Picks of the Year: 1997

We read that the classical record business is in bad shape.  This is most unfortunate; but from the standpoint of the serious music lover, there has never been such a wide range of repertoire available—and so well performed and so superbly …

MENNIN: Symphony No. 5; Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. SCHUMAN: New England Triptych. IVES: Symphony No. 3; Three Places in New England. PISTON: Sympnony No. 1. KURKA: The Good Soldier Schweik — Suite.

MENNIN: Symphony No. 5. SCHUMAN: New England Triptych. IVES: Symphony No. 3; Three Places in New England. Howard Hanson conducting the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra. MERCURY 432 755-2 [ADD]; 77:09. Produced by Wilma Cozart Fine. MENNIN: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. PISTON: Sympnony …

“New York Philharmonic: An American Celebration”

Following the successes of their two previous packages, New York Philharmonic: The Historic Broadcasts 1923-1927 (released in 1997) and New York Philharmonic: The Mahler Broadcasts (released in 1998), New York Philharmonic Special Editions has just issued their third such deluxe package: a ten-CD set …

CRESTON: Concertino for Marimba & Orch. Celebration Overture. MILHAUD: Concerto for Marimba, Vibraphone & Orch. B. HUMMEL: Concerto for Percussion & Orch. PERSICHETTI: Bagatelles; MENNIN: Canzona. Music by BERGSMA, DELLO JOIO, GOULD, CAMPHOUSE, MAHR.

CRESTON Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra. MILHAUD Concerto for Marimba, Vibraphone, and Orchestra. B. HUMMEL Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra Ÿ Peter Sadlo (perc); Peter Falk, cond; Hessian Radio SO; Wolfgang Rögner, cond; Bamberg SO Ÿ KOCH-SCHWANN 3-6415-2 H1 (69:34) CRESTON Celebration Overture. PERSICHETTI Bagatelles. MENNIN Canzona. BERGSMA March with Trumpets. DELLO …

MENNIN: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7, Piano Concerto

Peter Mennin: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7Piano Concerto  (Liner Notes for CRI CD741)During the years immediately following World War II, when American composers were generally divided among the nationalist-populists, the neoromantic traditionalists, and several camps of the avant-garde, Peter Mennin preferred …