Baermann: School of Romantic Clarinet Playing Book 1

Advantages: Great music, fantastic value for money and fine performance
Disadvantages: Onepiece with slightly overbearing clarinettist...?

...not previously know, and I'm really glad that I have been able to discover it through this disc. Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Octet in F major, D803: One of Beethoven's friends, pupils and patrons was the Austrian Archduke Rudolph (of Archduke Trio fame...) He maintained a household with several very musical employees including Count Ferdinand Troyer who was also a fine clarinettist. Realising the popularity of Beethoven's Septet, Troyer approached Franz Schubert and asked him to compose a similar work. Schubert came up with his Octet - scored for 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, bassoon and horn. Amazingly he composed the entire work between 24th February and 1st March 1824, with the premiere being given in Count Ferdinand 's Viennese apartment soon after. Count Ferdinand played the first clarinet part and in a nice link up... Read review

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Advantages: Remixed, remastered, extended and bonus cues
Disadvantages: Moog synthesisers...disco beats

..., and you can then enjoy the nice and dramatic discovery of the sunken St Georges. Great bit of brass, and from there on it's quite a traditional sounding Bond number. 10. For Your Eyes Only. A mellow, romantic reprise of the theme tune, played out on strings and piano, with a flugelhorn solo. Perfectly pleasant, while nowhere close to being in the same league as Barrys scoring for romantic moments. 11. Cortina. A nice cue from Conti, starting out as a light hearted introduction to the island of Cortina, before descending into a more sinister cue. Conti unwisely replaces traditional Greek instruments with synthesised versions. 12. The PM Gets the Bird/For Your Eyes Only Reprise. Completely daft cue from the end of the movie, as we have the traditional Moore-era humourous ending. Here Conti scores a phone conversation with the PM as if she... Read review

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Advantages: One of the best versions I've Heard
Disadvantages: Other pieces on cd are just thrown in t

...This is one of the world's most famous pieces of music in its best form. How did I get to this conclusion? Well let's start by splitting the composition up.... Section 1: Intro and main theme Section 2: Variation of main theme Section 3: Rag Time Piano section Section 4: Romantic Strings Section 5: Return of main theme and finale Gershwin was often criticised by his piers for this piece with comments of its repetition and lack of imagination. I feel that, although it does repeat a lot, this piece explores dynamic and timbre to very exciting levels leaving the listener with a mediocre piece if badly performed or an amazing emotional and visual piece if performed well. Sections 1 and 2: We start by hearing this intoxicating trill on the clarinet that slides into the first rendition of the main theme. The tone of the player... Read review

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