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PART 7
Misc M-Z

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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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Meister der Renaissance see review for detailsCAPRICCIO 67 088/90

Offers a miscellaneous panorama of sorts and that’s no bad thing. ... see Full Review

Yehudi Menuhin – Great Violinists Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No.7 in C minor Op.30 No.2 Violin Sonata No.9 in A Kreutzer Op.47 Rondo in G WoO 41 Franz SCHUBERT (1798-1828) Rondo in B minor Yehudi Menuhin (violin) Hephzibah Menuhin (piano) Recorded in London, 1934-38 NAXOS 8.110775 [78.14] [JW]

Point-by-point comparison of the two Beethovens favours the Naxos. ... see Full Review

Music for a Sunday Afternoon: American Chamber Works for Flute, Clarinet, Piano and String Orchestra Jeff MANOOKIAN (b.1953) Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Piano and String Orchestra (2000) * Ramiro CORTES (1933-1984) Elegy for Flute and Piano (1959) Alec WILDER (1907-1980) Suite for Flute, Clarinet and Piano (1980) Leo KRAFT (b.1922) Music for a Sunday Afternoon for Flute and Clarinet (1999) Shulamit RAN (b.1949) East Wind for Solo Flute (1987) Robert MUCZYNSKI (b.1929) Three Preludes for Unaccompanied Flute Op.18 (1968) Duos for Flute and Clarinet in B flat Op.24 (1991) Carson P COOMAN (b.1982) Invocation for Solo Flute and String Orchestra Op.229 (2000) Laurel Ann Maurer (flute) Russell Harlow (clarinet) John Jensen (piano) Serenade Chamber Orchestra of Armenia/Jeff Manookian * Recorded at Counterpoint Studios, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2003 4TAY CD4027 [67.16] [JW]

Makes a strong case for these clever and attractive and often evocative works. ... see Full Review

Musical Renegades Australian Chamber Orchestra Richard Tognetti (violin, artistic director). Picture Format 16:9 PAL Disc format DVD-5. Dolby Digital 2.0. ABC CLASSICS 476 102-5 [52’00: extra features 53’00] [CC]

Interesting, for a one-off ... a sweet, heart-warming documentary suitable for TV broadcast .. effectively promotional material ... see Full Review

Norwegian Classical Favourites Volume 2Harald SÆVERUD (1897-1992) Peer Gynt Music Op.28: (i) Devil’s Five-Hop (ii) Hymn against the Bøyg (iii) Mixed Company Geirr TVEITT (1908-1981) A Hundred Hardanger Tunes Op.151: (i) Welcome with Honour (ii) Langeleik Tune (iii) Hardanger Ale Eyvind GROVEN (1901-1977) At Evening Op.60 Hjalarljod Overture Op.38 Edvard Fliflet BRÆIN (1924-1976) Out Towards the Sea Gunnar GJERSTRØM (1891-1951) Legend Øystein SOMMERFELDT (1919-1994) Little Overture Op.11 Ludvig IRGENS-JENSEN (1894-1969) Bol’s Song Harald SÆVERUD (1897-1992) The Ballad of the Revolt Op.22 Fartein VALEN (1887-1952) The Churchyard by the Sea Op.20 Johan HALVORSEN (1864-1935) Scenes from Norwegian Fairy Tales Op.37: II – The Princess Riding on the Bear; III- Entry of the Trolls into the Blue Mountain; IV- Dance of the Trolls Iceland Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset Recorded at the Concert Hall of the ISO Reykjavik, 18-21 and 24-28 June 2002 NAXOS 8.557018 [64.42] [JW]

Performances warm and committed. Romance and turbulence at modest financial outlay ... see Full Review

The Obbligato Clarinet Franz LACHNER (1803-1890) Seit ich ihn gesehen op.82 (1831) (1), Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (1832 (2) Mariano OBIOLS (1809-1888) I Laj (1845) (1) Louis SPOHR (1784-1859) Sechs Deutsches Lieder op.103 (1837) (1) Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Des Schäfers Lied (1842) (2) Franz SCHUBERT (1897-1828) Der Hirt auf dem Felsen D.965 (1828) (1) Friedrich KÜCKEN (1810-1882) Der Himmel har eine Thräne geweint op.63 (1854) (2) Johannes Wenceslaus KALLIWODA (1801-1866) Der Sennin Heimweh op.236 (1862) (1) Richard Henry WALTHEW (1872-1951) A Song of Love and Death (1898) (1) Andreas SPAETH (1790-1876) Alpenlied op.167/7 (1839) (1) Eirian James (mezzo-soprano) (1), Robert Murray (tenor) (2), Colin Bradbury (clarinet), Oliver Davies (piano) Recorded 4th-6th July 2002, Wathen Hall, St. Paul’s School, London THE DIVINE ART 25025 [72:41] [CH]

An attractive programme very well presented. ... see Full Review

Opera Stars Live In Barcelona see review for details aMelanie Holliday, eRenata Scotto (sopranos); eGail Gilmore (mezzo); cAlfredo Kraus, bRamón Vargas (tenors); dPaolo Coni (baritone) Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Konrad Leitner.Dolby Digital. Stereo. 4:3. NTSC, All regions. Live concert from Barcelona. IMMORTAL DVD VIDEO IMM950009 [55’00]

A very, very mixed bag. Interesting as a curiosity but really, I would suggest, only for fervent Gilmore or Kraus fans. ... see Full Review

Parsifal: the search for the grail A Film Special directed by Tony Palmer Parsifal - Placido Domingo Kundry - Violeta Urmana Gurnemanz - Matti Salminen Klingsor - Nikolai Putilin Amfortas - Feodor Mojhaev The Kirov Orchestra and Choir/Valery Gergiev Filmed 1998 on location in St Petersburg, Ravello, Siena and Bayreuth ARTHAUS MUSIK 100 610 [90:00] [JL]

At best a muddled film about a complex masterpiece ameliorated by superb performing extracts. At worst, with its peddling of a racial purity interpretation, a sensationalist disgrace. ... see Full Review

Philharmonic Brass Rayner BROWN (1912 – 1999) Five Pieces (1963)a Fantasy-Fugue (1971)b Fisher TULL (1934 – 1994) Liturgical Symphony (1960)c Variations on an Advent Hymn (1962)d Robert HENDERSON (b. 1948) Fanfare 1964 (1964)e William SCHMIDT (b. 1926) Sequential Fanfaresf Various composers Fanfares 1969g Ladd Thomas (organ)a; Los Angeles Brass Societyacg; Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass Ensemblebdef; Lester Remsen, Robert Hendersone Recorded: 1970-1972 CRYSTAL RECORDS CD 121 [60:38] [HC]

Splendidly sounding performances, superbly recorded, ... the whole thing sounds remarkably well. ... see Full Review

Romantic Flute Concertos Ignaz MOSCHELES (1794-1870) Concertante in F major (with Joris Van den Hauwe (oboe)) Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848) Concertino in D major Jules MOUQUET (1867-1949) Pan et les oiseaux Op.15 Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Tarantelle Op.6 (with Guy Vanderborght (clarinet)) Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Berceuse Op.16 (orchestrated Y. Talmi) Morceau de concours (orchestrated Y. Talmi) Sicilienne Op.78 (orchestrated Y. Talmi) Fantasie Op.79 (orchestrated Y. Talmi) Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pièce en forme de Habanera (orchestrated A. Hoeré)Eugène DAMARÉ (1840-1919) La merle blanc Op.161 Marc Grauwels (flute and piccolo) Orchestre symphoniques de la Radio et Télévision Belge/André Vandernoot Recorded in the Grand Auditorium de la Radio de Bruxelles, January 1990 NAXOS 8.555977 [59.15] [JW]

Virgilian waters, languorous and deep, suffused in sunlight ... excellent performances add to the very real charm of this disc. ... see Full Review

Romantic and Virtuoso works for Organ: Vol. 1 Jane Parker-Smith at the Goll Organ of St. Martin Memmingen Marcel LANQUETUIT (1894-1985) Toccata [5.40] Joseph BOULNOIS (1884-1918) Choral in F sharp minor [6.31] Henri MULET (1878-1967) Rosace (Esquisses Byzantines) [4.49] Joseph JONGEN (1873-1953) Sonata Eroica, Op.94 [15.31] Percy WHITLOCK (1903-1946) Fantasie Choral No.1 [13.17] Jeanne DEMESSIEUX (1921-1968) Répons pour le Temps de Pâques [7.10] York BOWEN (1884-1961) Melody in G minor [5.09] Wilhelm MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943) Passacaglia in D minor [13.05] Jane Parker-Smith (Organ) Organ of St. Martin Memmingen (Goll, 1998) Recorded at St. Martin Memmingen, 6-8 August 2003 AVIE AV0034 [71.35] [CAnt]

Not enough words to describe it. Just listen to it ... see Full Review

SAFFIRE Gareth KOCH Rumba Flamenca Peter Maxwell DAVIES (b. 1934) Farewell to Stromness (1980, arr. Eriksson) Maximo Diego PUJOL (b. 1957) Grises y Soles Enrique GRANADOS (1867 – 1916) Danzas Españolas No. 11, No.4 and No.6 (1893, arr. Eriksson) Phillip HOUGHTON (b. 1954) Opals Stanley MYERS (1930 – 1993) Cavatina from The Deer Hunter (1970, arr. Field) Richard CHARLTON (b. 1955) Stoneworks (2002) Saffire (Gareth Koch, Antony Field, Karin Schaupp, Slava Grigoryan) Recorded: Ghostgum Audio, brisbane, January-February 2003 ABC CLASSICS 476 701-2 [64:06] [HC]

This delightful and attractive programme, superlatively played, is a feast from first to last, that I thoroughly enjoyed. Do give it a try, you will not be disappointed. ... see Full Review

Hermann Scherchen Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Holberg Suite Op.40 (Studio-Orchester Beromünster - 22.IV.1946) Peer Gynt Op. 23 (Suites 1 and 2) (Vienna State Opera Orchestra (XII.1950) Licence Supraphon) Georges BIZET (1838-1875) L'Arlésienne Op. 23 – Recited by Albin Skoda (Vienna Symphony Orchestra - 23.VI.1950) L'Arlésienne, Op. 23 (Suites 1 et 2) (Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie - VI.1960) TAHRA TAH 510-511 [2 CDs 54.51 + 70.28] [JW]

This is Volume II in Tahra’s Archives Hermann Scherchen series and will make a good addition to collectors’ shelves. ... see Full Review

Short Stories - A collection of romantic violin pieces. George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Short Story (transcribed Dushkin) Jenö HUBAY (1858-1937) Bolero Op.51 No.3 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pièce en forme de Habanera Kurt WEILL (1900-1950) Tango Habanera "Youkali" (transcribed Garlej) Efrem ZIMBALIST (1889-1985) Sarasateana Suite – Tango Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Valse Op.42 No.3 (transcribed Barinovoi) Henryk WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Fantasie Orientale Joseph ACHRON (1886-1943) Liebeswidmung Op.51 Ovide MUSIN (1854-1929) Mazurka de Concert
Hans SITT (1850-1922)
Bolero Op.95 No.12 Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Mazurka in A Minor (transcribed Kreisler) Valse in A minor Op.34 No.2 (transcribed Sarasate) Isaac ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909) Tango Op.165 No.2 (transcribed Kreisler) Sergei RACHMANINOV (1872-1943) Danses Tziganes Op.6 (transcribed Dushkin) Henri VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881) Trois Morceaux Op.40 David Frühwirth (violin)
Henri Sigfridsson (piano) Recorded in July 2000, Vienna Symphony Studio, Konzerthaus, Vienna AVIE AV0042 [70.03] [JW]

Some intriguing nuggets ... two musicians willing to explore fruitful byways ... Their erudite inquisitiveness is much appreciated. ... see Full Review

Slavonic Fantasy Carl HÖHNE (1871-1934) Slavonic Rhapsody* (1899) Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne op.9/2**, Etude op.25/9**, Prelude op.28/24 (arr. Dokshitser) Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romance op.5 Alexander ARUTIUNIAN (b.1920) Concert Scherzo*, Air and Scherzo (1983)* Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Slavonic Dances in E minor op.72/2 (not op.10/2 as stated on cover) and G minor op.46/8 (not op.10/5 as stated on cover) Oskar BÖHME (1870-1938) Pisen*, Russian Dance op.32* Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Spring Waters op.14/11** Alexander GOEDICKE (1877-1957) Concert Study op.49* Willy (Vasili) BRANDT (1869-1923) Lullaby op.14* Ilia Emmanuilovich SHAKHOV Scherzo* Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) For the Love of Three Oranges: March Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Etudes op.8/11-12** Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Three Fantastic Dances op.5 (1922) Jouko Harjanne (trumpet), Kari Hänninen (piano) Items marked* are original for trumpet (or cornet) and piano Items marked ** are arranged by Harjanne and Hänninen Where not specified, the arranger is not named Recorded 2003 at the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), Studio M2 FINLANDIA RECORDS 2564-60762-2 [73:09] [CH]

There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from this disc, and not only for brass enthusiasts. ... see Full Review

Vladimir Sofronitsky (piano) Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Impromptu in C minor D899 No.1, Impromptu in A flat major D935 No.2, Impromptu in G flat major D899 No.3, Moments musicaux D780:- No.1 in C major, No.2 in A flat major No.3 in F minor, No 4 in C sharp minor, No.6 in A flat major Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) – Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Der Müller und der Bach, Erlkönig, Litanie, Frühlingsglaube, Der Doppelgänger, Aufenthalt Vladimir Sofronitsky (piano) Recorded Moscow, 1960 except Impromptu in C minor D899 No.1 (1953) and the Moments musicaux D780 (1959) VISTA VERA VVCD-00031 [73.27] [JW]

Full of drama and extravagant rubati ... contours etched with exaggerated intensity ... see Full Review

Sounds French Pierre COCHEREAU (1924 – 1984) Entrée Grand Orgue (1974) Scherzo Symphonique (1968) César FRANCK (1822 – 1891) Choral No.1 (1890) David BRIGGS (b. 1962) Symphonie en Improvisation (2003) Jean LANGLAIS (1907 – 1991)
Messe Alme Pater (1985) Incantation pour un jour Saint (1949) Jeanne DEMESSIEUX (1921 – 1968) Attende Domine (published 1950) Marcel DUPRE (1886 – 1971) Allegro Deciso (1941) David Briggs at the organ of Blackburn Cathedral Recorded: Blackburn Cathedral, June 2003 LAMMAS LAMM 164 D [67:47] [HC]

a most welcome release, magnificently played and well recorded, well worth having, were it only for Briggs' Symphonie ... see Full Review

Stokowski’s Classic 1947-49 Columbias Vol. 3 and live broadcasts Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 6 [29:16] Piotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet [19:07] Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Symphony No. 35 Haffner [15:17] Thomas Jefferson SCOTT From the Sacred Harp [7:46] Jaroslav WEINBERGER Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper [7:30] New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski Rec. Carnegie Hall, 1949, RVW/Tchaikovsky licensed from Sony. Other tracks live concert performances Produced in association with the Leopold Stokowski Society www.stokowskisociety.net CALA CACD0537 [78:58] [JW]

A strong entry in the Stokowski stakes ... will leave dedicated Stokowskians (and/or Vaughan Williams adherents) with a dilemma. The use of the lacquers has made this a necessary purchase even if you have the Sony. ... see Full Review


L’Art de Vaclav Talich - Volume II Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Orchestral Suite No.3 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The Marriage of Figaro – Overture Symphony No.33 in B flat K319 (1779) Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841 –1904) Symphony No.9 From The New World (1893) * Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Suite No.4 Op.61 Mozartiana (1887) Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Vaclav Talich Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Vaclav Talich * Recorded in June, 1950 except Dvořák No.9, recorded in September 1941 TAHRA TAH 518-519 [2 CDs: 42.44 + 62.07] [JW]

A real gap filler from Tahra and warmly welcomed. ... see Full Review

In Memoriam Jacques Thibaud (1880-1953) Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Concerto Op.61 Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne/Victor Desarzens, recorded live in 1950 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No.4 K218 Concertgebouw/Eduard van Beinum, recorded live in 1948 Edouard LALO (1823-1892) Symphonie espagnole Op.21 (1873) (omitting Intermezzo) Sinfonie Orchestre das Hessischen Rundfunks/Winfried Zillig, recorded in the radio studio, 1951 César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata (1886) Jean Laforge (piano) recorded in a studio broadcast, 1952 Jacques Thibaud (violin) with accompaniments as above TAHRA TAH 499-500 [2 CDs 67.43 +53.54] [JW]

A real experience to hear Thibaud in a work so closely identified with him. A set of high significance and Tahra are to be congratulated ... see Full Review

The Wagon of Life - Songs of Nature, Life and Love in Time and Place Thomas PITFIELD (1903-1999) The Wagon of Life; By the Dee at Night; September Lovers Stuart SCOTT (b. 1949) Alderley; Gawsworth; Fall, Leaves, Fall. Geoffrey KIMPTON (b. 1927) Noah; Faintheart in a Railway Station; The Poor Man’s Pig. Joanna TREASURE (b. 1961) Tango (do you remember?); I saw the girl. John R. WILLIAMSON (b. 1929) The Recruit; White in the Moon; Think no more, lad. Stephen WILKINSON (b. 1919) The Sunlight on the Garden; The Garden. Philip WOOD (b. 1972) Now sleeps the Crimson Petal. Sasha Johnson MANNING (b. 1963) My Song shall be of Mercy and Judgement; The Lord is King. Kevin George BROWN (b. 1959) Dying Day; Description of Spring. David GOLIGHTLY (b. 1948) Songs of the Clifftop: Seabird; After the Kill; Puffin. David FORSHAW (b. 1938) The Owl; Whale Song; Horse. Mark Rowlinson (baritone) Peter Lawson (piano) Recorded at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, 21 and 24 July 2003 DUNELM RECORDS DRD-0220 [79.24] [DHJ]

This is a particularly enjoyable CD especially for lovers of English Song. ... see Full Review

Welte-Mignon Piano Rolls, Volume 2 see review for details Recorded August 2000 in Simi Valley, California, on a Restored Steinway-Welte Reproducing Piano NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110678 [69:42] [DS]

My position is that any qualms I have about a ‘true picture’ are more than offset when I can listen to past masters as if they were in my home. I strongly recommend acquisition of Volume 2 ... see Full Review

Welte-Mignon Piano Rolls Volume 3 Piano Rolls 1905-26 recorded on a restored Steinway-Welte Reproducing Piano in August 2000 see review for details NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110679 [67.07] [JW]

Caution as to the authenticity of the rolls as accurate artefacts but an informed welcome to the series ... see Full Review

 

BOOK REVIEW
Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-Romantic Composers
By Walter Simmons [RB]

Do not be surprised if you come away from reading this book with questions seriously disturbing to the concert and recording status quo. ... 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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