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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com
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PART 6 |
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[Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L] [Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] |
MARTHA ARGERICH LIVE FROM THE CONCERTGEBOUW Robert SCHUMANN (1810-56) Fantasiestücke, Op. 12. Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Sonatine. Gaspard de la nuit.
Martha Argerich (piano).
Forget the relatively low playing time … Freed from the studio, Argerich gives her imagination absolutely full rein. … Argerich ensures that this is a jaw-dropping experience, … a salutary reminder of what Argerich was capable of in her then-chosen guise as keyboard giant.
Battaglie & Lamenti: 17th Century music for battles and lamentation
Montserrat Figueras (soprano) Ton Koopman (clavecin); Rolf Lislevand (théorbe); Robert Clancy (théorbe) Jordi Savall (basse de viol); Paolo Pandolfo (basse de viol); Lorenz Duftschmid (violone) Hespèrion XXI/Jordi Savall
Another feather in the cap for Jordi Savall and his players.
The World of Ian Bostridge
A reasonable view of Bostridge in baroque and 20th Century repertoire. He has a small, typically English tenor voice, with an even, musical timbre which lends beauty to some pieces which have in the past been the subject of noisy approximation.
BOULT'S BBC YEARS TCHAIKOVSKY Capriccio Italien TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 HUMPERDINCK Hansel and Gretel overture
A living document of Boult the antithesis of the Karajan/Bernstein school. Integrity shines from these recordings reminding us of other dimensions to a man who was so much more than the archetypal English gentleman.
SPLENDID BRITISH CLARINET WORKS Gerald FINZI Five Bagatelles (1940s) [17.30] Arnold BAX Clarinet Sonata (1934) [15.08] Eric HUGHES Sonata Capriccioso (1963-64) [9.34] Charles Villiers STANFORD Clarinet Sonata (1912) [22.21] John IRELAND Fantasy-Sonata (1943) [15.04]
The market leader on the strengths of its generosity of spirit and timing, its sleek but not steely tone and its breadth of coverage of core British clarinet works.
CONTEMPORARY PORTUGUESE CHAMBER MUSIC António Pinho VARGAS: Monodia - quasi un requiem, João Pedro OLIVEIRA: Peregrinação, Alexandre DELGADO: Quarteto, Luís TINOCO: Quarteto, Eugénio Manuel RODRIGUES: Mata Hari
If my lamented Aunty Winifred were still alive she would have come up with the two words she reserved for everything later than Debussy: "BLOODY ROW!"
SONGS FROM THE CRUSADES - "DEUS AD UN TURNEI ENPRIS" (1189-1248) CONON DE BETHUNE ;HUGUES DE BERGE; LE CHATELAIN d'ARRAS ;THIBAUT DE CHAMPAGNE ;LE CHATELELAIN DE COUCI ;HUON DE SAINT-QUENTIN
A recording that is vivid and clear with Uli Korhonen's light and flexible voice rising to a ringing passion. Instruments are used carefully, as introductions to, or between, verses of the songs and also in the four instrumental-only performances.
ENGLISH STRING MINIATURES volume 2 Frank BRIDGE Sally in our Alley and Cherry Ripe; Edward ELGAR Sospiri; Haydn WOOD Fantasy-Concerto; John IRELAND The Holy Boy; Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Charterhouse Suite; Frederick DELIUS Air & Dance; Peter WARLOCK Serenade for the 60th Birthday of Frederick Delius; Geoffrey BUSH Consort Music; Frank BRIDGE Sir Roger de Coverley
A typical Naxos bargain, and strongly recommended.
THE ENGLISH TENOR REPERTOIRE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN SONG A FEATURE REVIEW OF FOUR CDs
A rich heritage, sensitively and affectionately realised by all concerned. There are riches waiting to be discovered (or rediscovered) as barely a quarter of the songs are at all well known and virtually none are hackneyed.
À LA FRANÇAISE
The relative newcomer to the French repertoire gets a fair introduction to its riches, and a couple of slightly less standard items (Ibert and Parade) act as a bait for those with larger collections.
ARIAS
As a gramophone experience Goerne's recital is totally satisfying, culminating in a Star of Eve as gently caressed as it is possible to imagine.
Martin KASÍK - Live from Prague
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Kreisleriana. Op. 16 Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Sonata for piano No. 2 Op. 36 Prelude No.1 Op. 23 Prelude No.2 Op. 23Both the Schumann and the Rachmaninov are mightily impressive. One could not really wish for more. Let us hope that ArcoDiva is planning a Rachmaninov cycle with Kasík as the main protagonist.
THE KESTREL PACED ROUND THE SUN Edward MCGUIRE Caprice (1990s) [2.14] Edward MCGUIRE Prelude 3 (1985) [3.35] Lennox BERKELEY Sonatine (1939) [9.53] Richard Rodney BENNETT Winter Music (1960) [9.32] William MATHIAS Sonatina (1953) [7.54] Peter MAXWELL DAVIES Kestrel Paced Around the Sun (1976) [6.29] Edwin YORK BOWEN Sonata (1946) [18.10] Peter MCGARR Something Lost (1999) [12.35]
rec 1997, Rosslyn Hill Chapel, HalsteadA serious recital confounding hackneyed expectations. Its variety is lovingly advocated by Burley and Brooke aided by Mike Skeet's airy and juicy recording.
The World of Emma Kirkby
Well chosen sequence of excerpts from Decca Kirkby releases (1975-93). Kirkby's art at its finest.
ENGLAND - NEW ENGLAND Romantic Clarinet Sonatas Donald Francis TOVEY (1875-1940) Clarinet Sonata (1906) Daniel Gregory MASON (1873-1953) Clarinet Sonata (1912-15) York BOWEN (1884-1959) Clarinet Sonata (1943)
For those who would like to counterbalance Bowen's high romance with two fruitily Brahmsian sonatas this disc is an excellent choice.
AN ENGLISH RHAPSODY William ALWYN (1905-1985) Rhapsody for piano quartet (1938) John IRELAND (1879-1962) Fantasy-Sonata for clarinet and piano (1943) Rhapsody for piano (1915) Phantasie for piano trio (1906) Herbert HOWELLS (1892-1983) Violin Sonata No. 1 (1917) Jeffery WILSON (b.1957) Elegy for clarinet, cello and piano (1988)
Convincing performances. Recording commandingly strong. A successfully variegated collection of British chamber music.
FLIGHT OF SONG Choral music by Jonathan HARVEY, Howard SKEMPTON, Michael TIPPETT and Judith WEIR
A particularly enterprising release of unfamiliar choral music … All the works are immaculately, affectionately sung. A most welcome release.
SIMON HARAM alone… John ADAMS Consuelo's Dream, This is Prophetic, Alone…again or at last David BOWIE & Brian ENO Warsawa Graham FITKIN Bob, Watching, Pam & Jim & Jim & Pam Michael NYMAN If, Why Arvo PART Spiegel im Spiegel
Overall this disc has a beguiling, nostalgic quality which is most appealing.
IDENTITIES - 20th CENTURY MUSIC FOR FLUTE & STRINGS BY BELGIAN COMPOSERS Lucien POSMAN (b.1952) - Geen Noodt, sapperloodt! (1997) Frits CELIS (b. 1929) - Quartetto op.24 (1987) Wim HENDRICKX (b. 1962) - 2 Nocturnes (1994) Roland CORYN (b.1938) - 13 Miniatures for flute/piccolo and string quartet (1997) Piet SWERTS (b.1960) - Mi-Parti (1999) Marc MATTHYS (b.1956) - Nocturne & Dance (1998)
An issue irresistible to those interested in good modern music. Compulsory listening for all flautists!
The World of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
A fine compilation which serves not only as an excellent compilation to those who may be new to the PJBE but also forms a fitting tribute to the man himself.
RUSSIAN SONG RECITAL: TCHAIKOVSKY, BALAKIREV, Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, César CUI, Sergei RACHMANINOV
As a visiting card for a promising singer (though I hope he will keep to repertoire which does not push him beyond his means) this disc serves its purpose
Martin SETCHELL: Let the Pealing Organ Blow
Particularly recommended to those who enjoy the transcriber's art. Setchell's bon-bons are amusing and sometimes touching.
Martin SETCHELL: Bon-Bons for Organ rec. Rieger Pipe Organ, Christchurch Town Hall, Kilmore Street, New Zealand 18-19. 11. 2000
Again, particularly recommended to those who enjoy the transcriber's art
Shakespeare's Musick
24 songs and instrumental pieces by anonymous, John Dowland, Valentin Haussmann, Pelham Humfrey, Robert Jones, Thomas Morley, Henry Purcell & William Wigthorpe
Shakespeare's Music
33 songs and instrumental pieces by anonymous, William Brade, William Byrd, John Dowland, Alfonso Ferrabosco, Matthew Holmes, John Johnson, Robert Johnson, Richard Nicholson, John Marston, Thomas Morley, Thomas Ravenscroft, Nicholas le Strange & J. WilsonThese two contrasting discs have much to recommend them and the same faults in a lack of full documentation.
L'ALBUM DES SIX The complete works of Les Six for flute and piano Francis POULENC: Sonata for flute and piano Germaine TAILLEFERRE: Pastorale Georges AURIC: Imaginées I Louis DUREY: Sonatine Artur HONEGGER Romance; Danse de la chèvre Germaine TAILLEFERRE Forlane; Pastorale. Louis Durey: Deux dialogues (solo flute) Darius Milhaud: Sonatine Emily Beynon (flute) Andrew West (piano) HYPERION CDA67204 [73.25]
Artistry of the highest order, plus excellent recorded sound. This disc is highly recommended.
Stuyvesant String Quartet Paul HINDEMITH String Quartet in F minor Op10. (1918) Heitor VILLA-LOBOS String Quartet No. 6 (1938) Quincy PORTER String Quartet No. 7 (1943)
Good mix of unfamiliar repertoire in very fine performances. A high magic quotient
Theme & Variations: Various British Composers Variations on an Elizabethan Theme (1953) [16.21] Severn Bridge Variations (1966) [18.54] Variations on 'Sumer is icumen in' (1987) [19.59]
British composing life in miniature. Essential to all who care for British music.
Virtuoso Violin
This is an extremely well-planned anthology for the sector of the public at which it is aimed.
NAXOS LAUREATE SERIES - PIANO BRAHMS Klavierstücke op 76 DEBUSSY Three Preludes from Book II PROKOFIEV Sonata no 8 in B flat major op 84
First class recording. Tebenikhin is always the servant of the music, not its master. His technical control is seemingly effortless and comprehensive.
BOOK REVIEW
A DICTIONARY-CATALOG OF MODERN BRITISH COMPOSERS by Alan POULTON
Music Reference Collection, Number 82 Hardback in three volumes: vol. 1: A-C; Vol 2: D-L; Vol. 3 M-Z,
1700pp through numbered across the three volumes ISBN 0-313-31623-6 Library of Congress 00-026439
GREENWOOD PRESS, Connecticut publ. 2000THOMAS DUNHILL: MAKER OF MUSIC by David Dunhill with introductory essay by Lewis Foreman, Thames Publishing (London, 1997); xxiii, 126pp, 6pl. £12.50. ISBN 0 903413 83 3. [RDCN]
ALBERT W KETÈLBEY 1875-1959: FROM THE SANCTUARY OF HIS HEART by John Sant
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS - A Bio-Bibliography By David P. Appleby Bio-Bibliographies in Music No. 9 (ISSN: 0742-6968) Greenwood Press. Westport, Conn. 1988. 372 pages LC 87-28042. ISBN 0-313-25346-3. AHV/ $65.00 (Reference Book)
A first class study on this Brazilian giant. Well worth tracking down.
[Part 1 New]
[Part 2 A-B] [Part
3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]
Classical Editor: Rob Barnett, Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and: Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot, Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey, Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, John France, Julian Hellaby, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd, Kirk McElhearn, Gwyn Parry-Jones, John Phillips, John Quinn, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Adrian Smith, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Christopher Thomas, Richard Whitehouse, Jonathan Woolf, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here
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