wswebmaster – Page 50 – Walter Simmons

CRESTON Symphonies: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, “Three Mysteries”

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

CRESTON Symphonies: No. 1; No. 2; No. 3, “Three Mysteries” – Theodore Kuchar, cond; Ukraine National SO – NAXOS 8.559034 (72:39) The years from 1940 to 1950 represent a fertile period in the development of the American symphonic repertoire, during which a wealth of …

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Dona Nobis Pacem. BARBER: Prayers of Kierkegaard. BARTÓK: Cantata Profana

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Dona Nobis Pacem. BARBER Prayers of Kierkegaard. BARTÓK Cantata Profana – Robert Shaw, cond; Atlanta SO & Ch – TELARC CD-80479 (71:00) Partisans of the three composers represented here are likely to be familiar with each of these works, probably through recordings devoted to each …

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 4. Symphony No. 5. The Wasps: Overture

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 4. Symphony No. 5. The Wasps: Overture – Ralph Vaughan Williams, cond; BBC SO (London, 10/11/1937); Sir John Barbirolli, cond; Hallé O (Manchester, 2/17/1944); Sir Henry Wood, cond; Queen’s Hall O (London, 4/22/1936) – AVID AMSC 599, mono (74:43) The chief significance …

STRONG: Symphony No. 2 in G minor, op. 50, “Sintram”. Chorale on a Theme of Leo Hassler

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

STRONG Symphony No. 2 in G minor, op. 50, “Sintram”. Chorale on a Theme of Leo Hassler – Adriano, cond; Moscow SO – NAXOS 8.559018 (66:35) George Templeton Strong (1856-1942) was born in New York City to an affluent and culturally sophisticated family that, …

SCHWANTNER: Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra.. Velocities. New Morning for the World

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

SCHWANTNER Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra. Velocities. New Morning for the World. Evelyn Glennie (perc);Vernon Jordan, Jr. (spkr); Leonard Slatkin (cond); National SO – BMG/RCA Victor 09026-68692-2 (61:19) Among those American composers who reached maturity after the early 1960s, a chief concern has been …

RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 3. Piano Concerto No. 1

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

RAUTAVAARA Symphony No. 3. Piano Concerto No. 1. Cantus Arcticus – Hannu Lintu, cond; Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Laura Mikkola (pn) – NAXOS 8.554147 (73:32) I’ve often reflected that, at least since about 1970, Finland seems to be home to …

PICKER: Emmeline

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

PICKER Emmeline – George Manahan, cond; Patricia Racette (Emmeline Mosher), Curt Peterson (Matthew Gurney), Anne-Marie Owens (Aunt Hannah Watkins), et al; Santa Fe Opera O – ALBANY TROY 284-85 (2 CDs; 113:07) Born and educated in New York City, Tobias Picker, now in his …

PERSICHETTI: Mirror Etudes ROREM: Eight Etudes PERLE Six Etudes

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

PERSICHETTI Mirror Etudes ROREM Eight Etudes PERLE Six Etudes – Frances Renzi (pn) – CENTAUR CRC-2301 (53:57) This is a really fine recent release, albeit one whose likely audience is rather small, i.e. those interested in atonal — though not (for the most part) …

W. SCHUMAN: Credendum. PERSICHETTI: Symphony No. 4. GESENSWAY: Four Squares of Philadelphia

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

W. SCHUMAN Credendum. PERSICHETTI Symphony No. 4. GESENSWAY Four Squares of Philadelphia – Eugene Ormandy, cond; Philadelphia O – ALBANY TROY-276, mono/analog (68:14) This new release presents three American works from the early 1950s — two of which represent the best of that period — through CD …

PERSICHETTI: Poems, Vols 1-3. BLOCH Poems of the Sea. M. GOULD: Pieces of China. DIAMOND: Sonatinas Nos. 1, 2

wswebmaster on November 18, 2018

PERSICHETTI Poems, Vols 1-3. BLOCH Poems of the Sea. M. GOULD Pieces of China. DIAMOND Sonatinas Nos. 1, 2 – Mirian Conti (pn) – ALBANY TROY-299 (61:06) There seems to be a plethora of solo piano recordings these days — probably because they are relatively inexpensive to produce. …