Topic: Gurn's Classical Corner

[Gurn Blanston]

Hi Gurn - thanks for the recommendations - about through w/ my Hoffmeister listening - finishing w/ the Wind Serenades w/ Klocker and team!

Yesterday while on BRO, I ordered 3 more Hoffmeister CDs (one a double-disc), first ones shown below, then added a Naxos disc from Amazon, all w/ excellent Fanfare reviews (can post for those who may be interested) - so, a rather 'inexpensive' purchase spree -   Dave

P.S. Bro also had a 3rd V. of the piano sonatas w/ the same performer - decided two was enough -

     

Yeah, I was late to the party!    Tell me, are those sonata disks on pianoforte (fortepiano) or on modern piano? If on fortepiano, I will snap them up myself. I have a few disks on Grand Piano (Turk's sonatas, for example) and they are really quite good.

Cheers,

[SonicMan46]

Yeah, I was late to the party!    Tell me, are those sonata disks on pianoforte (fortepiano) or on modern piano? If on fortepiano, I will snap them up myself. I have a few disks on Grand Piano (Turk's sonatas, for example) and they are really quite good.

Cheers,

Hi Gurn - I've attached the 3 Fanfare reviews and the recordings are listed as (pn), so assume a modern piano; plus, reading the reviews yesterday before my purchase, I don't remember that the type of piano was mentioned (but may have missed it?) - also here is the Grand Piano website - my brief perusal does not reveal PI vs. MI for the piano although I've not looked thoroughly - hope this helps (a little).  Dave

[JBS]

Hi Gurn - I've attached the 3 Fanfare reviews and the recordings are listed as (pn), so assume a modern piano; plus, reading the reviews yesterday before my purchase, I don't remember that the type of piano was mentioned (but may have missed it?) - also here is the Grand Piano website - my brief perusal does not reveal PI vs. MI for the piano although I've not looked thoroughly - hope this helps (a little).  Dave

The trailer for volume 1 shows her playing a Steinway.

My impression of Grand Piano is that all their releases are on modern piano, no matter who the composer might be,

[Gurn Blanston]

The trailer for volume 1 shows her playing a Steinway.

My impression of Grand Piano is that all their releases are on modern piano, no matter who the composer might be,

I know you would think that, but the Turk sonatas say 'piano' but they are on fortepiano. I'm not where I could dig out the disk right now, but I would remember if they weren't (well, I wouldn't have bought them).  It would be so easy to just tell you up front. Equally so if you DIDN'T want fortepiano! 

[Gurn Blanston]

Hi Gurn - I've attached the 3 Fanfare reviews and the recordings are listed as (pn), so assume a modern piano; plus, reading the reviews yesterday before my purchase, I don't remember that the type of piano was mentioned (but may have missed it?) - also here is the Grand Piano website - my brief perusal does not reveal PI vs. MI for the piano although I've not looked thoroughly - hope this helps (a little).  Dave

Thanks, Dave. Doing the research now. BRO is useless for such things. They have a Vanhal disk on GP that is equally interesting, but also only says 'piano'...

[SonicMan46]

Thanks, Dave. Doing the research now. BRO is useless for such things. They have a Vanhal disk on GP that is equally interesting, but also only says 'piano'...

Well, the BRO order arrived yesterday and now listening to the Hoffmeister recordings below (I've re-attached the reviews and included one on the clarinet sonatas).  Concerning Biliana Tzinlikova in the solo keyboard works, the booklets simply state 'Piano', although the pics included have her next to a modern piano - the sound of the instrument certainly is modern, but she plays in a more classical mode w/ little use of the pedals to my ears.  Interestingly, she is on the faculty at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg (LINK), so likely quite use to performing on different keyboard instruments; the works on her first two CDs are all from the 1790s, thus 'why not use' a fortepiano?  An email address is listed in that link - could send her a brief note (have been pretty lucky in getting responses from artists)?

The 2-CD set of Clarinet/Piano Sonatas is well done (the attached review is actually of two competing recordings coming out at a similar time - unusual for this accelerated interest in Franz Anton?) - Claudia Bracco plays a Steinway piano; Luigi Magistrelli performs on 3 different clarinets (C, B Flat, & A - mostly on the C), from the first half of the 20th century, i.e. 1916, 1930, & 1956 - SO, if the music is of interest to you, not period instruments.  Happy 'hunting' @ BRO!  Dave

   

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, the BRO order arrived yesterday and now listening to the Hoffmeister recordings below (I've re-attached the reviews and included one on the clarinet sonatas).  Concerning Biliana Tzinlikova in the solo keyboard works, the booklets simply state 'Piano', although the pics included have her next to a modern piano - the sound of the instrument certainly is modern, but she plays in a more classical mode w/ little use of the pedals to my ears.  Interestingly, she is on the faculty at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg (LINK), so likely quite use to performing on different keyboard instruments; the works on her first two CDs are all from the 1790s, thus 'why not use' a fortepiano?  An email address is listed in that link - could send her a brief note (have been pretty lucky in getting responses from artists)?

The 2-CD set of Clarinet/Piano Sonatas is well done (the attached review is actually of two competing recordings coming out at a similar time - unusual for this accelerated interest in Franz Anton?) - Claudia Bracco plays a Steinway piano; Luigi Magistrelli performs on 3 different clarinets (C, B Flat, & A - mostly on the C), from the first half of the 20th century, i.e. 1916, 1930, & 1956 - SO, if the music is of interest to you, not period instruments.  Happy 'hunting' @ BRO!  Dave

   

Thanks for that info, Dave. One thing I have learned over the years of trying to make informed judgments about instruments used: if they don't talk about the instruments, then they are modern. PI people are proud to let you know what they were playing that day. MI people don't seem to care. Hell, even if I was an MI person, I would still want to know what kind of piano you played!   Just like Badura-Skoda, when he played a modern piano (which he did surprisingly often) he would tell you that it was nearly always an Imperial Bösendorfer. A hell of a piano in its own right, but I digress...

[SonicMan46]

Jadin, Hyacinthe (1776-1800) - Solo KB Sonatas, String Quartets & String Trios w/ the performers shown below - this short-lived French composer (died at 24 y/o from tuberculosis) has been discussed before in this thread but almost 10 years ago - looked back on my posts then and have virtually the same recordings; the KB Sonatas are on fortepianos - the Fuller is a 3-disc set that was an MP3 DL for me - just checked Amazon and not much new has appeared.  Reviews attached of some of the CDs shown.  Dave


     

[SonicMan46]

Kozeluch, Leopold (1747-1818) - Bohemian composer, pianist, and teacher who moved to Vienna in 1778, spending the rest of his life there as a popular musical figure - held a number of royal appointments including replacing Mozart as the court composer.  He lived a long life and was a prolific composer in many genres - see quote below from the link given. 

As usual, a 'forgotten' composer after his death who is seeing somewhat of a 're-birth' - I own about 10 discs shown below (note 4 of his symphonies are part of a box w/ others included - no duplication w/ the Bamert recording; plus, Naxos seems to have started a series - but I enjoy his chamber and keyboard works more); will be looking on Amazon for any new/replacements.  Dave

The classical composer Leopold Koželuch left around 400 compositions. Among these there are about thirty symphonies, twenty-two piano concertos, including a concerto for piano four-hands, two clarinet concertos, twenty-four violin sonatas, sixty-three piano trios, six string quartets, two oratorios, nine cantatas and various liturgical works. Among his music there are also operas and works for ballet, which—with the exception of one opera —have yet to be heard in recent years. Koželuch's substantial output of keyboard compositions reflected the promotion of his reputation as a specialist keyboard virtuoso. By contrast, the musicologist Allan Badley labels Koželuch's symphonic compositions as "modest by the standards of the time". His works are currently cataloged using Poštolka numbers, after the work of the musicologist Milan Poštolka. (Source)

     

       

[SonicMan46]

Kozeluch - Fortepiano Sonatas - Brilliant is about to release V. 3 of Jenny Kim's recordings of the keyboard sonatas; her first 2 volumes totaled 4 discs (Sonatas 1-16); this next release will contain 4 discs (Sonatas 17-33) listed at a bargain price on Amazon USA.  Now, the label Grand Piano has released 12 CDs of the composer's complete KB sonata cycle (about 50 works) from 2013-2018 w/ Kemp English also on fortepiano - these are available individually (first & last shown below), so a MAJOR investment - just sent Grand Piano an email asking about plans to put the dozen discs in an inexpensive box - anxious for a response - I listened to his Vs.1/2 on Spotify this morning and was impressed - but either set will do; if I receive a NO answer, then will likely purchase the upcoming Brilliant release.  Anyone listening to these recordings - comparative comments?  Dave
.
   

ADDENDUM: (Apr 16) - well, I heard from Grand Piano about the Kemp English CDs - willing to give me a bulk discount (did not want single jewel boxes, so did not ask 'how much'), but no plans to box them into a much slimmer package.  Thus, I decided to order the new Jenny Kim V. 3 which has 4 CDs for $13 + S/H - quote below of the Amazon description of the set.

Leopold Koeluch (1747-1818) was a Bohemian composer-pianist who moved to Vienna in 1778, three years before Mozart settled there. The sonatas (49 in total) share qualities with the work of his teacher Dussek, and Burneys contemporary assessment of Kozeluchs music stands true today: natural, graceful and flowing, without imitating any great model, as almost all his contemporaries have done. His modulation is natural and pleasing His rhythm is well phrased, his accents well placed, and harmony pure. Volume 3 covers Sonatas Nos.17-33, written between 1785 and 1791. No less than Haydns work in the genre, they invent ever-new and imaginative forms. The two-movement No.18 contrasts a gentle set of variations with a dashing Allegro; the three-movement No.19 in F minor opens with a grave slow movement introducing a passionate, exploratory Allegro agitato; the A major No.20 returns to the free-spirited pastoral idiom of Kozeluchs background, with a lilting opening Allegro, a reflective but smiling Adagio and freewheeling finale. Such variety of form and temperament continues throughout the collection. Jenny Soonjin Kim plays with an almost Baroque flair well-fitting of the music The period treatment that Kim brings to the kozeluch Koeluch sonatas gives them a crisp texture and very nearly tactile character... Kim's performance is commanding and authoritative. The sonics are superb an inspired and inspiring collection. (All About Jazz, reviewing volume 1) Kims playing is crystalline and lyrical, with exquisitely sensitive phrasing. She is an assured virtuoso who interprets Koeluchs music beautifully. This set will interest pianists who would like to augment their repertoire with unknown gems from the period. (Early Music America) On this album Jenny Soonjin Kim plays a modern German copy of an Anton Walter fortepiano made in Vienna in 1795. (Source Amazon)

[SonicMan46]

Mozart & Beethoven Piano Wind Quintets, Op. 452 & Op. 16, respectively.  Over the decades, I have culled/replaced these works several times or more - now own the 3 sets below (also have a Gaudier Ensemble disc of Wolfie's wind chamber works w/ the Quintet).

The Musica Omnia recording is the only one w/ fortepiano - so, question about other 'period instrument' favorites of these two works?  Dave

     

[JBS]

There are these two on Amazon. I haven't heard either.

[Il Gardellino on Accent]

Also one with Robert Levin that seems to OOP.

I was going to suggest a CD from Brilliant, but I had forgot that it's an MI recording (Klara Wurtz/Netherlands Wind Soloists)

[Gurn Blanston]

These are the 4 I've hung on to. None of them suck, and for various reasons, not least that there are some first-rate players in all of them. Sound quality is pretty consistent, maybe (?) the Octophoros has a bit rawer sound than the others, but it may help more than hurt. I'll tell you though, if you could take a player from each wind group and match them up with the keyboardist of your choice, you would have a hell of a band!

[SonicMan46]

Thanks Guys - seems to be some good choices; Gurn - I had the Helicon Winds and culled it out when I added and preferred the Penelope Crawford recording - will certainly review the others - Dave

ADDENDUM:  Well, I'm currently listening to the Ensemble Dialoghi on Spotify (streaming to my good speakers) - a wonderful performance, although I'd like the fortepiano (played by the gal in the 2nd pic below) to be a little more forward and louder - winds seem to 'drown out' the keyboard in most of these PI recordings, IMO - but I must say that this likely is one of the better PI choices (possibly topping my Penelope Crawford CD - would have to do a comparison, however) - attached are two excellent reviews, for those interested - should I buy the physical disc, DL an MP3 for 10 bucks, or just put a playlist together on Spotify?  Dave

P.S. I must admit that the cover art on the CD is bizarre (apparently explained in the booklet notes according to one or more of the reviews).

 

[SonicMan46]

..........
Pichl, Vaclav (1741-1805) - String Trios, Op. 7, N. 1-6 (2-discs) w/ Ensemble Agora; my set is stated to be on the Fermate label rather than the one shown below on Audite (apparently the two merged and are using the latter name, so same recording).

Pichl was a virtuoso violinst who arrived in Vienna in 1769, and apparently impressed Maria Theresia, who recommended him to a post in Milan; thus, an Italian interlude until his return to Vienna where he died in 1805.  As expected, string chamber music was a large part of his output, and his compositions include 18 SQs, 15 String Duos (violin & viola), 45 String Trios, and likely more?  Little of his work is available on Amazon and I assume much remains unrecorded (and/or lost?), unfortunately......................... (edited - shortened)

   

Poor Pichl - not much in the Classical Corner on this Czech composer who died in Vienna - back in 2012, I left the post above (edited) w/ just the one pic of the 2-disc Audite set of String Trios; back then I soon added the Bamert Symphony disc, and also have the Dittersdorf bio book on my iPad which I re-read in January - Ditters and Pichl were good friends and there is much in the book about the latter.

Pichl was a prolific composer - shown below an incomplete list of his works (Source) - my additions (in blue) from the Symphony booklet, adding numerous works from other genres; also, his 'Symphonies' were apparently in a mess and Anita Zakin put together a thematic catalog w/ the numbers shown (and hence the Z. numbering sometimes used).  Today looking on Amazon, there is not a whole lot more available, i.e. another Naxos Symphony disc of the pieces named after the Greek muses (except Diana) and a Clarinet Quartet disc (Op. 16 works on the list from the back cover description).  Dave

   

[SonicMan46]

Platti, Giovanni (1697-1763) - now listening to my small collection of Platti's music (just 6 discs - 1 a double, shown below) - I noticed that he has not been discussed in this thread except for a post back in 2011, plus as an early transitional composer, i.e. Baroque-Early Classical (hopefully appropriate for this thread) - his keyboard music, especially when played on fortepiano anticipated some of the changes in that genre into the galant style and later.  I particularly like the first two CDs shown, i.e. the Epoca Barocca are excellent in these works (of course w/ the wonderful Azzolini on bassoon!).

In the Concerti per il Cembalo Obligato, Luca Guglielmi is performing on an outstanding sounding fortepiano, a copy by Kerstin Schwarz, 1997 after a 1726 original made none other than by Bartolomeo Cristofori - indeed, worth a listen; reviews of four of the recordings below are attached, along w/ a list of Platti's compositions cataloged by Alberto Iesuè (Wiki source).  Dave

Giovanni Benedetto Platti was born in Padua or Venice in 1692 or 1697. He was musically educated in Venice. His teachers were most probably Francesco Gasparini, Vivaldi, Lotti and indeed Albinoni and the Marcello brothers. There is no significant information about his life before he came to Würzburg in 1722 together with a group of Italian musicians. Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn who was Prince-Bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg was deeply preoccupied with Italian music and wanted to expand the music at court. He employed a number of foreign musicians, mostly Italians. Together with Platti six further Italian musicians were employed in 1722. After the sudden death of the Prince-Bishop in 1724, conditions for the musicians at court deteriorated. The number of musicians was considerably reduced, and only two of the Italian musicians could stay on. In 1723 Platti married the soprano Maria Theresia Lambrucker. She was also employed at court. When Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, brother of Johann Philipp, was elected new Prince-Bishop in 1729, conditions improved. Platti stayed in Würzburg until his death in 1763. His wife gave birth to at least ten children. She died in 1752.

Platti was “Oboist, Violinist und Tenorist”. A list of the court musicians from 1730 shows that “Virtuos Platti” was the best paid musician, and continued to be so, despite changes of monarch. He earned twice as much as the “Kapellmeister”. Platti’s position at court was unique. He was involved in chamber and church music and served as oboist and violinist. Later on he was assigned other tasks, including pedagogical ones. Platti was no doubt a virtuoso. As a composer Platti is renowned for his harpsichord sonatas, numerous pieces for cello and his church music. His work has distinct pre-classical features, associated with composers such as Haydn. His melodious imagination and lively, elegant style are apparent. (Source)

   

   

[SonicMan46]

Reposted from the listening thread today - new arrivals and apropos to several recent posts here - Dave

Pichl, Vaclav (1741-1805) - Clarinet Quartets w/ Jiri Krejci on period clarinet(s) - details of the instrument not given; disc contains 3 quartets by Pichl, a short allegro movement by Mozart, and an anonymous movement (latter take up about 15 mins. on disc).

Kozeluch, Leopold (1747-1818) - Keyboard Sonatas, V. 3 w/ Jenny Kim on fortepiano (by Michael Walker, Germany, 1987, after Anton Walter, Vienna, 1795) - super bargain, i.e. 4 discs (in a 2-CD jewel box) w/ 18 sonatas - one more of the same number might complete her project?  Both new arrivals - Dave

 

[Gurn Blanston]

Reposted from the listening thread today - new arrivals and apropos to several recent posts here - Dave

Pichl, Vaclav (1741-1805) - Clarinet Quartets w/ Jiri Krejci on period clarinet(s) - details of the instrument not given; disc contains 3 quartets by Pichl, a short allegro movement by Mozart, and an anonymous movement (latter take up about 15 mins. on disc).

Kozeluch, Leopold (1747-1818) - Keyboard Sonatas, V. 3 w/ Jenny Kim on fortepiano (by Michael Walker, Germany, 1987, after Anton Walter, Vienna, 1795) - super bargain, i.e. 4 discs (in a 2-CD jewel box) w/ 18 sonatas - one more of the same number might complete her project?  Both new arrivals - Dave

 

I could see myself enjoying both of those disks. I do have a bit of Kozeluch fortepiano music, certainly wouldn't mind adding to it. He was very good at it, in fact he was solid competition for Mozart in Vienna at the time. And Pichl is, well, Pichl!  At least 1 or 2 of his symphonies were played by Salomon/Haydn's orchestra in London during the 1st tour. So he wasn't just a local phenomenon.

[SonicMan46]

I could see myself enjoying both of those disks. I do have a bit of Kozeluch fortepiano music, certainly wouldn't mind adding to it. He was very good at it, in fact he was solid competition for Mozart in Vienna at the time. And Pichl is, well, Pichl!  At least 1 or 2 of his symphonies were played by Salomon/Haydn's orchestra in London during the 1st tour. So he wasn't just a local phenomenon.

Hi Gurn - the Pichl Clarinet Quartets are excellent w/ good up-front sound - the disc contains 65 mins of music w/ 50 mins dedicated to the quartets - here's the Arta Website in the Czech Republic - the link shows the disc's contents plus the booklet notes written by Jiří Krejčí, the clarinet performer.  The site is charging about $11 USD for the disc (I paid $15 for a used copy on the Amazon MP - played fine today) - have no idea about the S/H charge across the pond?

At the moment, I'm listening to the 2nd disc of Jenny Kim playing the Kozeluch Sonatas - the link in the quote below has audio snippets, but I must say that they are a little tinny vs. my den speakers, i.e. sound is MUCH better - her fortepiano has a deeper sound w/ the recording likely 'up close' - I don't hear any mechanical noises from the instrument nor any breathing from her (things that tend to annoy me, sorry if you're a fan?) - V. 3 is available on Spotify if you use that service?  I'm assuming that she will complete the project (another 16 or 17 sonatas) which would fit on another 4-disc offering.  Dave

Leopold Kozeluch (1747-1818) was in his time a highly regarded, even famous composer, on a par with C.P.E. Bach and even Mozart. His keyboard sonatas, although relatively modest in length, share the same qualities with those of his illustrious contemporaries: strong focus on melody and melodious figuration, vivid and brilliant accompaniments and a genuine expression of feeling, both happy and dramatic. His 50 keyboard sonatas are a true treasure trove of hidden “pianistic” gems! The sonatas in this new set clearly show an evolving, advanced style in terms of dramatic expression and complexity, as well as certain melodic and harmonic characteristics also found in the keyboard works of Mozart, Beethoven and even Schubert.  An international artist who regularly performs music ranging from Bach to Schoenberg in major venues across Europe, Asia and North America, Jenny Soonjin Kim is also a faculty member at Claremont Graduate University in California, where she teaches piano and fortepiano. It is her keen interest in scholarship – particularly historical performance practice – that led to her discovery of Kozeluch. The booklet contains excellent liner notes written by Robert Zappulla. (Source)

[Gurn Blanston]

Thanks for that info, Dave. I expect I will have those soon. Here is the Kozeluch sonatas I have: Faron is a first rate fortepianist, I have a nice Haydn disk by her too.



I know another online seller in Prague who might have that Pichl disk available, since it is a Czech disk. Oddly enough, they are called Online Seller... well, almost. But they are an AMP seller, so I can get good shipping price there. $4 (cheap).