Bach, CPE; Graf; Haydn: Concerti brillanti

Advantages: Good tuba muisc
Disadvantages: None

...The tuba has generally been ignored as a solo instrument, and although it enjoyed some success in Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and the operas of Wagner, it didnt really emerge as a solo instrument until the 20th century. However, recently the tuba's potential as a soloist has been realised through the children's tale, Tubby the Tuba, where the whole point of the story is to highlight the fact that most peoploe would not think the tuba of being capable in taking a soloistic role, but the fact that it can take this role, and take it extremely successfully is shown here in this CD with these four Tuba Concerti, that were all written in the years after Tubby the Tuba. The first Tuba Concerto on the CD is Tuba Concerto (1978) by Edward Gregson. 1 - Allegro deciso 2 - Lento e mesto 3 - Allegro giocoso This concerto begins with a fanfare... Read review

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Advantages: Pleasant melodies, good structure
Disadvantages: not terribly adventurous in harmony

...Franz Joseph Haydn's music is interesting as it is pleasant to listen to. Although he is actually Austrian, most of Haydn's music was written in Hungary for Prince Esterhazy's twice weekly dinner parties. Which meant that many of Haydn's symphonies and string quartets were written in less than four days - quite an achievement, when you consider the length of time his contemporaries spent writing similar works. Haydn wrote and conducted high standard early classical style classics for a small group of musicians who were employed by the Prince. And it is in many of Haydn's pieces that we can begin to have an insight into the life of him and his musicians. For example, the "Surprise Symphony" was written with the party gusts in mind. It begins in a plodding, slow mesmerising rhythm, which the already bloated and drowsy guests would... Read review

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Advantages: Top performance of range of virtuoso piano works
Disadvantages: A little too much virtuosity to listen to all in one sitting

...Alkan, Busoni, Feinberg, Godowsky, Medtner, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, and Sorabji have come to be known as the "Eight Composer Pianists" along with the performer, Marc-Andre Hamelin, who is the ninth. Each of them wrote music requiring the most amazing level of virtuosity to perform it. The obvious danger here is that of virtuosity for its own sake, and some of Hamelin's performances of his own compositions suffer from this, especially Etude No 10, based on the famous Chopin "Black Keys" Etude. Hamelin's Prelude and Fugue is also more suited to display than enjoyable listening. On the other hand, the Bach Schubler Chorale arranged by Feinberg captures the dignity of Bach's music in a thoroughly pianistic manner, without any sense of display. The Alkan transcription of Haydn's Andante from Symphony No 94 (the "Surprise... Read review

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