If you’re not familiar with Emilie Luise Friderica Mayer, this release provides an excellent introduction. Mayer studied composition with Carl Loewe in the 1840s. Mayer was prolific, and her works were often performed in her lifetime. After her death, Mayer’s music fell into obscurity. A renewed interest in women composers of the past has brought […]
Orchestral music
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Villa-Lobos Symphonic Cycle Ends at Beginning
Naxos completes their cycle of Villa-Lobos symphonies by starting at the beginning. This final installment features Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2. Both are early works, and both are strongly influenced by Vincent d’Indy. Villa-Lobos studied in France and used d’Indy’s book on composition as a guide. His first symphony, completed in 1916 bears a strong […]
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São Paulo Symphony and Karabtchevsky Deliver with Villa-Lobos Symphonies
Volume five of Naxos’ Villa-Lobos Symphonies features three works written for American premieres. Symphony No. 8 was completed in 1950, No. 9 in 1952, and No. 11 in 1955. Despite the five-year span, the three works share several similarities. All three are relatively short works. Villa-Lobos’ motifs are almost epigrams, and yet these are densely-compact […]
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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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Havergal Brian Symphonic Series Finishes in Fine Style
The sales sheet for this release notes that “This issue completes the commercial recording of all 32 of Brian’s symphonies.” Well, that may be true, but it’s a little confusing. First, not all the symphonies have been recorded by Naxos/Marco Polo. Although with 17 of Brian’s 32 symphonies in their catalog, Naxos has definitely recorded […]
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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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Ruman Gamba Shows Dag Wirén More Than a One-Hit Wonder
I think it must be frustrating to be a one-hit wonder — especially in the field of classical music. Swedish composer Dag Wirén wrote five symphonies, three concertos, five string quartets, nine film scores, several ballets. Yet most orchestras only program one of his works — the Serenade for Strings. The work was dashed off […]
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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 […]