Monthly Archive: October 2009
FRANZ LISZT Organ Works = Präludium and Fugue on B-A-C-H; Orpheus; Les Morts; Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (“Weeping, lamenting, worrying, fearing”); Evocation to the Sistine Chapel – Martin Haselböck, organ – NCA
The second piece is Liszt’s highly-transformed version of his orchestral and atmospheric tone poem Orpheus into an independent romantic organ piece.
Eric Alexander – Revival of the Fittest – High Note
On the mellow side with Eric Alexander.
Cedar Walton – Voices Deep Within – High Note
Cedar Walton- a master of his craft.
China Connection = BARTOK: Four Pieces from 44 Duos; PROKOFIEV: Sonata; PUHAN WANG: Scene of the Chinese Village; HINDEMITH: Canon Variations; HU XIAU OU: Silent Forests/Raving Wind; DEJAN LAZIC: Istrian Dance; others – Hu & Feng, violins – Ch. Classics
A warmly involving and superbly played disc of violin duets. Give it a chance…
Ahleuchatistas – Of the Body Prone – Tzadik
The Ahleuchatistas Trio scorch the eardrums, push musical boundaries to the breaking point and take musical language into unrecognizable areas.
Emil Gilels, piano = BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, “Waldstein”; 12 Variations on the Russian Dance from Wranitzky’s Das Waldmaedchen in A, WoO 21; 32 Variations in C Minor; WEBER: Piano Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major – Emil Gilels – BBC Legends
Gilels possessed a broad palette and a deft command of his many colors.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE: Complete Solo Piano Works – Michael Krücker, piano – NCA
Who knew music was so important to Nietzsche? And that as a youth he turned out all these untaught piano miniatures?
David Oistrakh, violin (1972, 1967)
These historic Russian videos make us grateful to the dedicated artists and their peerless collaboration.
Audio News for October 16, 2009
Burn Hi-Res DSD DVD-Rs; Another New SACD Label; Sony Adds PSP Copying to Blu-rays; Blu-ray Penetration Slightly Ahead of DVD’s Track; New Fox Blu-ray Features
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY: Fire and Blood; MotorCity Triptych; Raise the Roof – Detroit Sym./Jarvi – Naxos MICHAEL DAUGHERTY: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina – Nashville Sym./Guerrero – Naxos
Daugherty created a “symphonie fantastique for our times” for the 50 anniversary of Superman first appearing in the comics.
Wild Nights! Music for Wind Band = FRANK TICHELI: Wild Nights!; DAVID DZUBAY: Shadow Dance; STEVEN BRYANT: Dusk; ROSHANNE ETEZADY: Anahita; JOHN MACKEY: Concerto for Soprano Sax and Wind Ensemble – Vince Gnojek, Sop. Sax/ U. of Kansas Wind Ens. – Naxos
More great wind music on Naxos’s impressive series.
Leonard Cohen – Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 – CD & DVD (1970/2009)
Not hi-def by any means, but a fascinating visual record of Cohen’s set at the festival, with more tunes on the CD.
HANDEL: Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HMV 74; Dixit Dominus, HMV 232 – Soloists/ Berlin Vocal Consort/Berlin Academy for Ancient Music/ Marcus Creed, conductor – Harmonia mundi
With a rarely recorded Ode and glorious Dixit Dominus, how can we go wrong?
CHOPIN: 25 Mazurkas – Evgeni Koroliov, piano – Tacet
Chopin’s mazurkas cover the entire span of his creative life and absorb the Polish national style in audacious musical harmony.
J.S. BACH: Complete Sonatas for Viola Da Gamba; Cantata 175: “Es dunket mich”; Cantata 183: “Ich furchte nicht” – Audrey Cienniwa, violoncello piccolo/ Paul Cienniwa, harpsichord – Whaling City
A welcome recording of these oft-neglected suites, but this one doesn’t quite hold up.
WEISS: Suites: L’Infidele; in F; in D-minor; Tombeau sur la Mort de Mr Comte de Logy arrive — Eduardo Eguez (lute) — M•A Recordings
For those that think they know the lute—think again!
Joshua Bell At Home With Friends – The violinist’s guests include: Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Tiempo Libre, Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Frankie Moreno, Regina Spektor, Dave Grusin, Chris Thile, Marvin Hamlisch – Sony Classical
A relaxed and diverse compilation of inspired music-making.
Digital Primitives – Hum Crackle & Pop – Hopscotch
This versatile trio furnishes structure to unrestricted jazz while maintaining a firm and rooted foundation that incorporates American and African music elements, including jazz, pop, blues and more.
Audio News for October 13, 2009
Home Theater vs. Media Room; Intelligent Switches Support New HDMI 1.4; Opinions on New Beatles Remastered CD Set ; ‘Phile Survey Shows Only 34% Still Using CDs; Plasmas Losing Ground
Theodor Leschetisky 1906 piano rolls – The Welte Mignon Mystery Vol. XIII = MOZART: Fantasie in C minor; HELLER: Preludes Op. 81, Nos. 3 & 10; CHOPIN: Nocturne No. 8 Op. 27; Polonaise No. 9 Op. 71; LESCHETIZKY: 7 short pieces – Tacet
It is as if Theodor Leschetisky – an important pianist and composer at the time – is actually sitting at the Steinway keyboard.
Ben Allison – Think Free – Palmetto
The culmination of Allison’s endeavors to adapt and change from his chamber-jazz aesthetic to sound tapestries that should appeal to listeners familiar with The Cocteau Twins, Björk or Thom Yorke.
Gerald Wilson Orchestra – Detroit – Mack Avenue Record
A moving tribute to the Motor City.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
