Back on June 26, 2017 I presented a Historic Radio Special on The Early Music Show, consisting of ‘early’ recordings of early music, beginning with the barely audible spectacle of a Handel oratorio captured on wax cylinders in 1888 to a formative solo disc of countertenor Alfred Deller singing a Thomas Morley tune, made around […]
Concerto
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Ignaz Brüll – Orchestral Works; Brahms’ Friend in the Spotlight
Moravian composer Ignaz Brüll (1846-1907) moved to Vienna in 1856. He was an accomplished composer and pianist and was well-known for both talents. Brüll was a close friend of Brahms. Brahms’ symphonies were often first heard in two-piano arrangements — with Brahms and Brüll at the keyboards. Although quite successful during his lifetime, his music […]
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Intimate Chamber Music by Johann Molter and Colleagues
The liner notes for this release note that the Karlsruhe court “for reasons of cost” eschewed foreign soloists. This implies Johann Molter and other court composers had to keep their vocal writing relatively simple for the local talent. Perhaps so, but the end results were anything but second-tier. Molter has three solo cantatas on this […]
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Jaroslav Krcek – Instrumental Music from a Czech Master
Jaroslav Krcek is an important musical figure in the Czech Republic. He’s an authority on Czech folk music, as well as Medieval and Renaissance music. He’s a classical composer and has written “an electronic opera.” Krcek has been a music editor for Supraphon. And he’s also invented an instrument or two. Listening to this release […]
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Kalevi Aho Concertos – Contemporary Masterworks from Finland
Finnish composer Kalevi Aho is best known for his large-scale works. This release has two excellent examples: the Tympani Concerto, and the Piano Concerto No. 1. The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra commissioned the Tympani Concerto for its timpanist, Ari-Pekka Mäenpää. Speaking as a percussionist, I think it’s a masterwork. Aho worked with Mäenpää to create a […]
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Friedemann Eichhorn Concludes Pierre Rode Series with Elan
Friedemann Eichhorn completes his traversal of Pierre Rode’s violin concertos in fine style. Over the years Eichhorn seems to have internalized Rode’s technique, and perhaps some of his aesthetic. In this recording, he plays with a sweet tone and a light touch. Pierre Rode was one of the most brilliant violinists of his age, a […]
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Collegium 1704 Joyfully Performs Myslivecek Concertos and Symphonies
One of the most prominent composers in 18th Century Italy was Czech composer Josef Myslivecek. From about 1763 through 1781 he produced 26 operas, several oratorios, over 50 symphonies, and several violin concertos. He was also a close family friend to the Mozarts — Leopold and Wolfgang. The younger Mozart admired Myslivecek’s music. Some scholars […]
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Salomon Jadassohn – a Late Romantic Rediscovered
Salomon Jadassohn is better known as a teacher than a composer. While at the Leipzig Conservatory he taught Edward Grieg, Ferruccio Busoni, and Frederick Delius, just to name a few. As a composer, he completed over 140 compositions. This release features his four Serenades for Orchestra, along with his first symphony and first piano concerto. […]
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Franz Xaver Richter Sinfonias, Sonatas & Oboe Concerto – Mannheim Masterpieces
This release presents a sampling of Franz Xaver Richter’s work while attached to the Mannheim court. it’s an interesting choice for a program. By some accounts, Richter was the odd man out at court. Franz Ignaz Beck, Carl Stamitz, and the other court composers were interested in pushing boundaries. This Mannheim School developed the dramatic […]