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“Woodwinds of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” – JANACEK: Mladi; MARTINU: Sextet for Piano & Winds; VERESS: Sonatina for Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon; POULENC: Sextuor – Soloists – RCO Live

“Woodwinds of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” – JANACEK: Mladi; MARTINU: Sextet for Piano & Winds; VERESS: Sonatina for Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon; POULENC: Sextuor – Soloists – RCO Live

by | Apr 15, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

A delightful spotlight on the woodwind section of the great Concertgebouw Orch. “Woodwinds of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” – JANACEK: Mladi; MARTINU: Sextet for Piano and Winds H. 174; SANDOR VERESS: Sonatina for Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon; POULENC: Sextuor – Soloists – RCO Live multichannel SACD RCO15008, 59:59 *****: Antonine Reicha made the quintet of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon into one of the most important chamber ensembles at the start of the 19th century. Composers later explored new possibilities with this combination. An English horn and piccolo became a possible part of the equation, and the addition of a piano opened up very different possibilities, since it could be either  accompanying or in a solo role. Janacek added a bass clarinet and called for the flutist to sometimes also play the piccolo. The Janacek Mladi is full of folk influences, which he collected before Bartok and Kodaly. The chamber music version didn’t do well, but Janacek later wrote it for full orchestra, and it has been most popular in that format. Bohuslav Martinu also lived in Prague and he spoke with the native language of his country. The Veress Sonatina consists of a different version of the typical […]

FISCHER TULL: 7 works + interview with composer – Keystone Wind Ens. – Klavier

FISCHER TULL: 7 works + interview with composer – Keystone Wind Ens. – Klavier

by | Feb 22, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

Fischer Tull is a man whose music is definitely worth exploring. FISCHER TULL: Terpsichore; Prelude and Double Fugue; Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble; Cryptic Essay; Jargon; Accolade; Sketches on  a Tudor Psalm; Interview with Composer – Keystone Wind Ens./ Jack Stamp – Klavier K11207, 79:37 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Fisher Mickey Tull (1934-94) is not a name that rings a bell for most music fans, but for those in the know, or those who were involved in the school band program after 1965 the name stands as an icon for all that is good and true and noble in the production of a certain kind of twentieth century music. Although his catalog is rather small due to an early death, his compositions for orchestra, band, and chamber ensemble are pretty much equal in number, about 80 total. But it is his band music that continues to live on, and his tonal-oriented excursions into medieval and renaissance forms coupled with a high rhythmic energy and fluent contrapuntal skill make every work he penned an adventure in the utmost compositional craftsmanship. This new disc, containing a number of lesser played works (but still as good as they get) is a rich […]