Cadenza

On this CD:

1. Arabesques (2) for piano, L. 66
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Alain Lefevre

2. Prelude for piano No. 4 in E minor, Op. 28/4, CT 169
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Alain Lefevre

3. Waltz for piano in D flat major ("Minute"), Op. 64/1, CT 212
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Alain Lefevre

4. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moonlight"), Op. 27/2 1st mvt.
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Alain Lefevre

5. Well tempered clavier book 1, No. 3 in C sharp major, BWV 848 Prelude and Fugue No.3
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alain Lefevre

6. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor ("Pathétique") Op. 13 2nd mvt.
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Alain Lefevre

7. Nocturne for piano in E flat major, Op. 9/2, CT 109
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Alain Lefevre

8. Clair de lune, for piano, L. 75/3
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Alain Lefevre

9. Waltz for piano, 4 hands in A major, Op. 39/15
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Alain Lefevre

10. Gymnopedie for piano No.1, for piano
Composed by Erik Satie
Performed by Alain Lefevre

11. Moment musical for piano in F minor ("Air russe"), D. 780/3 (Op. 94/3)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Alain Lefevre

12. Prelude for piano No. 20 in C minor, Op. 28/20, CT 185
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Alain Lefevre

13. Nocturne for piano in E major, Op. 62/2, CT 125
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Alain Lefevre

14. Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Alain Lefevre

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

(...)
Adagio
Allegro
Menuet
Trio A 2 Hautbois E Bassono. Corni E Vile Tacent
Menuet Repetat
Poloinesse. Tutti Violini E Viole Ma Piano. Violino Piccolo Tacet
Menuet Ab Inizio
Trio A 2 Corni & 3 Hautbois In Unissono
Menuet (...) Ab Inizio/Avec Grande Reprise
(...)
Andante
Allegro Assai
(...)
Adagio. Allegro
Sinfonia

Tracks:

Allegro
Andante
Presto
Allegro
Affettuoso
Allegro
Cadenza (First Version; 1st Movement: Bars 147-180)
(...)
Adagio, Ma Non Tanto
Allegro

Amazon.com

If you're familiar with Alessandrini and his sparkling period instrument ensemble you expect interpretations featuring rhythmic drive, colorful playing, and original insights. Those characteristics are what help make this version of Bach's perennial and oft-recorded Brandenburg Concertos so compelling. Tempos are generally on the fast side, but never overly swift, while slow movements have just the right touch of soulfulness. Virtually without exception, the solo bits are done with imaginative, fluent expertise, and Gabriele Cassone's rendition of the famous trumpet part of the Second Brandenburg provides musical thrills, as well as virtuoso ones. Alessandrini himself takes us on a wild ride through the Fifth Concerto's brilliant harpsichord cadenza. In addition to the complete Brandenburgs, this set includes another, earlier version of the Fifth's harpsichord solo, a cantata Sinfonia drawn from the Third's opening movement, and a 43' DVD film featuring scenes from the recording sessions and an interview with Alessandrini about Bach. Add Naïve's superb sonics and this set zooms into the preferred handful of Brandenburg Concerto recordings. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Impeccable yet Lusty Performances of the Beloved Brandenburg Concerti.......2006-02-04

Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano offer one of the most exhilarating performances of the much recorded and much performed Bach Brandenburg Concerti in the available repertoire today. The zest, warmth and easy tenderness these works convey has rarely sounded so fresh and well played. Each of the 'solo instruments' are superb and the recorded sound is so clear that it begs credibility that the listener is not in the hall with the Concerto Italiano.

While there are numerous recordings, both in the archives and in the seemingly yearly new releases, this 2 CD set is, for this listener, the most rewarding. And for those who like to get the feel of the backstage machinations of just how music flows from the page to the CD there is a DVD that is interesting to see once, but in no way is it as important an incentive to buying this set as the performances themselves. Highly Recommended - even it you have multiple other recordings of this timelessly delightful music. Grady Harp, February 06

Italianate Brandenburgs - and a bonus DVD.......2005-11-10

The first thing one notices with this set is the cover illustration, a photo of a magnificent fourteen-point stag looking out a window while walking in what looks like a deserted multistory concrete parking garage. I have no idea how it is supposed to relate to the music but it certainly is a striking image.

The next thing one notices, and this is more important, is that the musicians -- one to a part in the ripieno group -- are swinging the music in a loose and somehow very Italianate manner. This is fitting, of course, considering that the concerto grosso was invented in Italy by the likes of Corelli and Vivaldi, whose music Bach knew (and copied) very well. One tends to think of the Brandenburgs as very German, but indeed they have more than a little Italian influence in addition to their Teutonic contrapuntal mastery. And all these performances are first-rate. There are jillions of recordings of the Brandenburgs, many of them excellent, but Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano have something rather new to say about them in that they bring that Italian joie de vivre to their traversal. The woodwinds are fruity and a little raw, the strings have suavity and lively phrasing. Of course, the six Brandenburgs feature all manner of solo instruments and there is not a weak soloist amongst them. I particularly liked the sound of the two recorders (designated 'fiauti d'echo' in the Italian headnote) in Concerto No. 4; they are complemented by the wonderful solo violinist, Antonio de Secondi, in that concerto. I also liked the corni di caccia in Concerto No. 1, and the marvelous harpsichord solos, done by Alessandrini (a real virtuoso) in the grandfather of all keyboard concerti, the Concerto No. 5. The dark mahogany tone of the violin-less No. 6 is impressive. The virtuosity of the trumpet soloist in No. 2 (Gabriele Cassone) takes one's breath away with its élan and brilliance. All in all these are marvelous performances worthy of shelf space with all those other terrific Brandenburgs; my own favorites include the Trevor Pinnock/English Concerto, the second set by Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus, and Jeanne Lamon/Tafelmusik.

There is a bonus DVD (making three discs in all - 2 CDs, 1 DVD), filmed by Philippe Béziat, that shows Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano rehearsing (and featuring long uninterrupted chunks of the music) as well as a lengthy conversation with Alessandrini concerning his thoughts on the Brandenburgs: a worthy addition and quite informative, as are Alessandrini's extensive notes in the booklet.

This set deserves a place in anyone's library.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

A large sampling of Stravinsky's piano music.

Stravinsky: Works for Piano

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tangos | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus)
Stravinsky: Music for Two Pianos (Music For Four Hands)
The Essential Igor Stravinsky
Arnold Schoenberg: Serenade/Five Pieces For Orchestra
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments, etc.

ASIN: B0002XV2Z2
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Vivo
III. Andante
IV. Allegro
Scherzo
1. Con Moto
2. Allegro Brillante
3. Andantino
4. Vivo
Souvenir D' Une Marche Boche
Valse Pour Les Enfants
1. Andantino
2. Allegro
3. Allegretto
4. Larghetto
5. Moderato
6. Lento
7. Vivo
8. Pesante
I. Qt. Note = 112
II. Adagietto
III. Qt. Note = 112
I. Hymne
II. Romanza
III. Rondoletto
IV. Cadenza Finala

Tracks:

1. Danse Russe: Allegro Giusto
2. Chez Petrouchka: Stringendo
3. La Semaine Grasse: Con Moto - Allegretto
Piano Rag Music
Tango
I. Presto Doppio Movimento
II. Andante Rapsodico
III. Allegro Capriccioso, Ma Tempo Giusto
I. Largo - Allegro
II. Largo - Cadenza (Poco Rubato)
III. Allegro
I. Qt. Note = 110
II. Qt. Note = 52
III. Qt. Note = 72
Qt. Note = 80
Qt. Note = 104

Customer Reviews:

A large sampling of Stravinsky's piano music........2005-03-04

I bought this cd primarily for "Movements for Piano and Orchestra", a short piece (about 9 minutes) using the 12 tone serial technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg. It is intriguing to hear the "neo-classicist" Stravinsky write in this style. To my ears, and I'm a fan of 12 tone, no new ground is broken here by Stravinsky (the piece was written in 1958-9, seven years after Schoenberg's death) but it's a good piece. The rest of the works are tonal.

I'm not knowledgable as to whether this cd contains all Stravinsky's piano compositions but there is a lot here. Michel Beroff is a fine pianist and the recorded sound is very good. The liner notes are lacking but I've come to expect that from "bargain" classical cds.

This is a two cd package. For $12, I'm very glad to have this set in my collection.

Average customer rating:

A very attractive ballet score which deserves to be heard

Bayer: The Fairy Doll (Complete Ballet)

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Adam: La Filleule des Fées (Complete Ballet)
Saint-Saëns: Javotte (Complete Ballet)
Overture & Ballet Music of the 19TH Century
Fete du Ballet: A Compendium of Ballet Rarities
Delibes: The 3 Ballets

ASIN: B000260QDS
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

Vorspiel: Allegro
No. 1 Allegro
No. 2
No. 3 Lento
No. 4 Moderato
No. 5 Moderato
No. 6 Lento: Oberosterreicherin
No. 7 Baby: Allegretto
No. 8 Chinesin: Allegretto
No. 9 Spanierin: Allegro
No. 10 Japanerin: Lento
No. 11 Harlekin: Allegro
No. 12 Moderato
No. 13 Allegro
No. 14 Andante
No. 15 Waltz
No. 16 Ballabile
No. 17
No. 18 Marsch
No. 19 Galop
No. 20
Prelude
Polka
Walzer
Sternunmusik: Andante
Allegorie: Moderato
Allegretto
Allegretto
Andante - Allegretto - Polka
Allegro - Walzer - Galop
Moderato
Polka
Walzer - Polka
Cadenza
Andante

Customer Reviews:

A very attractive ballet score which deserves to be heard.......2007-01-13

The Fairy Doll is not a well known ballet nor is its musical score in a class with Tchaikovsky`s masterpieces but, nevertheless, the music is very attractive -- somewhat in the style of Adam. When I bought this CD I was so pleased with the music that I played it several times in a row before playing anything else -- it's that appealing. Don't buy this if you're looking for another Sleeping Beauty or Swan Lake, but if -- like me -- you like melodious ballet music and want to try something undeservedly overlooked, please get this delightful little gem while a few copies are still available.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Music
Baroque Magic
sweet

Concerto Veneziano

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Vivaldi
Late Vivaldi Concertos: RV386 / RV235 / RV296 / RV258 / RV389 / RV251 - Giuliano Carmignola / Venice Baroque Orchestra / Andrea Marcon
Vivaldi: Concertos & Sinfonias for strings
Antonio Vivaldi: Late Violin Concertos (RV177 / RV222 / RV273 / RV295 / RV375 / RV191) - Giuliano Carmignola / Venice Baroque Orchestra / Andrea Marcon
Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Harpischord

ASIN: B0007CEXAO
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

Largo E Spiccato - Allegro Non Molto
Andante
Allegro
Allegro Molto - Andantino
Largo
Allegro
Allegro - Capriccio - Cadenza (Reber) - Allegro
Largo
Allegro - Capriccio - Allegro
I. Allegro
Adagio
Presto
Largo Andante (Alternative Slow Movement)

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Music.......2007-03-31

This is a beautiful CD! I bought it without hearing any of the music and I'm happy I did. It was a pleasant surprise! Beautiful, lush Baroque music. You won't be disappointed!

Baroque Magic.......2007-02-07

Although it was 20 years after he made his debut, it was the release of this recording about 2 years ago that shot Guiliano Carmignola, and the Venice Baroque, to world fame. It is that good. They play 4 violin concertos all written about 1730 in the style of the Venetian concerto developed by Vivaldi, there are two concertos by Vivaldi, one by Locatelli and one by Tartini.
The first by Vivaldi, RV 583, is typical of Vivaldi at his best, both elegant and brilliant, the second movement is hauntingly beautifull. The second, RV 278, is very different, dramatic and intense, again the second movement is lyrical. The Locatelli concerto is from his "L'arte del violino", a set of 12 concertos written to demonstrate his skill as a performer, the outer movements contain difficult cadenzas, here called "capricios". ( Carmignola has recorded four more of these concertos) The Tartini, D 96, has its own lyrical style, the alternative third movement, largo andante, is particularly beautifull. Indeed, it is the way the slow movements are played, using a lute in the continuo, that make this CD so appealing.
Throughout Carmignola and the Venice Baroque play superbly, and I see that now you can get it for under $10. Don't hesitate.

sweet .......2007-01-05

I heard this on the radio while driving and decided right there to purchase it, and i'm not buying a lot of music usually. It has elements of Vivaldi (not surprisingly) but some things are very peculiar: I could say that what really pulled me to it is the extraordinary beauty of the slower parts, for example the 11th and 13th parts. In particular the last movement: Hard to describe but it may put tears in your eyes, it's so sweet, so melancholic, and so beautiful. It drew me into reading more about Tartini, who isn't as well known as Vivaldi. And I admire the performance of this music: One can hear, certainly in the quieter and slower passages, how much the violinist(s) must enjoy playing this, the violinist's breathing is slighly audible in the quiet parts, which makes it so much more a deep human experience.

Average customer rating:

another great gerard schwarz cornet album
Not Your Normal Repertoire....but EXCELLENT!
This is Music

Turn-of-the-Century Cornet Favorites

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Cornet Favorites
The American Brass Band Journal
Footlifters: Century of American Marches
Herbert L. Clarke: Original Recordings 1907-21
Carnaval

ASIN: B000AARKVM
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Customer Reviews:

another great gerard schwarz cornet album.......2006-02-02

Once again I am amazed by a great Gerrard Schwarz album. I own all of his albums and bought this one right away. I think he is quite possibly the most musical trumpet/cornet player ever to play alongside Maurice Andre. This album is great, and there are many more albums featuring these great players that should be re-released, such as "Festival of Trumpets" with the new york trumpet ensemble. Nontheless this album is a must pickup for any music enthusiast.

Not Your Normal Repertoire....but EXCELLENT!.......2005-09-27

I didn't know what to make of this CD before I bought it, and still haven't totally figured it out as I was listening to it, but I did find it very enjoyable. "Turn Of The Century Cornet Favorites", as this CD is titled, seems to be a misnomer...I didn't recognize one selection among the 19 tracks contained, but that may be the greatest appeal of this CD for any cornet player, brass player, or aficionado desiring some relatively unknown, but well-played, music from a bygone era. As I was listening to the CD, images of the turn-of-the century came to mind. I imagined sitting near a gazebo, while a community band and soloist performed on a summer's eve, or perhaps at a pavilion at the World's Fair. Having played french horn and other brass instruments in my youth, I was familiar with the names of Clarke and Arban (who wrote a celebrated Cornet Method still used today in many colleges and conservatories), and some of their better known compositions. But I have to admit, this materials was all new to me. For anyone wanting to supplement their brass CD collection with recordings not found anywhere else, this CD will do very nicely indeed. The playing by cornet player Gerard Schwarz in amazing, with technique to burn and a beautiful tone to match. Kudos also goes to the outstanding accompaniment he receives from the Columbia Chamber Ensemble. Also, please see my review of "Footlifters" (another winner), part of the Brass Masterworks series on Sony. Keep them coming.

This is Music.......2005-09-20

You would be hard pressed to find any recording that exhibits greater qualities of lightness, motion, and beautiful phrasing than this one. Add to that Schwartz's beautiful tone and flawless technique, and you have the perfect model of how these cornet solos should sound. I write as a trumpet player who has played quite a bit in this style.

Average customer rating:

The Romantic Harp

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Harp Showpieces
Judy Loman - Baroque Harp
Music for Solo Harp
Genius of Salzedo/Original Works & Transcriptions
Harp Concertos

ASIN: B000B6N66I
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Fantasy On A Theme Of Haydn, Op.31
Vers La Source Dans Le Bois
Sarabanda And Toccata
Impromptu-Caprice, Op.9
Spanish Dance No.1
Une Chatelaine En Sa Tour, Op.110
Impromptu, Op.86
III. Scintillation (Cadenza)
Prelude In C Major, Op.12, No.7
Ballade, Op.28

Average customer rating:

Who needs LSD when you can listen to Terry Riley?

Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain

Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Hannibal Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Rainbow in Curved Air
Terry Riley: Salome Dances for Peace
Poppy Nogood & The Phantom Band All Night Flight
Atlantis Nath
Shri Camel

ASIN: B000CR8RA6
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

Sunrise Of The Planetary DreamCollector
G Song
Mythic Birds Waltz
Cadenza On The Night Plain

Customer Reviews:

Who needs LSD when you can listen to Terry Riley?.......2006-06-26

Upon hearing Terry Riley's "In C," I officially dubbed him the ultimate musical acid trip. What he does is really pretty cool. The official genre of his music is minimalism, putting him in the same boat as Phillip Glass and Steve Reich. Minimalism is less about melody and more about texture and rhythm. The result is no better described than a musical acid trip. Each of his pieces are a journey through a musical kaleidoscope of texture, color, rhythmic motives and inter-instrumental conversation. When played by one of the best string quartets in the world, the result can only be pleasing.

The disc consists of four tracks, with durations no less than 10 and no greater than 40 minutes. The disc begins with "Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector," which is a rainstorm of staccato strings. Riley builds up excitement through rhythm and texture. There is constant dialog between the instruments. Riley paints a picture and a sunrise is seen very clearly. "G Song" follows with an more fluid texture. "Mystic Bird Waltz" is everything but a waltz in my mind with a texture similar to the first cut.

The highlight is the 40 minute title track which begins with long chordal sonorites from the quartet that weave between dissonance and consonance. Soon, the music gets more motion, but only for a little while and the long, whining notes return. The strings morn and croon with lament. Riley throws unexpected accents in that hit the listener like a pie in the face. The piece feels open and free, a huge refreshment from the other three tracks that are much more rhythmically bound. Soon the strings have a rich conversation under drones from their partners. Soon the music develops a more rhythmic aspect and more motion comes into the music. There is something almost primitive to the music, it's something like a very intricate tribal chant for strings. The piece alternates between an open cadenza and a frantic dance.

The only warning I would have about this disc is that it is not entirely accessable. There are many who will think that the four pieces on this disc make a four movement suite entitled "Random Notes," "Garbage," or "Bad Horror Film." So, if you are open to accept music that is slightly different than the norm, I invite you to investigate this album. It's very different music being played by incredible musicians.

Average customer rating:

Idil amazing
Essential Rachmaninoff at a good price.

Rachmaninov: Piano Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Canons | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Chopin: Complete Piano Music
Sergei Prokofiev - 50th Anniversary Edition
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Works for Solo Piano
Rachmaninov: The Symphonies

ASIN: B00004W54X
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

Vivace
Andante
Allegro Vivace - Andante Ma Non Troppo - Tempo Primo
Allegro Vivace
Largo
Allegro Vivace
Introduction
Variation 1
Theme
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11
Variation 12
Variation 13
Variation 14
Variation 15
Variation 16
Variation 17
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24

Tracks:

Moderato
Adagio Sostenuto
Allegro Scherzando
Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Intermezzo: Adagio
Finale: Alla Breve

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Minor: Allegro Non Troppo
No. 2 In C Major: Allegro
No. 3 In C Minor: Grave
No. 4 In D Minor: Moderato
No. 5 In E Flat Minor: Non Allegro
No. 6 In E Flat Major: Allegro Con Fuoco
No. 7 In G Minor: Moderato
No. 8 In C Sharp Minor: Grave
No. 1 In C Minor: Allegro Agitato
No. 2 In A Minor: Lento Assai
No. 3 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro Molto
No. 4 In B Minor: Allegro Assai
No. 5 In E Flat Minor: Appassionata
No. 6 In A Minor: Allegro
No. 7 In C Minor: Lento
No. 8 In D Minor: Allegro Moderato
No. 9 In D Major: Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Sharp Minor
No. 2 In F Major
No. 3 In C Minor - E Flat Minor
I. Romance In F Sharp Minor
II. Prelude In E Flat Minor
III. Melodie In E Major
IV. Gavotte In D Major
I. Nocturne In A Minor
II. Valse In A Major
III. Barcarolle In G Minor
IV. Melodie In E Minor
V. Humoresque In G Major
VI. Romance In F Minor
VII. Mazurka In D Flat Major

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Sharp Minor: Largo
No. 2 In B Major: Maestoso
No. 3 In D Minor: Tempo Di Minuetto
No. 4 In D Major: Andante Cantabile
No. 5 In G Minor: Alla Marcia
No. 6 In E Flat Major: Andante
No. 7 In C Minor: Allegro
No. 8 In A Flat Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 9 In E Flat Minor: Presto
No. 10 In G Flat Major: Largo
No. 1: Elegie In E Flat Minor
No. 2: Prelude In C Sharp Minor
No. 3: Melodie In E Major
No. 4: Polichinelle In F Sharp Minor
No. 5: Serenade In B Flat Minor

Tracks:

No. 1 In C Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 2 In B Flat Minor: Allegretto
No. 3 In E Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 4 In E Minor: Allegro Con Brio
No. 5 In G Major: Moderato
No. 6 In F Minor: Allegro Appassionato
No. 7 In F Major: Moderato
No. 8 In A Minor: Vivo
No. 9 In A Major: Allegro Moderato
No. 10 In B Minor: Lento
No. 11 In B Major: Allegretto
No. 12 In G Sharp Minor: Allegro
No. 13 In D Flat Major: Grave - Allegro
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud

Tracks:

Allegro Moderato
Lento
Allegro Molto
Allegro Agitato
Non Allegro - Lento - L'istesso Tempo
Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Allegro Agitato
Non Allegro
Allegro Molto
Theme: Andante
Var. I: Poco Piu Mosso
Var. II: L'istesso Tempo
Var. III: Tempo Di Menuetto
Var. IV: Andante
Var. V: Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)
Var. VI: L'istesso Tempo
Var. VII: Vivace
Var. VIII: Adagio Misterioso
Var. IX: Un Poco Piu Mosso
Var. X: Allegro Scherzando
Var. XI: Allegro Vivace
Var. XII: L'istesso Tempo
Var. XIII: Agitato
Intermezzo
Var. XIV: Andante (Come Prima)
Var. XV: L'istesso Tempo
Var. XVI: Allegro Vivace
Var. XVII: Meno Mosso
Var. XVIII: Allegro Con Brio
Var. XIX: Piu Mosso, Agitato
Var. XX: Piu Mosso
Coda: Andante
No. 1: Andantino
No. 2: Allegretto
No. 3: Andante Cantabile
No. 4: Presto
No. 5: Adagio Sostenuto
No. 6: Maestoso

Tracks:

Prelude
Gavotte
Gigue
Wohin
Scherzo
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Gopak
L'Arlesienne - Minuetto
Flight Of The Bumble-Bee
Lullaby
Daisies
Lilacs
Dance Of The Young Gypsy Maidens
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Polka W.R.
The Star Spangled Banner

Tracks:

Theme: Largo
Var. I: Moderato
Var. II: Allegro
Var. III (Allegro)
Var. IV: (Allegro)
Var. V: Meno Mosso
Var. VI: Meno Mosso
Var. VII: Allegro
Var. VIII (Allegro)
Var. IX (Allegro)
Var. X: Piu Vivo
Var. XI: Lento
Var. XII: Moderato
Var. XIII: Largo
Var. XIV: Moderato
Var. XV: Allegro Scherzando
Var. XVI: Lento
Var. XVII: Grave
Var. XVIII: Piu Mosso
Var. XIX: Allegro Vivace
Var. XX: Presto
Var. XXI: Andante - Piu Vivo
Var. XXII: Maestoso - Presto
Moment musical, Op. 16, No. 2
Lento In D Minor
Canon In E Minor
Fughetta In F Major
Morceau de fantaisie In G Minor
Piece In D Minor
Fragments
Oriental Sketch
Prelude In F Major
Andante ma non troppo In D Minor

Customer Reviews:

Idil amazing.......2006-07-19

No other performer compares to idil. HANDS down. HEr unique and individual style sets her apart from every other performer past and present.

Her recording of Rachmaninov's prelude in C sharp minor can only be topped by rachmaninov himself.

Every time i hear i new song from her, i feel i grow as a pianist.

Essential Rachmaninoff at a good price........2002-07-10

Buy this box set. Biret is great. She plays Rachmaninoff straight up and doesn't taint the compositions with any wild "interpretations." And the recording quality is five star, too. I bought this in order to snag some lesser known Rachmaninoff that I loved (Cinq Morceaux, Moments Musicaux, etc.) and I really got what I paid for. Take a look at the huge tracklist - this is the Rachmaninoff you've been missing out on.

Average customer rating:

Technique Over All
Ebullient Mendelsohn, probing Shostakovitch

Violin Concertos (Ms) (Sl)
Hahn , Mendelssohn , Shostakovich , and Opo
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brahms, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos [SACD]
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Mozart: Violin Sonatas K. 301, 304, 376 & 526
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ASIN: B00006NSFW
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Customer Reviews:

Technique Over All.......2006-11-10

Miss Hahn has incredible virtuosity; some of the things she does here are/were not available even to Heifetz. Particularly, the down-bow stacatto passages in the first movement of the Mendelssohn have not been heard to such advantage before.

To each his/her own regarding intensity; the opening of the Mendelssohn has been performed with more power by several. This causes my rating of four rather than five stars.

Summing; very good, possibly exceptional to many. The SACD sound is superb.

Ebullient Mendelsohn, probing Shostakovitch.......2003-08-12

Hilary Hahn is really quite astonishing! Start with the pacing of the Mendelsohn. The first and third movements are among the fastest performances I have yet heard, but because she articulates every note so clearly, it never sounds rushed - simply mercurial! This is beautifully, beautifully done. Tonal colors are like a fireworks display - kaleidoscopic and tailored to each phrase.

The Shostakovitch is probing. From the outset the violin tone settles into an otherworldly quality that suggests unspeakable tragedy. Moving through a searing second movement into the Passacaglia, Ms. Hahn, for all her beauty of tone and sensitivity of phrasing is let down a little by a relatively impotent orchestral brass section. I heard her do this concerto in Carnegie Hall with the Royal Concertgebouw orchestra and I so wish she had been able to do this recording with them. Their low brass opened the Passacaglia movement with a menacing snarl not even suggested here. That set off and contrasted perfectly with the sweet open tone of the violin, as it transformed the menace of the horns into the soul-wrenching soprano soliloquy Shostakovitch intended.

Hahn does her part but the Oslo orchestra or the recording does not. The burlesque however, makes up for any previous shortcomings and overall, I advise everyone to buy this SACD.

I have to admit I heard Vadim Repin (also a wonderful performer) and the Czech Philharmonic in Carnegie do this same concerto and Repin was similarly let down by the Czech Philharmonic as was Hahn by the Oslo Orchestra in the Passacaglia as compared with the Concertgebouw, so it probably wasn't the recording so much as the orchestra. Interestingly, Hahn was, and in this recording is, intense where Repin (that night, at least) was cool. I would have expected otherwise.

The Mendelsohn is truly sensational and the Shostakovitch very satisfying despite my quips about the orchestra. You really owe it to yourself to get this!

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