FINZI: Intimations of Immortality. Dies Natalis

wswebmaster on November 17, 2018

FINZI:  Intimations of Immortality.  Dies Natalis.  Matthew Best conducting the Corydon Singers and Orchestra; John Mark Ainsley, tenor.  HYPERION CDA66876 [DDD]; 66:55.  Produced by Joanna Gamble, Nick Flower, and Mark Brown. When the exceedingly euphonious music of English composer Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) first became available …

COWELL: Symphonies: No. 7; No. 16, “Icelandic”; Variations for Orchestra; Scenario; Wedding Anniversary Music; Duet and Andante. CRESTON: Piano Trio. LUENING: Trio No. 1. CHIHARA: Elegy.

wswebmaster on November 17, 2018

COWELL:  Symphonies:  No. 7; No. 16, “Icelandic”.  Variations for Orchestra.  William Strickland conducting the Vienna Symphony Orchestra;  Icelandic Symphony Orchestra; Polish National Radio Orchestra.  CRI CD-740 [ADD]; 68:41.  COWELL:  Scenario; Wedding Anniversary Music; Duet and Andante.  CRESTON:  Piano Trio.  LUENING:  Trio No. 1.  CHIHARA:  Elegy.  Mirecourt Trio.  MUSIC & ARTS CD-934 [DDD/ADD]; 61:56.  Record companies …

BARBER: Piano Works, Overture to “The School for Scandal,’ op. 5. Adagio, op. 11. Essay No. 2, op. 17. Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, op. 23. Vanessa, op. 32: Interlude. Andromache’s Farewell, op. 39. Music by MENOTTI, BERG, D’INDY.

wswebmaster on November 16, 2018

BARBER  Interlude I, op. posth.  Excursions, op. 20. Piano Sonata, op. 26. Souvenirs, op. 28. Nocturne, op. 33. Ballade, op. 46 · Leon McCawley (pn)  · VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 45270 2 9 (69:57) BARBER  Overture to “The School for Scandal,” op. 5. Adagio for Strings, op. 11. Essay No. 2, op. 17. Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, op. 23. Vanessa, op. 32: Interlude. Andromache’s Farewell, op. 39 &  Thomas Schippers, …

RUBBRA: Symphonies: No. 4; No. 10; No. 11.

wswebmaster on November 16, 2018

RUBBRA: Symphonies: No. 4; No. 10; No. 11. Richard Hickox conducting the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. CHANDOS CHAN-9401 [DDD]; 58:22. Produced by Ralph Couzens.  This release is part of Chandos’ ongoing survey of the eleven symphonies of Edmund Rubbra, the English composer …

MENNIN: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7, Piano Concerto

wswebmaster on November 16, 2018

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 …

Twentieth Century 4-Hand Piano Music. PERSICHETTI: Concerto for Piano, Four Hands. CORIGLIANO: Gazebo Dances. RIEGGER: The Cry. Evocation. G. LEVINSON: Morning Star. C. POLIN: Phantasmagoria. S. SHIFRIN: The Modern Temper. L. MOSS: Omaggio.

wswebmaster on November 16, 2018

TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN 4-HAND PIANO MUSIC. Margret Elson, Elizabeth Swarthout, piano. LAUREL LR859CD [DDD]; 69:19. Produced by Herschel Burke Gilbert. PERSICHETTI: Concerto for Piano, Four Hands. CORIGLIANO: Gazebo Dances. RIEGGER: The Cry. Evocation. G. LEVINSON: Morning Star. C. POLIN: Phantasmagoria. S. …

A Continuing Reassessment of Samuel Barber

wswebmaster on November 16, 2018

Five recent releases, several of which make substantial contributions to the Samuel Barber discography, prompt these reflections. A Solstice disc, featuring pianist Lilia Boyadjieva, offers a number of pieces never before recorded, and is probably the most valuable CD solely …