Bartók: Choral Music

On this CD:

1. Choruses in 2 & 3 Parts (27), for children's or female chorus & piano (or orchestra), Sz. 103, BB 111
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

2. Slovak Folksongs (4), for chorus & piano (Négy tót népdal), Sz. 70, BB 77
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

3. Hungarian Folksongs, for mixed chorus (Magyar népdalok), Sz. 93, BB 99 No. 1 Börtönben (In prison)
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

4. Hungarian Folksongs, for mixed chorus (Magyar népdalok), Sz. 93, BB 99 No. 2, A bujdosó (the Exile)
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

5. Hungarian Folksongs, for mixed chorus (Magyar népdalok), Sz. 93, BB 99 No. 3, Az eladó lány (Girl for sale)
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

6. Hungarian Folksongs, for mixed chorus (Magyar népdalok), Sz. 93, BB 99 No. 4, Dal (Song)
Composed by Bela Bartok

Conducted by Aurel Tillai

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:

Buxtehude: Fanfare - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/William Scarlett/Charles Geyer/Dale Clevenger/Jay Friedman...
We Are Enormously Complex
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 1st Movt: Allegro
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 2nd Movt: Andante
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 3rd Movt: Allegro
The Musician Plays The Instrument
Playing For The Audience
Programming The Brain
Czardas
Carnival Of Venice
Con: 1st Movt
Etude No.24
'Czardas' With The Metronome
This Is An Art Form
We Play By Song And Wind
Canzon Per Sonare No.2 - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Dale Clevenger/Jay Friedman/Arnold Jacobs
Lohengrin: King Heinrich's Call (Exc) - Jay Friedman/Arnold Jacobs
Sym Fantastique: Dies Irae
Become A Singer In Your Brain
There Must Be A Source Of Vibration
Breath As A Motor Force
Sonatine: 1st Movt: Allegro Vivo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 2nd Movt: Andante Ma Non Troppo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 3rd Movt: Allegro Vivo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 4th Movt: Largo; Allegro - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Keeping Music As An Art Form
Breathe To Expand
F Tuba Demonstration With Berlioz
Romeo And Juliet (Exc) - Chicago SO/Carlo Maria Giulini
Con: 2nd Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner
Petrouchka (Exc) - Chicago SO/James Levine
Sym No.4: 1st Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Jean Martinon
Sym No.4: 1st Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Daniel Barenboim
The Key For Communicating In Music
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev (Exc) - Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner

Customer Reviews:

Jacobs was overrated.......2005-09-28

Arnold Jacobs was a brilliant man who could have succeeded in practically any profession. He was also a fine musical pedagogue, judging from his verbal insights on this CD with respect to the human body as a musical instrument. Yet, I am amazed that he rose to the rank of tubist in a world-class orchestra such as the Chicago Symphony. Frankly, I found his tone quality uninspiring, although he had fine techinque. I have heard at least half a dozen tubists whose tone is far more pleasing musically. Among the bassmen/women of the world, Jacobs has become a semi-divine entity. I believe that he has been somewhat overrated as a result. I felt that his verbal commentaries were highly educational; I was disappointed by his playing overall.

The Great Arnold Jacobs Captured on C.D........2005-04-02

This is a prolific set of audio that captures the historical sound of Arnold Jacobs' playing and teaching. I bought this C.D. because I wanted to explore the limits and capabilities of a tuba player so that I could see if playing music on the tuba was for me. This C.D. banished any doubt that I had about the ability of a tuba player to achieve at the utmost musical level. I have never meet Mr. Jacobs in real life, but this C.D. made me feel as if I was in a master class or recital hall listening to him myself. I would recommend this C.D. to anyone who loves music. As Arnold Jacbos said " It's not about the tuba, it's about music".

arnold jacobs.......2001-05-16

This cd tries to capture arnold jacobs: a prolific teacher, player and above all a great man. while listening, you'll discover the ideals, the methods and ideas that made arnold jacobs the best tuba player that there'll probably ever be. The more complex issues and artistry of brass playing are explained in simple words and sayings. a great deal of jacobs' lectures is also given, and you can also see the importance of understanding the functioning of other body units that help us trough our playing (the brain). a great disc, highly recommended, not only for tuba players, but for all brass players.

inspiring technician musician artist.......2000-09-01

Cannot agree more,this is a wonderful exposition of Jacobs the teacher,for he had developed working concepts any wind player could adopt.His studio in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago was like a mecca for all wind players coming to Jacobs to resolve some deep-rooted performing problem. As he says( my paraphrasing) " they get tied up in knots,worrying about all the motions of the lip. . .you can't think about all those motions for they are thousands of motions from the brain to engage in performing a brass instrument "

As a brass player myself,(trombone & tuba) I have always sensed we have little repertoire to play of any interest,but Jacobs in a lecture here reveals this problem and one way to solve it, is to consciously search for things to play,like an aria from Puccini,or a particular non-tuba passage,to duplicate it,a piano or violin solo. What this approach implies is then for the brass player to develop skills as a consummate musician/ virtuoso,for you are forever challenged then to expand your repertoire endlessly,as much as the instrument or your technique will allow. I now find myself playing Chopin Preludes(Eb-minor,B-minor melodies only) on the trombone,and contrabass orchestral excerpts or trumpet etudes on the tuba,and Jacobs encourages tuba players to learn to read treble clef to be able to read any melody.

There are wonderful examples here from all genres in music from solo etudes in his studio to Berlioz and Wagner excerpts, solo and within the context of the orchestra. It all reveals the seemless consistent sound Jacobs was able to summon from his York tuba. Every attach was uniform,every tone even and pure,at least that is what he heard in his ear. That's another Jacobs credo,you have to have the sound in your head,what do you want your listener to hear. You command that.

The Bozza Sonatine(brass quintet) is also a wonderful performance of great brass music,great use of colours and entrances,breaking down the quintet into smaller duets and trios.This all with Chicago Symphony players makes it all the more interesting,a vintage performance from 1966.I recall those days where solo brass was considered an oddity,and unaccompanied solos even more so.

Jacob's sound should remain in your mind's hearing to duplicate it. Eugene Pokorny (Jacob's Chicago Symphony successor) also provides insightful interesting notes here.

Arnold Jacobs - Icon of education and performance.......2000-08-23

Amazing! For the students who studied directly with Arnold Jacobs, "Protrait of an Artist" will take you back to his studio, sitting right next to him. This excellent collection of lectures (lessons) and demonstrations are a fantastic embodiment of Arnold Jacobs' concepts and teachings. It is certainly a must for any music performer or educator. From the samples of CSO performances at the end of this CD to the practice tapes, the music on this CD is truely inspirational.

Average customer rating:

Orchestral Trumpet Player's Bible:
Essential Recording for Any Trumpet Player
Most Excellent
Awesome!
Excellent for aspiring trumpet players, otherwise...

Orchestral Excerpts For Trumpet

Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Philip Smith, Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic
David Hickman, Trumpet
Orchestral Excerpts For Horn
Orchestral Excerpts for Tuba
Thomas Stevens Trumpet Sonatas

ASIN: B0000038JG
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Trumpet concerto: Brandenburg Concerto No.2 - Trumpet Concerto
Petrouchka
Pictures at an Exhibition
Leonore Nos. 3&2
Ein Heldenleben
Symphony No.5
Scheherazade
Don Juan
Fetes
Piano Concerto In G
Piano Cto. No. 1
Pines Of Rome
Concerto For Orchestra
Carmen Prelude
Firebird Suite
Parsifal Prelude
La Mer
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3 (Post Horn)
Capriccio Espagnol
American In Paris
Magnificat

Customer Reviews:

Orchestral Trumpet Player's Bible:.......2003-05-08

I carry this recording around with me in my case, and listen to it before auditions, concerts, rehearsals, etc. It's simply how the excerpts (along with trumpet playing in general) should sound. Smith's virtuostic playing, coupled with his vast orchestral experience, really teach the parts. All trumpet players, top to bottom, have something to learn from this CD--and while the entire work (with orchestra) and part should be studied (Smith actually recommends this), it is still very useful to hear one of the finest players on earth performing just the trumpet part.

Essential Recording for Any Trumpet Player.......2001-05-24

If any principal orchestral trumpet player has succeeded Adolph Herseth as the "state of the art," the probable consensus among his peers would be Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic. His virtually flawless technique, gourgeous sound, rarified musicianship and exceptional leadership make him virtually unique in his field, and his more than 20 years with the Philharmonic (plus his early years with the Chicago Symphony) have firmly established him as one of the greats in the history of orchestral brass performance.

Measured simply as a documentation of his skills, this recording would be an extraordinary document - the playing throughout is stupendous. But this is much more than that; Mr. Smith proves to be as articulate (mild "New Yoahk" accent and all) as he is talented, and his performance suggestions are truly helpful, even for those of us without his superhuman abilities. The recorded sound is superb, and overall this is a joy to listen to at every level. I recommend it without reservation for any trumpet player aspiring to a higher level of musicianship and performance - and if you play it at full volume shortly after your warmup, your neighbors will be very impressed.

Most Excellent.......1999-12-13

As a trumpet player, I must say that Phil Smith's comments during each track are immensely beneficial. His thoughts have produced profound understanding in my trumpet playing, and despite the fact that this CD is intended as a grouping of Phil Smith's insights into common Orchestral Excerpts and his following demonstration, I have countless times listened out of pure enjoyment than to gain expert insight. His tone is the most beautiful I have ever heard, and it shows on this CD. I recommend this particularly for any aspiring trumpet student.

Awesome!.......1999-10-25

The previous reviewer of this CD missed the point of the CD. Lets say your working on the Carmern Prelude or Stravinsky Pétrouchka you buy this CD, and learn how Philip Smith (one of the greatest symphonic trumpet players in the world) would interpret and play it. Thats why its entitled Orchestra Trumpet Excerpts.

Excellent for aspiring trumpet players, otherwise..........1999-05-31

This CD would be excellent for aspiring orchestral trumpeters and soloists; although Philip Smith conveys his expertise exceptionally well, this short snips of music on this CD are no substitute for the actual full-orchestra recordings.

Average customer rating:

Great playing plus a cover of Kashmir - how can you go wrong?

Matt Haimovitz: Goulash
Matt Haimovitz , Bela Bartok , Matt Constantinople / Haimovitz , and Matt DJ Olive / Haimovitz
Manufacturer: Oxingale Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The 20th-Century Cello
Matt Haimovitz - Mozart The Mason
Deviations
Anthem
Osvaldo Golijov: Ayre

ASIN: B000B6FXVY
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Led Zeppelin: Kashmir
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - I. Joc cu b
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - II. Br
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - III. Pe loc
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - IV. Buciumeana
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - V. Poarga romsca
B BartRomanian Folk Dances - VI. Maruntel
DJ Olive/Matt Haimovitz: Goulash
Adrian Pop: Gordun
Osvaldo Golijov: Oraciucum
Gy Ligeti: Sonata for Violoncello Solo - I. Dialogo
Gy Ligeti: Sonata for Violoncello Solo - II. Capriccio
B Bart1st Rhapsody for Violin and Piano - Prima parte (lass
B Bart1st Rhapsody for Violin and Piano - Seconda parte (friss)
Constantinople/Matt Haimovitz: Menevse
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Ruthenian kolomejka
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Walachian Song
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Mosquito Dance
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Arabian Song
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Sorrow
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Teasing Song
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Bagpipes (variant)
B BartSuite from 44 Duos - Dance from Mmaros
DJ Olive/Matt Haimovitz: Trans

Album Description

Celebrating Bartók's fascination with the folk music of Transylvania, Hungary, Romania and Turkey, Haimovitz delves into his own Romanian/Middle Eastern ancestry to create a sonic tapestry that bridges genres, geographic distances and cultures. Working with legendary guitarist John McLaughlin and cutting-edge turntablist DJ Olive, up-and-coming talents such as Montreal's early Mediterranean/contemporary music ensemble, Constantinople, and Haimovitz's newly founded all-cello band, UCCELLO, Haimovitz explores the different facets of his musicianship as soloist, improviser, ensemble leader and collaborator.

Customer Reviews:

Great playing plus a cover of Kashmir - how can you go wrong?.......2007-01-23

I'm a fan of Cello music and this is VERY well played and a really wide variety of stuff which is a good thing. I've got nothing against the standard catalog of music but it's good to get outside the box.

PLUS it's got a rockin' all cello cover of Led Zepplin's Kashmir - so how can you go wrong?

Béla Bartók: The Wooden Prince / Cantata Profana - John Aler / John Tomlinson / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Pierre Boulez

Average customer rating:

Great Offering by two of my favorites.
One of the better recordings Bartók & Boulez.
A fantastic set!
Boulez conducting Bartok's "Cantata Profana"
Boulez good.

Béla Bartók: The Wooden Prince / Cantata Profana - John Aler / John Tomlinson / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Pierre Boulez

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Béla Bartók: Divertimento / Dance Suite / Hungarian Sketches / Two Pictures - Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Boulez
Béla Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin / Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Pierre Boulez
Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra / 4 Orchestral Pieces - Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Boulez
Bartok: The Piano Concertos
Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2; Rhapsodies Nos. 1 & 2

ASIN: B000001GGY
Release Date: 1992-11-10

Tracks:

Cantata Profana Sz 94, The Nine Splendid Stags: There Was One An Old Man. Molto moderato - Allegro molto
Cantata Profana Sz 94, The Nine Splendid Stags: But Their Father Grew Impatient, Andante
Cantata Profana Sz 94, The Nine Splendid Stags: There Was One An Old Man.., Moderato
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Introduction, Molto moderado
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: First Dance: Dance Of The Princess In The Forest
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Second Dance: Dance Of The Trees, Assai moderato
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Third Dance: Dance of the Waves, Andante
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Fourth Dance: Dance Of The Princess With The Wooden Prince, Allegro
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Fifth Dance: The Princess Pulls And Tugs At The Wooden Prince, Meno mosso (subito)
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Sixth Dance: She Tries To Attract The Real Prince With Her Seductive Dancing
The Wooden Prince Sz 60 (Op. 13), Ballet Pantomime In One Act By Bela Bazs: Seventh Dance: Dismayed, The Princess Attempts To Hurry After The Prince, But The Forest Bars Her Way, Moderato

Amazon.com

Pierre Boulez has recorded all of this music before, and very successfully. Those recordings are available at mid-price on Sony, and though the recorded sound is a bit better on these newer discs, you can't really go wrong either way. Boulez has always brought a special measure of incisiveness and clarity to Bartók, sometimes at the cost of a certain emotional warmth--but that's not a criticism that applies to this pair of immaculately played performances. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra knows this music as well as any orchestra in the world, and its chorus is one of the country's finest. So if the coupling appeals to you, go for it! --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Great Offering by two of my favorites........2007-03-17

Long before I started appreciating Stravinsky, Bartok was my favorite 20th century composer, mostly on the strength of his piano concerti and his Divertimento for Celeste, percussion and so on, plus his adaptation of Hungarian folk music (being 1/2 Hungarian helped a lot here). So, it's surprising it took me so long to discover these works, but what a discovery they are, especially in the hands of the preeminant conductor of modern music, Maestro Boulez. I am not a great fan of ballet performances, but this music (as with Stravinsky's 'The Rites of Spring') really make me interested in seeing this 'Ballet pantomine' performed. This is also easily more interesting than some of Bartok's other works, such as the first piano concerto.

One of the better recordings Bartók & Boulez........2005-11-16

This is, with no doubt, one of the better recordings Boulez has done of Bartók's music, as far as I know. I have all his new Bartók recordings for DG, in which we can find jewels like the Piano Concertos or the Four Pieces. I know too his old recording of the Wooden Prince for CBS and this is even much more better, and the old one was really great too.

Boulez conducting is clear in all the pieces, specially in the Wooden Prince and the orchestral playing is really breathtaking, something outstanding, ideal for Bartók's music, in which they have a long-term relation, as you can listen in his previous recordings with Reiner, Abbado or Solti.

The Cantata Profana is marvellous too, singers, chorus and orchestra give them best to build a marvellous tale, full of colour and mistery, as the Cantata is a hermetic piece in fact. I've listened this work in Solti's hands and of course it could be a bit more idiomatic and folk, more hungarian, but even so, Boulez's version is marvellous, specially from the technical point of view.

The recording is amazing, I think this CD was Grammy for the technical recording, there's no doubt about the recording quality, it's clear, well-balanced, great range of dynamics, very well recorded all the orchestral sections...

In my opinion a CD which is a must be for all Bartók's lovers. Nowadays this CD it's out of DG's catalogue, so don't miss this oportunity.

A fantastic set!.......2005-11-03

Pierre Boulez, as the good wine seems to improve through the years and enhancing exponentially in what Bartok concerns. This work is another additional sample of his magisterial enhancement through the years. The particular emphasis in the architectonic lines and the astonishing handle of the dark dissonances, confers him a well deserved seat of honor. This Wooden Prince is one of the best you can get in the market, as well as Cantata Profana, that you may easily consider the best version ever recorded to date.

A golden album. Absolutely recommended.

Boulez conducting Bartok's "Cantata Profana".......2000-08-19

I truly claim that when it comes on performing Bartok, Boulez is the best. "Cantata Profana" is one of my favorite music by Bartok, and the performance is excellent. Compared to Solti's recording, it was a bit more exciting, but less melancholy. But the performance is very fine: the orchestra, the choir, and the two singers, a bit finer than Solti's, even though he's a very excellent conductor himself.

"The Wooden Prince" is pretty fine too, even though this is the only recording I heard so far. But Boulez is good enough.

If you want Bartok, I believe that you should buy Boulez, from Grammophon. There's a collection of Bartok's music conducted by Boulez.

Boulez good........2000-02-11

This disc is easily one of my very favorite discs in my 500-or-so CD collection. Some of my friends in the Chicago Symphony mentioned that when Boulez first conducted them, most of them hated him because he was stuffy, academic, and annoying. However, every one of them says that as he has come back to Chicago to conduct from time to time recently, he is one of the most beloved and respected conductors they now play under. They cite his recently acquired sense of humor and the undeniabile superiority of his musicianship. In any event, on this disc one can certainly discern that the entire orchestra is very happy to have him up front: they all play their best here. (I am always amused when I listen to this recording, however, at one slightly late tympani beat.)

DEBUT ~ Adelphi Saxophone Quartet ~ "Simply Four Saxophones

Average customer rating:

Not that hot
How Adolphe envisaged the sound?
Saxophone Quartet the way it should be!
Crisp, Clean, Clear.....a beautiful recording.
Absolutely Incredible

DEBUT ~ Adelphi Saxophone Quartet ~ "Simply Four Saxophones
Jean-Philippe Rameau , George Frideric Handel , Astor Piazzolla , Bela Bartok , Jean Rivier , Jean Francaix , Johann Sebastian Bach , Ferenc Farkas , Anonymous , George Gershwin , Andrew Wilson , Georg Frederic Handel , and Adelphi Saxophone Quartet
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Sonatas for Saxophone Quartet
Sound of the Italian Saxophone Quart
Ballades for Saxophone and Orchestra
Music for Saxophone & Orchestra
Marcel Mule: "Le patron" of the Saxophone

ASIN: B00000I3VI
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Rigaudon de Dardanus
Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones: I Gaguenardise
Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones: II Cantil
Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones: III Snade comique
Petites Litanies de Js
Histoire du Tango: I Bordel 1900
Histoire du Tango: II Caf930
Histoire du Tango: III Night Club 1960
Histoire du Tango: IV Concert d'aujourd'hui
The Poacher
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: I Jocul cu Bata
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: II Braul
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: III Pe Loc
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: IV Buciumeana
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: V Poarga 'Romaneasca'
Six Rumanian Folk Dances: VI Manuntelul
Grave et Presto
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Suite No 3 - Air
Old Hungarian Dances: I Intrada
Old Hungarian Dances: II (Lass
Old Hungarian Dances: III (LapockT)
Old Hungarian Dances: IV (Ugr
The Agincourt Song
Fascinatin' Rhythm - I Got Rhythm

Customer Reviews:

Not that hot.......2003-07-02

I purchased this CD and was very disappointed in the quality of the playing. The four musicians play with an almost unbearably bright tone color and their technique together is not as clean as some other groups. Don't waste your time here - pick up a recording the Rascher Quartet or Paul Cohen's quartet instead.

How Adolphe envisaged the sound?.......2003-06-27

This CD is well worth getting for the quality of the sound. I've never heard such a pure tone from the saxophone before and the four players here blend so perfectly that you are not actualy aware that it is saxophones playing. Listen to the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Marvellous! even though I can't help imagining Clarinets, Oboes and Basoons.
For anyone (like myself) who plays saxophone, this one is a must have as a reference CD on quality Classical Sax playing.

Saxophone Quartet the way it should be!.......2001-02-02

I was absolutely blown away by the musicality of the performers and how the intonation of the ensemble was perfect! Also, the pieces are very technically difficult, but played with absolute precision. I would recommend this CD to every sax lover!

Crisp, Clean, Clear.....a beautiful recording........2001-01-31

For anyone who loves the sound of the saxophone played the way it was intended by it's inventor...this is the recording for you. Everything about this recording is enjoyable...the selection of songs, the performance, the recording quality. I highly recommend this recording to anyone who loves the awsome beauty of the saxophone quartet.

Absolutely Incredible.......2001-01-09

This CD is absolutely amazing! I would recomend it to anyone. The performers do a great job, and I hope the produce another CD soon!

Average customer rating:

GRRRREAT!!!
Great introduction!

Heavy Classix, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Heavy Classix
25 Thunderous Classics
Thunder & Lightning
Living In Oblivion : The 80's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder

ASIN: B000002SOM
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

O'Fortuna (from Carmina Burana) - Phil Chor
The Alien God and the Dance of the Evil Spirits (from Scythian Ste, Op.20) - Simon Rattle/City Of Birmingham SO
Circuses (from Feste Romane) - Mariss Jansons/Olso PO
Symphony No.5 in d, Op.47: IV. Allegro non troppo (exc) - Mariss Jansons/Olso PO
Danse de la terre (from The Rite of Spring) - Riccardo Muti/Philidelphia Orch
Night on Bald Mountain (exc) - Mariss Jansons/Olso PO
Finlandia (exc) - Herbert von Karajan/Berlin PO
In the Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt) - Ambrosian Singers
Die Walkure (Prelude to Act I) - Bernard Haitink/Bavarian RSO
The Miraculous Mandarin (exc) - Eugene Ormandy/PO
Le Chasseur Maudit (exc) - Riccardo Muti/Philidelphia Orch
Glorification de L'Eleu (from The Rite of Spring) - Riccardo Muti/Philidelphia Orch
Danse generale (from Daphnis et Chloe, Ste No.2) - Mariss Jansons/Olso PO
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (exc) - Mariss Jansons/Olso PO
Dance of the Mountaineers (from Gayne Ballet) - Yuri Temirkanov/Royal PO
Sym No.6 in b, Op.74 'Pathetique': I. Allegro non troppo (exc) - Riccardo Muti/PO
Sinf: I. Allegretto - Simon Rattle/PO
The Death of Tybalt (from Romeo and Juliet) - Riccardo Muti/Philidelphia Orch
Sym No.10 in e, Op.93: II. Alllegro - Simon Rattle/PO
Danse sacrale (from The Rite of Spring) - Riccardo Muti/Philidelphia Orch
Manfred Sym, Op.58: I. Andante (exc) - Riccardo Muti/PO

Customer Reviews:

GRRRREAT!!!.......2006-10-25

This CD and the first Heavy Classix are some of the greatest compilations of powerful brassy classical music ever! None of that wussy string concerto stuff, just plain gusto, the kind of music you want to play at top volume with the windows rolled down so everyone will know what kind of god you are. (IMHO) I LOVE this cd and so will you...they're hard to find nowadays...so get yours while you can!

Great introduction!.......2000-04-14

The Heavy Classix CDs were my introduction to classical music, and it was a very successful introduction. Beginning with 'O Fortuna' (which you might recognize from any one of several movies including Excalibur) and continuing through a number of high-powered tracks, some of which (Finlandia, Sorcerers Apprentice) might be familiar to you, Heavy Classix 2 and its companion Heavy Classix are great places to learn about classical music and dispel yourself of the notion that classical music is boring.

Average customer rating:

The 20th Century Maestros (Box Set)

Manufacturer: History
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Passions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Allegramente - Bernstein
Adagio Assai - Bernstein
Presto - Bernstein
Prophecy - Bernstein
Profanation - Bernstein
Lamentation - Bernstein
Solo - Bernstein
Pas De Deux - Bernstein
Pas De Trois - Bernstein
Coda - Bernstein
Allegro Con Brio - Kubelik
Adagio - Kubelik
Allegretto Grazioso - Kubelik
Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Kubelik
The Moldau - Smetana
Hakon Jarl - Smetana
Molto Allegro - Von Karajan
Andante - Von Karajan
Menuetto Allegretto - Von Karajan
Presto - Von Karajan
Adagio - Von Karajan
Allegro Con Grazia - Von Karajan
Allegro Molto Vivace - Von Karajan
Finale Adagio Lamentoso Andante - Von Karajan
Allegro Non Troppo - Celibidache
Andante Moderato - Celibidache
Allegro Giocosco - Cilibidache
Allegro Energico - Celibidache
Overture - Celibidache
March - Celibidache
Variations - Celibidache
Trepak - Celibidache
Danse Arabe - Celibidache
Danse Chinose - Celibidache
Danse De Mirlitons - Celibidache
Valse Des Fleurs - Celibidache
Largo E Maestoso - Dorati
Lento - Dorati
Andantino Quasi Allegretto - Dorati
Allegro Molto - Dorati
Allegro Molto Moderato - Dorati
Adagio - Dorati
Allegro Moderato Molto E Marcato - Dorati
Andante Allegro Con Anima - Fricsay
Andante Cantabile Con Alcuna Licenza - Fricsay
Valse Allegro Moderato - Fricsay
Finale Andante Maestoso - Fricsay
Rosen Aus Dem Suden - Fricsay
Wiener Blut - Fricsay
Un Poco Sostenuto Allegro - Bohm
Andante Sostenuto - Bohm
Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso - Bohm
Adagio Piu Andante Allegro Ma Non Troppo Ma Con Brio - Bohm
Overture Der Fliegende Hollander - Bohm
Ouvertue Le Nozze Di Fiigaro - Bohm
Allegro Moderato - Jochum
Allegro Sehr Feierlich Und Sehr Langsam - Jochum
Scherzo Bewegt - Jochum
Finale Bewegt Doch Nicht Zu Schnell - Jochum
Allegro Affetuoso - Steinberg
Intermezzo Andantino Grazioso - Steinberg
Allegro Vivace - Steinberg
Allegro Moderato - Steinberg
Canzonetta (Andante) - Steinberg
Finale Allegro Vivacissimo - Steinberg
Allegro Brillante E Molto Vivace - Kondrashin
Andante Non Troppo - Kondrashin
Allegro Con Fuoco - Kondrashin
Allegro Man Non Troppo - Kondrashin
Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Kondrashin
Finale Allegro Giocoso Ma Non Troppo - Kondrashin
Komm SuBer Tod BWV 478 - Stokowski
Adagio (From Taccata) Adagio And Fugue In C - Stokowski
Mein Jesu Was Fur Ein Seelenweh Bwv 487 - Stokowski
Es Ist Vollbracht - Stokowski
A Night On The Bare Mountain - Stokowski
Romeo And Juliet Fantasy Overture - Stokowski
Tanz Der Sieben Schleier - Stokowski
No 1 - Stokowski
No 3 - Stokowski
Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Ormandy
Intermezzo Adagio - Ormandy
Finale Alle Breve - Ormandy
Andante Ma Non Troppo Allegro Energico - Ormandy
Andante - Ormandy
Scherzo Allegro - Ormandy
Finale Quasi Una Fantasia - Ormandy
Adagio Allegro Molto - Szell
Largo - Szell
Molto Vivace - Szell
Allegro Con Fuoco - Szell
Allegro Non Troppo - Szell
Scherzando - Szell
Andante - Szell
Rondo - Szell
An Der Schonen Blauen Donau - Szell
Allegro Maestoso - Barbirolli
Romance Larghetto - Barbirolli
Rondo Vivace - Barbirolli

Album Description

German digitally remastered box-set features one disc apiece from some of the 20th century's greatest composers including, Arturo Toscanini, Leopold Stokowski, Herbert Von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, Otto Klemperer, Eugene Ormandy & many more. 20 slimline

Sir George Solti: The Last Recording; Bartók, Kodály, Weiner

Average customer rating:

A touching memento
excellent

Sir George Solti: The Last Recording; Bartók, Kodály, Weiner

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B000006P4Y
Release Date: 1998-05-12

Tracks:

Cantata profana, BB100 - Sz94: Molto moderato
Cantata profana, BB100 - Sz94: Andante
Cantata profana, BB100 - Sz94: Moderato
Serenade For Small Orchestra, Op. 3: Allegretto, quasi andantino
Serenade For Small Orchestra, Op. 3: Lebhaft, sehr rhymisch
Serenade For Small Orchestra, Op. 3: Andantino
Serenade For Small Orchestra, Op. 3: Allegro molto
Psalmus hungaricus, op.13: Andante molto appassionato
Psalmus hungaricus, op.13: 'Kesr annyi nem volna'
Psalmus hungaricus, op.13: Adagio

Customer Reviews:

A touching memento.......2002-08-08

It seemed so fitting for Georg Solti's final recording to be made "back home" that I really wanted the album to be outstanding. And it is a fine recording and, mostly, a set of fine performances. Solti's commitment to the music is never in doubt, and the BFO play to the manner born. The Weiner suite, in particular, receives as relaxed and musical a performance as Solti ever produced. Bartok's masterly cantata benefits from the magnificent baritone of Alexandru Agache, and in both that and the Kodaly, the chorus sings superbly. The recording is, however, let down by the horribly strained tenor of Tamas Daroczy. This leaves Cantata Profana still without a fully adequate recording. Ferencsik's classic account is in poor sound; and Boulez' version, while superbly executed, lacks in passion. If only Philips would record it with Ivan Fischer and his BFO, and with top-flight soloists! Fortunately, Psalmus Hungaricus has benefited from numerous stellar recordings, of which my favorite remains the Kertesz (also on Decca, from the late 60's). All in all, then, a touching memento of Solti's career, but most worthwhile for the least familiar music: Leo Weiner's lovely Suite.

excellent.......2002-05-23

almost all classical is excellent. that's all i have to say about that.