Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
This is the 15th CD in the Verdehr Trio’s recordings of works they have commissioned, mostly for the trio combination of violin, clarinet, and piano. This CD features the violin and clarinet.. Strad Magazine called their series "Remarkable collection by a remarkable ensemble" and the American Record Guide said "Brilliant in every department." The Verdehrs teach at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet, Music, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Dinos Constantinides, James Niblock, William Wallace, Jiri Tomasek, Kirk Trevor, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Walter Verdehr, Concerto

Meyer & Bottesini Concertos
Average customer rating:

Mixed bag

Not the best bass album out there

Bottessini

Excellent Variety, Outstanding Execution

More fun than a barrel of monkeys

Meyer & Bottesini Concertos
Edgar Meyer
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites: Performed on Double Bass

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Short Trip Home

Bottesini;Music for Double Bass & Piano Vol.1

ASIN: B0000667R3
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

Meyer: Double Concerto for Cello and Double Bass: Movement I
Meyer: Double Concerto for Cello and Double Bass: Movement II
Meyer: Double Concerto for Cello and Double Bass: Movement III
Bottesini: Concerto No. 2 in B Minor for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement I-allegro moderato
Bottesini: Concerto No. 2 in B Minor for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement II-Andante
Bottesini: Concerto No. 2 in B Minor for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement III-allegro
Meyer: Concerto in D for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement I
Meyer: Concerto in D for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement II
Meyer: Concerto in D for Double Bass and Orchestra: Movement III
Bottesini: Gran Duo Concertante

Amazon.com

On this record, featuring Edgar Meyer as both composer and bassist, the playing's the thing, and it is spectacular. His performance of four virtuoso concertos, two by himself and two by Bottesini, eclipses his compositions, though his stylistic versatility is in full evidence in both his works. The Concerto for Bass has elements of jazz and blues, and a good deal of textural contrast and imaginative orchestration, but it is repetitive and a bit dreary. In the hair-raisingly difficult Bottesini Concerto, Meyer performs every imaginable and many unimaginable technical feats, covering a range of more than six octaves and producing sounds from growls to flutelike harmonics. Apparently craving even more pyrotechnics, he substitutes his own cadenzas for the composer's.

Two equally stunning virtuosos join him for the other works. In his Double Concerto for Cello and Bass, he and Yo-Yo Ma chase each other up the fingerboard to the highest register, where, with their lines answering and interweaving, it is sometimes impossible to tell them apart. The piece is tonal and modal and supposedly classical in form, but quite dissonant. The middle movement alternates motoric outbursts with eerie, unvibrated sustained passages; the finale combines folk-fiddling with blues. Joshua Bell and Meyer play Bottesini's Duo Concertante for Violin and Bass with incredible virtuosity and obvious relish. Bell's tone is ravishingly beautiful and his charm, flair, and style are irresistible. Like his older compatriot Paganini, Bottesini was enthralled by Italian opera. The piece is full of dramatic recitatives and meltingly songful cantilenas, with the soloists bursting into arias and love duets and the orchestra setting the stage and providing the atmosphere. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Mixed bag.......2007-07-05

Meyer's playing is, to my ear, impeccable, and with the addition of Bell and Yo-Yo Ma you have three great virtuosos playing on this CD.

My only problem is that I love the Bottesini works and feel so-so on his own compositions. I feel that the audience would have been better served if he had created two CDs; one with Bottesini bass works (and other standard classical music) and one with his own "Appalachian-style" compositions.

I don't think that his own compositions are necessarily bad; I just don't particularly appreciate them as much as I do his playing of classical repertoire.

One thing to commend, though, is that Meyer is taking an instrument that lacks a large library of music and featuring it in remarkable performances of existant pieces as well as creating his own works.

Not the best bass album out there.......2006-12-26

Edgar Meyer is an incredible talent on the instrument. The two classical CD's of his that I've heard, this and the Bach, have flawless intonation and attack on every note. While it's great to raise the bar for double bassists, I feel his musicality both as a performer and as a composer is decidedly lacking, now that there are many great performers on the instrument. When I listen to him next to, say, Gary Karr, Eugene Levinson, and Jeff Bradetich, his sound is nowhere near as interesting. It's solid, but not complex, and multiple listenings haven't led me to discover new things about the music, which is quite the opposite on those of his competitors. He plays the Bottesini like he's only half enjoying himself. Frankly, that is not acceptable for music like this. Meyer, to me, is just playing notes on a page. Gary Karr, on the other hand, lives every note that he plays...he wastes nothing (at least on most of his recordings). I've given blind listening tests to non-musicians and right from the first note of Gary Karr they prefer him; his sound grabs them and doesn't let go.

Also, for a more historically accurate performance, you can get the Thomas Martin Bottesini album with the other Bottesini concerto (F# minor) on it. Thomas Martin studied Bottesini's method books, fingerings, and virtually tried to become Bottesini. And all the other bassists I listed (and there are others as well) play with more passion and a more interesting sound. Don't be fooled just by technique--this music should have much more to it than that.

Meyer admitted in a phone interview published in a Chicago newspaper that he doesn't like the double bass repertoire one bit...which is why he mostly performs his own works. That being said, Bottesini's Grand Duo with Josh Bell is probably my favorite piece on the CD, maybe the only memorable one. Meyer is a good composer, I think; his Appalachian and bluegrass-style pieces are so much fun to listen to. I feel he should stick to that as a composer and performer. His two concertos here have some great moments, but overall are shallow and boring.

I realize I'm extremely opinionated about Meyer, but I think it's necessary to give voice to honest criticism, and I'm not the only double bassist who feels the way I do. It's sort of like listening to jazz and only checking out Wynton Marsalis--there is much better music out there, more authentically played if it's older music, and better musicianship if it's more contemporary jazz that Marsalis really doesn't do. If you really love Meyer's playing over Gary Karr, Eugene Levinson, Jeff Bradetich, Thomas Martin, Franco Petracchi, and Edwin Barker, then support him. Don't just support him because he's on the Sony Classical label and he's the only double bassist you've ever heard of.

Other suggestions:
Anything by Eugene Levinson
Gary Karr--Spirit of Koussevitzky, Virtuoso D.B. Concertos
Anything by Jeff Bradetich
Thomas Martin--recordings of Bottesini works
Franco Petracchi--an EMI album, hard to find on CD, of a Bottesini Duo
Jeremy McCoy--Dialogues with Double Bass (superb musicianship)

These gentlemen are excellent classical soloists, not just masters of their instrument. Happy listening!

Bottessini.......2006-08-15

This CD was interesting, but most of the selections were not good music. There was one selection out of all, which was probably why I wanted to own this CD. Interesting double bass works.

Excellent Variety, Outstanding Execution.......2006-01-05

This album is a must have. No one ever really thinks of double bass used much as a solo instrument. It tends to fade into the woodwork in symphony orchestra as the foundation of orchestral works. Enter Edgar Meyer. Meyer is probably one of the most accomplished musicians I have ever heard on ANY instrument. Meyer is an unbelievable virtuoso possessing all of the great qualities of an outstanding musician. His speed is unreal, his tone is nothing short of beautiful, his sensitivity is full of emotion and his dynamic playing leaves the audience captivated by all the things that a double bass can do that we never even thought about. Meyer is without a doubt one of the most outstanding musicians around today.

This disc has two extremes of music for the double bass. We hear the everything from Edgar Meyer's genre-crossing, ground breaking compositions to the traditional 19th century work of Giovanni Bottesini. Meyer's work as a composer is just as excellent as his work as a performer. He pushes the boundaries of classical music by incorporating other genres but stays within the framework of the tradition of classical music. The result is quite phenominal.

It is also wonderful to hear the other performances of Meyer with Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma. Essentially, this disc acts as a who's who of the bowed instruments. Both Ma and Bell are also very amazing players and really contribute to the sound of the recording. The cello and the violin add a nice touch variety to the album as well. It is especially refreshing to hear the piercing high tone of Joshua Bell at the end. His playing is absolutely gorgeous. I have reason to believe that Mr. Bell could make me cry if he played right.

This disc is quite outstanding. Any lover of classical music will find absolute elation in it. This is truely outstanding work.

More fun than a barrel of monkeys.......2003-03-21

In this digitally mastered age where perfectly virtuosic performances threaten to lose their capacity to amaze, Edgar Meyer does it brilliantly by making the most unwieldy of behemoth instruments dance on its toes. ...his compositional skills, while impressive, lose some of their glitz paired with his incredible virtuosity. But, they are very enjoyable works. The concerto for Bass works particularly well, I feel: it is effective as both a showcase of his abilities as a performer, has real musical interest, and pulls traditionally American musical ideas into the mix without sounding trite.

Tracks:

T'fillot (Prayers)
Rikkudim (Dances)
Manginot (Melodies)
Hakdashot (Dedications)
I. - Scott Goff
II. - Scott Goff
The Maypole - Unknown
Canzonetta - Unknown
Hassidic Dance
Rocketekya

Album Description

K'li zemer means "instrument of song" in Hebrew, and a traditional klezmer was an instrumental musician who entertained at weddings and other festive occasions in Jewish life. In recent times, the extraordinary popularity of "klezmer music" has inspired virtuoso showpieces for clarinet and flute by leading contemporary composers. Klezmer Concertos celebrates this joyous musical tradition with concert works from the 1940s to the present day.

Customer Reviews:

Different Jewish Music.......2003-12-24

This CD consists of "real" classical music. The music of this CD is classical suites INSPIRED by Klezmer Music. It is a really neat collection. My favourite pieces are Manginot and Hakdashot because they feature the bass clarinet, a rarity in solo music. This is a great CD and it is a wonderful way for a clarinetist or Music lover to expand their musical knowledge and tastes.

Average customer rating:

most of the double concertos are here

Bottesini: Double Concertos

Manufacturer: Hungaroton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008ZL6Y
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Customer Reviews:

most of the double concertos are here.......2003-12-02

This is a nice collection of some hard to find works. Some of the works are available elsewhere, but others (like the Rossini Fantasy) are nowhere to be found.

Tracks:

Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2
Air on the G String from Orchestral Suite No. 3
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
1st MVT. From Violin Concerto No. 2
Polonaise and Rondo from Orchestral Suite No. 2
Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in F Minor
Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude from Cantata 147
Fugue in G Minor, BWV.1026
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV.565

Tracks:

1st MVT. From Symphony No. 5
Fse
Egmont Overture
1st MVT. From Moonlight Sonata, No. 14
3rd MVT. From Violin Concerto
Finale from Symphony No. 9 Ode to Joy

Tracks:

1st MVT. From Symphony No. 40
2nd MVT. From Piano Concerto No. 21
2nd MVT. From Clarinet Concerto in a
1st MVT. From String Quartet No. 17 Hunt
Overture to the Marriage of Figaro
Queen of the Night's Aria from the Magic Flute
1st MVT. From Flute Concerto, No. 2
1st MVT. From Horn Concerto in D, K.412
3rd MVT. From Piano Sonata, No. 11 in A, Alla Turca
1st MVT. From Clarinet Quintet in A, K.581

Tracks:

Waltz from the Sleeping Beauty
Waltz from Swan Lake
Marche Slave
Canzonetta from Violin Concerto in D
Waltz from Serenade in C, Op. 48
3rd MVT. From Symphony No. 6 Pathque
March from the Nutcracker
Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker
1812 Overture

Tracks:

Spring from the Four Seasons
Summer from the Four Seasons
Autumn from the Four Seasons
Winter from the Four Seasons
Concerto for Two Trumpets in C, RV.537
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op. 10, No. 2 la Notre
Mandolin Concerto in C, RV.425

Tracks:

Waltz No. 1 Grand Waltz Brillante Op. 18
Waltz No. 6 Petit Chein
Waltz No. 7, Op. 64, No. 2
Waltz No. 10, Op. 69, No. 2
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor
Raindrop Prelude, Op. 28, No. 15
Adieu Etude, Op. 10, No. 3
Heroic Polonaise, Op. 53, No. 6
Mazurka, Op. 7, No. 1
Mazurka, Op. 33, No. 4
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2
Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 2
Berceuse in D-Flat, Op. 57

Tracks:

Avaria
Marche Militaire No. 1
1st MVT. From Symphony No. 8 Unfinished
4th MVT. From Piano Quintet in a Trout
Moment Musical No. 3
Ballet Music from Rosamunde
Impromptu in A-Flat, D.899, No. 4
2nd MVT. From String Quartet No. 14 Death and the Maiden
4th Movement from Symphony No. 5

Tracks:

Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
Tales from the Vienna Woods
Annen Polka
Wine, Women, And Song
Thunder and Lightning Polka
Emperor Waltz
Perpetual Motion
Artists' Life Waltz
On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Tracks:

Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walk
Overture to Tannher
Siegfried Idyll
Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Overture to Rienzi
Prelude to Die Meistersigner

Tracks:

Serenade 'Andante Cantabile' 2nd MVT. From String Quartet Op. 3, No. 5
Devertimento for Orchestra No. 3
Old Austrian People's Hymn
Variations in F Minor
Symphony No. 94 in G Major 'Surprise' 2nd MVT.
Symphony No. 104 in D Major 'London': ...

Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos.1 & 4/Bottesini: Grand Duo Concertant

Average customer rating:

If the vinyl was 5 stars (and it was)...
excellent
Two great Paganini interpreters: Francescatti and Ricci
Two great Paganini interpreters: Francescatti and Ricci

Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos.1 & 4/Bottesini: Grand Duo Concertant

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

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ASIN: B0000027OT
Release Date: 1992-01-03

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 1 In D Major, Op. 6: I. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 1 In D Major, Op. 6: II. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 1 In D Major, Op. 6: III. Rondo: Allegro spirituoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: I. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: II. Adagio flebile con sentimento
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: III. Rondo galante: Andantino gaio
Gran Due Concertante For Violin, Double Bass And Orchestra: Allegro maestoso - Lento - Cantibile - Allegro maestoso

Customer Reviews:

If the vinyl was 5 stars (and it was)..........2005-07-06

I do not have the CD version (I'm ordering it), but I have the original vinyl record, and it is, without a doubt and by a long shot, the best interpretation of the Bottesini. I cannot play the vinyl because I don't have a record player anymore, and the sound quality of CDs as compared to vinyl makes vinyl no longer a choice for me.

I have sort of a reversed opinion as the other reviewer; I feel the Paganini is not as good as the Bottesini. I LOVE the Botesini work; it is no easy feat (as the other reviewer quite aptly says) to have a "virtuoso bass fiddle", but Petracchi pulls it off magnificently. I own one other CD of the Bottesini work, and it is not nearly as good.

Trust me; this is the BEST version of the Bottesini you will find. Add to that the recording quality of this version, as opposed to the other version, with Jose-Luis Garcia on violin and Thomas Martin on bass (through no fault of the soloists); the bass was horribly under-miked, and you couldn't hear all the marvelous intricacies required by the bass part that were easy to hear on the recording I'm reviewing here). And the violinist's technique wasn't as clean as Ricci's (but then again, Ricci is a top-echelon violinist, and I don't believe Garcia is quite there yet).

If you can get your hands on a copy of this CD -- DO IT. It is well worth whatever you would pay.

excellent.......2002-06-11

i havent heard this CD in a long time, but i do recall that the first Violin Concerto was truly magnificent and crisp. they did a wonderful job with this CD.

Two great Paganini interpreters: Francescatti and Ricci.......2000-07-15

The Paganini violin concerti are the ultimate in blending technical virtuosity, melodrama, and singing melody. There are many great recordings of the Concerto #1, but this famous performance by Zino Francescatti is in a class by itself. His melodic playing literally sings like a human voice, and his technique is exciting and sparkling. As to the Concerto #4, I usually prefer Artur Grumiaux's first recording, which displayed elegance and a crisp technique, but this performance by Ruggiero Ricci has all of the passion and propulsive virtuosity of Ricci at his best. The Bottesini is spectacularly played (how often do you hear a virtuoso bass fiddle?), but the piece itself is one of those Paganini imitations that lacks the drama, excitement, and aria-like melodies of the original. The sound of this CD is, of course, not the latest, but it is fine. And, anyway, you listen to music like this for the performances, not for the latest in sound production. Overall, this CD is a must.

Two great Paganini interpreters: Francescatti and Ricci.......2000-07-15

Paganini's violin concerti are still the ultimate fusion of technical virtuosity, drama, and melody. For all of the recordings of the Concerto #1, this classic Francescatti recording is a spectacular demonstration of a unique singing style combined with a sparkling technique. There are other wonderful recordings of this piece, but this one is in a class by itself. As for the Concerto #4, I prefer the original Artur Grumiaux recording for his elegance and rich tone, but this Ricci recording has excitement, passion, and Ricci's steamrolling virtuosity. The Bottesini is spectacularly played (you don't hear a virtuoso bassist that often), but the piece is one of those Paganini imitations that lacks the drama, passion, and melodic flair of the real thing. The sound of this CD is, of course, not the latest, but it is fine. And, anyway, you listen to music like this for the performances, not the ultimate in sound quality. In my book, this is a great buy.

The Good Life: Composers' Greatest Concertos, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

The Good Life: Composers' Greatest Concertos, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0009NZ3NM
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet

Average customer rating:

Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet

Manufacturer: Crystal Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009V3KS
Release Date: 2003-05-15

Tracks:

Wallace Concerto, Mvt 1
Wallace Concerto, Mvt 2
Wallace Concerto, Mvt 3
Constantinides Concerto of Psalms, Mvt 1
Constantinides Concerto of Psalms, Mvt 2
Constantinides Concerto of Psalms, Mvt 3
Niblock Concerto, Mvt 1
Niblock Concerto, Mvt 2
Niblock Concerto, Mvt 3

Album Description

This is the 15th CD in the Verdehr Trio's recordings of works they have commissioned, mostly for the trio combination of violin, clarinet, and piano. This CD features the violin and clarinet.. Strad Magazine called their series "Remarkable collection by a remarkable ensemble" and the American Record Guide said "Brilliant in every department." The Verdehrs teach at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

Average customer rating:

The Good Life: Composers' Greatest Concertos, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD