Charles
CAMILLERI
(b. 1951) Piano
Concerto No. 1 Mediterranean (1948
rev. 1978) [27:13] Piano Concerto No. 2 Maqam
(1967-68) [19:33] Piano Concerto No. 3 Leningrad
(1987) [20:05] 
André de Groote (piano) Bournemouth
SO/Michael Laus Winter Gardens, Bournemouth,
UK, 1993. DDD
TALENT DOM 2910 56 [67:20] [RB]
Three
stimulating piano concertos the last two of
which are as dissonant as the first is melodic-tonal.
... see Full Review
Francis
CHAGRIN (1905-1972)
Film Music Overture
from Helter Skelter (1949) [6:34] From
An Inspector Calls (1954) [3:25] From
The Colditz Story (1954) [3:31] Suite
from Greyfriars Bobby (1961) [11:42]
From The Four Just Men (1959) [3:05]
The Hoffnung Symphony Orchestra (1965)
[5:19] Four Orchestral Episodes from The
Intruder (1953) [11:11] From Easy Money
(1947) [6:40] Suite from Last Holiday
(1950) [14:19] Yugoslav Sketches from
The Bridge (1946) [10:42]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Rumon Gamba rec.
Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
June 2004
CHANDOS CHAN10323 [77:34] [IL]
Nicely
crafted music, often quite witty, if not especially memorable ...
see Full Review
Ernst CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Concerto
in D major for violin, piano and string quartet Op.21 (1891) see DVOŘÁK
Luigi
CHERUBINI (1760-1842) 1.
Missa Solemnis in E [40:22] 2. Antifona sul canto fermo 8.tona
[2:45]
3. Nemo gaudeat [7:28] Ruth Ziesak
(soprano) (1); Marianna Pizzolato (mezzo) (1); Herbert Lippert (tenor) (1); Ildar
Abdrazakov (bass) (1);
Barbara Fleckenstein (soprano) (2,3); Barbara
Müller (alto) (2,3); Andrew Meyer (tenor) (2,3); Bernhard Schneider (tenor) (2,3);
Christoph Hartkopf (bass) (2,3); Harald Feller (organ) (3); Max Hanft (organ)
(3) Bayerischen Rundfunks/Peter Dijkstra Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
(1)/Ricardo Muti rec. live 22-23 June, 2006, Philharmonie am Gasteig Munich,
Germany. DDD (1); rec. 18-19 April, 2007, Herkulessaal der Residenz Munich, Germany.
DDD (2,3) EMI CLASSICS 3943162 [50:53]
[MS]
An
under-recorded and under-performed corner of the repertoire receives
a performance that on the whole does it justice. Sets the scene
for different, more expansive, interpretations in the future ...
see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Luigi CHERUBINI (1760-1842) Coronation
Mass (1825) [50:47]
Marche réligieuse (1825) [5:11] Philharmonia
Chorus Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti rec. 1985. DDD. Texts and Translations
included. EMI CLASSICS 49302 
[56:00]
[GPu]
A
glorious performance of a choral masterpiece … see Full
Review
Man I Sing Bob
CHILCOTT (b. 1955)
The Making of the Drum (1997)* [14:25] My Prayer ((2000) [5:20] Advent
Antiphons (2004) [11:41] The Shepherd’s Carol (2000) [3:03] And Every
Stone Shall Cry (2003) [3:55] Pange Lingua (2002) [3:54] The Modern
Man I Sing (1991) [7:34] Beach (2004)** [6:11] Simple Pictures of Tomorrow
(2005) [7:42] Weather Report (2005) [4:43]
BBC Singers/Bob Chilcott *Simone Rebello (percussion)/**Paul Silverthorne
(viola) rec. 19. 26-27 July 2006, St. Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge,
London. DDD Texts and translations included.
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD100 [69:30][JQ]
A
most attractive package ... see Full
Review
Giovanni
Paolo CIMA (c.1570-1630) Sonata a 2 (1610), Sonata
a 2 (1610), Sonata a 3 (1610), Sonata a 4 (1610)
Andrea
CIMA (fl.1606-1627) Capriccio a 2 (1610),
Capriccio a 4 (1610) see FONTANA
Antonín
DVOŘÁK
(1841-1904) Piano
Trio No. 3 in F minor Op. 65 B130 (1882) [35:18] ¹ Piano Quartet in
E flat major Op. 87 B162 (1889) [33:38] ² Romantische Stücke Op.
75 B150 (1887) [7:28] ³ Ernst CHAUSSON
(1855-1899) Concerto in D major for violin, piano and string quartet
Op.21 (1891) [37:20] º
Louis Kaufman (violin) Artur Balsam (piano) and Marcel Cervera (cello)
¹ Artur Balsam (piano), Peter Rybar (violin) Oskar Kromer (viola) and
Antonio Tusa (cello) ² Louis Kaufman (violin) and Artur Balsam (piano)
³ Louis Kaufman (violin) and Artur Balsam (piano) with the Pascal String
Quartet º rec. c.1949-52
BRIDGE 9225 [69:42 + 45:31] [JW]
Kaufman
and Balsam admirers will find much on which
to feast ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Manuel
de FALLA (1876-1946) El sombrero de tres picos (1919)
see RAVEL
Giovanni Battista FONTANA
(d. c.1630)
Sonata No.1 (1641) [3:46] Sonata No.2 (1641) [6:17] Sonata No.3 (1641)
[4:41] Sonata No.4 (1641) [5:14] Sonata No.5 (1641) [5:03] Sonata No.6
(1641) [6:06] Sonata No.7 (1641) [5:28] Sonata No.8 (1641) [7:55] Sonata
No.9 (1641) [5:36] Sonata No.10 (1641) [6:35] Sonata No.11 (1641) [5:02]
Sonata No.12 (1641) [5:24] Sonata No.13 (1641) [5:18] Sonata No.14 (1641)
[6:04] Sonata No.15 (1641) [4:44] Sonata No.16 (1641) [5:15] Sonata
No.17 (1641) [5:15] Sonata No.18 (1641) [5:56] Giovanni
Paolo CIMA (c.1570-1630) Sonata a 2 (1610) [4:22] Sonata
a 2 (1610) [4:07] Sonata a 3 (1610) [3:24] Sonata a 4 (1610) [3:54]
Andrea CIMA (fl.1606-1627)
Capriccio a 2 (1610) [4:00] Capriccio a 4 (1610) [3:44] Francesco
TURINI (c.1589-1656) Sonata a 2 violini (1624) [4:29]
Sonata a 3, ‘Il Corosino’ (1624) [4:08] Sonata a 3, ‘E tanto tempo hormai’ (1624)
[3:47] Somata a 3 (1624) [5:57] Sinfonia a 3 (1624) [2:21] Galiarda
a 3 (1624) [1:44] Ensemble
Sonnerie: Monica Huggett (violin); Bruce Dickey (cornetto); Sarah
Cunningham
(cello); Gary Cooper (harpsichord; 3-stop organ; virginals); Pavlo
Beznosiuk (violin); Emilia Benjamin (viola); Doron David Shwerwin
(cornetto);
Frances Eustace (gedackt dulcian); Stephen Saunders (sackbut); Elizabeth
Kenny (chitaronne; baroque guitar); Erin Headley (lirione); Siobhán
Armstrong (arpia doppia) rec. 17-19, 21-23 August 1995, St. Jude-on-the-Hill,
Hampstead, London VIRGIN
VERITAS 3 87002 2 [72:42 + 73:17] [GPu]
A
delightful collection of music which is also of major historical
importance in the evolution of post-Renaissance instrumental
music … see Full Review
Francesco
GEMINIANI (1687-1762) Violin
Sonatas op. 5 Sonata, Op. 5 No. IV in D major [6:12] Sonata,
Op. 5 No. I in A major [9:04] Sonata, Op. 5 No. III in C major
[11:46] Sonata, Op. 5 No. II in F sharp minor [9:14] Sonata
for violin solo in B flat major [8:42] Sonata, Op. 5 No. V
in B flat major [7:02]
Sonata, Op. 5 No. VI in D minor [7:54] Anton
Steck (violin); Christian
Rieger (harpsichord); Markus Möllenbeck (cello) rec. 5-7 January, 2005, WDR Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal
Cologne, Germany. DDD CPO 777
225-2 [59:59] [MS]
Wonderful,
self-possessed Italianate string sonatas by the mature Geminiani
played with delicacy, sensitivity and warmth by three dedicated
experts. Definitely one to keep and play often ... see Full
Review
Philip
GLASS (b.
1937)
Music in the Shape of a Square
CD1 Music in Similar Motion (1969)
[12:38] Strung Out (1967) [14:28] Piece
in the Shape of a Square (1968) [11:27]
Gradus (1968) [10:19] Music in Contrary
Motion (1969) [28:35] CD2 600
Lines (1968) [40:13] How Now (1968)
[20:14]
Alter Ego: (Manuel Zurria (flute); Paolo Ravaglia
(clarinet); Francesco Peverini (violin); Francesco
Dillon (cello); Oscar Pizzo (electric keyboard);
Gianluca Ruggeri (marimba); Giuseppe Pistone
(electric guitar); Fulvia Ricevuto (vibraphone,
marimba) rec. Motevarchi, 16-17 December 1999;
Piccolo Regio, 16 September 2002. DDD
ORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC OMM0034 [77:27 +
60:27] [PG]
This
set is worthy of exploration, though probably not the best entry
point for someone unfamiliar with either Glass’s work or minimalism
generally ... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Alexander
GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Violin Concerto in A minor (1904) see SIBELIUS
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Symphony in C minor*
(1864) [32:48] Old Norwegian Romance with Variations+ (1890 orch.
1906) [22:14] Three Orchestral Pieces from Sigurd Jorsalfar +:
Prelude (In the King’s Hall); Intermezzo (Borghild’s Dream); Homage
March [16:30]
Malmö Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset rec. Concert Hall of the Malmö
Symphony Orchestra, Sweden, 22-24 August 2005* and 10-13 April 2006+.
DDD NAXOS 8.557991
[71:32][IL]
Grieg’s
‘forbidden’ Symphony might be derivative;
nevertheless it is a real find. A delightful
programme with all the freshness of a Norwegian
spring. ... see Full
Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Orchestrated
Piano Pieces Slåtter, Op. 72 (arr. O. Sommerfeldt)
1) No. 8. Bruremarsch (etter Myllarguten) (Wedding March after Myllarguten)
2) No. 4. Haugelat: Halling (Halling from The Fairy Hill) 3) No 2.
John
Vestafes springdans (Jon Vestafe's Springar) Norwegian Dances Op.
35 (arr. H. Sitt) 4) No. 1. Allegro marcato 5) No. 2. Allegretto
tranquillo e grazioso 6) No. 3. Allegro moderato alla marcia 7) No.
4. Allegro molto 8) Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak, EG
107
(arr. J. Halvorsen) 9) Folkelivsbilleder, Op. 19: No. 2. Brudefolget
drager forbi (Bridal Procession) (arr. J. Halvorsen) 10) Ballade,
Op. 24 (arr. G. Tveitt) 11) Lyric Pieces, Book 5, Op. 54: No.
6. Klokkeklang (Ringing Bells) (arr. E. Grieg and A. Seidl)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset rec. Henry Wood Hall,
Glasgow, 2-3 May 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557854 [62:11][WK]
Grieg
as it should sound. ... see Full Review
Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto in
A minor, Op.16 (1868) [30:34] Six Lyric Pieces, Book VIII, Op.65 (1896)
(From Early Years [4:41]; Peasant’s Song [2:22]; Melancholy [4:44];
Salon [1:56]; Ballad [4:12]; Wedding Day at Troldhaugen [6:28]) Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No.2 in A, S215 (1839, perf.1857,
pub. 1863) [21:45]
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitri Kitayenko
rec. 1990, venue not stated (actually Grieghallen, Bergen). DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS VIRGO 3 91369 2 [77:24][BW]
Good
performances, well recorded, at an affordable
price. If this unusual coupling suits your
requirements, buy with confidence … see Full
Review
Cristóbal
HALFFTER (b.
1930) Odradek (1996) [20:24] Dortmunder
Variationen (1986/7) [18:10] Tiento del primer tono
y battalla imperial (1986) [10:35] Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester
Frankfurt/Cristóbal Halffter rec. Hessischer Rundfunk, Sendesaal,
Frankfurt am Main, October 1998. DDD COL
LEGNO WWE 20204 [51:46] [HC]
Composer
conducted vital readings that secure a formidably committed response,
which makes this under-filled release a welcome addition to his
discography ... see Full
Review
Adam DE LA HALLE
(c.1237-1288)
D’Amoureus
Cuer Voel Chanter see review for details
Les Jardins de Courtoisie; Anne Delafosse-Quentin
(soprano) rec. 20-24 March, 2006, l’église
de Pranles, France. DDD
ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT070401 [73:00]
[MS]
Chansons
by a leading trouvère sung and performed
with perhaps just a touch of over-interpretation
at times. A valuable contribution to this
very special repertoire by a dedicated and
enthusiastic group. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH George Frideric
HANDEL (1685-1759) Opera
Arias CD1: Arias and Overtures, 1704-26 CD2:
Arias and Duets from the era of ‘The Rival Queens’ 1726-28 CD3:
Arias and Overtures 1729-41
see end of review for details Emma
Kirkby (soprano) Catherine Bott (soprano, CD2) The Brandenburg Consort/Roy Goodman
rec. St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, 25-27 September1995
(CD1); 2-4 January 1997 (CD2); 14-16 June 1999 (CD3). DDD. Detailed notes in
English, French and German. Texts in Italian with English
translation HYPERION CDS44271/3 [3CDs:
75:39 + 76:06 + 70:40] [BW]
Delightful
music, delightfully sung, well accompanied and recorded. At bargain
price, irresistible … see Full
Review
John
HARBISON (b.
1938) Piano
Trio No. 2 'Short Stories' (2003): I. Tale [5:58]; II. Ballad
[3:32]; III. Rumors and Reports [4:20]; IV. Enigma [3:51] Gatsby
Etudes (1999): No. 1 Parlors [1:57]; No. 2 Parties [2:47];
No.
3 The Green Light [3:46] The Violist's Notebook (2002), Book I [7:47];
Book II [7:44] Ten MicroWaltzes (2004) [8:20] Cucaraccia and Fugue*
(2003): I. Cucaraccia [1:18]; II. Fugue [3:03] Cello Suite (1993): I. Preludio
[2:09]; II. Fuga – Burletta [2:41]; III. Sarabanda [2:21]; IV. Giga [1:35] Piano
Trio No. 1 (1968) [7:24] Amelia
Piano Trio (Anthea Kreston (violin and viola); Jason Duckles (cello); Rieko Aizawa
(piano)); * Steven Tenenbom; Ida Kavafian; John Harbison (violas) rec. 5-10 May
2006, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, USA NAXOS
AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559243 [70:30] [DM]
For
the casual explorer it offers a good, inexpensive entrée to Harbison’s
musical world ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Franz
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Symphony No. 88 in G (?1787)
[20:05] Symphony No. 89 in F (1787) [21:06] Symphony No. 90 in C (1788)
[26:27] Symphony No. 90 in C: finale (alternative version) [6:50] Symphony
No. 91 in E flat (1788) [23:00] Symphony No. 92 in G ‘Oxford’ (1789)
[24:47] Sinfonia concertante in B flat for violin, cello, oboe and bassoon
(1792)* [21:24]
Toru Yasunaga (violin); Georg Faust (cello); *Jonathan Kelly (oboe);
*Stefan Schweigert (bassoon) Berliner Philharmoniker/Sir Simon Rattle
rec. live, 8-10, 14-17 February 2007, Philharmonie, Berlin. DDD
EMI CLASSICS 0946 3 94237 2 9 [75:47 + 69:31][JQ]
A
set to lift the spirits. ... see Full
Review
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809)
Cello
Concerto No.1 in C major Hob. VIIb:1 (1761-1765) [23:24] Symphony No.60
"Il Distratto" (1774) [27:57] Cello Concerto No.2 in D major
Hob.VIIb:2 (1782) [23:48]
Quirine Viersen (cello)
Combattimento Consort Amsterdam/Jan Willem de Vriend rec. Waalse Kerk,
Amsterdam, 8-10 February 2006. DDD. DSD. SACD.
ET'CETERA
KTC 5251 SACD [75:09] [TP]
This
is a disc worth seeking out ... see Full
Review
Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809)
The Seven Last Words From the Cross, Hob.III:50-56, Op.51,
No.1-7 (1787)
Cherubini Quartet (Christoph Poppen, Harald Schoneweg (violins); Harold
Schlichtig (viola); Klaus Kämper
(cello)) rec. 18-20 July 1988, Haydn-Saal,
Schloss Eisenstadt
EMI CLASSICS CDC 7 49682
[77:02][GPu]
A
slow, monumental, and yet intimate performance of the quartet version
of one of Haydn’s masterpieces … see Full
Review
Franz
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809) The
Complete Piano Sonatas - Vol. 6 Piano sonata in
E minor, Hob.XVI: 47 (before 1766) [10:23] Piano sonata in
E flat major, Hob.XVI: 45 (before 1766) [18:48] Piano sonata
in D major, Hob.XVI: 51 (1795) [5:28] Piano sonata in C major,
Hob.XVI: 48 (1789) [12:02] Piano sonata in E minor, Hob.XVI:
34 (1778) [13:27]* Roland
Batik (piano) rec. 26-27 May 1997, Studio Burgenland, Eisenstadt,
29 April 1998, Studio Baumgarten, Vienna*. DDD CAMERATA
CM-546 [61:13] [TP]
Haydn
playing that caresses the ear … perfect late night listening
... see Full Review
Hans
Werner HENZE (b.1930)
Piano
works Lucy
Escott Variations (1963) [9:21] Varationen für
Klavier op.13 (1948) [11:35] Une petite phrase (1964) [2:45] Präludien
zu «Tristan» (2003) [14:42] Cherubino (1980-81) [9:52] Toccata mistica
(1994) [5:38] Sonatina 1947 (1947) [9:06] Sonata per pianoforte (1959)
[16:03] Jan Philip Schulze
(piano) rec. November 10-12 2005, Studio 2, Bayerischer Rundfunk,
Munich
COL LEGNO WWE 20250
[79:44] [DC]
Henze
shows himself as a man of his times, and one
to which we owe a duty to hear. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
HOLST (1874-1934) The Mystic Trumpeter op.18
(1904) see VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS
Gottfried
August HOMILIUS
(1714-1785) St
John Passion (HoWV 1.4)
Jana Reiner, Katja Fischer (soprano); Franz Vitzthum (alto); Jan Kobow
(tenor); Tobias Berndt, Clemens Heidrich (bass) Dresdner Kreuzchor Dresdner
Barockorchester/Roderich Kreile rec. March 2006, Lukaskirche, Dresden,
Germany. DDD CARUS 83.261
[52:21 + 66:49] [JV]
An
interesting and musically rewarding addition
to the repertoire of Passion music - a very
fine performance ... strongly recommended
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gottfried
August HOMILIUS
(1714-1785) Ein
Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld
- Passion cantata (HoWV 1.2)
Monika Mauch (soprano); Bogna Bartosz (contralto);
Markus Brutscher (tenor); Hans Christoph Begemann
(bass) Basler Madrigalisten Neue Düsseldorfer
Hofmusik/Fritz Näf rec. March 2006, Reformierte
Kirche, Arlesheim, Switzerland. DDD
CARUS
83.262 [59:30 + 34:17] [JV]
A
Passion oratorio of impressive quality - this
recording goes straight to the top of my list
of records of the year... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH John IRELAND
(1879-1962)
CD 1 Phantasie Trio in A minor (In one Movement) (1908) [13:14]
Trio No. 2 in E (In one Movement) (1917) [15:11] Trio No. 3 in E (1938)
[28:35] Yfrah Neaman (violin);
Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); Eric Parkin (piano)CD 2 Sextet
for Clarinet, Horn and String Quartet (1898) [28:11] Sonata for Cello
and Piano (1924) [24:19] Fantasy-Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (in one
Movement) (1943) [14:00] Emanuel Hurwitz, Ivor MacMahon (violins); Cecil
Aronowitz, (viola); Terence Weil (cello); Gervase de Peyer (clarinet);
Neill Sanders (horn) André Navarra (cello); Eric Parkin (piano)CD
3 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor (1911) [30:44] Violin Sonata
No. 2 in A minor (1917) [28:54] Yfrah Neaman (violin); Eric Parkin (piano)
rec. July 1976, St. John’s Smith Square, London (CD1); May-October 1971
(CD2); June 1972, St. John’s Smith Square, London (CD3). ADD
LYRITA SRCD.2271 [3 CDs: 57:00 + 66:30 + 59:38] [RB]
An
extremely valuable and pleasing collection.
Essential listening if you are drawn to the
tonal lyrical-impressionistic vein in twentieth
century music ... see Full
Review
John IRELAND
(1879-1962)
The
Songs CD 1 Songs of a Wayfarer;
When Lights go rolling round the sky;
Hope the Hornblower; Sea Fever;
Marigold; Five Poems by Thomas Hardy;
Three Songs; We’ll to the Woods
no more CD 2 Two Songs;
Songs Sacred & Profane; Five
XVIth Century Songs; Blow out you Bugles;
If there were Dreams to sell; I
have twelve Oxen; Spring Sorrow;
The Bells of San Marie; The Journey;
The merry month of May; Vagabond;
When I am dead my dearest; Santa
Chiara; Great Things; If we
must part; Tutto e sciolto CD
3 Songs for Tenor: The Heart’s desire;
The sacred flame; Remember;
Hawthorne Time; The East Riding;
Love is a sickness full of woes; The
Land of Lost Content; Two Songs
Songs for Contralto: The Three Ravens;
Bed in Summer; Mother & Child;
Earth’s Call; Three Arthur Symons
Songs; What art thou thinking of?;
Three Thomas Hardy Songs
Benjamin Luxon (baritone) (CD1; CD2); John
Mitchinson (tenor) (CD3); Alfreda Hodgson
(contralto) (CD3); Alan Rowlands (piano)rec.
St John’s Smith Square, London August 1972,
July 1973, November 1973 (CD1; CD2); August
1978 (CD3). ADD Full song texts in English
only
LYRITA SRCD.2261 [3 CDs: 61:26 + 58:08
+ 64:10] [JF]
A
fine addition to the collections of all enthusiasts of John Ireland’s
music in particular and British Music in general. ... see Full
Review
Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Symphony no.3 ‘The
Camp Meeting’* (1901-1904) [21:58] Ragtime Dances (1899-1904) [12:08]+
Robert Browning Overture (1908-1912) [26:03]**
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken/Michael Stern rec. Saarbrücken,
Funkhaus Halberg, Musikstudio I, March 23, 2000*, May 19,2000+, November
15-16, 1999** COL LEGNO
WWE1CD20225 [60:09][OEW]
A
worthy addition to the Ives catalogue, this could serve well as an introduction
to a unique musical voice. ... see Full
Review
Charles
IVES (1874-1954) Variations on ‘America’
(trans. William E. Rhoads) [6:24] Overture and March ‘1776’
(trans. James B. Sinclair) [2:55] They are there! (trans.
James B. Sinclair) [2:29] Old Home Days Suite (selected
and arranged by Jonathan Elkus) I. Waltz [1:30]
II. The Opera House and Old Home Day [1:55] III. The Collection
[2:14] IV. Slow March [1:14] V. London Bridge Is Fallen
Down! [1:07] March Intercollegiate (ed. Keith Brion)
[3:32] Fugue in C minor (trans. James B. Sinclair) [6:31]
March: ‘Omega Lambda Chi’ (edited and arranged by Keith Brion)
[3:02] Variations on ‘Jerusalem the Golden’ (edited and arranged
by Keith Brion) [4:15] A Son of a Gambolier (trans. Jonathan
Elkus) [3:50] Postlude in F major (trans. Kenneth Singleton)
[4:24] ‘Country Band’ March (trans. James B. Sinclair)
[4:20] Decoration Day (trans. Jonathan Elkus) [8:15]
Charlie Rutlage (trans. James B. Sinclair) [2:36] The
Circus Band (trans. Jonathan Elkus) [2:44] Runaway Horse
on Main Street (reconstructed and edited by James B. Sinclair) [1:16]
March No. 6 with ‘Here's to Good Old Yale’ (freely adapted for
the U.S. Marine Band by Jonathan Elkus) [2:52] ‘The Alcotts’
(trans. for U.S. Marine Band by Jonathan Elkus) [5:56]
‘The President’s Own’ United States Marine Band/Colonel Timothy W. Foley
rec. 2-6 June 2003, Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, Northern Virginia
Community College, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
NAXOS WIND BAND CLASSICS 8.570559 [73:21][DM]
This
passes muster but it’s all too sedate. Perhaps
one needs a more unruly beast and a driver
willing to loosen the reins a little more.
... see Full
Review
Gordon JACOB
(1895-1984) Symphony
No. 1 (1929) [34:18] Symphony No. 2 in C major (1945) [32:01]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth rec. no information given.
DDD world premiere recording of Symphony No. 1
LYRITA SRCD.315 [65:19] [JQ]
This
is another winner from Lyrita. ... see Full
Review
Leoš
JANÁČEK
(1854-1928)
String Quartet No. 1, "The Kreutzer Sonata"
(1923) [17:23] String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate
Letters" (1928) [25:04]
Panocha String Quartet (Jiří Panocha;
Pavel Zejfart (violins); Miroslav Sehnoutka
(viola); Jaroslav Kulhan (cello)) rec. Dominova
Studio, Prague, 27 April, 10-11 June 1995.
DDD
SUPRAPHON SU3906-2 [42:33] [CC]
This
disc appears now at mid-price. The timing
is remarkably low but despite this these remain
eminently recommendable performances ... see
Full
Review
Daniel
JONES
(1912-1993)
Symphony No. 4 (1954) [31:35] Symphony No. 7 (1972) [21:54] Symphony
No. 8 (1972) [24:32] Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Groves (Sy 4 & 7) BBC Welsh Symphony
Orchestra/Bryden Thomson (Sy 8) rec. 18-19 April 1972, Studio No. 1
Abbey Road, London (4, 7) originally released on EMI ASD 2855; 10-11
February 1979, BBC Llandaff originally released on BBC Regium REGL 359
(8). ADD The original recordings with support from the Welsh Arts Council.
CD transfer and re-mastering supported by the Arts Council of Wales.
LYRITA SRCD.329 [78.05] [OW]
A
good introduction to a distinctive Welsh voice. Not an uplifting
experience, however ... see Full Review
Joseph Jongen
(1873-1953) Messe en l’honneur du Saint-Sacrement
Op.130 (1945-1948) [34:06] Deus Abraham Motet pour une messe
de marriage W150 (1909) [3:21] Pie Jesu No.1 of
Deux Motets W71 (1895) [2:49] Quid sum miser? No.1 of
Trois Motets W99 (1899) [4:43] Flor
Peeters (1903-1986) Missa Festiva Op.62 for
choir and organ (1947) [27:31] Thomas
Gould (violin); Paul Provost (organ) London City Brass The Choir of
St John’s College, Cambridge/David Hill rec. St John’s College Chapel,
Cambridge, 10-12 July 2006. Latin texts and English translations
HYPERION CDA67603 [72:50] [JQ]
I’m
very glad to have had the opportunity to get
to know these works in such fine performances
through this typically enterprising release
... see Full
Review
Joseph
JONGEN (1873-1953) Symphonie
Concertante, Op. 81 (1926) [36:25] Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Symphony No. 3 'Organ', Op.
78 (1886) [36:29] Olivier
Latry (organ)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège/Pascal Rophé rec. 10-14 July 2006, Salle Philharmonique,
Liège, Belgium CYPRES
CYP7610 [72:54]
[DM]
The
Saint-Saëns has all the adrenaline you could ask for ... see Full
Review
Scott JOPLIN
(1868-1917)
Piano Rags Vol. 2 Rag-Time Dance, A Stop-Time
Two Step (1899) [3:05] A Breeze from Alabama, March and
Two Step (1902) [4:19] The Chrysanthemum, An Afro-American
Intermezzo (1904) [4:42]Peacherine Rag (1902) [3:47]The
Cascades, A Rag (1904) [3:14]Weeping Willow, A Rag-Time
Two Step (1903) [4:22] Gladiolus Rag (1907) [4:26]Eugenia
(1905) [4:40]The Crush Collision March (1896)
[4:52]Reflection Rag, Syncopated Musings (1917) [4:51]Magnetic
Rag (1914) [5:21]Swipesy – Cake Walk (1900)
[3:22] Scott Joplin's New Rag (1912) [4:03]Rose Leaf Rag, A Rag-Time
Two Step (1907) [4:04]The Rosebud March (1905)
[2:49]Stoptime Rag (1910) [2:51]
Benjamin Loeb (piano) rec. 5-8 August 2005, Performing Arts Centre,
The Country Day School, Ontario, Canada. DDD
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559277 [64:48] [DM]
A
winning compilation, sympathetically played. The Naxos engineers
have done a pretty good job too ... see Full
Review
John
JOUBERT (b.
1927) Symphony No. 1 Op.20 (1955) [31:17] London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
rec. early 1990s? LYRITA SRCD.322 [31:17]
[HC]
This
splendid and heartily committed performance by one of the staunchest
champions of British music aptly crowns Joubert’s birthday celebrations
... see Full Review
Manolis
KALOMIRIS (1883-1962) Triptych
for Orchestra (1937-1940) [22.16] Symphony No 3 ‘Palamian’ in
D minor for orchestra with dramatic recitation (1955) [30.39] Three
Greek Dances (1934) [8.46] The Destruction of Psara (1949?)
[1.34] Nikitas Tsakiroglou
(orator) Athens State Orchestra/Byron Fidetzis rec. Athens Concert Hall
Recording Centre, 20 June-2 July 2005. DDD
NAXOS 8.557970 [63.15][GH]
At
Naxos price this disc is worth investigating but be prepared for an
epic struggle. ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hugo KAUDER (1888-1972)
String
Quartet No. 1 (1921) [23:14] String Quartet No. 2 (1924) [17:34] String
Quartet No. 3 (1926) [15:09] String Quartet No. 4 (1927) [15: 25]
The Euclid Quartet (Jameson Cooper and Jacob Murphy (violins); Luis
Vargas (viola); Amy Joseph (cello)). rec. 12-14 August, 12-13 November
2005, St. Bridget’s Church, Solon, Iowa
CENTAUR CRC 2840 [71:28] [KS]
A
composer with a great gift for melody ...
these are works of great richness and subtlety
finely executed by outstanding performers
... see Full
Review
Constant LAMBERT
(1905-1951)
Romeo
and Juliet - A Ballet in two Tableaux
(1924-25) [30:00] Pomona - A Ballet
in one Act (1926) [20:36] Music for Orchestra
* (1927) [13:19] King Pest: Rondo
Burlesca ** (1935) [9:14]
English Chamber Orchestra/Norman Del Mar London
Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth *Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Simon Joly ** rec.
DDD*; July 1977, Kingsway Hall, London, ADD
LYRITA SRCD.215 [73:14] [IL]
Most
of this album is devoted to the ballet music
of Constant Lambert; but all of it is very
theatrical. ... see Full
Review
Jean
LANGLAIS (1907-1991) Esquisses
Romanes et Gothiques for two organs Trois Esquisses
Gothiques (1975) [18:29] (Maestoso [5:36]; Virgo dei genitrix
[3:37]; Séquence pour la fête de la dédicace [9:15]) Canzona (from Folkloric
Suite) [3:34] Pasticcio (from Organ Book)
[2:34] Prélude (from Suite Médiévale) [2:37] Tiento (from Suite
Médiévale) [3:36] Dialogue sur les mixtures (from Suite
Brève) [3:33] Plainte (from Suite Brève)
[5:11] Incantation pour un Jour Saint (from Pâques)
[4:52] Trois Esquisses Romanes [26:53] (Moderato [8:11];
Allegro vivo [10:57]; Allegro [7:43]) Jacques
Kauffmann (grand orgue; petit orgue (Esquisses)) Frédéric
Ledroit (grand orgue (Esquisses)) rec. 13, 15 April
2004, Catédrale Angoulême. DDD Notes and organ specifications
included SKARBO
DSK4053 [71:21]
[WK]
Overall
a gripping traversal of an unjustly neglected part of the composer’s
output ... see Full Review
Pierre
de LA RUE (c.1460-1518) CD1 Magnificat
Tone IV [15:05] Magnificat Tone I [12:11] Salve
regina V [8:20] Magnificat Tone VII
[10:45] Magnificat Tone II [10:46] ANONYMOUS (15th, 16th centuries) Antiphon,
'Sancta Maria succurre miseris' [01:44] Antiphon,
'Tribus miraculis' [01:32] Antiphon,
'Dedit mihi Dominus pennas' [00:30] Antiphon,
'Virgo gloriosa' [00:51] CD2 Pierre de LA RUE Salve regina II [10:05] Magnificat
Tone VI [13:05] Magnificat Tone VIII
[12:54] Salve regina IV [8:08] Magnificat
Tone V [11:00] ANONYMOUS Antiphon,
'O quam gloriosum est regnum' [00:54] Antiphon,
'Dum medium silentium' [01:00] Antiphon,
'Bene omnia fecit' [00:23] VivaVoce ((Deirdre
Brown (soprano); Mary Beth Campbell (soprano)*; Cynthia Gates
(soprano); Charmian Harvey (soprano)*; Marie Magistry (soprano);
Carole Therien (soprano); Dan Cabena (alto); Lori Henig (alto);
Josée Lalonde (alto); Éric Tremblay
(alto); Stephen Bélanger (tenor); Bernard Cayouette (tenor); Micah Lamb (tenor);
Garth MacPhee (tenor); Martin Auclair (bass)*; Alfred Lagrenade (bass); Philippe
Martel (bass); Normand Richard (bass); Yves Saint-Amant (bass) [* sing in Magnificat
I, Magnificat VI only])/Peter Schubert rec. August, 2005;
June 2006, l’Église de la Visitation Montréal,
Canada. DDD NAXOS 8.557896-97 [61:53
+ 58:00] [MS]
This
well-priced and welcome two-CD set from VivaVoce offers the complete
Magnificats and three of the Salve Reginas by a contemporary of
Josquin’s … well sung and presented … should appeal to lovers of
Renaissance choral polyphony ... see Full
Review
Walter
LEIGH (1905-1942) Agincourt Overture*
(1937) [11:46] Concertino for Harpsichord and String Orchestra
(1934) [9:33] Music for String Orchestra (1931-2) [6:29] A
Midsummer Night's Dream Suite for small orchestra (1936)
[14:26] (Overture, Entry of the Mechanicals, Introduction to
Act II, Intermezzo, Introduction to Act III, Wedding March,
Bergomask, Fairies' Dance, Finale) The Frogs (1936)
[5:35] Jolly Roger Overture* (1933) [3:38] Trevor
Pinnock (harpsichord) London Philharmonic Orchestra, New Philharmonia
Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. Kingsway Hall, London,
March 1980; *Walthamstow Town Hall, August 1975. ADD LYRITA
SRCD.289 [51:33] [GH] [RB]
The
journey into Walter Leigh’s music is only
just beginning [GH] ... Shorter than the usual
Lyrita compilation but that’s all they recorded
of Leigh. Satisfying in its extension of clean
Holstian neo-classicism and dashing romance
[RB] ... see Full
Review
David LEISNER
(b. 1953) Acrobats
(2002) [12:48] El Coco (1999) [3:27] Nostalgia
(1985) [5:55] Dances in the Madhouse (1982)
[12:13] Trittico (1985, rev.2002) [12:38]
1 Extremes (1987) [12:30] 2
Cavatina Duo: Eugenia Moliner (flute); Denis
Azabagic (guitar); 1 Katinka Kleijn
(cello); 2 Joshua Rubin (clarinet)
rec. 23-25 May, 31 August, 18 November 2006,
WFMT Chicago
ÇEDILLE CDR 90000 096 [60:08] [GPu]
Pleasant,
intelligent chamber music which makes engaging
listening, without being especially innovative
or challenging … see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Piano
Concerto No.1 in E flat major, S.124, R.455, (1830-49, rev. 1853, 56)
[18:58] Piano Concerto No.2 in A major, S.125 (1839-40, rev. 1849, 1861)
[21:45] Totentanz (Dance of death or Dance macabre),
Paraphrase on the ‘Dies irae’ for piano and orchestra, S.126,
R.457, (1839-49, rev. 1853, 1859) [15:19]
Arnaldo Cohen (piano) São Paulo Symphony Orchestra/John Neschling
rec. July 2005, Sala São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Super
Audio CD BIS-SACD-1530
[57:08]
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat major, S.124,
R.455, (1830-49, rev. 1853, 1856) [18:56]
Piano Concerto No.2 in A major, S.125 (1839-40,
rev. 1849, 1861) [21:48] Totentanz (Dance
of death or Dance macabre), Paraphrase
on the ‘Dies irae’ for piano and orchestra,
S.126, R.457, (1839-49, rev. 1853, 1859) [15:38]
Joseph Moog (piano) Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie
Rheinland-Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen rec. 20-21
December 2006, 11-13 January 2007, Ludwigshafen,
Philharmonie, Germany. DDD
CLAVES 50-2707 [56:40] [MC]
The
competition in the concertos and Totentanz
is extremely fierce and it is unnecessary
to look elsewhere than the distinguished Krystian
Zimerman on Deutsche Grammophon. ... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886)
Invocation,
from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses
(1847) [2:57] Hymne à la nuit,
from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses,
S.173a/1(1847) [6:39]Wiegenlied (Chant
du berceau), S.198 (1881) [3:59]Schlaflos!
Frage und Antwort, S.203 (1883) [2:37]Grosses
Konzertsolo, S.176 (1849-50) [17:08]Bagatelle
ohne Tonart, S.216a (1885) [2:59]La
Notte, from Trois Odes Funèbres,
S.516a (1864-66) [11:37] Trauervorspiel
und Trauermarsch, S.206 (1885) [6:42]
Hymne du matin, from Harmonies poétiques
et religieuses, S.173a/2 (1847) [3:43]
Isolde's Liebestod from Wagner’s Tristan
und Isolde, S.447 (arr. Liszt 1867) [6:10]
En rêve: Nocturne, S.207
(1885) [2:26] Zoltán
KOCSIS (b. 1952) Vorspiel from
Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (arr. Zoltan
Kocsis) [8:08]
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) rec. 23-25 November
2005, Fürstliche Reitbahn, Bad Arolsen,
Germany. DDD
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG
604 1350-2 [75:18] [MC]
A
decent enough recital disc but not a remarkable
one … some fascinating and worthy piano scores
that should be of particular interest to Lisztians.
... see Full
Review
Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Complete
Piano Music Vol. 24 Mephisto Waltz no.1 S514/R181 (1856-61)
[12:05] Mephisto Waltz no.2 S515/R182 (1878/9-1881) [11:12]
Mephisto Waltz no.3 S216/R38 (1883) [09:48] Mephisto Waltz
no.4 S696/R661 (1885) [02:59] Elegy no.1 S196/R76 (1874) [05:45]
Elegy no.2 S197/R77 (1878) [05:13] Grosses Konzertsolo S176/R18
[23:08] Giuseppe
Andaloro (piano) rec. 8-9 March 2005, Potton Hall, Westleton,
Suffolk, UK NAXOS
8.557814 [70:10] [CH]
Fine
playing of mostly little-known Liszt. But is fine playing enough?
... see Full Review
Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano
Concerto No.2 in A, S215 (1839, perf.1857, pub. 1863) see GRIEG
George
LLOYD (1913-1998) Symphony
No. 4 in B (1945-6) [60:02] Symphony No. 5 in B flat (1947-8)
[57:34] Symphony No. 8 (1961 orch. 1965) [45:28] Philharmonia
Orchestra/Edward Downes rec. 1982-84, London? ADD LYRITA
SRCD.2258 [3 CDs: 60:02 + 57:34 + 45:28] [EMc]
The
changing moods of the music realised to perfection, and played with
genuine commitment. The sound and balance of these recordings is excellent
… see Full Review
Dan
LOCKLAIR (b.
1949) Symphony of Seasons (Symphony no.1)
(2002) [31:06] Lairs of Soundings (A Triptych for Soprano and
String Orchestra) (1982) [10:58] Phoenix and Again (An Overture
for Full Orchestra) (1982) [5:51] In Memory – H.H.L. (for String
Orchestra) (2005) [5:16] Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (2004) [22:03]
Janeanne Houston (soprano);
Jacquelyn Bartlett (harp) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Kirk Trevor
rec. 11-15 September 2006, Concert Hall of the Slovak Radio, Bratislava,
Slovakia. DDD NAXOS
AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559337 [75:14] [GPJ]
Enjoyable
and entertaining … the strong personality of Locklair’s music is
projected successfully ... see Full
Review
Detailed
listing (last
five 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]
[Recommended
recordings]
eigh’s mus
