Lloyd Sitkoff <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Would be interested in List Members
>feedback on the items purchased,their worthiness,for broadcast,
about the following amazing list, of which I can only comment a few...
>4.99 " " Pilz Acanta 42 798 12 cellists of the Berlin Phil.
>(Funck/Klengel/Blacher/Francaix)
At least Blacher and Francaix are remarkably written music. If you do
not have Blacher's Symphony (in fact, his Second), this is a worthwile
acquisition too (CD Signum).
>5.99 Vio Ctos of BA Zimmermann/Hartmann/ Koch 1075
Two very strong pieces, the Zimmermann is a powerhouse from his first
period, and the Hartmann (Concerto Funebre) was written as a protest
against the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the nazis. After this, Hartmann
almost fell silent until 1946. Both an intensely tragic and ethereal work,
with virtuosity of a strangely unearthly kind.
>" " Lutoslawski:Preludes & Fugue,3 Poems,Paroles Tissees,Postlude #1. EMI 65865
The Preludes and Fugue are one of his most elaborate masterpieces, a real
"Classic" indeed.
>Henze:Royal Winter Music#1,2. Evers(Gtr) MD&G 3110
I don't quite like what I know of Henze as a person, but his Royal Winter
Music is one of the biggest cycles for guitar composed il this century.
>Petrassi:Sense-Nonsense,Cbr Son,3rd Cto for orch,Noche Oscura,.. Ermitage 145
Not so far from Dallapiccola, but with a tooth for the concertante form
(he composed 8 concerti for orchestra, encompassing a wide stylistic
range). Another potential classic for times to come.
>6.99 " " Wordsworth:Sym#2,3. Lyrita 207
Some call him an English Brahms. Thoughtful music.
>" " Grace Williams:Fantasia,Sea Sketches,Tpt Cto,.. Lyrita 323
This would be a "must" in a Welsh program, together with a symphony (No.6
for instance) by Hoddinott, another one by William Mathias, and a string
quartet by Daniel Jones!
>Alwyn:Sym #2,3,5. Lyrita 228
The composer's recordings. John Ireland called No. 3 the greatest British
symphony since Elgar's 2d. I don't quite agree (maybe I shall some day,
but I doubt it), but still it is a very interesting and sincere utterance
-- the outer movements are built on 8 notes and the slow movement on the
four remaining ones, and the result is surprising.
>" ":Derby Day Ov,Sinfonietta,.. Lyrita 229
The Sinfonietta is lovely and not insignificant at all, more lukewarm than
the earlier symphonies (Nos. 1 to 4), dryer but maybe more satifying in a
sense.
>Bush:Sym#1,2,.. Lyrita 252
This must be Geoffrey Bush, isn't it? I don't think Alan Bush's 3
symphonies have been recorded on CD. Relatively early works of G.Bush,
then.
>Boucourechliev:Archipels#1-4. Harm Mun MFA 216001
A Bulgarian compsoer in exile, and an isolated, but important figure in
France's musical life until his recent death. Lots of food for thought,
avantgarde music, but from a man who wrote deep essays about 19th century
masters.
>Hersant:Cello Cto,.. Harm Mun 905216
One of the most lyrical French composers of our time.
>L'Esprit de Dieu et les Prophetes(Lamandier) Alienor 1061
Esther Lamandier is a great specialist of Mediterranean ancient music.
>Dowland:Lute Wks. Paul O'Dette . Astree 7715
This record is a hit!
>20th Century Cello Pcs by Pender/Gubaid/Xenakis . (Monighetti) Chant du Mon
>278 1059
Well, of course those are modern "classics" too, so it depends on your
audience.
>Contemp Danish Orch Music,Vol.1(Bentzon/Norby ..) BIS 79
Which Bentzon is this? Jorgen Bentzon was more a late Romanticist
influenced by early Hindemith, whereas Niels Viggo Bentzon, an extremely
prolific composer, sometimes comes closer to Holmboe, Hindemith and Syberg.
Norby is often called the Impressionist of Danish contemporary music, so it
could be a wonderfully attractive introduction to more modern sounds for
newcomers.
>Segerstam:Sym#16,.. BIS 584
Segerstam usually writes at great speed in a flood of inspiration. I
don't know this particular symphony ; better check it, but certainly
the performers are ideal:-)
>Penderecki:SQ#1,2,Stg Trio,.. BIS 652
Another bunch of classics for you.
>Blomdahl:3 Sym's. BIS 611
This is the only version of all 3 symphonies, and a committed one,
I guess. Symphony No. 3 was the work which brought Blomdahl to
international acclaim. He did not compose much, but each of his works
was eagerly awaited. He died at an early age, and his output suffered
from a kind of oblivion. Nevertheless, this 3rd symphony (Facets) is
very attractive, well-balanced, refined and dynamic, moderately modern.
It could be a classic as well.
>3 CD set 13.99 Mozart:2 Pf Qrts,4SQ's(Festetics SQ,B-Skoda) Arcana 903
No comment necessary, I suppose, although not everybody really loves
Badura-Skoda. But one has to hear him anyway.
Best wishes,
Thanh-Tam Le
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