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PART 7
Misc. M-Z

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[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]






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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

 

Tomoko Mukaiyama plays Women Composers Adriana HOLSZKY (b. 1953) Horfenster fur Franz Liszt (1986-87) [14.28] Vanessa LANN (b. 1968) Inner Piece (1994) [7.43] Galina USTVOLSKAYA (b. 1919) Piano Sonata VI (1988) [7.30] Sofia GUBAIDULINA (b. 1931) Piano Sonata (1965) [19.42] Meredith MONK (b. 1943) Double Fiesta (1988) [6.05] Tomoko Mukaiyama (piano) Recorded at Studio Hilversum, August 1994 BVHAAST CD 9406 [55.59][JW]

Mildly confrontational. A recital that proves, on and off, tough going. ... see Full Review

La Musica: 16th and 17th Century Music and A Surprise Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1640) Che desia di saper’ * [1:54] Sigismondo d’INDIA (1580-c.1629) Lŕ tra’il sangue č le morti * [1:50] Alessandro PICCININI (1566-c.1638) Toccata XI * [2:34] Corrente XI * [2:01]Francesca CAMPANA (d.1665) Pargoletta, vezzosetta * [2:44] Settimia CACCINI (1591-c.1638) Giŕ sperai, non spero hor’ piů * [1:54] Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1640) La pastorella mia tra i fiori * [3:28] Fabritio CAROSO (c.1531-c.1605) Forza d’amore * [1:53] ANONYMOUS Trista sort’ č la mia sorte * [2:52] Giovanni Girolamo KAPSPERGER (c.1580-1651) Figlio dormi * [4:19] Barbara STROZZI (1619-1677) Tradimento! * [2:39] Che si puň fare? * [11:33] ANONYMOUS La Folia * [6:05] Barbara STROZZI (1619-1677) Non pavento io non di te * [4:12] Julie KABAT (b.1947) Five Poems by H.D. ** [13:11] Invocation in Centrifugal Form *** [9:55] Carol Plantamura (soprano); Jürgen Hübscher (lute; archlute; Spanish baroque guitar); Beverly Lauridsen (viola da gamba); ** Julie Kabat (spoken voice; glass harmonium; saw); Ben Hudson (violin); *** Julie Kabat (voice; glass harmonium) rec. * 1984, Congregation Emanu-El, Westchester, Westchester County, New York, ADD; **/*** 1983, St. Michael’s Episcopal Parish House, New York City, DDD. LEONARDA LE 350 [73:01] [GPu]

A well-chosen programme of seventeenth century songs and lute music, performed, with understanding and panache - plus a genuine surprise ... see Full Review

Native American Stories in Classical Flute Music James DEMARS (b. 1952) Colors Fall for Flute and Alto Saxophone (1998) [4:40] Katherine HOOVER (b. 1937) Winter Spirits for Flute (1997) [4:51]; Canyon Echoes for Flute and Guitar (1991) [18:16]; Kokopeli for Solo Flute (1990) [4:32] John THOW (b. 1949) Hopi Flute Prelude (1995) [0:41]; To Invoke the Clouds for Solo Flute (1995) [7:02]; To Invoke the Clouds for Two Flutes (1995) [6:54]; Breath of the Sun for Three Flutes and Alto Flute (1993) [8:45] Victor FROST (b. 1952) Nocturne; Bird of Prey from American Suite for Flute and Piano, Op. 76, nos 1-2 (1988) [3:59] Laurel Zucker (flute) Jeremiah Bills (flute), Christina Yu (flute), Christmas Gainsbrugh (flute) Charlene Romano (alto flute) Dr. Jack Foote (saxophone) Richard Savino (guitar) Marc Shapiro (piano) rec. First Unitarian Church, Berkeley, CA, USA, 1998. DDD CANTILENA RECORDS 66017-2 [59:44] [PG]

Ms. Zucker is an exquisite performer with wonderful technique. There are few virtuoso flautists with a more adventurous spirit ... see Full Review

Libor Novacek (piano) Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1938) Sonata 1.X.1905 ‘A Scene from the Street’ (1905) [13.40] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Preludes Book II (six pieces from) (1910-1912) [22.23] Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) [28.25] Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Three Czech Dances (1926) [09.29] Libor Novacek, piano rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 15-17 October 2005. DDD LANDOR RECORDS LAN274 [74.09][MC]

The assured playing from Libor Novacek makes riveting listening. I look forward to hearing more recitals from him. ... see Full Review

The Oboe: 1903-1953 Georges BIZET (1838-1875) Carmen, Petite Mignon [2.10] Caesar Addimando (rec.1908) Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Guillaume Tell [3.02  + 3.05] Georges Gillet (rec. c1905)  'Giorgio' (rec. 1906) HUGUENIN La nuit de Noël [2.12] Housset (rec.1903) GUILHAUD First Concertino and Farandole Joseph Fonteyn (rec.c1910) Xavier LEROUX Une Soirée prčs du lac [2.54 + 4.30 + 3.07] Louis Gaudard (rec. c1910) Louis Mercier (rec. c1910) Paul-Gustave Brun (rec. c1926) Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Romance no. 1 (1911) [2.58] Arthur Foreman (rec. c1911) Charles COLIN Concertino in D, Andante and Polonaise Georges Longy (rec.c.1914) Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Oboe Quartet K370 [12.44] Léon Goossens (rec. 1926) With members of the Spencer Dyke Quartet Johann Christian BACH (1735-1782) Sinfonia in Bb [4.09 + 4.18 + 6.14} Georges Blanchard (rec. 1927) with Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem Mengelberg Bruno Labate (rec.1929) with Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York/ Willem Mengelberg Anon oboist (rec.1950) Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Gmeindl Erik SATIE (1866-1925) Gymnopédie 1 [4.21] Fernand Gillet (rec. 1930) Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Romance and Humoresque [5.57] Svend Christian Felumb (rec.1937) with Christian Christiansen (piano) Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Suite d'aprčs Corrette (1938) [4.31] Myrtile Morel (rec. 1938) with Trio d’anches de Paris and Fernand Oubradous (bassoon) and Pierre Lefčbvre (clarinet) MIHALOVICI Sonatine Op. 13 pour hautbois et piano (1939) [14.30] Louis Bleuzet (rec. c 1937-9) Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Sonata in F Op.1 [7.12] Louis Gromer (rec. c1940) Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Oboe solo – segment [1.16] Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade – segment [1.49] Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1898) Violin Concerto – second movement, oboe solo, segment [2.49] Henri de Busscher (rec. 1940s) Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1898) Violin Concerto – second movement, oboe solo, segment Fritz Flemming (rec. 1927) [2.11] with Fritz Kreisler (violin)/Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Leo Blech Léon Goossens (rec.1936) [2.19] with Fritz Kreisler (violin)/LPO/John Barbirolli Marcel Tabuteau (rec. 1945) [2.35] with Josef Szigeti (violin)/Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Variations on “La ci darem” Lois Wann, Ferdinand Prior and Engelbert Brenner (rec. 1939) [9.54] Sidney Sutcliffe, Roger Lord and Natalie James (rec.1951) [9.47] Hans Kamesch, Manfred Kautsky and Hans Hadamowsky (rec.1953) [10.28] Two CDs for the price of one OBOE CLASSICS CC2012 [70.55 + 69.09][JW]

A full half-century of the oboe on record. A most accomplished undertaking, compiled with care and expertise, and a bedrock disc for those taken by the oboe. ... see Full Review

Orfeo Fantasia John DOWLAND (1563-1626)/arr anon Pavana lachrymae, arr for keyboard [02:22] Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) L'Orfeo: Ritornello from the Prologue [01:13] Rosa del ciel, aria of Orfeo (act I)* [02:08] Tobias HUME (c1565-1645) My hope is revived [02:07] My joys are coming [01:05] Pierre GUÉDRON (c1575-c1620) Quel espoir de guarir, air de cour* [06:44] anon La Rosignol [03:06] Giulio CACCINI (c1550-1618) Odi, Euterpe, il dolce canto, aria* [01:47] Claudio MONTEVERDI L'Orfeo: Vi ricorda, o boschi ombrosi, aria of Orfeo (act II)* [02:23] Giovanni PICCHI (?-c1630) Toccata (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book) [02:43] Sigismondo D'INDIA (c1580-1629) Lamento d'Orfeo (Que vegg'io ohimè)* [06:44] John DOWLAND/arr anon Pavana lachrymae, arr. for two lutes [02:22] John DOWLAND Lasso vita mia, air* [03:28] Tobias HUME Cease leaden slumber, air* [04:49] Claudio MONTEVERDI L'Orfeo: Ritornello from the Prologue [01:11] Questi i campi di Tracia, Lamento of Orfeo (act V)* [08:42] John DOWLAND Flow my tears, air* [04:46] Charles Daniels, tenor (*) Montréal Baroque (Margaret Little (treble viol, bass viol), Susie Napper (bass viol), Nigel North (lirone, lute), Sylvain Bergeron (lute), Olivier Fortin (harpsichord, organ), Skip Sempé (harpsichord)/Susie Napper rec. June 2004, Église de la Nativité, La Prairie, Québec, Canada. DDD ATMA SACD2 2337 [62:14] [JV]

This disc impressively demonstrates the power of music in the expression of human emotions which is strongly connected to the mythological singer Orpheus ... see Full Review

Points North: Piano Duets William Walton (1902-1983) Portsmouth Point: an Overture (1925/27) [5:59]; Siesta (1926/1928)[4:45] Duets for Children (1942) [10:36] Alan Rawsthorne (1905-1971) The Creel: Suite (1940) [3:14] Thomas Pitfield (1903-1999) Minors: Suite (c.1965) [6:57] Leonard Isaacs (1909-1997) Two Piano Duets based on Folk Tunes (1959) [3:55] Percy Young (1912-2003) Five Folk Song Duets (1938) [5:10] Roy Heaton Smith (b. 1929) Sonatina (1990) [9:14] Norman Cocker (1889-1953) Eight Duets (1913-15) [13:56] Keith Swallow and John Wilson (pianos) rec. Peel Hall, University of Salford, 30-31 August 2004. DDD CAMPION CAMEO 2036 [63:56][JF]

Swallow and Wilson clearly enjoying themselves, playing each piece ‘to the hilt’ and without any sense of condescension. Music from that far-off country beyond Watford Gap ... see Full Review

Přítomnost VI - Contemporary Czech Music Jiří BERKOVEC (b.1922) Sonatina No. 1 in One Movement for String Orchestra (1956) [8:42] Ilja HURNÍK (b.1922) Variations on a Theme of Pergolesi for Piano Four Hands (1983) [15:21] Luboš SLUKA (b.1928) Sonata for Violoncello and Piano (1956) [18:11] Jan F. FISCHER (1921-2006) Aria for Two Harps (1974) [2:46] Oldřich F. KORTE (b.1926) Philosophical Dialogues for Violin and Piano (1961-75) [15:35] Štěpán LUCKÝ (b.1919) Ottetto per archi (1970) [12:04] Jiří BERKOVEC (b.1922) Cottage and a Green (1960) [2:54] Moravian Philharmonic Ostrava/Jiří Kares, Ilja Hurník (piano), Jana Hurník (piano), Jan Polášek (cello), Aleš Bílek (piano), Jana Boušková (harp), Kateřina Englichová (harp), Shizuka Ishikawa (violin), Oldřich F. Korte (piano), Prague Chamber Orchestra/Milos Konvalinka, Prague Radio Orchestra/Josef Hrncir, Vlasta Burian (tenor) No recording dates or locations given. Recordings from composers’ archives ARCO DIVA UP 0087-2 131 [73:17] [RB]

An unhackneyed collection of Czech pieces - tonal and dissonant - dating from the 1950s to 1970s. ... see Full Review

Rapsodi - Albanian Piano Music: Volume II Çesk ZADEJA (1927-1997) Tokkata (Toccata) [3:31] Theme and Variations in E minor [5:21] Feim IBRAHIMI (1935-1997) Vals (Waltz) [1:21] Valle për piano (Dance for piano) [2:53] Tonin HARAPI (1928-1992) Sonatina (Allegro non troppo [5:53]; II. Andante [4:08]; III. Rondo: Allegro con brio [3:28]) Këngë mbrëmje (Evening Song) [4:33] Temë me variacione (Theme and Variations) [9:14] Aleksander KOMNINO Këngë polifonike (Polyphonic Song) [2:12] Këngë (Song) [1:08] Tish DAIJA (1926-2004) Vals (Waltz) [1:28] Jani PAPADHIMITRI (b. 1948) Baresha e Vogël (The Little Shepherdess) [2:21] Alberto PAPARISTO (b. 1925) Scherzo [3:22]; Val (Dance) [1:09] Kozma LARA (b. 1931) Ballade No. 2 [5:28] Sonatë për piano nr. 2 (Sonata No. 2 for piano) [9:25] Ramadan SOKOLI (b. 1920) Rapsodi Shqiptare nr. 2 (Albanian Rhapsody No. 2) [3:52] Simon GJONI (1926-1991) Prelud në mi minor (Prelude in E minor) [2:26] Tokata (Toccata) [1:37] Kirsten Johnson (piano) rec. St George's Bristol, 14, 17 January 2005 DDD GUILD GMCD 7300 [74:58] [RB]

Folksy-romantic Albanian piano music from the 1960s scintillatingly revived ... see Full Review

Highlights from The Royal Opera Jacques OFFENBACH (1819 – 1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Olympia’s Aria: Barcarolle Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) La Bohčme: Quando m’en vo’ Richard STRAUSS (1864 – 1949) Der Rosenkavalier: Hab’ mir’s gelobt Giuseppe VERDI (1813 – 1901) Don Carlo: Dio che nell’alma infondere amor volesti; Ella giammai m’amň! Giuseppe VERDI Falstaff: Bocca baciata non perde ventura; Alfin t’ho colto Giacomo PUCCINI Manon Lescaut: Ah, non vi avvicinate; Gelo di morte! see review for details of performers etc WARNER 50-51011-2324-2-8 [61:00] [GF]

An hour of entertaining morsels. I am sure it will be liked by opera lovers but I still think the complete sets are better propositions. ... see Full Review

The Golden Age of Light Music - The 1950s Volume 3: Say It With Music
Irving BERLIN (1888-1989)
Say It With Music Harold ARLEN (1905-1986) That Old Black Magic Mario NASCIMBENE (1913-2002) Song of the Barefoot Contessa (My Gypsy Heart) Edward WHITE (1910-1994) White Wedding Leroy ANDERSON (1908-1975) Sandpaper Ballet (Leroy Anderson) Georges AURIC (1899-1983) Sur Le Pavé (Pavements of Paris) Richard ADDINSELL (1904-1977) Out Of The Clouds – theme arr. Laurie Johnson) Richard ROGERS and Lorenz HART Manhattan PHIIPPE-GERARD (real name Philippe BLOCH) (b.1924) Without My Lover Eddie HAYWOOD (1915-19989) Rainfall Roger ROGER (1911-1995) The Toy Shop Window Frank PERKINS (b.1908) Barbara D ARENDO (real name Arend HONHOFF) (b.1918) Eleanora Len STEVENS (d.1989) Easy Street (Len Stevens) Philip GREEN (1910-1982) Wagon Trail (featured in the film Golden Ivory)VERCOLIER Starlight Lullaby Arthur SCHWARTZ (1900-1984) If There is Someone Lovelier Than You arr. Robert Farnon Benjamin FRANKEL (1906-1973) A Kid For Two Farthings - theme arr. Wally Stott Frederic CURZON (1899-1973) Savoir Faire George MELACHRINO (1909-1965) Waltz - In Water Colours Arden E CLAR Port of Spain Oscar STRAUS (1870-1954) Waltz Dream (Ein Walzertraum) Robert FARNON (1917-2005) En Route Francis MEILLEAR (real name Frank CORDELL) (1918-1980) Big Ben Waltz Peter DENNIS (real name Dennis BERRY) Holiday In Hollywood Jerome KERN, P G WODEHOUSE, Guy BOLTON Till The Clouds Roll By arr. Gordon Jenkins Joyce COCHRANE Prelude to Peace Recorded 1952-55 GUILD LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5119 [77.14] [JW]

A selection of material spanning a mere four years. A look at the bandleaders will alert one to the superior nature of the playing.... see Full Review

Scandinavian Romantic Piano Music Vol. 2 Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) From Holberg’s Time (Suite in Olden Style), Op. 40 (1884) [20.41] Louis GLASS (1864-1936) Fantasia in G major, Op. 35 (1904) [16.39] Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Kyllikki (Three Lyric Pieces), Op. 41 (1904) [11.52] Wilhelm STENHAMMAR (1871-1927) Sonata in G minor (1890) [23.20] Alexander Vaulin (piano) rec. Bach-Recording, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6, 17, 22 April 2004. DDD CLASSICO CLASSCD 493 [73.04][MC]

Vaulin gives an enjoyable recital of a fine selection of Romantic Scandinavian piano music. ... see Full Review

Tito Schipa (tenor) Schipa Edition Volume 2 Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) E il sol dell’anima (Rigoletto) (1,3) Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Verranno a te (Lucia di Lammermoor) (1, 3); Tornami a dir che m’ami (Don Pasquale) (1, 3) Richard BARTHELEMY Pesca d’amore (3) Tito SCHIPA (1888–1965) Ave Maria (3) Vincenzo DE CRESCENZO (1875–1964) Ce steve ‘na vota (3) CAMPERO Madrigal Espańol (3) Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) La donne e mobile (Rigoletto) (3) Manuel DE FALLA (1876–1946) Jota (Siete canciones populares espańolas) (3) Eduardo DE CAPUA (1864–1917) O Sole Mio (3) Franz LISZT (1811–1886) arr. Tito SCHIPA Liebestraum (3) Tito SCHIPA (1888–1965) A Cuba (3) Traditional La farfalleta (4, 3) Anonymous La girometta (4, 3) Arturo BUZZI-PECCIA (1854–1953) La nina querida; Mal d’amore (3) Friedrich von FLOTOW (1812 - 1883) M’appari (Martha) (3) Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848) Una furtiva lagrima (L’elisir d’amore) (3) Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Sono andati?; Oh! Dio, Mimi! (La Bohčme) (2, 3) Jules MASSENET (1842–1912) Pourquoi me reveiller? (Werther) (3) Leo DELIBES (1797–1848) Fantasie au divins mensonges (Lakmé) (3) Tito Schipa (tenor) Amelita Galli-Curci (soprano) (1) Lucrezia Bori (soprano) (2) Victor Orchestra/Rosario Bourdon (3) Jose Echaniz (piano) (4) rec. September 1924 – November 1925 NAXOS 8.110333 [72.14][RH]

Anyone interested in hearing Schipa in his prime should invest in the disc ... see Full Review

Spark – The New Zealand Trio John PSATHAS (b.1966) Island Songs (1995) [12.50] Victoria KELLY (b.1973) Sono (2000) [12.43] Michael NORRIS (b.1973) dirty pixels (2004) [11.57] Maria GRENFELL (b.1969) A Feather of Blue (2000) [9.57] Penelope AXTENS (b.1974) For Violin, Violoncello and Piano (1999) [9.50] Gareth FARR (b.1968) Ahi (1998) [16.31] The New Zealand Trio rec. Music Theatre, University of Auckland, September 2004 MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT 2066 [71.88][JW]

Morrison Music Trust is doing good work in its promotion of recent New Zealand music. Here we have six works by six composers written for piano trio. ... see Full Review

Spring: A Collection of Seasonal Classics Antonio VIVALDI Spring from The Four Seasons, Op.8 Robert SCHUMANN Spring's Awakening 1st movement from Symphony No. 1 in B flat, Op.38 (1841) Frederick DELIUS On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring from Two Pieces For Small Orchestra Frank BRIDGE Spring Song (1912) (transcribed for viola and piano by Veronica Leigh Jacobs) Benjamin BRITTEN Spring Carol, from A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28 (1942) Christopher GUNNING Spring Morning from Yorkshire Glory Edvard GRIEG Last Spring from Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34 No.2 (1881); To Spring from Lyric Pieces, Book 3, Op.43 No.6 (1886) Eric COATES Springtime Suite (1937) (Fresh Morning; Noonday Song; Dance in the Twilight) Igor STRAVINSKY Spring Rounds from The Rite Of Spring - ballet (1913) Aaron COPLAND Buckaroo Spring from Rodeo - ballet (1942) Moscow Virtuosi/ Vladimir Spivakov (violin); Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Marek Janowski, Vernon Handley; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Alan Barlow; Louise Williams (viola); David Owen Norris (piano); Edward Harris, Andrew Olleson (trebles), Frances Kelly (harp); London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley, Raphael Wallisch (cello); BBC Concert Orchestra/John Wilson; National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain/Simon Rattle; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/John Farrer. rec. 1977-2001. ADD. DDD RESONANCE CD RSN 3068 [69:12] [JuW]

You would be better advised to obtain a full length disc devoted to any one of these items than to purchase this compilation. Should you wish a thematic compilation there remain better choices. ... see Full Review

Leopold Stokowski Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Swan Lake excerpts [57:00] Johan STRAUß II An der schönen blauen Donau [6:49]; Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald [7:16] Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN Turkish March from Die Ruinen von Athen [2:06] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (arr. Stokowski) Rondo alla turca from piano sonata K331 [2:47] NBC Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski rec. NBC 20-21 Oct, 10-11 Nov 1954, 13 Jan, 10 Feb 1955 (Tchaikovsky); 13 Jan 1955 (Donau); 9 Feb 1955 (Strauss, Beethoven, Mozart). ADD mono CALA CACD 0543 [75:49] [RB]

Not quite a star offering - fantasy and rigour jostle shoulders. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Leopold Stokovsky: The Great Philadelphia Wagner Recordings Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Rienzi (1842): Overture [11.03] (rec. November 1926 and January 1927)
Lohengrin (1848): Prelude to Act I [8.13] (rec. October 1927); Prelude to Act III [3.15] (rec. March 1940) Tannhäuser (1845): Prelude and Venusberg Music [22.51] (rec. December 1937); Prelude to Act III (arr Stokowski) [10.21] (rec. January 1936) Parsifal (1879), Prelude to Act I [14.45] (rec. November 1936); Good Friday Spell [11.55] (rec. November 1936); Symphonic Synthesis (arr. Stokowski) [14.07] (rec. April 1934) Tristan und Isolde (1859), Symphonic Synthesis (arr. Stokowski) [35.36] (rec. March 1932) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1867), Prelude to Act I [9.18] (rec. January 1936); Prelude to Act III [6.43] (rec. March 1932) Philadelphia Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Track list, including recording dates, no notes. Photo of conductor. rec. mono ADD. Re-mastered at 96kHz24Bit "using state of the art restoration techniques". ANDROMEDA ANDRCD 5030 [70.30 + 77.31] [PSh]

Ancient recordings miraculously restored, full range, clear, sweet sounding, and completely listenable. An absolute must for any lover of Wagner, Stokowski, and recording science. ... see Full Review

Strings in the Earth and Air Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Six Folksongs from Norfolk (1923): (Down by the Riverside [2:29]; The Bold ‘Richard’ [2:37]; Lonely Waters [2:34]; The Pressgang [2:06]; The Shooting of his Dear [3:11]; The Oxford Sporting Blade [1:26])Seven Poems of James Joyce (1929): (Strings in the Earth and Air [1:56]; The Merry Green Wood [1:19]; Bright Cap [0:54]; The Pleasant Valley [1:11]; Donnycarney [1:29]; Rain has Fallen [1:26]; Now, O Now, in this Brown Land [3:52]) Peter WARLOCK (1894-1930) Candlelight: a Cycle of Nursery Jingles (1923) words mainly from ‘Nurse Lovechild’s Legacy’ (1916): (How many miles to Babylon? [0:37]; I won’t be my father’s Jack [0:37]; Robin and Richard [0:42]; O my Kitten [1:03]; Little Tommy Tucker [1:03]; There was an old man [0:36]; I had a little pony [0:29]; Little Jack Jingle [0:37]; There was a man of Thessaly [0:47]; Suky, you shall be my wife [1:12]; There was an old woman [0.44]; Arthur O’ Bower [0:44]) Three Songs (1916-1917): (Along the Stream  words by Li Po translated by L Cranmer-Byng [3:10]; Take, O Take those Lips Away words by William Shakespeare [2:14]; Heracleitus words by Callimachus translated by William Cory [3:40]) A Setting of Bruce Blunt – The Fox (1930) [3:19] Geoffrey STERN (1935-2005) Three Wordsworth Songs (1953): To the Cuckoo [3:22]; She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways [2:21]; To an Infant [2:20] Four Songs of James Joyce (2001-5): Lean out of your window [1:48]; Strings in the Earth and Air [2:52]; Now, O Now in this Brown Land [4:08]; Gentle Lady [2:52] A Setting of Henry Treece – Legend (1960) [1:21] Paul Martyn-West (tenor) Nigel Foster (piano) rec. Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Hampstead Heath, London, 24-26 Oct 2005. DDD DUNELM RECORDS DRD0249 [68:37][JF]

A really interesting CD. An essential addition to the library of anyone who loves the ‘English School of Lieder.’ ... see Full Review

Symphonic Organ Music from Brussels and Paris César FRANCK (1822-1890) Pičce Héroďque (from Trois Pieces) (1878) [08:40] Paul GILSON (1865-1942) Prélude sur un vieux lied flamand [07:35] Raymond MOULAERT (1875-1962) Lazarus (Trois Počmes Bibliques) (1916) [10:30] Joseph JONGEN (1873-1953) Le Bon Chîval (1918) [04:16) Valéry AUBERTIN (b. 1970) Vincent van Gogh (Livre ouvert) (1991)[08:09] Louis VIERNE (1870-1937) Symphony No. 4 (1914) [34:52] Els Biesemans (organ) rec. organ, Saint Dominic’s International Priory Church, Brussels, 29-30 Sept 2005 ETCETERA KTC 1299 [75:02][JF]

This is the kind of CD I like. Perfectly balanced. Three unknown works from the Brussels organ school plus two well known works and to add a bit of spice a ‘new’ work by a 36 year old French composer ... see Full Review

Taurangi Ross HARRIS (b.1945) Ka wawara te hau …(2004) [10.47] John ELMSLY (b.1952) Dialogue 1 (1988) [11.07] Three Doubles (1995) [7.20] Michael NORRIS (b.1973) BADB (2005) [6.44] John RITCHIE (b.1921) The Snow Goose (1999) [5.05] Sweet and Sour (1984) [4.11] Gillian WHITEHEAD (b.1941) Taurangi (2000) [13.14] Christopher BLAKE (b.1949) Little Dancings (1991) [19.11] Maria GRENFELL (b.1969) Four Pooh Stories (1992) [10.09] Anthony RITCHIE (b1960) Tui (2005) [4.05] Dorothy BUCHANAN (b.1945) Flute Song for the Birds (1990) [7.05] Philip BROWNLEE (b.1971) Harakeke (1999) [8.16] Chris Cree BROWN (b.1953) The Watertable (2002) [8.31] Paul BOOTH (b.1967) Lament (1997) [3.37] Douglas MEWS Snr (1918-1993) Tango Fantastique (1985) [3.11] Bridget Douglas (flute) Rachel Thomson (piano) rec. Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, November-December 2004 MORRISON MUSIC TRUST MMT 2063-64 [66.11 + 56.29] [JW]

More enlightening patronage here from Morrison Music Trust promoting contemporary New Zealand works for flute and piano. ... see Full Review

To be Sung on the Water: Music for Solo Violin Giuseppe TARTINI (1692-1770) Sonata IX in A major [12.21]; Sonata II in D minor [9.09]; Sonata XIII in B minor [9.29] Donald CROCKETT (b. 1951) To be sung on water (1988) [11.30]* Mickey Finn, for solo violin (1996) [9.58] Michelle Makarski (violin), Ronald Copes (viola)* rec. Radio Studio DRS, Zurich, March 2004. DDD ECM NEW SERIES 476310-2 [52.47] [GH]

I felt at times dreamily suspended in mid-air, floating above the sound, as Makarski touches the strings, often with such delicacy that we seem to be listening through a gauze. ... see Full Review

Hao Jiang Tian: Operatic Arias Giuseppe VERDI (1813–1901) Nabucco: Tu sul labbro dei veggenti; Les vępres siciliennes: Et toi, Palerme; Jérusalem: Grâce mon Dieu!; Macbeth: ome dal ciel precipita; Simon Boccanegra: Il lacerato spirito; Don Carlo: Ella giammai m’amň; Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Eugene Onegin: Lyubvi vse vozrasty pokorny (Gremin’s aria); Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792–1868) Il barbiere di Siviglia: La calunnia; Vincenzo BELLINI (1801–1835) La Sonnambula: Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni; Charles GOUNOD (1818–1835) Faust: Vous qui faites l’endormie (Sérénade); Jules MASSENET (1842–1912) Le Cid: Il a fait noblement ce que l’honneur conseille; Amilcare PONCHIELLI (1834–1886) La Gioconda: Ombre di mia prosapia Hao Jiang Tian (bass) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari rec. Concert Hall, Slovak Radio, Bratislava, 29 June-2 July 2004. DDD NAXOS 8.557442 [59:37][GF]

If you want standard bass arias, spiced with rarities, all honestly sung by an experienced international artist on a super-budget disc, look no further. ... see Full Review

Twentieth-Century Masters – Volume 1 Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Salve Regina (1941) [5:00] Quatre petites prières de Saint François d’Assise (1949) [7:29] Exultate Deo (1941) [2:58] Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël (1951-2) [11:32] Messe en sol majeur (1937) [17:17] Litanies à la Vierge noire* (1936) [8:09] Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) O sacrum convivium (1937)** [4:46] Pierre VILLETTE (1926-1998) Attende Domine, Op. 45 (1983) [5:37] Panis Angelicus, Op. 80 (1995) [3:42] Hymne à la Vierge, Op. 24 (1954) [4:01] Choir of New College Oxford/ Edward Higginbottom *Nicholas Wearne (organ); **David Newsholme (organ) rec. 21-25 August 2005, L’Abbaye de Saint Michel-en-Thiérache, France. DDD AVIE AV 2084 [70:30] [JQ]

An excellent and most enjoyable recital ... deeply sympathetic ... see Full Review

Verbotene Lieder Wilhelm GROSZ (1894-1939) Lieder an die Geliebte Op.18 [7.40] Kinderlieder nach Texten von Christian Morgenstern Op.13 (1922) [10.18] Viktor ULLMANN (1898-1944) Sechs Lieder nach Gedlichten von Albert Steffen Op.17 (1937) [12.07] Hölderlin-Lieder für eine Singstimme und Klavier [8.15] Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) Drei Lieder für Gesang und Klavier Op.22 (1928-29) [7.55] Aus dem Liederzyklus Unvergänglichkeit  - Deine edlen Op.27 [2.11] Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) Drei Songs nach Texten von Bertolt Brecht Der Matrosen-Song [6.44] Die Seeräuber-Jenny [Die Dreigroschenoper - The Threepenny Opera] [4.14] Der Bilbao-Song [8.45] Christiane Oelze (soprano) Eric Schneider (piano) rec. April 2005, Stolberger Strasse, Cologne CAPRICCIO SACD 71 062 [69.11] [JW]

Songs by Grosz, Ullmann, Korngold and Weill unveiled - a laudable enterprise but ultimately less revealing than a previous Capriccio collection ... see Full Review

Vienna Johann STRAUSS junior (1825-1899) Morning Papers, Op. 279 (1864) [08.10]; Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 (1888) [07.42]; By the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314 (1867) [08.12]Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 (1819) [08.57] Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870) Village Swallows, Op. 164 (1864) [07.36] Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Waltzes from Der Rosenkavalier (1910) arr. Fritz Reiner [08.41] Johann STRAUSS Junior (1825-1899) Vienna Blood, Op. 354 (1873) [08.56]; Roses from the South, Op. 388 (from The Queen's Lace Handkerchief) (1880) [08.41]; Treasure Waltz, Op. 418 (from The Gypsy Baron) (1885) [08.07]; Thunder and Lightning, Op. 324 (1868) [02.57] Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner rec. Orchestra Hall, Chicago, USA, 15-16 April 1957; 25-26 April 1960. ADD BMG-RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SACD 82876716152 [78.03][MC]

Reiner is able effortlessly to adapt to the contrasting moods and fast-changing tempos... He delivers real excitement ... see Full Review

Tomáš Víšek (piano) Srdce na Vysočině Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Opening of the Wells (1955) [19.31] * Adagio (1957) [2.49] Vitěslav NOVÁK (1870-1949) Máj (Intermezzo I) (1888) [11.43] Václav KAPRÁL (1889-1947) Nokturno (Concert Etude) [8.19] Jaroslav KŘIČKA (1882-1969) Veselé kousky (Joyful Pieces) Op.13 [12.18] Vítěslava KAPRÁLOVÁ (1915-1940) Groteskní passacgalia (Grotesque Passacaglia) [2.24] Otakar ŠÍN (1881-1943) Amoroso (Intimní nálady) Op.5/4 [7.20] Jaroslav JEŽEK (1906-1942) Když jsem kytici vázala (When I Bound the Bunch of Flowers) [2.56]  Tomáš Víšek (piano) Petr Matuszek (baritone)/Nadia Zakhourová (speaker)/Klára Kartáková (soprano), Markéta Dvořáková (mezzo), Jan Valta Jr and Eva Nováková (violins), Milan Líkař (viola)/Girls Students Choir of Teplice Conservatory/Jan Valta (conductor) – in the Opening of the Wells * rec. June-July 2001, Concert Hall of Teplice Conservatory, Czech Republic TOMÁS VÍŠEK TV 0002-2254 [67.30][JW]

Those seeking out the byways of the Czech pianistic muse will appreciate this release and there are some intriguing paths to be followed here ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH War’s Embers. A legacy of songs by composers who perished or suffered in World War I Gerald FINZI (1901-1956) Only a man harrowing clods SV [4:08]; Ivor GURNEY (1890-1937) The twa corbies MG [4:52]; Black Stitchel MG [2:21]; Blaweary MG [1:30]; The fiddler of Dooney MG [1:57]; Goodnight to the meadow MG [1:21]; The ship MG [2:26]; The boat is chafing MG [1:19]; Cathleen ni Houlihan MG [2:54]; Edward, Edward MG [6:01]; The night of Trafalgar MG [2:18]; Thou didst delight my eyes MG [3:23]; To violets MG [1:05]; Last hours MG [4:52]; Ernest FARRAR (1885-1918) The wanderer's song SV [2:56]; Silent noon SV [3:51]; The roadside fire SV [1:57]; Brittany SV [1:47]; Come you, Mary SV [0:58]; Who would shepherd pipes SV [1:45]; W Denis BROWNE (1888-1915) Arabia MH [5:24]; Diaphenia MH [2:05]; Epitaph on Salathiel Pavy MH [4:41]; To Gratiana dancing and singing MH [4:17]; Frederick KELLY (1881-1916) Shall I compare thee? SV [3:27]; George BUTTERWORTH (1885-1916) Requiescat SV. Michael George (bass) MG; Martyn Hill (tenor) MH; Stephen Varcoe (baritone) SV Clifford Benson (piano) rec. 21-23 April 1987. Location unspecified. AAD A full track listing is given at the end of this review Recording sponsored by The Finzi Trust HYPERION HELIOS CDH55237 [JQ]

This is a self-recommending issue to all lovers of the treasury that is the English song repertory. ... see Full Review

 


BOOK REVIEWS

William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music by Ian Johnson Published by Boydell Press (London 2005) 357 pp, ISBN 184383 1597

Songs of Gaelic Scotland by Anne Lorne Gillies Birlinn Ltd ISBN10 : 84158 018 X ISBN13 : 978 1 84158 018 Ł30 [CSS]

A hefty volume, substantially and beautifully bound, from which Gael and non-Gael alike will derive lasting pleasure. ... see Full Review

Changing Tunes: The Use Of Pre-Existing Music In Film Phil Powrie and Robynn Stilwell, editors Ashgate Publisthing, Gower House, Croft Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 3HR 205 Pages ISBM-10:0 7546 5137 1

The book only gives up its treasures slowly. Much careful reading and consideration will be needed on the part of the reader. ... see Full Review

Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  
[Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L]
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]



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