2008 Archives

Zoltan Kodály
(1882-1967)

Theatre Overture (1927)
Concerto for Orchestra (1939-40)
Dances of Marosszék (1923-7)
Symphony in C Major (1961)

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Yan Pascal Tortelier
Chandos CHAN9811 71:18

The Dances of Marosszék are fairly well-known but the remainder of the works on this disc are heard much less often. Other than the dances, the music does not draw on Kodály's folk song collecting, but there are indications within the music that he was a Hungarian composer. The overture and the Concerto are each in one movement running about 15 minutes. Although not completed until towards the end of his long life, the symphony had its gestation in the 1930s and to a large extent is a product of that era.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Alexander Zemlinsky
(1871-1942)

Three Pieces for Cello & Piano (1891)
Sonata in A minor for Cello & Piano (1894)
Trio in D minor for Clarinet, Cello & Piano (1896)

Othmar Mueller, cello
Ernst Ottensamer, clarinet
Christopher Hinterhuber, piano
Naxos 8.570540 64:21

This fine CD was purchased primarily for the beautiful Clarinet Trio, but the cello and piano works are a fantastic discovery. They fill a long-held desire of this listener for more Brahmsian cello music. They contain melodies and rhythms and the same emotional smiling-through-tears found in Brahms. Both of the Zemlinsky cello works had been presumed lost or destroyed, and were found only recently.

The clarinet trio owes its existence even more directly to Brahms, whose own Clarinet Trio predates this one by several years. Brahms recommended the Zemlinsky Trio to the publisher, Simrock. The works on this CD are performed with great sensitivity and superb musicianship.

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[ Sheet music and sound samples for the Trio can be found at Edition Silvertrust
  Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Adolphe Biarent
(1871-1916)

Trenmor - Symphonic Poem (1905)
Symphony in D Minor (1908)
Two Sonnets for Cello & Orchestra (1909-13) ¹

¹ Luc Dewez, cello
Liège Philharmonic Orchestra/Pierre Bartholomée
Cyprès CYP3601 58:53

The Belgian composer Biarent is much less well-known than Franck or even Lekeu, probably because none of his works had been published at the time of his death. The music presented here shows the influence of Franck and d'Indy, with occasional nods towards Liszt, Wagner and Dukas, and, in the case of the sonnets, the Dvořák concerto.

Trenmor has something of the atmosphere of Franck's The Accursed Huntsman with scope for interestingly agitated passages, while the symphony, the only one Biarent wrote, runs about half an hour and is highly regarded within Belgium. We hear all too little of this country's music and this CD suggests there may be others awaiting discovery.

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Lorenzo Perosi
(1872-1956)

Suite #5 "Tortona" (c.1908)
Suite #7 "Torino" (undated)

Orchestra Sinfonica 'Nuova Cameristica di Milano'/Arturo Sacchetti
Bongiovanni GB5651-2 68:50

Perosi was better known as a composer of religious music and was once extremely popular. A crisis of faith caused ongoing mental problems and he was in and out of institutions for some time.

Among his orchestral compositions were ten suites representing Italian cities, #5 in homage to his home city. The music is melodious and immediately appealing. The orchestration shows traces of Brahms but the casual listener might guess that it was by Dvořák or someone like Suk or Fibich: Perosi was known to borrow ideas extensively from other composers. Not great music, but certainly well worth getting to know.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Tomás Bretón
(1850-1923)

Four Spanish Pieces (1911) 18:44
Piano Trio in E Major (1887) 34:42

Lom Piano Trio
Naxos 8.570713

Tomás Bretón was known in his day primarily as an operatic and zarzuela composer. The works under review, however, are wonderful examples of his chamber music writing. Naxos is bringing this music back from years of unjust neglect, as part of their Spanish Classics series, a collection well worth exploring. The first two movements and the finale of Bretón's delightful piano trio are good examples of Late Romantic European chamber music. The third movement, dance-like and less formal, definitely speaks with a musical Spanish accent.

The Lom Piano Trio (Joan Orpella, violin; José Mor, cello; and Daniel Ligorio, piano) play this music with verve and spirit. Especially exciting are the Four Spanish Pieces. The third piece, Bolero, has a melody with the charm of a Fritz Kreisler composition.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Cipriani Potter
(1792-1871)

Symphony #7 in F Major (1826) 34:02

William Sterndale Bennett
(1816-1875)

Symphony in G minor Op. 43 (1867) 27:07

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra/Douglas Bostock
Classico CLASSCD634

Teacher and illustrious student, Potter and Bennett were accomplished pianists, performers and composers.

Potter's F Major Symphony has the charm of early Schubert symphonies, although it is thought that Schubert was unknown in the UK at the time of its composition. It has also been compared to the first two Beethoven symphonies.

Bennett's symphony in G Minor is very Mendelssohnian in character and orchestration. This symphony was the first British symphony to find a regular place in the repertoire. If you find William Sterndale Bennett to your taste, you can easily find other works of his recorded on Marco Polo (several volumes of piano music and one volume of chamber music) and Lyrita (piano concerti) – all recommended.

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[ Sheet music by Potter: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com
  Sheet music by Potter: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Guillaume (Jean Joseph Nicholas) Lekeu
(1870-1894)

Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano (1894)
Molto Adagio for String Quartet (1887)
String Quartet (1887)

Jan Michiels, piano
Spiegel String Quartet
Dabringhaus & Grimm MDG6441266-2 72:09

Guillaume Lekeu a Belgian composer who lived for a very short time, studied with César Franck and Vincent d'Indy. His credo, "Je me tue à mettre dans ma musique toute mon âme" (I put my whole heart and soul in my music) is apparent in his chamber music.

This recording opens with a fiery, impassioned violin explosion, but after about thirty seconds settles in to a Fauré-like piano quartet filled with lovely melodies and great part writing. This piano quartet was left unfinished, but completed by d'Indy. The completion is not on this disc.

Lekeu's single movement Adagio and his String Quartet, however, show very strong influence and understanding of Late Beethoven, not just in the part writing, but in the mature mood, the depth of feeling, and the richness of the counterpoint. Special mention should be made of the fifth movement, Poco Allegro e molto scherzoso (track 8). It is a folk-like theme, and twists and turns in delightful sophisticated changes of mode and mood.

The Spiegel Quartet members performing on this fine-sounding disc are Elisa Kawaguti, Stefan Willems, violins; Leo De Neve, viola; Jan Sciffer, cello. The pianist is Jan Michiels.

Read the Classical Net Review

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Kurt Atterberg
(1887-1974)

Symphony #1 in B minor, Op. 3 (1909-11)
Symphony #4 "Sinfonia Piccola" in G minor, Op. 14 (1918)

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Ari Rasilainen
CPO 999639-2 61:55

Atterberg's ten symphonies, including one for strings which is unnumbered, have been recorded for CPO as have several of his concertos and short orchestral works.

The two on this CD have something of the atmosphere of the countries of northern Europe we've learned from Grieg and Sibelius without sounding a great deal like either, and listening to more of Atterberg's music gradually reveals a recognisable style. Of particular interest is the sad and beautiful slow movement of the fourth symphony. A composer well worth exploring.

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Also available in a boxed set of the symphonies Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Ernö Dohnányi
(1877-1960)

Piano Quintet #1 in C minor, Op. 1 (1895)
Piano Quintet #2 in E Flat minor, Op. 26 (1914)
Serenade in C Major for String Trio, Op. 10 (1902)

William Howard, piano
The Schubert Ensemble of London
Hyperion CDA66786 75:51

It's only in fairly recent years that we've been able to explore Dohnányi's output much beyond his Variations on a Nursery Song; there are treasures to be found, the piano quintets among them. The first shows the influence of Brahms and Dvořák while the second, coming nearly twenty years later, is a denser work. The Serenade is quite well-known, with a slow movement of great beauty.

As the more enterprising record companies delve deeper into the nineteenth century, we find more piano quintets to set beside those that are more familiar. These two belong in the best company.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Reinhard Schwarz-Schilling
(1904-1985)

Symphony in C (1963)
Sinfonia Diatonica (1957)
Introduction & Fugue for Strings (1948)

Staatskapelle Weimar/José Serebrier
Naxos 8.570435 65:40

On the evidence of this CD, the German composer Schwarz-Schilling is something of a musical chameleon. The music sounds variously like Reger, Copland and possibly Walton, with traces of other composers along the way. It's always interesting to find a new composer and if this appeals, there are several other CDs of his music available.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Georgy Catoire
(1861-1926)

Caprice, Op. 3
Intermezzo, Op. 6, #5
Trois morceaux, Op. 2
Prélude, Op. 6, #2
Scherzo, Op. 6, #3
Vision (Étude), Op. 8
Cinq morceaux, Op. 10
Quatre morceaux, Op. 12
Quatre préludes, Op. 17
Chants du crépuscule, Op. 24
Poème, Op. 34, #2
Prélude, Op. 34, #3
Valse, Op. 36

Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Hyperion CDA67090 77:59

Of French extraction, Catoire was born in Russia and spent much of his life living there, eventually becoming professor of composition at Moscow Conservatory. His long neglect is probably due to the music not fulfilling the purposes required by the Soviet system. The obvious comparisons are with Liszt and Scriabin and many of the pieces presented here sound very difficult to play but not to listen to. Such music is meat and drink to Marc-André Hamelin who, as usual, tackles fiendishness with ease.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Dag Wirén
(1905-1986)

Symphony #2, Op. 14 (1939)
Symphony #3, Op. 20 (1943-4)
Concert Overture #1, Op. 2 (1931)
Concert Overture #2, Op. 16 (1940)

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard
CPO 999677-2 65:38

The Swedish composer Wirén is one of those known mainly for one work, in his case the march from his Serenade for Strings. The two symphonies, the second a rather genial and breezy work, the third more serious, have slight connections with Nielsen and with the music Wirén would have heard during his time in Paris in the 1920s. The overtures make attractive fillers. The fourth and fifth symphonies and a ballet are available on another CPO CD. The first, an experimental work, was withdrawn.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Ferdinand Ries
(1784-1838)

Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 11 #2
Piano Sonata in E Flat Major, Op. 11, #1
Sonatina in A minor, Op. 45

Susan Kagan, piano
Naxos 8.570796 50:02

As a close associate of Beethoven, it's no surprise that Ries' music was strongly influenced by the older composer, not that that's a criticism. For a long time, a solitary piano concerto was about the extent of recordings of his music but in recent years, mainly due to CPO, much more has become available.

Susan Kagan, a name Fanfare readers will recognise, has started a series of his piano music for Naxos. The music is immediately attractive and adds to our knowledge of a most interesting composer. The playing time is hardly generous, but at Naxos price, can be forgiven.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Karl Goldmark
(1830-1915)

Piano Quintet in B Flat Major, Op. 30 (1879)
Piano Quintet in C Sharp minor, Op. 54 (published 1916)

Oliver Triendl, piano
Quatuor Sine Nomine
CPO 777277-2 74:51

Goldmark is best known for his Rustic Wedding Symphony and his violin concerto, but neither attracts much recording attention, especially in recent years. These two quintets are much in the tradition of the great piano quintets by Schumann, Brahms and Dvořák, with a little Mendelssohnian playfulness. The piano writing is quite muscular without being overpowering, and there are some harmonies that remind us that Goldmark was a Hungarian composer.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

John Gardner
(b. 1917)

Overture: Midsummer Ale, Op. 73 (1965)
Piano Concerto #1 in B Flat, Op. 34 (1956-7) ¹
Symphony #1 in D Minor, Op. 2 (1946-7)

¹ Peter Donohoe, piano
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones
Naxos 8.570406 71:54

Gardner is yet another composer to have emerged from relative obscurity in recent years and this CD was a 90^th birthday tribute in 2007. The compositions presented here, which work quite well as a concert, are in different styles. The breezy overture is succeeded by the piano concerto which has stylistic affinity with Britten's concerto. Although the CD is titled as one of Naxos' British Piano Concerto series, the main work is the symphony which runs about 41 minutes. Conceived during World War II, it is a dark work in the manner of Bax as in, for example, the slow movement of the first symphony or November Woods. There is much further information at the composer's website.

Read the Classical Net Review

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
(1895-1960)

Piano Trio #1, Op. 49 (1928)
Piano Quintet No 1, Op. 69 (1934)

The Arman Ensemble
Albany Records TROY191

These chamber works are like a big box of imported chocolates. Every movement seems different in character yet each of the works are perfectly integrated. There is clear influence of the fertile 1920's with strong suggestions of French and Spanish color. Each work is a fine example of chamber music that is both accessible immediately and worth many repeated hearings.

Castelnuovo-Tedesco studied with Pizzetti, who with several other Italian composers (Martucci, Casella, Malipiero, Respighi and others) founded societies for the propagation of modern Italian instrumental music. In Italy, Castelnuovo-Tedesco was in demand as a composer and as a critic and essayist. However, when the situation for Jews got much too dangerous, Italy's loss was America's gain. Castelnuovo-Tedesco left Italy in 1939 and became an American Citizen in 1946. He wrote over 200 film music projects, and for many years taught some of the brightest film composers including Henry Mancini, André Previn, Nelson Riddle and John Williams.

The Arman Ensemble members performing the trio are: Deniz Arman Gelenbe, piano; Fritz Gearhart, violin; Brian Manker, cello. The Quintet personnel are Deniz Arman Gelenbe, piano; Eric Prichard, violin; Hsiao-mei Ku, violin; Jonathan Bagg, viola; Fred Raimi, cello.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
   Score for the trio at Eastman School of Music, Sibley Library
   Score for the quintet at Michigan State University Library ]

Joseph Jongen
(1873-1953)

String Quartet #1 in C minor, Op. 3 (1894)
String Quartet #2 in A Major, Op. 50 (1916)

The Gong Quartet
Pavane Records ADW7483 69:24

Think of the most delightful late Romantic string quartets you have ever heard, and then listen to Jongen's First String Quartet. You will not be disappointed. This prize-winning youthful work was very popular until the post-WWI rejection of lovely Mendelssohnian Romanticism. The Second String Quartet, also a very beautiful composition, but quite different from the first, will thrill listeners and performers alike. It sounds like an extension of Debussy's string quartet, voluptuous, mysterious, exciting and colorful.

These quartets are performed by the splendid Gong Quartet: Hanxiang Gong, Yinlai Chen, violins; Jean Christophe Michallek, viola; and Martin Hesselbein, cello.

Sheet music for both quartets can be found at Edition Silvertrust

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Sergei Rachmaninoff
(1873-1943)

Earl Wild's Legendary Rachmaninoff Song Transcriptions

Earl Wild, pianist
Ivory Classics 74001 77:55

These song transcriptions are perfect for people who love Rachmaninoff's melodies but don't want to hear the singing.

Transcriptions for piano solo are a tradition of the greatest pianists, including Rachmaninoff himself. Earl Wild is a formidable pianist, and he has taken these beautiful vocal settings and made complete piano solo pieces. Rachmaninoff songs are excellent material for this... I have often wished to hear more of the accompaniment and less of the vocal lines because the music Rachmaninoff wrote for the piano part is so complicated and gorgeous.

Earl Wild brings his superb technique and emotional power to these recordings. You will still hear with clarity the song-lines, but you will also hear the equal weight of the original piano lines. This is perfection.

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[ Sheet music available at Ivory Classics ]

Virgil Thomson
(1896-1989)

Symphony on a Hymn Tune (1928)
Symphony #2 in C Major (1931-1941)
Symphony #3 (1972)
Pilgrims and Pioneers (1964) (from film score "Journey to America")

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Sedares
Naxos 8.559022 64:21

Virgil Thomson, highly respected (often controversial) music critic, teacher and composer, was educated at Harvard and studied in France with Nadia Boulanger, one of the most influential teachers of some of the finest composers from several generations.

Paris in the 1920's was incredibly fertile ground for all of the arts, especially music. It was host to many ex-patriots from Stravinsky to Hemingway. It was in Paris where Thomson met Gertrude Stein with whom he would collaborate on two operas, "Four Saints In Three Acts", and "The Mother Of Us All". Thomson wrote music in all genres, from chamber music to film scores, from choral works to ballet.

The works in this fine Naxos "American Classics" disc are an excellent introduction to the symphonic music of Virgil Thomson. Hymn tunes, folk tunes, fanfares, popular melodies all appear in his early orchestral works. In the Symphony on a Hymn Tune, last movement, the bear even went over the mountain! The harmonies are wide open with intervals of fourths and fifths, and the orchestrations are exciting and colorful. Thomson's melodies are sweet and his treatments are witty. Not to be missed: the charming waltz from the much darker and more introspective Third Symphony. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra does a very fine job with these American pieces.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Ottorino Respighi
(1879-1936)

Quintet for Piano & Strings in F minor, P. 35*
String Quartet in D minor "Ernst is das Leben heiter ist de Kunst", P. 91*
Six Pieces for Violin & Piano P. 31*

Ambache Ensemble
Chandos CHAN9962 76:42

Respighi was a part of the generation of Italian composers who wanted to show the world that Italy could produce not only great opera, but other serious classical instrumental music. His teacher, Martucci, was at the forefront of that movement. Respighi was not only a composer, but also a professional violinist and violist. While playing for two years with the Imperial orchestra in St. Petersburg, he also was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov and learned valuable orchestration techniques.

In Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chambermusic, Guido Gatti writes that in Respighi's early music, "echoes of heard music reverberated in his inner consciousness as in a seashell, and he reproduced them with the felicity of youth." There are loving nods towards Brahms in the Piano Quintet, not so much in the melodic material, but in the connective tissue. The String Quartet (in its premier recording!) bends more towards Ravel and Debussy. The mood of the string quartet is true to its Schiller sub-title: Life is serious, art is joyful. The beautiful Quartet's second movement could represent life, but the last movement is most certainly art.

The six violin pieces (1901-1905) are melodious, delicate pieces, with instant appeal. Altogether, this disc is a delight.

* Respighi Catalog by Potito Pedarra

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Franz Schmidt
(1874-1939)

Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano Left Hand & Orchestra (1923)
Concerto in E Flat Major for Piano Left Hand & Orchestra (1934)

Carlo Grante, piano
Middle German Radio Symphony Orchestra/Fabio Luisi
Querstand VKJK0611 79:01

The Austrian-American pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I, commissioned a number of works for piano left hand of which the best known are the Ravel concerto, Prokofiev's 4th piano concerto, and Britten's Diversions. The two works on this CD are far less known and are said to have been more to Wittgenstein's liking. The variations are on the little scherzo from the Spring Violin Sonata. The concerto runs about 48 minutes and contains what seems to be difficult writing for the piano. Both works are Romanticism writ large and are commended especially to those with a taste for the music of this period.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Carl Vine
(b. 1954)

Oboe Concerto (1996) ¹
Canzona (1985)
Suite from The Tempest (1990)
Smith's Alchemy (1994)

¹ Diana Doherty, oboe
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Ola Rudner
ABC Classics 476226-7 70:16

The Australian composer Carl Vine has a number of CDs to his credit including a set of the six symphonies, also on ABC Classics, and one of piano music on Tall Poppies which includes the first two sonatas and the Anne Landa Preludes. This CD offers different facets of his work. The concerto is by turns dramatic and lyrical, while the Canzona for strings and Smith's Alchemy are somewhat grittier. The Tempest, which has some affinity with the Copland of Appalachian Spring, has its climax in a memorable theme for the horns.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Adolf Fredrik Lindblad
(1801-1878)

Symphony #1 in C, Op. 19 (1831)
Symphony #2 in D (1855)

Uppsala Chamber Orchestra/Gérard Korsten
Marco Polo 8.225105 70:29

Like a number of Scandinavian composers of the nineteenth century, Lindblad studied in Germany where he became friendly with Mendelssohn. Lindblad's later work is mainly chamber music, partly as a result of his change of direction following what he saw as unwarranted criticism. These two symphonies have traces of Berwald and although less adventurous than that composer's work, they are highly attractive works full of good tunes, fine orchestration and general good humor: a pity they are the only symphonies he left us.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

George Whitefield Chadwick
(1854-1931)

Euterpe (1903)
Angel of Death (1918)
Aphrodite (1911)
Melpomene (1887)
Thalia (1883)

Nashville Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Schermerhorn
Naxos 8.559117 79:26

My first encounter with Chadwick's music was his Symphonic Sketches which for years was about the only work available on record. Although things have improved considerably, much of this program is not otherwise available. The titles show Chadwick's interest in antiquity and although the music shows the influence of his studies in Germany, there are elements of later American music showing through. The major piece is Aphrodite running about half an hour: it has an exquisite earworm tune that foreshadows the slow movement of Barber's first symphony.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Niels Wilhelm Gade
(1817-1890)

Symphony #5 in D minor, Op. 25 (25:46)
Symphony #6 in G minor, Op. 32 (24:02)

Roland Pöntinen, piano
Stockholm Sinfonietta/Neeme Järvi
BIS CD-356

Can this be a lost Schumann piano concerto? Is it really a concerto? No, it is a fine Romantic symphony with a very prominent piano part. Gade, one of the most important Danish composers of the 19^th century, was greatly influenced by Mendelssohn and, of course, Schumann. In this collection of Gade's symphonies, Symphony #5 stands out not only for its unusual inclusion of the piano, but also as a very fine example of Schumann-era composition.

Gade, wrote in almost all genres, and fortunately BIS and more recently Chandos have recorded all of his eight symphonies. Gade's string quartets are also recommended, as are his overtures.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Ethel Mary Smyth
(1858-1944)

String Quartet in E minor (41:40)
String Quintet Op. 1 in E Major (26:28)

Joachim Griesheimer, cello
Mannheimer String Quartet
CPO 999352-2

This difficult-to-find disc is certainly worth searching for. Dame Ethyl Smyth was a very outspoken champion of women's rights and women composers. She studied with Herzogenberg and received encouragement from Brahms and Clara Schumann.

Smyth composed this powerful, mature and captivating string quartet in two time periods, the first two movements in 1902 and the rest in 1912. The form is classical; the sound is very Late Romantic, melodious, energetic and emotionally stirring. It is performed with excellence by the members of the Mannheimer String Quartet: Andreas Krecher and Claudia Hohorst, violins; Niklas Schwarz, viola; and Armin Fromm, violoncello.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Niccolò Paganini
(1782-1840)

String Quartet #1 in D minor
String Quartet #2 in E Flat Major
String Quartet #3 in A minor

Quartetto d'archi Paganini
Dynamic CDS134 64:55

These string quartets would be perfect candidates for "stump the listener" contests. They don't sound like what you'd expect to hear from Paganini. These pieces are not show pieces for violin with strange effects like bird trills, harmonics, left-hand pizzicato, and various spectacular fingering and bowing effects that are found in other works of Paganini. Instead, these quartets, dedicated to King Vittorio Emanuele I (c. 1815) could be mistaken for lost early Haydn quartets. They are charming, delicate, and would be perfect for the amusement of amateur chamber musicians and informal audiences. They are performed beautifully by the Quartetto d'archi Paganini (Bruno Pignata, violin; Gian Luca Allocco, violin; Ernest Braucher, viola; Dario De Stefano, cello.) The sound quality is excellent. (Also available as part of a 10CD set of "Complete Chamber Music" - Dynamic CDS553/1-10. You will also find guitar quartets, violin and cello duets, and even three duets for violin and bassoon in the ten-disc boxed set.)

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Jean Françaix
(1912-1997)

"A huit" - Octet for Winds & Strings (20:35)
Divertissement for Bassoon & String Quintet (9:40)
Clarinet Quintet (1977) (24:32)
L'heure du Berger (1947) for Winds & Piano (7:28)

The Gaudier Ensemble
Susan Tomes, piano
Hyperion CDA67036

The clarinet quintet is a very witty work with a toe-tapping first-movement allegro, a clever scherzando a "serious" and dreamy slow third movement followed by a good-humored rondo. The entire clarinet quintet certainly does give much pleasure, and that was Françaix's stated goal for all of his compositions. This is luscious, elegant French music at its very best.

For comical works, however, L'heure du berger (Musique de Brasserie) for winds and piano takes the prize! It is vigorous and laugh-out-loud humorous. Liner notes go on to explain more of the programmatic elements, however, this short work is a stand-alone treat. The opening is guaranteed to make you smile.

The performances on this disc are crisp and clean, and the sound is excellent. Very highly recommended.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Joseph Marx
(1882-1964)

Six Pieces for Piano (1916)
Herbst-Legende (Adagio)
Carneval (Nachtstück)
Die Flur der Engel

Tonya Lemoh, piano
Chandos CHAN10479 54:38

Most of this CD is taken up with the Six Pieces. If you've investigated any of Marx's other works – e.g., the orchestral songs, concertos, and string quartets are reviewed here at Classical Net – the style here is essentially similar, with recollections of Rachmaninov's and Scriabin's piano music to the fore. A very useful resource is the Joseph Marx web site with a wealth of information including a discography, recording projects, and a great deal else.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

George Frederick McKay
(1899-1970)

Violin Concerto (1940) 26:01
Sinfonietta #4 (1942) 17:46
Song Over The Great Plains (1953) 13:59
Suite on Sixteenth Century Hymn Tunes (1962) 20:32

Brian Reagin, Violin
National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/John McLaughlin Williams
Naxos 8.559225

In a non-pejorative sense, the movie music we associate with "cowboy," travel and nature films of Western America owe much to this composer. His expansive style and evocative musical picture-painting can be heard most clearly in the "Song Over The Great Plains", an orchestral piece with solo piano commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Although McKay wrote programs to accompany some of his music, and noted that the song of a meadow-lark inspired this particular piece, the music can be enjoyed fully even without explanations.

Naxos has released three other CDs of the music of McKay in their American Classics series: 8.559143, 8.559052, 8.559330. All are well worth exploring.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Robert Simpson
(1921-1997)

Symphony #6 (1977)
Symphony #7 (1977)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Hyperion CDA66280 59:00

It has to be said that Simpson's symphonies are something of an acquired taste, so it's a case of try before you buy. It's difficult to provide any signposts, other than perhaps the slightest traces of such composers as Sibelius, Nielsen and Hindemith. The two symphonies presented here, each running about half an hour, are continuous with recognisable sections. Each develops considerable tension which Simpson resolves in different ways. I was immediately hooked when I heard this music but have not always persuaded others. This CD was the first of the series of recordings of Simpson's eleven symphonies, all of which remain available.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Granville Bantock
(1868-1946)

Pagan Symphony (1923-8)
Fifine at the Fair (1911)
Two Heroic Ballads (1944)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley
Hyperion CDA66630 79:38

The late Vernon Handley, dedicated champion of British music, made a number of CDs of Bantock's output for Hyperion. The music presented here is extrovert with memorable tunes and frequently thrilling orchestration. Add to that wonderful playing, superb recording and an unusually well-filled CD. I also recommend the Celtic Symphony, the Hebridean Symphony, The Cyprian Goddess, and Thalaba the Destroyer.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Ernest Bloch
(1880-1959)

Symphony in C Sharp minor (1901-2)
Schelomo (1917) ¹

¹ Torleif Thedéen, cello
Malmö Symphony Orchestra/Lev Markiz
BIS BIS-CD-576 78:25

The early Symphony in C Sharp minor, running nearly 54 minutes, is a remarkable accomplishment. Bloch's influences, as heard here, include Richard Strauss and Mahler. Although he may go a little over the top occasionally, the symphony is full of memorable ideas. Schelomo is probably his best-known work and receives a fine performance. As you'd expect from this source, the recording is excellent.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Alexander von Zemlinsky
(1871-1942)

Symphony #1 in D Minor (1892)
Symphony #2 in B Flat Major (1897)

Gürzenich Orchestra/James Conlon
Köln Philharmonic Orchestra/James Conlon
EMI Encore 341446-2 75:36

These two early symphonies by a composer in his twenties show a wide range of influences including Brahms, Dvořák, and Bruckner. They are clearly products of their time, the second appearing in the year of Brahms' death. Zemlinsky's style was to undergo significant change and so the listener familiar with such works as the Lyric Symphony or A Florentine Tragedy will not find many points of similarity. The American conductor James Conlon has recorded much of Zemlinsky's music and makes a persuasive case for this music. These performances are also available in a 3-CD set of Zemlinsky's orchestral works.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Antonio Bazzini
(1818-1897)

String Quartet #1 in C Major (1864)
String Quartet #2 in D minor, Op. 75 (1877)
String Quartet #3 in E Flat, Op. 76 (1878)
String Quartet #4 in C Major, Op. 79 (1888)
String Quartet #5 in C Major, Op. 80 (1892)
String Quartet #6 in C Major, Op. 82 (1892)

Quartetto D'Archi Di Venezia
Dynamic CD418/1-3 3CDs 2:41

Bazzini, violin virtuoso, teacher, composer, conductor is hardly remembered today except for La Ronde des Lutins (Dance of the Goblins), Op. 25. These six fine string quartets would be a very happy addition to anyone's listening collection of Romantic chamber works. In addition, string players should take note: The four quartets in print are of the playing difficulty of Beethoven Op. 18 #1, and bear not the remotest resemblance to the famous (and technically frightening) virtuoso encore piece "La Ronde des Lutins". The first two quartets sound as if they were inspired by a sunny Mendelssohn, and the later quartets are more in the tradition of Schumann. These are a blend of tuneful, singing, Italian melodies and traditional German string quartet writing.

Watch: Perlman playing La Ronde des Lutins

Sheet music for string quartets #1, 2, 3 & 5 available from Edition Silvertrust and Merton Music.

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[ More sheet music by Bazzini: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)

String Sextet #1 in B Flat Major, Op. 18 (1860)
String Sextet #2 in G Major, Op. 36 (1865)

Silke-Thora Matthies & Christian Köhn, piano four-hands
Naxos 8.554817 74:35

This is Volume 13 of the Naxos series of releases of Brahms' arrangements for either piano four-hands or for two pianos. So far the traversal has covered many of his works including the symphonies, the concertos, the chamber music for four or more players, and the German Requiem, and a few works by other composers, notably Schumann's Piano Quintet. All are performed by these two fine players: there are 17 CDs in all, of which this is a representative sample.

There are some music lovers who find arrangements of any kind something to avoid, usually citing the composer's intentions. The difference in this case is that the arrangements are by the composer, for the usual reason, to make them accessible to a wider audience. Hearing these familiar works in this guise points up details not always noticed from the originals and refreshes one's interest in the works generally. The whole series is very recommendable indeed.

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Johannes Frederik Frøhlich
(1806-1860)

Symphony in E Flat, Op. 33 (1830)

Niels Gade
(1817-1890)

Symphony #4, Op. 20 (1849-50)

Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
Chandos CHAN9609 55:38

The Danish Frøhlich, not to be confused with an Austrian and a Swiss with a similar name, wrote but one symphony, thought to be the first Romantic symphony by a Dane. It's a very cheerful work, reminiscent in orchestration and mood to similar works by Berwald. The Gade work is similarly lacking in gloom and, like most of Gade's eight symphonies, owes more than a little to Mendelssohn.

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Carl Ruggles
(1876-1971)

Sun-treader (1926-31)

William Schuman
(1910-1992)

Violin Concerto (1959) ¹

Walter Piston
(1894-1976)

Symphony #2 (1943)

¹ Paul Zukofsky, violin
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
Deutshe Grammophon 429860-2 74:43

Ruggles' music is not easy to love but even if you find it not to your taste, the rest of the CD will more than make up for it. The Schuman Violin Concerto is variously anguished, calm, strident, lyrical, violent, and similar in many ways to the first Shostakovich Violin Concerto. There are other recordings if you can't find this one. Less often recorded is the Piston symphony, in three movements, at whose heart is an adagio which is unmistakably American. For my money, it's Piston's best symphony. The performances are exemplary.

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Jarmil Burghauser
(1921-1997)

Seven Reliefs for Large Orchestra (1962)

Václav Dobiáš
(1900-1978)

Symphony #2 (1956-57)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ancerl
Supraphon SU3700-2 67:48

The Burghauser work is a series of short movements which include nothing dissonant enough to upset your maiden aunt. The main event is the 50+ minute symphony by Dobiáš: it might remind you of Khachaturian, Shostakovich, or even Janácek. This is another from Supraphon's extensive back catalog of Ancerl recordings which make one wish for more recordings of music by some of the unfamiliar names among them.

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George Dyson
(1883-1964)

Violin Concerto
Children's Suite after Walter De La Mare

Lydia Mordkovich, violin
City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox
Chandos CHAN9369 62:23

Although written in 1942, this beautiful violin concerto would make lovers of Elgar and Stanford very happy with its lyrical style and noble spirit. Dyson's concerto has four movements, instead of the usual three. It opens with a very introspective first movement that seems initially like a symphony with violin accompaniment. The second movement is a jolly jig, followed by a very somber third movement, song-like in its orchestral introduction and carried through in the solo part. The last movement is a joyous, lighthearted dance. It leaves the listener in good spirits.

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  Reissued as part of CHAN10337: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe ]

[ Sheet music by Dyson: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Constant Lambert
(1905-1951)

Pomona: Ballet in One Act (1927)
Tiresias: Ballet in Three Acts (1950)

Michael Cleaver, piano
English Northern Philharmonia/David Lloyd-Jones
Hyperion CDA67049 74:02

Tiresias is an exciting and strange work that is sometimes jazzy and always full of orchestral color . It sounds at times like Stravinsky and at other times it has different contemporaneous flavors, mostly French, but is always engaging. There are passages with bitonality, polytonality, crackling and varied percussion sounds, rude brass choirs, dark strings (absent violins and violas), and sometimes tender meandering winds and extended piano parts. The Greek myth of Tiresias is the inspiration, of course, but it also stands alone as a musical work of interest. It sounds as if it were written during the musically explosive nineteen-twenties, but it was really written shortly before the too-early death of Lambert.

Read the full Classical Net review.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Pablo Sarasate
(1844-1908)

Spanish Dance, Op. 21 #1 "Malagueña"
Spanish Dance, Op. 21 #2 "Habañera"
Spanish Dance, Op. 22 #1 "Romanza andaluza"
Spanish Dance, Op. 22 #2 "Jóta Navarra"
Spanish Dance, Op. 23 #1 "Playera"
Spanish Dance, Op. 23 #2 "Zapateado"
Spanish Dance, Op. 26 #1
Spanish Dance, Op. 26 #2
Balada, Op. 31
Caprice basque, Op. 24
Jota aragonesa, Op. 27
Sérénade andalouse, Op. 28

Tian-wa Yang, violin
Markus Hadulla, piano
Naxos 8.557767

This disc is an explosion of virtuosity. The very young Tian-wa Yang, prize-winning violinist, plays with total control, assurance, beautiful tone, and rhythmic clarity. The Sarasate pieces call for almost every type of fancy violin playing: they are like a catalog of spectacular effects for both left hand and right. But these pieces are more than just rapid displays of technical skill. They present a true musical experience – they lift the spirits and make the listener feel like dancing.

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[ Sheet music by Sarasate: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Poul Schierbeck
(1888-1949)

Symphony #1, Op. 15 (1921) 46:12
Radio-Rhapsody, Op. 49 (1938) 16:45

Artur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra/Ilya Stupel
Danacord DACOCD417 62:57

If you think this symphony sounds as if it were written by Carl Nielsen, you would not be far off. Schierbeck arrived at his style honestly; Nielsen was one of his composition teachers, and also conducted the premier performance of this fine symphony in 1922.

The little jewel of a third movement, Allegro molto comodo e quasi indolente (Dolce far niente), lasts slightly under four minutes, employs almost all of the colors of the full orchestra, and presents a very cheerful interlude in this spacious symphony. On the whole, it is a work of many moods and rich orchestration, and it deserves a wide audience. Schierbeck wrote that this symphony is not program music, but it was inspired by fireworks – the sparks and the glow in the sky.

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Ludwig Van Beethoven
(1770-1827)

The Nine Symphonies arranged for
Solo Piano by Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Cyprien Katsaris, piano
Warner Classics 2564-60865-2

This collection is a triple treat. Not only are the Beethoven Symphonies and the Liszt transcriptions superb, but they are performed superbly. Here is a brief quotation from the excellent liner notes by Liszt scholar Wolfgang Döming:

"Liszt made it quite clear right from the start that he was not concerned with the writing of piano reductions; he insisted on the idea of a 'partition de piano' as he called it, a 'piano score'. In other words a recreation of the orchestral score for the piano... a representation of the whole. The piano reduction is and always has been a makeshift, but Liszt raised the piano score to the level of a form of composition."

Katsaris's nuanced interpretations are totally satisfying. His control of the piano is amazing. His virtuosity is always in the good service of the music. Even if you are a purist and have insisted upon hearing only the orchestral versions of Beethoven's symphonies, it is almost guaranteed that you will discover new things to appreciate if you listen to these Liszt transcriptions.

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[ Sheet music for these works: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Paul Hindemith
(1895-1963)

String Quartet in C Major, Op. 2 (1915)
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 10 (1918)
String Quartet in C Major, Op. 16 (1920)
String Quartet, Op. 22 (1921)
String Quartet, Op. 32 (1923)
String Quartet in E Flat Major (1943)
String Quartet in E Flat Major (1945)

The Danish Quartet
CPO 999287-2 3CDs

The first string quartet quartet, Opus 2, 1915 was written while Hindemith was still a student. It is full of the lush string writing most characteristic of the Late Romantic period. This quartet was long believed lost and was only published for the first time in 1994. The style is unique among Hindemith's string quartets.

After writing that quartet, Hindemith quickly developed his own individual sound which is energetic and often quite busy. Although his style sounds nothing at all like Baroque music, he frequently utilizes forms and contrapuntal devices of that period, and he displays much rhythmic vitality. Since Hindemith was also a string player, his compositions are all especially full of interest for the players, and generous to inner voices.

The excellent performers on this three-disc set are Tim Frederiksen and Arne Balk-Møller, violins; Gert-Inge Andersson, viola; and Henrik Brendstrup, cello – forming The Danish Quartet.

For much more information about the numbering of the quartets (old and new) as well as as interesting material about this prolific and fascinating composer, visit the Hindemith Foundation

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[ Sheet music for these works: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Joseph Wölfl
(1773-1812)

Piano Concerto #1, Op. 20 (after 1801)
Piano Concerto #5 "Grand Military", Op. 43 (1799)
Piano Concerto #6 "The Cuckoo", Op. 49 (before 1810)
Piano Concerto #4 "The Calm", Op. 36, (before 1807): Andante

Yorck Kronenberg, piano
SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern/Johannes Moesus
CPO 777374-2 76:06

Sounding much like late Mozart and, occasionally, early Beethoven, these exuberant concertos are immediately attractive. What makes them different from their apparent models is much greater use of trumpets and drums, thus giving an air of celebration to the music. Yet again CPO has recorded, apparently for the first time, music that did not deserve its long neglect.

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Nikolai Yakovlievich Myaskovsky
(1881-1950)

Complete String Quartets, Volume 5
String Quartet #12 in G Major, Op. 77
String Quartet #13 in A minor, Op. 86

Taneyev Quartet
Northern Flowers 9954 54:40

Russian Disc, in the early 1980's released all 13 of the Myaskovsky string quartets performed by the Taneyev Quartet (Vladamir Ovcharek, violin; Grigory Lutzky, violin; Vissarion Solovyev, viola and Josef Levinzon, cello). They have been unavailable for some time. Now Northern Flowers and the Saint Petersburg Musical Alliance have re-released these fine discs. It is cause for celebration!

The Quartets #12 and #13 are perhaps the most accessible of the quartets. The style is rich and the part writing is splendid – something interesting is always going on in each voice. There is Russian flavor, but it is atmospheric, not in a direct quotation of folk material. If you enjoy the quartets of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, you will most certainly find much to please you in this disc of Myaskovsky's quartets.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
  Sheet Music Parts for Quartet #8 can be found at Editions Silvertrust ]

Bohuslav Martinů
(1890-1959)

Who Is the Most Powerful in the World? (1923)

Prague Symphony Orchestra/Jirí Belohlávek
Supraphon SU3303-2 55:46

Who Is the Most Powerful in the World? is, to use Martinů's description, a comedy ballet. It concerns a mouse couple's search for the best suitor for their daughter, who must be "the most powerful in the world". The Mouse Prince proves unsuitable. A variety of others are tried and found wanting before the prince and the daughter eventually find true love. This is a delightful score. It pre-dates Martinů's Paris years but already the piano, so much a part of many of his later scores, is prominent. Some collections of the composer's music have included snippets from this ballet, but this CD appears to be its only complete recording.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Franz Schmidt
(1874-1939)

Symphony #1 in E Major (1896-9)

Richard Strauss
(1864-1949)

Four Symphonic Interludes from Intermezzo (1924)

Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Chandos CHAN9357 68:20

The Austrian, Franz Schmidt, wrote four symphonies, all of which are available on Chandos and conducted by Neeme Järvi. The shades of Schumann, Brahms and Richard Strauss are in varying degrees of evidence in his first, a work running about 45 minutes. If any of these three composers appeals, then Schmidt is someone to consider. The interludes from the Strauss opera have much the same feel as the suite from Der Rosenkavalier.

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[ Sheet music by Schmidt: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Walter Rabl
(1873-1940)

Quartet in E Flat Major for Clarinet, Violin, Cello & Piano (1896) 24:20

Josef Labor
(1842-1924)

Quintet in D major for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano, Op. 11 (1900) 33:13

Orion Ensemble
Çedille CDR90000088

Ever since Wolfgang Mozart's Kegelstadt Trio (K498), the musical combination of clarinet, strings and piano has been known to be a most felicitous chamber music sound. One is tempted to compare the works on this CD to Brahms' own Clarinet Quintet. That would be a mistake. These works can be judged on their own merits and will richly reward the listener. However it wouldn't be wrong to notice that there must have been strong Brahmsian inspiration.

I am most partial to Labor's quintet, especially the variations in the fourth movement. The entire quintet flows along gracefully, wistfully, and with the greatest charm.

The Orion Ensemble, (Jennifer Marias, Viola; Kathryne Pirtle, Clarinet; Florentina Ramniceanu, Violin; Diana Schmück, Piano; Judy Stone, Cello), have given us excellent performances of both works.

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Antonín Rejcha
(1770-1836)

Wind Quintet in C minor, Op. 91 #6
Wind Quintet in F Major, Op. 88 #6

Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Naxos 8.554228 68:41

Variously known as Antonín, Antoine or Anton Rejcha or Reicha, this Bohemian composer is probably best known for his works for wind quintet. They are unfailingly tuneful and genial, and give each of the instruments its place in the spotlight. The above CD is but one of a number of Rejcha CDs on Naxos by this ensemble, and all are worthy of investigation. There are also quintets available on CPO.

Rejcha wrote in a number of genres including a number of symphonies that have been released on several Czech labels such as Panton, concertos, choral works and operas: you may need to work harder than usual to track these down, but the rewards are worth it.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Florent Schmitt
(1870-1958)

Antoine et Cléopâtre, Op. 69 (1920)
Mirages, Op. 70 (1920-21)

Orchestre National de Lorraine/Jacques Mercier
Timpani 1C1133 58:13

Some of Schmitt's orchestral works are inspired by the femme fatale: La Tragédie de Salomé, recorded by Paray, de Almeida and others, Salâmmbo, recorded by Mercier for RCA and re-released by Arkiv Music, and Antoine et Cléopâtre, written for a translation by André Gide of the Shakespeare play. This six-part suite is lushly orchestrated with some exciting sequences and, fortunately, only slight attempt at evoking Egypt. Mirages comprises two separate piano pieces which were later orchestrated and combined: the first, a sort of tombeau de Debussy, has more than a trace of La Mer.

You might also be interested in an inexpensive Apex CD of La Tragédie de Salomé and the choral Psaume 47, conducted by Marek Janowski.

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Felix Weingartner
(1863-1942)

Sextet Op. 33 in E minor (41:04)
Octet Op. 73 in G Major (35:35)

Oliver Triendl, pianist
Ensemble Acht
CPO 777049-2

Felix Weingartner, known to recorded classical music fans until now only as a conductor, (and perhaps also as the orchestrator of the Beethoven Hammerklavier Sonata, Op. 106) had nevertheless written an impressive number of compositions. Among his works are seven symphonies, overtures, operas, tone poems, five string quartets and other chamber music. It is almost unbelievable that these works have been so long neglected!

This Sextet, scored for piano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass, is performed by the Ensemble Acht members – Christoph Schickendanz, Annette Fehrmann, Antonia Siegers, Ingo Zander, and Stephan Schäfer, plus pianist Oliver Triendl.

The first movement is an exciting and voluptuous waltz with a second theme reminiscent of a very tender melody from Richard Strauss' Death and Transfiguration. The scherzo-like second movement is delightfully mysterious. The more somber third movement "in the style of an improvisation" and the "funeral dance" of the last movement round out this impressive, richly scored, melodious, expressive, and dramatic work.

Also not to be missed on this disc: the Octet Op. 73 for clarinet, horn, bassoon, two violins, viola, cello and piano. Especially recommended are the variations in the second movement.

I am very grateful to CPO for bringing so many of Weingartner's previously neglected compositions to us. His is a very important Late Romantic voice.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Frederic Cliffe
(1857-1931)

Symphony #1 in C Minor, Op. 1 (1889)
Orchestral Picture "Cloud and Sunshine" (1890)

Malmö Opera Orchestra/Christopher Fifield
Sterling CDS-1055-2 57:51

Asked to guess the identity of the composer of these works, you might consider a minor nineteenth-century German composer who knew his Brahms and Wagner very well: to take just one example, a lot of Stanford's music sounds like Brahms, but is none the worse for that.

Although born in the same year as Elgar, the English composer Cliffe followed a different path and although there are hints of later music, in the music presented here he never strays far from the norm of the period. The symphony, running about 43 minutes, is a welcome addition to the recorded repertoire. At its centre is a stately and quite emotional slow movement. Cloud and Sunshine is much what you'd expect. The somewhat reverberant acoustic – a church in Malmö – suits the music and Fifield, who has made other first recordings for Sterling, makes the best case for it.

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Franz Schreker
(1878-1934)

Chamber Symphony for 23 Solo Instruments (1916) ¹
Prelude to a Drama (1913) ¹
Valse Lente for Orchestra (c1908) ²
Night Interlude (1903) ²

¹ Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michael Gielen
² Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Karl Anton Rickenbacher

Koch Schwann Musica Mundi CD11618 58:32

There have been a number of recordings of Schreker's music in recent years, including operas and orchestral music. The chamber symphony immediately reminds one of Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnol but there are soon echoes of Richard Strauss, the predominant apparent influence on the other works on the CD, although you might find traces of Szymanowski or Mahler. Chandos has also released two CDs of other Schreker orchestral music, CHAN9751 and CHAN9797, in which his lush scoring is well demonstrated.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Joaquin Turina
(1882-1949)

Piano Music I
Danzas fantásticas, Op. 22
Danzas andaluzas, Op. 8
Danzas gitanas, Op. 55
Danzas gitanas, Op. 84
Bailete, Op. 79
Danzas sobre temas populares españoles, Op. 41

Jordi Masó, Piano
Naxos 8.557150

Turina was encouraged by his teacher, Albéniz, to turn to Spanish folk music for inspiration.

The music on this Naxos disc draws on the Andalusian and Spanish Gypsy dances and melodies, but with virtuoso pianistic flair. There is excitement in the rhythms and colors of this music, and it is played with sensitivity and clarity by Jordi Masó. Naxos has brought out four volumes of the piano music of Turina as part of their excellent series of "Spanish Classics".

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Vasily Kalinnikov
(1866-1901)

Suite (1891-2)
The Cedar and the Palm (1897-8)
Bylina Overture (1892)

USSR Symphony Orchestra/Yevgeny Svetlanov
Melodiya MELCD1000169 63:28

The most substantial work here is the 39-minute Suite. About half an hour of that is taken up with an andante and an adagio, but with tempo fluctuations within. The atmosphere of Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia is prominent. The other two works are also immediately appealing. Those who have already been seduced by Kalinnikov's two symphonies will need no further recommendation.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Francis Poulenc
(1899-1963)

Les Animaux Modèles (1940-42)
Concert Champêtre ¹ (1927-8)
Improvisations #13, #15 (Hommage à Edith Piaf) ¹ (1958-9)

¹ Stefano Bollani, piano
Filarmonica '900 del Teatro Regio di Torino/Jan Latham-Koenig
Avie AV2135 74:03

Les Animaux Modèles is the least-known of Poulenc's ballets, but has just as much charm and wit as his other works in the genre. Concert Champêtre is familiar in its intended guise as a harpsichord concerto, but sounds equally fine with a piano soloist : Poulenc himself played it in this form. The two solo improvisations complement a most tempting program.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Johan Wagenaar
(1862-1941)

Sinfonietta, Op. 32
Aveux de Phèdre, Op. 41 ¹
Symphonic Poem "Levenszomer", Op. 21
Symphonic Poem "Elverhöi", Op. 48
Overture "De Philosophische Prinses", Op. 39
Larghetto for Oboe & Orchestra, Op. 40 ²

¹ Janny Zommer, soprano
² Ingrid Nissen, oboe
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra/Eri Klas
Etcetera KTC1326 74:32

A varied program of music by a Dutch composer who wrote in many forms in loosely late Romantic style. Some may know Elverhöi (Elf Hill) from music by several other composers, notably Gade. All the music, written 1903-1939, is played with considerable panache. A byway well worth exploring.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Paul Juon
(1872-1940)

Piano Quartet, Op. 50
Piano Quartet "Rhapsodie", Op. 37

Oliver Triendl, piano
Daniel Gaede, violin
Hariolf Schlichtig, viola
Peter Bruns, violoncello
CPO 777278-2

Born in Moscow of Swiss descent, taught by Arensky and S. Taneyev, and called by an unknown critic "the missing link between Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky" (see the International Juon Society website), Paul Juon had a unique voice, a synthesis of many styles and national elements from Schumann to Sibelius. This is emotion-rich Romantic music but it is never saccharine. There is always an edge to even the most dramatic music, especially the most somber Adagio lamentoso of the Op. 50 Piano Quartet. The more popular (and more often recorded) Rhapsodie is lighter and more accessible, and both works are worth repeated hearings.

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[ Parts for the Rhapsodie can be found at Edition Silvertrust ]

Andreas Jakob Romberg
(1767-1821)
Clarinet Quintet, Op. 57

Robert Fuchs
(1847-1927)
Clarinet Quintet in E Flat minor, Op 102

Charles Villiers Stanford
(1852-1924)
Fantasy for Clarinet & String Quartet #1 in G minor
Fantasy for Clarinet & String Quartet #2 in F Major

Thea King, clarinet
Britten String Quartet
Hyperion Helios CDH55076

For lovers of the magnificent Brahms Clarinet Quintet, this recording of the Fuchs Clarinet Quintet will be a special treat.

Robert Fuchs was known during his lifetime primarily as a teacher: some of his students were Mahler, Schreker, Sibelius, and Zemlinsky. He was also known for writing easily accessible and popular Serenades, and his nickname was "Serenading Fox", a pun on his name.

The Fuchs Clarinet Quintet has memorable melodies, wonderful string and clarinet writing, and it is a pleasure from beginning to end. Special mention must be made of the catchy and charming second movement scherzo.

Once you fall under the spell of Fuchs, you might want to seek out his other orchestral and chamber music. Thorofon has recorded much of his chamber music and two volumes of orchestral works and MD&G have also recorded String Quartets by Fuchs.

The other pieces on this Helios disc are also beautifully performed by King and the Britten Quartet (Peter Manning, violin; Keith Pascoe, violin/viola; Peter Lale, viola; Andrew Shulman, cello) and will provide hours of delight.

I am very grateful to the late Thea King (1925-2007) not only for her expressive musicianship and extensive contributions to the recorded clarinet literature, but also for her exploration of lesser-known composers of the 19^th and 20^th century and support via commissions for contemporary composers.

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[ Sheet music by Fuchs: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
  Sheet music by Romberg: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
  Sheet music by Stanford: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Siegfried Wagner
(1869-1930)

Symphony in C Major (1925)
Later version of the second movement (1927)
Eklogue (after Liszt)

Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Werner Andreas Albert
CPO 999531-2 59:08

Although written in 1925, the symphony is firmly late-Romantic in style and orchestration, sounding occasionally like such composers as Suk and with the odd nod to father Richard: it runs about 46 minutes. The Eklogue, an orchestration of #7 from Book 1 of the Années de Pèlerinage, is a short makeweight.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Hugo Wolf
(1860-1903)

String Quartet in D minor
Italian Serenade

Fine arts Quartet
Hänssler Classic CD93.024

The String Quartet in D minor (1878-1884) is subtitled "Entbehren sollst du, sollst entbehren" – "Thou shalt forego, shalt do without," a quote from Goethe's Faust.

In spite of terrible emotional problems, Hugo Wolf managed to be a prolific and significant composer, best known for his many lieder, and his often-heard delightful Italian Serenade.

The far less popular String Quartet, however, is well-worth careful audition, especially if you are emotionally touched by the late Beethoven String Quartets. Wolf's strange rhythms and abrupt key-center shifts are more readily understood in the context of those Beethoven works.

The score I referred to while listening, from an out-of-print Dover Publications book (Seven String Quartets: 0-486-26891-8), gives the second and third movements in reverse order, but Wolf switched them later (and more appropriately). The Third Movement, Langsam, is the emotional center of this work, and can stand by itself as a passionate outpouring of deepest feelings.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com

Parts available from Merton Music ]

Gustav Holst
(1874-1934)
Quintet in A Minor for Piano & Winds, Op. 3
Wind Quintet in A Flat Major, Op. 14

Gordon Jacob
(1895-1984)
Sextet in B Flat Major for Piano & Winds, Op. 6

Anthony Goldstone, piano
Elysian Wind Quintet
Chandos CHAN9077 53:08

Holst wrote in a number of genres, but is too often regarded as a one-hit wonder because of the popularity of The Planets. The two works on this CD are early pieces in which he is still finding his way, but they are interesting in rounding out our perception of a composer better known for his orchestral writing; already there are folksong elements appearing.

Jacob is better known as an arranger of other people's music. This sextet, written many years after the Holst works, sounds a little like Hindemith and the piano writing very much like Prokofiev. A whole CD of Jacob's chamber music on Dutton Epoch CDLX7177 is well worth investigating.

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[ Sheet music by Holst: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com
Sheet music by Jacob: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Felix Draeseke
(1835-1913)

Volume I
String Quartet #1 in C minor, Op. 27
String Quartet #2 in E minor, Op. 36

Volume II
String Quartet #3 in C Sharp minor
Suite in F Sharp minor for 2 Violins Op. 86

Hölderlin String Quartet
AK Coberg DR0011 & DR0012

The complete quartets of Felix Draeseke have just been released. These string quartets are richly scored, and are excellent examples of Late German Romantic chamber music, with beautiful flowing melodies, highly satisfying emotional content, and engaging part-writing. The second quartet will most likely become the most popular, although all three are very enthusiastically recommended!

The Hölderlin String Quartet (Rebecca Martin, Christian Friedrich, violins; Andres Mehne, viola; Teemu Myöhänen, violoncello) was founded in 2005. They sound absolutely terrific, with a wide range of expression, vitality, and sensitive ensemble playing.

[ CDs may be purchased from the International Draeseke Society,
also a fine resource for more detailed information about Draeseke. ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

[ Parts for the string quartets purchased from Merton Press ]

Erich Wolfgang Korngold
(1897-1957)

Symphony in F Sharp Major, Op. 40 (1952)
Six Simple Songs

Barbara Hendricks, soprano
The Philadelphia Orchestra/Franz Welser -Möst
EMI Encore 86101

Dedicated to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Korngold's Symphony Op. 40 is a link in a musical chain reaching from Richard Strauss and Mahler to the film music of John Williams.

In listening to Op. 40, the film buff might notice quotes from Korngold's scores to the films "Juarez", (second movement); "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex", "Captain Blood", "Anthony Adverse," (third movement); and in the fourth movement – themes from King's Row. The music is exciting and spacious, and the Philadelphia Orchestra is in top form.

The songs will greatly please people who enjoy the lieder of Mahler and R. Strauss. Barbara Hendricks has a clean, strong voice particularly well-suited to this beautiful material.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Georges Onslow
(1784-1853)

String Quartet in G minor, Op. 9/1
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 9/3
String Quartet in C Major, Op. 47

Mandelring Quartet
CPO 999060-2 70:25

The French composer Onslow wrote 37 string quartets. This CD combines two of his youthful quartets with one from his maturity. Some of the themes recall Schubert, harmonically Schumann appears, but neither of these great composers overshadows the music. Three of the quartet's members are siblings and Onslow is one of their specialities: the first violinist in particular negotiates some tricky writing with great skill.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Lars-Erik Larsson
(1908-1986)

Symphony #1 in D Major, Op 2 (1927-8)
Symphony #2, Op 17 (1937)

Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra/Hans-Peter Frank
BIS CD-426 67:01

Probably best-known for his Pastoral Suite, Larsson wrote three symphonies which, not unexpectedly, owe some debt to Sibelius and Nielsen but are nonetheless individual, combining some austerity with great warmth. The standout for me is the andante of the second symphony which is reminiscent of its counterpart in the Nielsen third. The provincial Swedish orchestra performs admirably.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Agathe Backer Grøndahl
(1847-1907)

Complete Piano Music Vol. IV

Natalia Strelehenko, Piano
Arena AR07015

A concert artist, wife, mother, sufragette, and prolific composer, Grøndahl wrote over 190 songs, approximately 120 piano pieces, collections of Norwegian folksongs, some choral works, and some student orchestral works. Grieg was so impressed by her piano playing that he asked her to perform his piano concerto in concert. She was called "another Clara Schumann" … high praise!

This lovely and melodious piano music most reminds me of the Lyric Pieces of Grieg. It is easy to listen to and difficult to forget.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Heinrich Marschner
(1795-1861)

Piano Trio #2 in G Minor, Op. 111 (1841)
Piano Trio #5 in D Minor, Op. 138 (1848)

Beethoven Trio Ravensburg
CPO 999721-2 70:51

Much better known as a composer of operas, Marschner also left considerable quantities of orchestral and chamber music among which are seven piano trios. The two under consideration are quite extended works which owe more than a little to better-known composers of the period, not least Mendelssohn.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda
(1801-1866)

Symphony #5 in B minor, Op 106 (1840)
Symphony#7 in F Major (1843)
Overture #16

Das Neue Orchester/Christoph Spering
CPO 777139-2 68:29

The Bohemian Kalliwoda (aka Kalivoda) spent most of his career in Germany, especially at Donaueschingen. His music shows the influence of Beethoven, Weber and Mendelssohn. Das Neue Orchester is an historically-informed practice band which plays these works with great spirit, and makes much of the occasional unusual percussion writing. Such performances are not to all tastes, but I think Spering's musicians make the best case for unfamiliar music.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Eric Ewazen
(b. 1954)

Concerto for Violin & Strings (2000) ¹
Concerto for Oboe & Strings "Down a River of Time" (1999) ²
Sinfonia for Strings (2001)

¹ Adele Anthony, violin
² Linda Strommen, oboe
International Sejong Soloists/Hyo Kang
Albany TROY577 64:27

Listening to this as a blindfold test, you might consider Vaughan Williams or a less well-known English composer such as Howells or Rubbra, or occasionally John Adams, or even Thomas Newman. Ewazen was born in Cleveland and on the evidence of this CD, writes extremely approachable music with passages of great beauty, which is a good enough reason for checking this out.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Howard Blake
(b. 1938)

Violin Concerto, "The Leeds" (1992)
A Month in the Country-Suite for Strings (1986/1993)
Sinfonietta for Ten Brass Instruments (1981)

Christiane Edinger, violin
English Northern Philharmonia/Paul Daniel
Academy Sound & Vision CDDCA905 62:40

The violin concerto is an immediately likeable work with some exhilarating violin writing and orchestration. A Month in the Country uses material from a film score and there are echoes of Vaughan Williams in Tallis Fantasia mode and Britten's Frank Bridge Variations. The sinfonietta is edgier music, giving plenty of opportunity for the individual players.

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Ilja Hurnik (b.1922)
Four Seasons-Chamber Suite (1952)
Ondráš-Ballet Music (1951)

Jan Kapr (1914-1988)
In the Soviet Country-Cantata (1950) ³

Julius Kalaš (1902-1967)
The Nightingale and the Rose (1956)

Viktor Kalabis (1923-2006)
Violin Concerto #1 (1958-59) ⁴

Jan Seidel (1908-1998)
Oboe Concerto #2 (1955) ⁵

Ivan Jirko (1926-1978)
Piano Concerto #3 (1958) ⁶

Petr Eben (1929-2007)
Piano Concerto (1961) ⁷

Pavel Bořkovec (1894-1972)
Symphony #2 (1955)

Václav Dobiáš (1909-1978)
Build Up Your Country to Reinforce the Peace-Cantata (1947) ²

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1946) ¹

¹ Eric Schilling, narrator
² Jan Soumar, baritone
⁴ Václav Snítil, violin
⁵ Josef Shejbal, oboe
⁶ Viktorie Švihlíková, piano
⁷ František Rauch, piano
² Prague Philharmonic Choir
² Kühn Children's Choir
³ Prague Radio Choir
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Karel Ančerl
Supraphon SU3944-2 4CDs 258:17

Volume 43 of the Karel Ančerl Gold Edition apparently collects a number of short works left over from the mainly single-CD releases which make up the rest of the series. Apart from the Britten, the remaining works are by composers of what was then Czechoslovakia, Ančerl having left his homeland for Canada in 1968, the year of the Soviet suppression of the Prague Spring. This set gives an interesting insight into the sort of music being written during the fifteen or so years after the war.

Most of the music is upbeat, some even jaunty. The two vocal works remind me of such pieces as Prokofiev's Summer Day, but the words are best avoided! Of the concertos, the standout for me is the Kalabis, but all are worth getting to know. Some of the recordings are in mono but the transfers have been very well done. The set is attractively priced. Recommended for those who like to explore the byways of the byways.

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Reynaldo Hahn
(1874-1947)

Sonata in C Major for Violin & Piano (20:12)
Soliloque et Forlane for Viola & Piano (7:42)
Romance in A Major for Violin & Piano (4:27)
Piano Quartet #3 in G Major (21:57)
Si mes vers avaient des alles (1:53)
Nocturne in E Flat Major for Violin & Piano (5:30)

Stephen Coombs, piano
Ccharles Sewart, violin
Yuko Inoue, viola
Philip De Groote, cello
Hyperion CDA67391 62:01

Hahn was a composer, a conductor, a performer, and a respected music critic. He was most popular before World War I (the Belle Époch) but subsequently fell out of fashion. He was often classified as a mere "salon" composer – with much of his music considered lightweight because it is immediately appealing and accessible. Fortunately for us, his music has come back into favor among recording artists.

If this sonata were not as hauntingly melodious and touching, it would simply be a curiosity, a total musical anachronism. Hahn wrote this sonata in 1926, yet in a blindfold test, one might guess it was sibling to the first Fauré (1877) or Franck (1886) violin sonatas. But the Hahn Violin Sonata is one of those rare gems that can always appeal to the musician and the listener. The form is classical, and the last movement of the sonata reprises the beautiful first movement melody, making a satisfactory arch. The second movement moves lickety-split, amusing and witty – only lasting for slightly over three minutes. This movement is very much in the jolly spirit of the third movement of the Op. 13 violin sonata of Fauré.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Édouard Lalo
(1823-1892)

Piano Trio #1 in C minor, Op. 7
Piano Trio #2 in B minor
Piano Trio #3 in A minor, Op. 26

Trio Parnassus
Dabringhaus & Grimm MDG3030482-2 77:59

Lalo performed with a professional string quartet first as a violist, and then as a violinist, so it is no wonder that his chamber music compositions are totally idiomatic for strings. The first two trios were written in the early 1850's and the third was written in 1880. The clear influence of Schumann and Mendelssohn is heard in all three, but the third trio also has the very exciting cross-rhythms reminiscent of Lalo's more famous works for violin and cello. These are very fine performances by the Trio Parnassus (Chia Chou, piano; Wolf-Dieter Streicher, violin; Michael Gross, violoncello)!

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[ Sheet Music for Trio #2 is available at Edition Silvertrust
More sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Artur Kapp
(1878-1952)
Don Carlos Overture (1899)

Eugen Kapp
(1908-1996)
Kalevipoeg Ballet Suite (1947)

Villem Kapp
(1913-1964)
Symphony #2 in C Minor (1955)

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Chandos CHAN10441 63:34

This Estonian family is made up of Artur, his son, Eugen and nephew, Villem. Much of Artur's training was in Russia, and he taught both the younger men. The overture sounds thematically rather like Schumann. Kalevipoeg has echoes of Sibelius and Nielsen, and parts of it even suggest an English influence. The symphony has clear Russian antecedents and a blindfold test would probably guess a Soviet composer. Järvi seems to do some of his best work when presenting the compositions of his countrymen, as we've seen with such CDs as his two Chandos albums of music by various Estonian composers, Tobias' Jonah's Mission and his Tubin cycle.

See also http://kappidemuuseum.suure-jaani.ee/ingl.html

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Leó Weiner
(1885-1960)

String Quartet in E Flat Major, Op. 4 (1906)
String Quartet in F Sharp Major Op.13 (1921)
String Quartet in G Major (Pastorale, Fantasy & Fugue) Op. 26 (1934)

Auer String Quartet
Hungaroton HCD31687 74:19

Weiner's Second String Quartet is not Hungarian in the sense of borrowed folk-tunes, although Weiner did develop an interest in the extensive folk-research of Bartók, Kodály, and Lajtha. Instead, Weiner makes excellent use of folk rhythms, harmonic modes and spirit. He also has a wonderful melodic gift, and a totally idiomatic string writing sense.

For a short time before World War I, Weiner was more popular than his contemporaries, but this popularity faded and now he is hardly known. This CD by the Auer Quartet (Gábor Sipos & Zsuzanna Berentés, violins; György Gulyás Nagy, viola; Ákos Takás, cello) and a few others that have recently appeared, should help bring his neglected music the attention and acclaim that it deserves.

I would heartily recommend listening to this entire recording as a preparation for fuller appreciation of the somewhat more daunting six String Quartet masterpieces of Bartók, because Weiner's quartets, especially the Second, speak the same language but with more familiar accents.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Paul Le Flem
(1881-1984)

Quintet for Piano & Strings in C minor 36:40
Sonata for Violin & Piano (1905) 28:57

Louvigny String Quartet
Alain Jacquon, piano
Timpani 1C1077

Le Flem's quintet sounds like it is a close relative of Ravel's string quartet or Faure's first piano quartet both in tonality and in emotional evocations. This haunting chamber music deserves a wider audience. The playing by Jacquon and the Louvigny String Quartet (Philip Koch & Fabian Perdichizzi, violins; Ilan Schneider, viola; Aleksandr Kramouchin, cello) is excellent, and the entire CD is an impressionist treat.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus ]

Déodat de Séverac
(1872-1921)

Le chant de la terre (1899-1900)
En Languedoc (1903-04)
Les Naïdes et le faune indiscret (1908-19)
Baigneuses au soleil (1908)

Izumi Tateno, piano
Apex 60625-2 72:21

Apart from a period of musical training in Paris with Magnard and d'Indy, Séverac spent his life in the south of France which provided inspiration for his piano compositions. He counted Albéniz and Ravel among his friends, and their influence – and that of Debussy – is evident in these very attractive works.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]

Isaac Albéniz
(1860-1909)
Rapsodie española, Op. 70 (arr. Halffter) ¹

Joaquín Turina
(1882-1949)
Rapsodia sinfónica, Op. 66

Xavier Montsalvatge
(1912-2002)
Concerto Breve for Piano & Orchestra (1953)

Carlos Surinach
(1915-1997)
Piano Concerto (1973)

Alicia de Larrocha, piano
¹ London Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Decca Eloquence 4762971 75:35

The Albéniz and Turina works are short entrées to the two longer concertos. Despite its title, Montsalvatge's Concerto Breve runs about 25 minutes and is a very genial affair that wears its Spanishness lightly. The Surinach is more dramatic and fiery. The sound for all four works is as you'd expect from Decca originals.

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(Maddelena) Laura Lombardini Sirmen:
  String Quartet Op. 3 #2 in B Flat Major
  String Quartet Op. 3 #3 in G minor
Emilie Mayer: String Quartet, Op. 14
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: String Quartet in E Flat Major

Erato Quartett Basel
CPO 999679-2 72:23

String quartets by three talented women composers from two different periods are presented on this fine sounding CD by the Erato Quartett Basel (Emilie Haudenschild & Attila Adamka, violins; Heinz Haudenschild, viola; Emeric Kostyak, violoncello). Laura Sirmen's (1745-1818) are the earliest, having elements of both late Baroque and early Classical period. Sirmen's graceful string quartets were published in the same year (1769) as Haydn's Op. 9 string quartets.

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847) was discouraged from publishing her compositions (under her own name) for most of her adult life, although she often worked in close partnership with her brother. This quartet was written in 1834. The second and fourth movements could not have been written by anyone other than a Mendelssohn! If you like the Felix Mendelssohn octet, you will certainly enjoy these lively movements!

Emilie Meyer (1812-1883; Groves: 1821-1883) was a multi-talented woman. She was not only a very prolific composer, but she was also a respected sculptor. Grove's Dictionary mentions among her compositions nine sonatas for violin and thirteen for cello, eleven piano trios, and seven string quartets. This quartet has the rich texture that inner-voice string players love: there is something interesting for every part. The second movement contains joyous and exciting (Mendelssohnian) motion. The third movement quotes a chorale tune and weaves variations around it, stylistically reminiscent of the finale of Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Trio #2, Op. 66. The Meyer string quartet closes with a pleasing finale and the entire quartet not only provides good listening but it also would be an excellent repertoire addition for string quartet players.

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Josef Bohuslav Foerster
(1859-1951)

Piano Trio #1 in F minor, Op. 8 (26:33)
Piano Trio #2 in B Flat Major, Op. 38 (25:30)
Piano Trio #3 in A minor, Op. 105 (24:11)

Foerster Trio
Supraphon SU3603-2

If you are interested in hearing how a Romantic composer develops his "voice" over a period of almost forty years, this is the CD for you. The early trios (1882 & 1894) are very much in the tradition of Antonín Dvořák's chamber music, and the last movement of Op.38 has the emotional tension and lyrical beauty of Dvořák's own Piano Quartet Op. 23, second movement. The first two Foerster trios also make fine use of the folk-like rhythms and melodies that many other Czech composers of the period explored.

But the third piano trio (1919/21) is a subtle leap into the later Romantic period. It is still very melodious, it is still very tonal, and it is still beautiful, but there is an added depth of emotion. This is the finest of the three trios, and it can be all the more appreciated when heard after the other two.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Albert Roussel
(1869-1937)

Complete Chamber Music

Partial list of works:
String Quartet; String Trio Op. 58; Piano Trio Op. 2; Violin Sonatas Opp. 11 & 28; Serenade for Flute, String Trio & Harp Op. 30; Divertissement Op. 6; Trio for Flute, Viola & Cello, etc.

Performers: Jet Roeling, piano; Jean-Jacque Kantorow, violin; Herre-Jan Stegenga, cello; Hans Roerade, oboe; Paul Verhey, flute; Frank van den Brink, clarinet; Herman Jeurissen, horn; Jos de Lang, bassoon; Irene Maessen, soprano; Erika Waardenburg, harp; Jan Goudswaard, guitar; Quirijan van Regteren Altena, double bass; Janneke van der Meer, violin; Wim de Jong, violin; Henk Guittart, viola; Viola de Hoog, cello.

Brilliant Classics 8413 3CDs 67:43, 64:44, 66:31

Roussel's chamber music is filled with delightfully strange and interesting tonality that shifts all over the place but almost always returns "home" for the final chord. Roussel also uses insistent rhythmic accompaniments in many of his works. It's as if there is a motor humming away most of the time, and it gives an active, restless quality to the music.

The second CD contains the Serenade Op. 30 for flute, string trio and harp, and it would serve as an excellent introduction to the chamber music of Roussel. Also not to be missed is the short waltz: Aria #2 for oboe and piano. The third CD contains the charming, immediately accessible Trio for Flute, Viola and Cello. This is a chamber music set to treasure. Brilliant Classics has once again provided us with beautiful performances of fine music at budget prices.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Sergey Bortkiewicz
(1877-1952)

Violin Sonata in G minor, Op. 26 (1924)
Suite for Violin & Piano, Op. 63 (1946)
2 Pieces "Im 3/4 Takt", Op. 48 #2,5 (1935)
Berceuse, Op. 15 #4 (1914)
Rachmaninoff: Morceaux de Salon, Op. 6

Cristian Persinaru, violin
Nils Franke, piano
Warner Apex 2564-61990-2

Bortkiewicz was a pianist-composer in the tradition of Rachmaninoff, his contemporary. But unlike Rachmaninoff, he always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a Russian, he was sent from Austria to Ukraine during WW I and he was in Berlin just in time for Hitler.

Bortkiewicz's Sonata for Violin and Piano is a testament to yearning. The melodies are beautiful, the piano accompaniment is restless and passionate, and it is Russian through and through. Even the final movement (marked Allegro) is folk-like and energetic, yet wistful. If you love Rachmaninoff, you will certainly love this work.

The other pieces on this disc are lighter, salon pieces but are also very beautiful, sentimental remnants of a bygone era. The two short Rachmaninoff pieces are the only pieces he scored origianlly for violin and piano.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Antonín Dvořák
(1841-1904)

Mazurka for Violin & Orchestra
Rondo for Cello & Orchestra
Seven Interludes for Small Orchestra
Silent Woods for Cello & Orchestra
Polonaise in E Flat Major
Nocturne in B Major
American Suite
Five Prague Waltzes
Polka in B Flat Major

Dmitry Yablonsky, cello
Alexander Trostianski, violin
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky
Naxos 8.557352 78:42

This is a generous collection of some of Dvořák's shorter pieces, some of which do not lack other recordings. The American Suite is not as well-known as the Czech Suite, but certainly deserves to be. The real rarity is the Seven Interludes, which run about 23 minutes, and give some pointers towards his early symphonies. A very useful compendium.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Joseph Wölfl
(1773-1812)

Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 25
Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 33 #1
Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 33 #2
Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 33 #3

Jon Nakamatsu, piano
Harmonia Mundi HMU907324 69:49

A native of Salzburg and apparently friendly rival of Beethoven, Wölfl wrote prolifically during his short life. These sonatas show the influence of Beethoven, Haydn, and Bach. The American pianist Jon Nakamatsu makes an excellent case for the music of one of the less familiar names of the early nineteenth century.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Wilhelm Stenhammar
(1871-1927)

Serenade in F Major for Orchestra, Op. 31 (1911-13)
Symphony #1 in F Major
Symphony #2 in G minor, Op. 34
Concert Overture "Excelsior!", Op. 13

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Deutsche Grammophon 445857-2 2CDs 74:54

Listening to the Serenade, a jewel of a work in five movements, one can imagine that Stenhammar held an artist's palette, but instead of pigments, he held all the colors and sounds of his favorite composers. There is the orchestrational skill of Tchaikovsky, the richness of Bruckner and Sibelius, the space of Nielsen, the drama of Wagner and Richard Strauss, and the interest in national and ancient music, all transformed into the language of the Late Romantic. This is a great "guessing game" piece to stump music lovers who don't yet know Stenhammar.

[ Available on CD: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

[ The Serenade is also available on BIS CD-310: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe ]