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Sean HICKEY: A Pacifying Weapon/Concerto For Recorder, Winds, Brass, Percussion And Harp – Michala Petri (recorder) – Our Recordings/Nordsco Records

Sean HICKEY: A Pacifying Weapon/Concerto For Recorder, Winds, Brass, Percussion And Harp – Michala Petri (recorder) – Our Recordings/Nordsco Records

by | Oct 25, 2017 | Classical CD Reviews

Sean Hickey – A Pacifying Weapon/Concerto For Recorder, Winds, Brass, Percussion And Harp – Our Recordings/Nordsco Records OUR-LP001 audiophile vinyl, 41:50 ****: Modern classical music with a global perspective! (Sean Hickey – composer; Michala Petri – recorder; Jean Thorel – conductor Royal Danish Academy Of Music Concert Band; Clemens Schuldt – conductor Lapland Chamber Orchestra) As a new millennium is underway, musical expression, including classical is evolving in its own way. Compositions reflect some of the changes made by 20th century composers. Minimalism (Phillip Glass,Steve Reich)  and Post–Modernism were skeptical of grandiosity and universal application. emphasizing political and social context. Postminimalism (Louis Andriessen, Gavin Byars, John McGuire) went a step further with pulse-driven music. Other genres like New Complexity and New Simplicity defined the new century of composers. Polystylism and Eclecticism exposed compositions to a variety of genres and techniques with global modalities. Sean Hickey is an example of 21st century classical music. He studied electric guitar in Detroit and was commissioned to write chamber and orchestral works by various organizations, including Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts. His current release, A Pacifying Weapon (Concerto For Recorder, Winds, Brass, Percussion And Harp) was inspired by an indie folk group Indigo […]

“Bergen Barokk: Suite Life” – Excerpts from var. suites composed by PHILIDOR, MARAIS, HOTTETERRE, CHEDEVILLE, COUPERIN – LAWO Classics

“Bergen Barokk: Suite Life” – Excerpts from var. suites composed by PHILIDOR, MARAIS, HOTTETERRE, CHEDEVILLE, COUPERIN – LAWO Classics

by | Nov 16, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

“Bergen Barokk: Suite Life” – Excerpts from var. suites composed by PHILIDOR, MARAIS, HOTTETERRE, CHEDEVILLE, COUPERIN – LAWO Classics multi-channel SACD LWC1096, 60:00 (10/14/16) ****1/2: European court music from the 17th century. The suites in this recording are taken from some of the many great music releases in Paris in the early 1700s. The releases, which were released “avec Privilege du Roy” (royal prerogative), reflecting ball, concerts, opera and ballet performances at the court and were well-received by a bourgeoisie filled with admiration for the luxurious lifestyles of the rich. Bergen Barokk was established in 1994 and is today among the leading early music ensembles. On this recording we hear Frode Thorsen on the recorder, Hans Knut Sveen on harpsichord, Thomas Boysen and Thor-Harald Johnsen on lute and guitar instruments and Markku Luolajan-Mikkola on viola da gamba. This is an attractive collection of court music, wonderfully played by the Bergen Barokk. It’s light music, very atmospheric. To my mind something to have on in the house rather than something I would sit in front of and engage in deep thoughts. The sound on the disc is very good. I listened to the 5.0 mix, and found the ensemble up front, […]

“Double Triple Koppel” = Michala Petri on recorder & others – Decapo / BEAMISH: The Singing – Works of that composer cond. by Martyn Brabbins – BIS

“Double Triple Koppel” = Michala Petri on recorder & others – Decapo / BEAMISH: The Singing – Works of that composer cond. by Martyn Brabbins – BIS

by | Oct 1, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

“Double Triple Koppel” = ANDERS KOPPEL: Concerto for Recorder, Saxophone, and Orchestra; Triple Concerto for Mezzo Saxophone, Cello, Harp, and Orchestra ‒ Michala Petri, recorder / Benjamin Koppel, saxophones / Tine Rehling, harp / Eugene Hye-Knudsen, cello / Odense Sym. Orch. / Henrik Vagn Christensen ‒ Dacapo multichannel SACD 6220633 [Distr. by Naxos]; 67:25 (8/14/15) ***1/2:</br> “SALLY BEAMISH: The Singing” = The Singing: Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra; A Cage of Doves; Under the Wing of the Rock; Reckless; Trumpet Concerto ‒ James Crabb, accordion / Branford Marsalis, sax / Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet / Royal Scottish National Orch. / Nat. Youth Orch. of Scotland (Trumpet Concerto) / Martyn Brabbins ‒ BIS multichannel SACD BIS-2156 [Distr. by Naxos]; 73:56 (10/9/15) ****: Two contemporary composers who manage to do up the old wine of the classical concerto in surprising new skins. Here we have two very different approaches to the concerto from two very different contemporary composers. Anders Koppel (b. 1947) is the son of the distinguished Danish composer Herman D. Koppel. In fact, Anders is now better known than his father, thanks to a loyal following among enthusiasts of crossover music, and specifically those who appreciate the melding of classical music […]