Jos Janssen corrects me:

>>There are many good versions of the concerto you mention; I'm partial
>>to the one with Richard Kapp conducting the Philharmonia Virtuosi (Essay
>>Recordings CD 1014), where the sound is crisp and the harpsichord's
>>not left to tinkle away in the background.
>
>...are you sure we are talking about the same piece?...

No, sorry: my mix-up.  It's the other work on the CD I'd mentioned, his
Petite Symphonie Concertante, that I favour for the harpsichord: actually,
for the fine work with those so-Martinesque harmonic interplays between
harpsichord, harp and piano, along with the double string orchestra.

Incidentally, the Chandos orchestral series under Mathias Bamert I'd
mentioned includes a CD (Chan 9312) with a premiere recording of the
Symphonie Concertante.  No longer petit, that is, but full blown: "pour
grande orchestre." Mind you, those delicious, chamber-like harmonies are
more subdued in this grander scheme of things.  Surprisingly, the same
CD, which contains his famous Passacaglia as well, has a performance of
Martin's Symphonie that's another premiere recording.

>I set my computer to "tape" the concert, so now I have the Martin
>in an excellent recording.  It still sounds marvelous.

Nothing like live music, even when taped, and despite the attendant
imperfections of the performance.  (Wish I had one of the Lutoslawski
Concerto for Orchestra that was the musical highlight of my summer.)

Bert Bailey