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PART 2
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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]

 

John ADAMS (b. 1947) Phrygian Gates (1977-78) [24:38]; American Berserk (2001) [6:04]; China Gates (1977); Hallelujah Junction (1996) [16:05] Ralph van Raat (piano); Maarten van Veen (piano) rec. 7-8 January 2006, Potton Hall, Suffolk. DDD NAXOS 8.559285 [51:01][JWi]

It is unusual for Adams' music to seem difficult, but this is one of those rare occasions ... see Full Review

John ADDISON (1920-1998) The Film Music I was Monty's Double - March (1958) [2:58] * Centennial Main Theme, (arr. Patrick Russ) (1979) [4:09] * Swashbuckler Suite (1976) [5:46] A Bridge Too Far (1977) [10:24] The Maggie - Song of the Maggie, (arr. Shaples) (1953) [2:31] Reach for the Sky (1956) [4:07] Strange Invaders (1983) [9:28] The Man Between 'Berlin Story' (1953) [2:10] Tom Jones Overture (1963) [4:45] The Charge of the Light Brigade Suite (1968) [7:19] Brandy for the Parson Opening Titles; End Titles (1951) [3:03] * Torn Curtain Main Titles, (orch. Edward B. Powell) [2:22] Touch and Go Mirror Waltz (1955) [2:41] * Sleuth (1972) [3:08] Carlton-Browne of the F.O. March, (arr. Ronald Hanmer) (1958) [1:49] * Murder, She Wrote Main Theme (1984) [2:10] BBC Concert Orchestra/Rumon Gamba rec. Watford Colosseum, 4-5 October 2006. DDD CHANDOS CHAN10418 [70:50] [IL]

One of the very best of Chandos’s British film music series with Gamba and the BBC Concert Orchestra on top form ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Isaac Manuel Francesco ALBENIZ (1860-1909) Iberia (Evocacion; El corpus en Sevilla; Triana; El Puerto; El Albaicin) (orch. Enrique Fernandez Arbos) (1907) see RAVEL

William ALWYN (1905-1985) Chamber Music and Songs Rhapsody for Piano Quartet (1938) [9:20] Sonata impromptu for violin and viola (1939) [16:44] Ballade for viola and piano (1939) [10:01] Two Songs for voice, violin and piano (1931) [4:37] Three Songs to words by Trevor Blakemore (1940) [6:40] Violin Sonatina (1933) [10:30] Three Winter Poems for string quartet (1948) [9:00] Chaconne for Tom (1982) [3:24] Andrew Ball (piano); Roger Chase (viola); Madeleine Mitchell (violin); Lucy Wilding (cello); Iain Burnside (piano); Madeleine Mitchell (violin); Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone); John Turner (recorder); Bridge String Quartet rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, March, August and October 2006 NAXOS 8.570340 [70:15] [EMc]

The performances on this CD are - as usual from Naxos - of a very high standard and the various performers sound as if they have been playing this music all of their lives ... see Full Review

Richard ARNELL (b. 1917) Piano Concerto op. 44 (1946) [32:31] Symphony No. 2 Rufus op. 33 (1955-57) [33:28] David Owen Norris (piano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 19-20 September 2006. DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7184 [66:29] RECORDING OF MONTH  Richard ARNELL (b. 1917) Symphony No. 4 op. 52 (1948) [26:36] Symphony No. 5 op. 77 (1955-57) [36:48] Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates rec. Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, 19-20 May 2007. DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7194 [63:49] [RB]

Two eloquent and exciting major works with tragic grandeur in their sights. Finely documented, full-throatedly performed and recorded ... [CDLX7184] Two fine symphonies embracing the extremes of emotion; one devastatingly likeable and radiantly strong. ... [CDLX7194]... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Malcolm ARNOLD (1921-2006) String Quartet No. 1, Op. 23 (1949) [18:37] String Quartet No. 2, Op. 118 (1975) [27:32] Phantasy for String Quartet, Vita Abundans (1941) [10:50] Maggini Quartet rec. 14-16 December 2006, Potton Hall, Westleton, Suffolk, England. DDD NAXOS 8.557762 [56:59] [MC]

Excellently performed with the benefit of first class recorded sound. Arnold a popular and lightweight composer? Certainly not with these scores! ... see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1739) Concerto in F minor for Oboe and Strings, after BWV 169/49 [18.15] Double Concerto in C major for Oboe and Violin and Strings, after BWV 1055 [13.32] Concerto in A minor for Oboe and Strings, after BWV 1055 [14.23] Concerto for G major Oboe and Strings, after BWV 1041 (BWV 1058) [13.29] Concerto movement in D major for Oboe and Strings, after BWV 35 [5.53] Concerto in G major for Oboe and Strings, after BWV 1065 [9.42] Burkhard Glaetzner (oboe and direction) Andreas  Hartmann (violin) Mitteldeutscher Bach Konvent rec. 10-13 April, 19-21 June 2006, Orchestersaal Augustusplatz Leipzig BERLIN CLASSICS 0016092BC [75.19] [RH]

This is probably not a library choice, but certainly should be a disc that anyone with an interest in Bach’s concertos should explore ... see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903 (c. 1720) [11:08] Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989 (c. 1714) [15:42] Fantasia and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 904 [6:50] Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 894 [10:08] Overture in French Style, BWV 831 [25:49] Jenő Jandó (piano) rec. Phoenix Studio, Diósd, Hungary, 6-9 April 2004. DDD NAXOS 8.570291 [69:38] [TP]

Jandó's firm fingers and clear voice-leading lay the music open for comprehension. All up, this is an attractive proposition ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Das wohltemperirte Clavier (The Well-tempered Clavier), Book II, BWV870-893 (1739 or earlier – 1744) CD1 No.1 in C major [2:16+1:44] No.2 in c minor [2:47+2:36] No.3 in C# major [1:36+1:33] No.4 in c# minor [3:47+2:18] No.5 in D major [5:13+3:00] No.6 in d minor [1:37+1:47] No.7 in E flat major [2:44+1:38] No.8 in d# minor [4:35+4:20] No.9 in E major [4:44+3:35] No.10 in e minor [3:26+2:42] No.11 in F major [3:25+1:33] No.12 in f minor [2:47+1:56]CD2 No.13 in F# major [3:47+2:20] No.14 in f# minor [2:52+4:59] No.15 in G major [2:47+1:12] No.16 in g minor [2:06+2:53] No.17 in A flat major [4:10+2:19] No.18 in g# minor [5:03+4:27] No.19 in A major [1:48+1:39] No.20 in a minor [3:43+1:49] No.21 in B flat major [4:47+1:59] No.22 in b flat minor [2:58+5:36] No.23 in B major [2:10+4:10] No.24 in b minor [1:54+2:05] Bob van Asperen (Christian Zell harpsichord, 1728) rec. September 1988 and March 1989, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg. DDD. VIRGIN VERITAS 3 85795 2 [68:16 + 73:44] [BW]

At their new super-bargain price van Asperen’s two 2-CD sets of the ‘48’ deserve the strongest recommendation except for those preferring the piano, who should go for the impending reissue of the Hewitt CDs … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Das Wohltemperirte Clavier (The Well-tempered Clavier), Book 1 24 Preludes and Fugues BWV 846-869 (collected 1722, some pieces earlier) CD 1 No.1 in C major BWV 846 [2:49+2:21] No.2 in C minor BWV 847 [1:27+1:30] No.3 in C# major BWV 848 [1:14+2:13] No.4 in C# minor BWV 849 [2:43+5:18] No.5 in D major BWV 850 [1:18+1:48] No.6 in D minor BWV 851 [1:32+1:38] No.7 in E flat major BWV 852 [5:46+1:41] No. 8 in E flat minor BWV 853 [3:27+7:20] No.9 in E major BWV 854 [1:34 +1:20] No.10 in E minor BWV 855 [2:35+1:17]  No.11 in F major BWV 856 [1:16+1:24] No.12 in F minor BWV 857 [2:11+5:25] CD 2 No.13 in F# major BWV 858 [1:31+2:06] No.14 in F# minor BWV 859 [1:15+4:02] No.15 in G major BWV 860 [0:54+2:38] No.16 in G minor BWV 861 [2:59+2:23] No.17 in A flat major BWV 862 [1:17+3:25] No.18 in G# minor BWV 863 [1:21+2:26] No.19 in A major BWV 864 [1:20+2:14] No.20 in A minor BWV 865 [1:09+5:06] No.21 in B flat major BWV 866 [1:18+1:44] No.22 in B flat minor BWV 867 [2:53+3:27] No.23 in B major BWV 868 [0:59+2:55] No.24 in B minor BWV 869 [3:03+7:13] Bob van Asperen (harpsichord, Christian Zell, Hamburg, 1728) rec. Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, February, April 1987. DDD. VIRGIN VERITAS 3 49963 2 [61:22 + 59:51][BW]

At their new super-bargain price van Asperen’s two 2-CD sets of the ‘48’ deserve the strongest recommendation except for those preferring the piano, who should go for the reissue of the Hewitt CDs … see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Cantata movements for organ four hands Concerto super: Was mein Gott will,das g’scheh allzeit (BWV 111/1) [5:25] Suite: ( adagio - ouverture - (BWV 196/1) [1:55];  allegro (BWV 34/5) [2:23];  adagio assai BWV 12/1 [2:50];  allegro assai - gigue - (BWV 191/1) [2:01]) Aria 'Ich habe genug' (BWV 82/1) [11:03] Concerto Grosso (BWV 187/1) [5:49] Three Chorale trios: (Trio super: Zudem ist Weisheit und Verstand (BWV 92/4) [3:24]; Gefigureerd koraal super: Der leib zwar in der Erden (BWV 161/6) [1:35]; Trio super: Ertöt uns durch dein Güte (BWV 22/5) [2:07]) Concerto Grosso super: Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig (BWV 26/1) [2:54] Aria 'Die Seele Ruht in Jesu Händen' (BWV 127/3) [8:08] Prelude super: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein (BWV 2/1) [6:49] Euwe and Sybolt de Jong (organ duet) rec: Grote of Jacobijnerkerk, Leeuwaarden, 2007 WESTRAMEDIA WM150707 [56:59][CB]

This is different, very well done, and  performed on a really first-rate instrument ... see Full Review

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1739) Singet dem Herrn BWV225 (1727) [14.41] (1) Der geist Hilft BWV226 (1729) [8.01] (2) Jesu, meine Freude BWV227 (1723) [23.24] (3) Fürchte dich nicht BWV228 (1726) [8.09] (4) Komm, Jesu, Komm BWV229 [9.35] (5) Lobet den Herrn BWV230 (1723) [6.41] (6) University of Wisconsin-Madison Concert Choir/Robert Fountain rec. 30 March 1984 (1); 31 March 1990 (2); 22 March 1980 (3); 1 April 1989 (4); 15 March 1988 (5); 22 April 1979 (6), Mills Hall (1-4, 6); Central College, Pella, Iowa (5) UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, SCHOOL OF MUSIC (no CD number) [70.55] [RH]

If you are looking for a good all-round disc of the Bach motets, look elsewhere ... see Full Review

Sir Edward BAIRSTOW (1874-1946) Jesu, the very thought of thee (1925) [2:37] Blessed city, heavenly Salem* [8:11] Evening Service in D (1906)* [8:20]: Magnificat [4:53] Nunc dimittis [3:22] Lord, thou hast been our refuge (1916)* [7:59] If the Lord had not helped me (1910?)* [6:20] Let all mortal flesh keep silence (1906) [3:15] Evening Service in G (1940)* [5:54]: Magnificat [3:38] Nunc dimittis [2:11] Five Poems of the Spirit (1944)** [14:02] Save us, O Lord (1900)* [5:12] Paul Provost (organ)*, Roderick Williams (baritone)** Britten Sinfonia** Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge/David Hill rec. 13-14 January 2007, St. John’s College Chapel, Cambridge. DDD English texts included HYPERION CDA67497 [62:47] [JQ]

If this is to be the last disc by David Hill and the St. John’s choir then the partnership has ended on a high note and Bairstow has been well served ... see Full Review

RECORDIONG OF THE MONTH Sir Granville BANTOCK (1868–1946) Omar Khayyám - The Ruba’iyat according to Edward Fitzgerald set to Music for Three Solo Voices, Chorus, and Orchestra in Three Parts (1906-1909) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo) (The Beloved) Toby Spence (tenor) (The Poet) Roderick Williams (baritone) (The Philosopher) Olivia Robinson (soprano) (First Pot) Siân Menna (mezzo) (Second Pot) Edward Price (bass) (Sixth Pot) BBC Symphony Chorus/Stephen Jackson BBC Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley rec. Watford Colosseum (Town Hall), 1-2 October 2005, 17-18 February 2007 Three CDs for the price of two This is a hybrid SACD and was played and reviewed in standard CD format. Full notes in English, German and French. Sung words in English only. CHANDOS CHSA 5051(3) [3 CDs: 58:14 + 73:08 + 40:09] [RB]

A magnificent project ... one of the living musical treasures of the early twentieth century. ... see Full Review

Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Concerto for violin and orchestra, Op.14 (1939-41): Allegro [10:12]; Andante [8:27]; Presto in modo perpetuo [3:55] Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op.38 (1962): Allegro appassionato [12:47]; Canzone: Moderato [7:03]; Allegro molto [5:46]) Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (1936)[7:43] Second Essay for Orchestra, Op.17 (1942) [10:43] Overture to The School for Scandal, Op.5 (1933) [7:33] Isaac Stern (violin)/New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein (op. 14); John Browning (piano)/Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell (38) ; Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy (11); New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas Schippers (5, 17) rec. 27 April 1964, Manhattan Center, New York (14); January 1964, Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio (38); 14 April 1957, Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia (11); 26 January 1965, Manhattan Center, New York (5, 17). ADD SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK87948 [74:09] [BW]

Classic performances, still highly recommendable, but the over-close recording never allows the lyricism of the Violin Concerto fully to shine through … see Full Review

Agustin BARRIOS (1885-1944) Guitar Music – vol. 3 Caazapá-Aire Popolar Paraguayo (arr. McFadden) [3:15]; Don Perez Freire [3:13]; Medallon Antiguo [2:59]; Vals Tropical; [2:46]; Arabescos (Estudio No 4) [1:25]; Escala y Preludio [1:43]; Estudio Vals [1:34]; Estudio in A [2:00]; Estudio inconcluso [0:57]; Pais de Abanico [4:26]; Fabiniana [2:27]; Tango No 2 [3:21]; Tua imagem-Vals [3:35]; Leyenda de Espana [4:09]; Capricho Espanol [2:54];  Alegro Sinfonico {2:37]; Luz Mala [1:34]; Minuet en la [2:50]; Estilo Uruguayo [2:57]; Danza Guarani [1:34]; Tarantella (arr. McFadden) [3:35]. Jeffrey McFadden (guitar) rec. 2-5 February 2006, St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. DDD NAXOS 8.557807 [55:54][ZT]

This volume 3 is strong motivation to seek out Jeffrey McFadden’s earlier two volumes of music by Barrios. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No.4 in B flat major, Op.60 [31:33] Symphony No.7 in A major, Op.92 [33:47] Overture to King Stephen, Op.117 [7:31] Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell rec. 1960, 1963, 1967. ADD SONY CLASSICAL SBK 48158 [73:32][TP]

As a coupling of Beethoven 4 and 7, this disc is unbeatable. ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op. 73 Emperor (1810) [36:14] Artur Schnabel (piano) London Symphony Orchestra/Malcolm Sargent rec. 24 March 1932, Abbey Road Studio No. 1 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC001 [36:14] [JW]

A war with the original recording, putting things to rights, changing perspectives, adjusting balances, and so on. If you can accommodate such an approach this transfer offers a quite radical solution ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1806) [45:31] Sonata for Piano and Violin in A major, Op. 47 ('Kreutzer')* Vadim Repin (violin) Wiener Philharmoniker/Riccardo Muti rec. Musikverein, Grosser Saal, Vienna, February 2007. DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6596 [45:31] * sonata not included on this promotional disc [LW]

If the coupling is as good, this account of the Beethoven Violin Concerto would be hard to beat ... see Full Review

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio in B flat Archduke Op.97 (1811) [39:59] Lasse THORESEN (b. 1949) The Descent of Luminous Waters (2002) [26:00] Grieg Trio rec. May 2006, Ostsiden kirke, Fredrikstad. DDD SIMAX CLASSICS PSC 1167 [65:59] [TP]

This is the third volume in an enterprising cycle of Beethoven's piano trios … quite an attractive disc ... see Full Review

Herman BERLINSKI (1910-2001) From the World of My Father (1941, rev.1995) (I. Haztot - Prayer at Midnight [4:38]; II. Nocturnal Procession [1:58]; III. Legend [5:08]; IV. Dance [7:43]) Shofar Service (1964) (I. Malkhuyyot [2:33]; II. Zikhronot [2:10]; III. Shofarot [3:39) The Burning Bush (1956) [9:36] Symphonic Visions for Orchestra (1949) (Andante Molto Pesante [1:46]; Adagio Molto Espressivo [4:42]; Adagio Molto Sostenuto [11:18]) Seattle Symphony Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz (Father) Ted Christopher (baritone); James Ghigi (trumpet); Stephen Keavy (trumpet); Tim Roseman (shofar); Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (organ) BBC Singers/Avner Itai (Shofar) Barbara Harbach (organ) (Bush) Barcelona Symphony/ National Orchestra of Catalonia/Gerard Schwarz (Visions) rec. Benaroya Hall, Seattle, USA, May 1999 (Father); St. Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London, UK, November 1999 (Shofar); Calvary Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, February 1993 (Bush); Centre Cultural de Sant Cugat, Barcelona, January 2000 (Visions) NAXOS 8.559446 [55:32] [SA]

The recordings are bright, clear and well played by clearly committed musicians who have taken to this wonderfully harmonious and melodic music. ... see Full Review

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5 (1837) Keith Ikaia-Purdy (tenor) Chor der Sächsischen Staatsoper Dresden Sinfoniechor Dresden/Hans-Dieter Pflüger Singakademie Dresden/Hans-Christoph Rademann Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir Colin Davis rec. 14 February 1994, Kreuzkirche, Dresden, Germany. DDD PROFIL PH07014 [88:38] [39:12 + 49:26][DM]

While this may not offer any new insights it is still a uniquely moving experience; that alone makes it deserving of a place on your shelves. ... see Full Review

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Te Deum Op. 22 (1847-49) [51:30] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Kyrie in D minor K341 (?1780/81) [8:10] Neill Stuart (tenor), Hans-Dieter Schöne (organ) Dresden State Opera Chorus, Dresden Symphony Chorus, Dresden Singakademie/Dresden Philharmonic Children’s Chorus, Dresden State Opera Children’s Chorus Staatskapelle Dresden/Sir Colin Davis rec. 3-4 October 1998, Kreuzkirche, Dresden DDD HÄNNSLER PROFIL PH06039 [59:40] [JQ]

Sir Colin’s performance of the Te Deum is a hugely impressive account of a great pièce d’occasion ... see Full Review

Heinrich Ignaz Franz BIBER (1644-1704) Die Rosenkranz-sonaten – The Mystery Sonatas (1670-75?) CD1 The Annunciation [6:03] The Visitation [4:55] The Nativity [6:49] The Presentation in the Temple [7:47] The Finding in the Temple [7:40] The Agony in the Garden [7:47] The Scourging of Jesus [9:30] The Crowning with Thorns [6:24] CD2 The Carrying of the Cross [7:40] The Crucifixion [10:00] The Resurrection [7:40] The Ascension [7:13] The Descent of the Holy Spirit [7:30] The Assumption of the Virgin [8:51] The Coronation of the Virgin [11:49] The Guardian Angel : Passacaglia [9:20] Camerata Kilkenny/Maya Homburger (baroque violin) rec. Propstei St Gerold, Austria, 16-23 July 2006. DDD MAYA RECORDINGS MCD0603 [57:07 + 70:23] [BW]

Good performances, well recorded but the competition at all price levels is simply too strong for a whole-hearted recommendation … see Full Review

Judith BINGHAM (b. 1952) Salt in the Blood (1995) [20:40]The Darkness Is No Darkness-Segue-S.S. Wesley (1810-76) Thou Wilt Keep Him (1993) [8:05] First Light (2001) [10:22] The Snows Descend (1997) [6:45] The Secret Garden (2004) [21:58] Fine Arts Brass BBC Symphony Chorus/Stephen Jackson, Thomas Trotter (organ) rec. BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, 7-8 May 2005 (Salt in the Blood; The Darkness Is No Darkness; First Light; The Snows Descend); live, BBC Proms, 21 August 2004 (The Secret Garden). DDD English texts included NAXOS 8.570346 [67:50] [JQ]

This is a real ear-opener of a disc, featuring some tremendously inventive and imaginative music ... see Full Review

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat Major, Op.83 (1881) [51:01] Stephen Hough (piano) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis rec. no information given. 1990. DDD VIRGIN CLASSICS 00946 391366 2 9 [51:01][TP]

Admirers of Stephen Hough may want this disc for its incidental pleasures, but the performance as a whole does not match the great ones in the catalogue ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (1868) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Hans Hotter (baritone) Singverein des Gesellschaft des Musikfreundes, Wien Wiener Philharmoniker/Herbert von Karajan. rec. Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, Austria, 20-22, 27-29 October 1947. ADD from Columbia LX 105/1064. NAXOS 8.111038 [76:13][CC]

This performance is forever recommended. That Naxos has provided a transfer at such price and quality zooms the recommendation in on this issue. ... see Full Review

Nikolaus BRASS (b.1949) erinnern und vergessen – String Quartet No.3 (2004) [28:07] String Quartet No.2 (1999-2000/2002) [35:33] ohne titel – Music for String Quartet (1996) [6:45] Auritus Quartet rec. 8-9 June 2005, 27-28 May 2006, Bavaria Music Studios, Munich COL LEGNO WWE 20238 [70:46] [DC]

Rare music which occupies your subconscious ... see Full Review

Frank BRIDGE (1879-1941) Oration - Concerto elegiaco for cello and orchestra (1930) [31:07] Phantasm - Rhapsody for piano and orchestra (1931) [27:19] Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) Peter Wallfisch (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas Braithwaite rec. October 1976, Southwark (Oration); November 1975, Kingsway Hall (Phantasm). ADD LYRITA SRCD.244 [58:32] [IL]

Lloyd Webber and Braithwaite powerfully express Oration’s anti-war sentiments and the haunted pages of Phantasm. Rewarding for the adventurous music-lover. ... see Full Review

Brenton BROADSTOCK (b. 1952) Good Angel's Tears - Journeys through light and dark CD 1 Symphony No. 1 Toward the Shining Light (1988) [23:03] Symphony No. 2 Stars in a Dark Night (1989) [23:50] Symphony No. 3 Voices from the Fire (1992) [26:19] CD 2 Symphony No. 4 Born from the Good Angel's Tears (1995) [20:18] Symphony No. 5 Dark Side (1999) [38:37] Krasnoyarsk Academic SO/Andrew Wheeler rec. Krasnoyarsk Philharmonic Hall, 2-11 June 1999. DDD world premiere recordings ETCETERA KTC 2026 [73:28 + 59:02] [RB]

This set represents a magnificent vividly living and very emotional achievement which I urge you to hear ... see Full Review

Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896) Symphony No. 5 in B flat major (1875-7) [75:41] Munich Philharmonic Orchestra/Günter Wand rec. 29 November-1 December 1995, Munich PROFIL HÄNSSLER PH06012 [75:41] [TB]

At the conclusion the orchestra blazes forth with the chorale, above the rhythmic background of the motto, and the principal theme of the first movement returns to bring the symphony to its conclusion. In Wand’s performance the effect is simply galvanising ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Martin BUTLER (b. 1960) American Rounds (1998) [13:20] Siward’s River Song (2001)a [5:43] Suzanne’s River Song (1999)b [4:46] Nathaniel’s Mobile [9:07]c Funérailles (2005)c [16:03] Two Scarlatti Sonatas (arr. Butler, 2005) Sequenza Notturna (2003) [11:37] Walden Snow (2004)d [3:17] The Schubert Ensemble (William Howard (piano)bcd; Simon Blendis (violin)b; Douglas Paterson (viola)d; Jane Salmon (cello)a; Peter Buckoke (double-bass)) rec. Champs Hill, Pulborough, West Sussex, June 2006. DDD NMC D120 [72:03] [HC]

The Schubert Ensemble obviously relish every moment of the music and play with much commitment throughout. One of the loveliest discs I have heard recently ... see Full Review

Diet(e)rich BUXTEHUDE (c.1637-1707) Befiehl dem Engel, dass er komm BuxWV 10 [4:41] Dein edles Herz, der Liebe Thron BuxWV 14 [9:42] Eins bitte ich vom Herrn BuxWV 24 [17:45] Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort BuxWV 27 [4:52] Jesu, Meine Freude BuxWV 60 [9:48] Nun danket alle Gott BuxWV 79 [10:14] Wo soll ich fliehen hin? BuxWV 112 [17:05] Capella Angelica Lautten Compagney/ Wolfgang Katschner rec. Franckesche Stiftungen, Freylinghausensaal, Halle/Saale, 15-18 January 2007 Booklet with German texts and English translations; notes in German with abridged English and French translations CARUS 83.193 [75:01] [BW]

Excellent performances and recording of mostly little-known but very attractive music … see Full Review

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637–1707) Das jüngste Gericht - oratorio in three acts (excerpts) Ulrike Hofbauer, Monika Mauch, Margret Hunter (soprano), Henning Voss (alto), Hans Jörg Mammel (tenor), Jörg Jacobi, Harry van der Kamp, Olaf Tetampel (bass) Weser-Renaissance Bremen/Manfred Cordes rec. November 2005, the Stiftskirche of Bassum, Germany. DDD CPO 777 197-2 [78:09] [JV]

Excerpts from the only extant oratorio by Buxtehude - well performed, but difficult to recommend because of the cuts and the reasoning behind those cuts ... see Full Review

William BYRD (c. 1540-1623) My Lady Nevells Booke (1591) CD 1 My Ladye Nevels Grownde [6.40] Qui Passe, "For My Ladye Nevell" [4.27] The Marche Before The Battell [4.36] I. The Souldiers Sommons [1.25] II. The Marche Of Footemen [12.56] III. The Marche Of Horsemen [1.17] IV. The Trumpetts [1.10] V. The Irishe Marche [1.31] VI. The Bagpipe And The Drone [1.14] VII. The Flute And The Droome [2.03] VIII. The Marche To The Fighte [2.28] IX. The Retreat [12.56] The Galliarde For The Victorie [2.14] The Barelye Breake [9.34] A Galliards Gygge [2.19] The Huntes Upp [7.57] Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La [8.39] The Firste Pavian [4.40] The Galliarde To The Firste Pavian [1.59] The Seconde Pavian [2.46] The Galliarde To The Seconde Pavian [2.09] The Third Pavian [4.51] The Galliarde To The Third Pavian [1.54] CD 2 The Fourth Pavian [2.37] The Galliarde To The Fourth Pavian [1.59] The Fifte Pavian [4.42] The Galliarde To The Fifte Pavian [1.59] Pavana The Sixte, "Kinbrugh Goodd" [5.01] The Galliarde To The Sixte Pavian [2.01] The Seventh Pavian [4.39] The Eighte Pavian [4.50] The Passinge Mesures, "The Nynthe Pavian" [7.19] The Galliarde To The Nynthe Pavian [5.34] A Voluntarie, "For My Ladye Nevell" [5.39] Will Yow Walke The Woods Soe Wylde [4.37] The Maydens Song [5.49] A Lesson Of Voluntarie [9.20] The Second Grownde [9.49] CD 3 Have With Yow To Walsingame [9.23] All In A Garden Grine [4.50] Lord Willobies Welcome Home [3.02] The Carmans Whistle [5.09] Hughe Ashtons Grownde [8.39] A Fancie [6.24] Sellingers Rownde [7.35] Munsers Alman [8.31] The Tennthe Pavian, "Mr. W. Peter" [5.06] The Galliarde To The Tennthe Pavian [2.21] A Fancie [6.08] A Voluntarie [3.31 Elizabeth Farr (harpsichord) rec. August 2006, Ploger Hall, Manchester, Michigan. DDD NAXOS 8.570139-41 [3 CDs: 78.01 + 76.04 + 70.46][KM]

A beautiful set of the great William Byrd’s harpsichord music, well-played on four excellent instruments … 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]


 

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