ a second conductor (for the finale I believe) and
in this instance, as on his CBS recording, it was Jose Serebrier.

Within a few years Gunther Schuller had figured out how one person could
conduct it all - and wasn't it Stokowski whose inability to cope with
its rhythms, caused the cancellation of the premiere of Copland's Short
Symphony and its subsequent recasting as the um, Sextet? - and it was he
whom I heard conduct the British (European?) premiere at the Proms c1967.

I agree about the MTT recording, which I found disappointing.  I think I've
heard all the recordings of Ives 4 and IMHO there's not one to come close
to the Stokowski - think it's available on Sony c/w the RObert Browning
Overture.

The Serebrier is a rather staid copy of the Stokowski and at 32 minutes
was bloody expensive for an LP - I wouldn't dream of replacing it with
the Chandos (IIRC although the LP was RCA) CD, which has no coupling.

Fabermann on Vanguard isn't bad, but Stokie's the man for me.

>If You have chance to hear the Ives 4'th in concert, it is an experience a
>music lover should have had atleast once in a lifetime!

Seconded.

Deryk Barker
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