Johann Joachim Quantz - Sonata in D Major for 3 Flutes Year: unknown
Jihye Kim / Sojeong Son / Yu-cheng Hsu
Rating: 4 Stars
Johann Joachim Quantz was a late baroque composer with an affinity for flute, composing hundreds of works for the instrument, mostly concertos. Here there's no accompaniment for the flute except other flutes. Loving both the flute and baroque music, I'd expect to like this, and Quantz and these performers do not disappoint. This five part sonata brings a good deal of variety across its parts, but all five parts display the interaction between parts indicative of baroque counterpoint mastery and its all delivered by instrumentalists who are both skilled and very much into what they are doing.
It turns out that Wilhelm Stenhammar, whose symphonies I love, also enhances my love for string quartets. While these look back more than forward relative to their dates, they are melodically engaging and full of clever counterpoint (a huge bonus for my ears, especially in quartets).
Dvorak's 12th quartet, dubbed "American," seems to be the perfect chamber music parallel to his 9th Symphony; a brilliant, melodic set of four intriguing and related movements with old world roots and a new world spirit. It is the ultimate combination of artistic expression and listenability.
The 13th is more overtly Eastern European, slightly more stern, and a little more of a challenge, but ultimately very rewarding. These two make a dynamic pairing fully displaying the skills and gifts Dvorak had at his disposal late in his career.
These were not published for two decades after their composition. Apparently, they then sparked a wave of concerto grossi composing in both France and Germany (Handel even devoted his own Opus 6 to Corelli). I can see why. These are pleasant works, quite refined for their day, and expertly composed.
Arnold Bax - Symphony #2 Year: 1926
Vwenon Handley / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Rating: 3.75 Stars
Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.
This early 20th Century symphony is generally traditionally tonal, but that doesn't mean it's free of gutwrencing power. There is clash here and there is struggle, all expertly written and solidly delivered via a larger than usual orchestra that includes not only piano, but also organ, lots of extra low brass, timpani,tuba, tambourine, cymbals, xylophone, glockenspiel, celesta, and not one, but two harps. The third movement is marked Poco largamente - Allegro feroce - Molto largamente. Allegro feroce? What could be more descriptive than that? And it's accurate. A powerful listen for sure.
Victor Herbert - Cello Concerto #2 Year: 1894
Kurt Masur / New YorkbPhilharmonic Orchestra
Rating: 3.75 Stars
Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.
This Herbert Cello Concerto is a very nice find. It is rather inventive and takes the listener through an impressive sequence of moods, from intense angst in the first movement to more pleasant lyricism ijln the second, and finishing with a Jolly good ride in the third. Ma is, of course, well up to the task of bringing out the best if all three.
I thank Mr. Herbert for this fine work. It is said that Dvorak learned a thing or two about soloist/orchestra balance from this work which he then applied in his own cello concerto. If so, we all owe Mr. Herbert additional thanks for this work as Dvorak's is the pinnacle of the form.
An excellent postmodern symphony with vocals! Berio's most famous work is given an excellent treatment here. Berio didn't really see the vocalists as soloists, but rather wanted them to be an integral part of the overall sonic landscape, and that is executed perfectly. This is compelling work.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
