Martinu/Schnittke: Concertos for Two Pianos

Advantages: One of the most Romantic concertos around, full of beautiful melodies and passion
Disadvantages: over-recorded

...INTRODUCTION Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was one of the most promising composers emerging from Russia after Tchaikovsky. His early works included the youthfully energetic Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op.1, an orchestral fantasia The Rock, the opera Aleko, several songs, piano pieces (including the famous Prelude in C sharp minor, a work that would plague Rachmaninov with its popularity throughout his life) and the First Symphony in D minor, Op.13. Rachmaninov had high hopes for the latter; it was his magnum opus up until that time. However the symphony proved to be the biggest disappointment of his career, causing a tremendous crisis in his creative life. All the critics jumped on the work, most notably César Cui who compared it with the Seven Plagues of Egypt and condemned the work as modernist trash. The effect... Read review

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Advantages: Beautifully hypnotic music from the master of floating ambient piano
Disadvantages: It is a very short CD indeed

...Effortlessly graceful and dreamlike, Music for 3 Pianos is quintessentially Harold Budd. Admittedly his two partners in music should not be ignored but it is clearly Budd's input that is the greatest: the floating, hauntingly minimalist piano style and lyrical drift is his alone. I have nothing by either Ruben Garcia or Daniel Lentz, though Lentz has recorded on the Cold Blue Music label (as I believe did Budd briefly in the early 80s), the music of which mirrors Budd's slightly in its haunting simplicity and minimalist approach, with soloist often multi-tracking their recordings (similarly they are usually about 20 minutes per CD). In many ways Music for 3 Pianos sounds like a multi-tracked album. The three pianos could often be Budd's playing overlaid on two base recordings to generate additional depth. Thus the sound... Read review

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Advantages: Good tuba muisc
Disadvantages: None

...with a fanfare like opening to the first movement and then launches into the main material. It has two contrasting themes in the first movement, a rhythmic one and a much more lyrical one. The first movement makes a great opening to the concerto, with a good bright tempo, a great melodic line (especially in the middle with a lovely, high, lyrical melody) and great orchestral accompaniment. The second, middle, movement is much slower and has a main string chorale (hymn like tune) which is heard at the start and end of the movement. The middle has the tuba solo which is very chromatic and leads to a climactic point. This movement isn't as good in my opinion, but as contrast is a very important part in many concerti, this is achieved, and achieved quite well. The final movement is faster again, with a rondo structure and bright dance like melody... Read review

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