Gurn's Classical Corner

[Brian]

I've just been listening to these



And they're lovely! Gosh, what cheery, sunny-day music. And especially as it in fact is a sunny day in London Town, this is really hitting the spot. Anything else by Jiri Benda I should look into? He seems a most genial companion.

[Gurn Blanston]

Hey, Brian. Glad you've discovered Benda. That selfsame disk was MY introduction to him too. As you say, great music to simply enjoy. A Bohemian trait that he possessed in abundance.

Benda was actually quite well-known in his time, mainly as a composer of church music and as the inventor of what would become German singspiel. Mozart writes enthusiastically to his father about wanting to write a 'melodram' after hearing one of Benda's the evening before.

My collection of his music is unfortunately humble. In addition to that disk of yours, I have these 3:
. I have seen somewhere a disk of his violin sonatas, but haven't got them yet, sad to say. Anyway, the feeling you got from the sinfonias is pretty much a universal trait in the music of his that I've heard so far.



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Now playing:
L'Estro Armonico / Solomons - Hob 01 058 Symphony in F 4th mvmt - Finale: Presto

[SonicMan46]

Hi, Leon. That set is not just good, but excellent.

Fortunately, now it's widely available thanks to Nimbus Records:

 

Hi Antoine & Gurn - now I own a number of versions of the Mozart Wind Concerti, including the 2-CD bargain inserted above; but nearly all are on modern instruments (except for Koster & Tafelmusik) - this Nimbus 3-disc set looks like an excellent PI choice - thanks all for bringing these recordings to my attention! 

[SonicMan46]

I have a special preference for Wolfie when he composed for wind instruments. Right now, I am listening to this wonderful 2-CD set:

 

Strongly recommended.

I love these Woflie windy compositions - a while back I was able to pick up the Vegh 10-CD set at a bargain price, but cannot remember the source at the moment or the price - the music is excellent! Just saw that the set has been re-issued yet again - at least at MDT HERE at a good price!

[Antoine Marchand]

Is it just me or that picture on the cover of the Nimbus set produces a strange sensation of "inverse" vertigo? 

[SonicMan46]

Cambini, Giuseppe Maria (c.1745-c.1825) - first, I have NOTHING in my collection of this Italian composer who was a contemporary of Boccherini, but left Italy for Paris rather than Spain.

In the Nov-Dec issue of Fanfare, Jerry Dubins is giving a 'thumbs up' to a recording of Cambini's String Quintets (using 2 cellos); the same disc received a 4* solo review on Amazon HERE; in the latter, the statement is made that this composer wrote 174 String Quartets & 114 String Quintets - astounding!  I'm assuming these numbers are in the liner notes?

Well, this has certainly peaked my curiosity - Boccherini's twin brother, perhaps? 

Any comments or recommended recordings (how many even exist? how many works are extant?) - 

[Antoine Marchand]

All this discussion about compositions for wind instruments recalled to me this recording:



"Mozart & The Bohemians - Dances, airs & divertissements" - by Vanerovsky, Domaschek, Druzecky, Salieri - K617 145 (released in 2003).

The concept is similar to a disc of Gilles Thomé called "Wolfang Amadeus Mozart - Une Soirée chez les Jacquin".

Le Trio di Bassetto
Jean-Claude Veilhan, clarinette et cor de basset, verres musiciaux
Éric Lorho, cor de basset, chant, verres musicaux
Jean-louis Gauch, cor de basset, verres musicaux et ses invités
Philippe De Deyne, cor de basset - Michèle Claude, percussions

(clarinet, basset horn & glass armonica)

August-September 1791. Mozart returns to Prague unaware that he has less than four months to live. He has brought Anton Stadler with him to play the superb solos written for him in the premiere of La Clemenza di Tito at the National Theatre. Right now the Bohemian capital is in festive mood!

This CD evokes his last day there, as Stadler and his local friends tour the joyful city, enlivening a dance , playing in a bandstand, joining in a singsong in a tavern and, after nightfall, gathering around Wolfgang in the Dusek house for a musical party to bid the composer farewell. In addition to Mozart's own compositions, we discover the little known yet joyously effervescent works of his Bohemian friends brimming over with verve and truculence.

A day in Prague with dancing and singing. With weeping too as the last glasses are set down and used to play the deeply moving Adagio for glass armonica

.

An excerpt HERE.



P.S.: This is the only disc performed by Le Trio di Bassetto that I have, but apparently they have another interesting recordings:

- Mozart / Stadler: "Divertimenti sur les Noces de Figaro" - K617 060       

- Mozart: "5 Divertimenti pour 3 cordes de basset K439b" - K617 072 (released in 1997)

- Mozart: "La Flûte enchantée" - K617 097 (recorded and released in 1999)

- "Mozart, Prague: Les dernières vendanges" - K617 167 (released in 2005)

[Gurn Blanston]

Antoine,
As it turns out, I have some of those disks. They are a nice corner of my collection. I have always been fond of 'themed' albums, and these fit well with that Thomé disk you mention. The 'Prague' and 'Bohemia' disks are a set, not all the music is Mozart, some of it is also by Bohemian composers, and it was my introduction to some of those names.

K 617 recordings are difficult to turn up in the Western Hemisphere, although I think our European friends might have a good chance at them.



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Now playing:
Wispelway (Cello) \ Lazic (Piano) - Op 005 #1 Sonata in F for Cello & Piano 1st mvmt pt 2 -  Allegro

[SonicMan46]

Just obtained the 3-CD Nimbus set of the Mozart Complete Wind Concertos on PIs w/ the American Classical Orchestra - WHAT a wonderful collection of performances!  All were of interest to me and a highly recommended collection of these superlative works by Wolfie - 

But, WHAT really gained my attention were the Horn Concertos - I just love the 'valve-less' natural horn (have Ab Koster on this instrument - a FAV!) - on this collection the 'horn' is played by R.J. Kelly, who uses a natural horn apparently re-built by Lowell Greer, 1993 - well this was intriguing but what does it mean?

So, I found Mr. Greer in Toledo (my birthplace in 1946!) - we've exchanged a couple of e-mails and he sent me another re-constructed horn that he has used on his own recordings - in fact, I just ordered his performances of the same works from Amazon (pic below on right) - Lowell was gracious to send me a half dozen images of his current horn (against the red background) - amazing that these valve-less horns can even be played!  Plus, the art work is astounding - the pics not included show the different crooks that change the keys for the horn.

Now the horn that Greer reconstructed for Kelley on the recordings under discussion was different from his comments to me - I've attached a file for those who may be interested.

Well, a rather long post but this is just so fascinating that I wanted to share - and to have such a gracious horn player respond to me in multiple e-mails was a delight - a really look forward to hear his own performances of these works by Mozart - 


 

 

[Gurn Blanston]

Just obtained the 3-CD Nimbus set of the Mozart Complete Wind Concertos on PIs w/ the American Classical Orchestra - WHAT a wonderful collection of performances!  All were of interest to me and a highly recommended collection of these superlative works by Wolfie - 

But, WHAT really gained my attention were the Horn Concertos - I just love the 'valve-less' natural horn (have Ab Koster on this instrument - a FAV!) - on this collection the 'horn' is played by R.J. Kelly, who uses a natural horn apparently re-built by Lowell Greer, 1993 - well this was intriguing but what does it mean?

So, I found Mr. Greer in Toledo (my birthplace in 1946!) - we've exchanged a couple of e-mails and he sent me another re-constructed horn that he has used on his own recordings - in fact, I just ordered his performances of the same works from Amazon (pic below on right) - Lowell was gracious to send me a half dozen images of his current horn (against the red background) - amazing that these valve-less horns can even be played!  Plus, the art work is astounding - the pics not included show the different crooks that change the keys for the horn.

Now the horn that Greer reconstructed for Kelley on the recordings under discussion was different from his comments to me - I've attached a file for those who may be interested.

Well, a rather long post but this is just so fascinating that I wanted to share - and to have such a gracious horn player respond to me in multiple e-mails was a delight - a really look forward to hear his own performances of these works by Mozart - 


 

 

That's cool, Dave, that you were able to establish a dialog with Mr. Greer! FYI, his disk was my very first PI horn concertos, because at the time I couldn't find Koster to start with, and M told me that Greer/Mcgegan might be better. I think it's excellent, tough choices there.

Anyway, beyond the horn concerti, the Flute & Harp Concerto in there is my favorite version of that work. I'll be honest and say that neither flute nor harp is my favorite instrument, and on most recordings   A> the flute is too shrill and B> I can't even hear the damned harp even if I DID like it... But this one is really good, a nice, mellow real wooden flute and a well-played harp that I can actually hear.

Anyway, enjoy that box; I've been doing for 5 or 6 years now.




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Now playing:
Franco Mezzena (Violin) - Viotti G 105 Concerto #24 in b for Violin 1st mvmt - Maestoso

[DavidW]

No love for either instrument Gurn!   No love for CPE Bach Flute sonatas and concertos?  No love for Spohr's Violin and Harp sonatas?  Oh well more for me.

[karlhenning]

Hard to think I should like period bassoons . . . .

[DavidW]

Hard to think I should like period bassoons . . . .

It would be perfect addition to your next composition.  Honk! Honk!

[Gurn Blanston]

Hard to think I should like period bassoons . . . .

Actually, Karl, they have a lovely sound. More mellow than modern ones. If there is a drawback, it is that on some instruments you can hear the pads 'slap' when they close. Doesn't bother me, but I can imagine that others would be like "? WTF?" 

[Que]

I probably should add this to my shopping list ...

Stuart - Georg Benda is certainly worth exploring - I would 'second' Que's recommendation of the harpsichord disc - 

It looks attractive. How do you like it, Q?

I have a great impression about Benda's music because I have had for a number of years his complete keyboard sonatas, performed by Sylvia Georgieva on Praga Digitals. Even some years ago I uploaded one track on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/v/knvj_pNsRpY 

Jiří Antonín Benda (1722-1795), Keyboard Sonatas (Complete recording, 4 cds), Praga Digitals.
Sylvia Georgieva, harpsichord.
German double-manual harpsichord after Michael Mietke, copy 2005

I like the CPO issue with a selection of Georg (Jiří Antonín) Benda's harpsichord concertos very much: it has drive and invention, has an airy and upbeat feel to it. It is perfect "transitional" (Baroque-Classical) music, compares best to CPE Bach. The performances are wonderful, very intimate.

Note that the Czech label Arta has two issues with concertos, I haven't heard them.




I also have that wonderful issue with Benda's keyboard sonatas, played on the harpsichord. That was to my a real find and eye opener - a must have for anyone interested in the period. Music of integrity and true originality.



My earlier comments HERE.

Q

[Leon]

Johann Wilhelm Hertel (9 October 1727 – 14 June 1789) was a German composer, harpsichord and violin player.

Hertel wrote a great number of symphonies, solo concertos, harpsichord sonatas, songs, hymns, cantatas and oratorios. He is considered an important representative of the 'emotional style' of the German pre-classic.

That is from Wikipedia - I'm listening right  now to this disc:

Classical Trumpet Concertos



And the Hertel selction is really nice.

[SonicMan46]

 

The 4-CD set w/ Georgieva is still available from BRO HERE for just $24, where I made a purchase some time last year; also own the CPO disc which is excellent - nice Benda introductions! 

[SonicMan46]

 

Wolfie on period instruments - I received the disc of Lowell Greer playing the 'natural horn' (posted earlier in this thread w/ pics of one of his horns) - I believe that now my collection is up to 3 recordings of these works (DavidW - cannot understand your dislike for this instrument but as said there is SO MUCH to love & enjoy in classical music) - I've not compared my Ab Koster disc on the horn to this recent acquisition, but I must say that either would be a great introduction!

Dinner music tonight was yet again another Mozart favorite, i.e. his clarinet chamber works (also love the concerto!) - this time Charles Neidich on a 'basset clarinet' w/ the always wonderful L'Archibudelli (Anner Bylsma on the cello), plus Robert Levin on a fortepiano in the appropriate works.

BOY!  I'm a very historic type of person who envisions themselves living in the times that this music was performed - these recordings certainly add to that feeling (of course, I'd want modern medical care -  ) - 

[Gurn Blanston]

My Benda collection, Dave:



As I do with many Bohemian composers of the era, I am quite delighted with Benda's music. He always has that little surprise waiting, not predictable like some. Quite influential in his time too.



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Now playing:
Radio Chamber Orchestra \ de Vriend  Bart Schneeman (Oboe) - Lebrun: Concerto #4 in Bb for Oboe 2nd mvmt - Adagio

[DavidW]

(DavidW - cannot understand your dislike for this instrument but as said there is SO MUCH to love & enjoy in classical music) - I've not compared my Ab Koster disc on the horn to this recent acquisition, but I must say that either would be a great introduction!

Huh?   I don't remember ever saying that I dislike the natural horn.  And I really like Ab Koster's recording.