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Composer: MACONCHY, Elizabeth ((1907-1994)) |
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ID: CC2009
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Oboe
George Caird (oboe) with
Simon Blendis (violin), Louise Williams (viola), Jane Salmon (cello), Alison Dods (violin 2 in Maconchy, Gow), David Adams (violin 2 in Bliss)
The CD booklet contains a 2,500-word article by George Caird on the music in English, French and German.
There are more photos of the performers and the recording session.
This recording brings together five remarkable works for oboe and strings written between 1926 and 1946 and representing an English renaissance for the oboe as a chamber music instrument. It is a period which is musically very rich and diverse, with English composers showing new influences from Europe and America. The range and expression across these works is striking and is a tribute to the artistry of the oboist Léon Goossens, who is the dedicatee of three of the works and who taught the dedicatees of certainly one and possibly both of the other two. He was also the player behind two other important works by Bax and Finzi. These magnificent seven works, it can be argued, established a repertoire for oboe quartets and quintets and did much to promote the oboe as a chamber music instrument.
Goossens’ exquisite playing was characterised by a distinctive and sensitive sound, beautiful phrasing, a wide dynamic and tonal range and great rhythmic vitality. His collaboration with Sir Arnold Bax produced the first significant work for oboe and strings, the Quintet written in 1922 and recorded by Goossens with the International Quartet in 1924 (featured on Oboe Classics CC2005). Bax’s music, with its pastoral and elegiac qualities together with a strong Irish influence leant itself superbly to Goossens’ playing and this work must surely be partly responsible for the works on this recording. copyright George Caird 2004 |
| 21.00 eur Buy |
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ID: CC2011
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Oboe
Janet Craxton (1929-81) founded the London Oboe Quartet with Perry Hart (violin), Brian Hawkins (viola) and Kenneth Heath (cello) in 1968, and later with Charles Tunnell (cello) after Kenneth Heath's death in 1977. During the twelve years of its existence the Quartet played at most of the major UK music festivals and made frequent BBC broadcasts, from which these recordings are taken. Janet Craxton was always a champion of new music, and the Quartet commissioned five of the six works on this CD, as well as music by Neil Sanders, Alan Rawsthorne, Oliver Knussen, John Exton and John McCabe.
A previous Oboe Classics CD, An English Renaissance, celebrated Leon Goossens with a number of works inspired by his oboe playing. In the notes for that CD George Caird commented that in the generation following Goossens „the oboe playing of Janet Craxton should be singled out as the torch-bearer for music for oboe and strings. But that, and the composers who wrote for her, is another story.“ |
| 21.00 eur Buy |
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ID: CC2013
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Oboe
The 24-page CD booklet has a 3,000 word programme note in English and German, detailing the origins of both the Bach and the 20th Century works, with a description of the performers, and many photographs.
The oboe played an important role in eighteenth-century musical society, with composers such as Handel, Vivaldi and Telemann making wide use of it as a solo, chamber and orchestral instrument. A favourite with J.S. Bach, the oboe and its family featured significantly in the composer's life in Leipzig where many of his large scale choral works were produced.
During the nineteenth century, the instrument was almost entirely relegated to the orchestra; only a handful of composers regarded it as a suitable solo instrument. However it was revived in the twentieth century by pioneers such as Léon Goossens and Janet Craxton studying, performing and teaching in London. Other players helping to reaffirm the musical capabilities of the oboe as a solo instrument included Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli), who with her duo partner Valda Aveling (harpsichord) realized the potential of combining these two instruments. They encouraged some of England's most respected composers to use the harpsichord in duo sonata form for the first time since the eighteenth century, and this CD presents four pieces which were written for them in 1963 and 1972. Copyright Althea Ifeka and Katharine May 2005
As of 2008, Althea Ifeka is changing her name to Althea Talbot-Howard.
Althea Ifeka and Katharine May began their association in 1994 as scholars on the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Recital Scheme, and have given numerous recitals at music clubs, festivals and universities throughout the United Kingdom. In 1996 they broadcast for both Classic FM and RTE Ireland, and also undertook a concert tour of Eire, co-sponsored by the British Council. This is their first CD. |
| 21.00 eur Temporarily out of stock |
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ID: CC2014
CDs: 2
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Bassoon
The 24-page CD booklet has a 6,000 word programme note in English containing the interview below, plus a detailed track-by-track description, including interviews with Gordon Langford about his arrangements and David Matthews about Toccatas and Pastorals. There are many photographs.
Jeremy Polmear talks to Catherine Smith about The Sheba Sound:
The Sheba Sound was founded in 1975 by Catherine Smith, and ran for an impressive 22 years. I asked her how it came about. "I was a freelance oboist working in London, and, to be honest, I felt that life was getting a bit repetitive. I needed a challenge, I needed to break out of the orchestral rut. I love making experiments, and exploring new areas of life.
"My starting point for the new group was two oboes, bassoon and harpsichord to play trio sonatas. I approached the oboist Deirdre Lind and the bassoonist Deirdre Dundas-Grant because they had both played in the BBC Concert Orchestra, and therefore had experience in playing all kinds of music. Neil Black [a prominent London oboist] suggested I contact the harpsichordist Harold Lester, who not only played early music with Alfred Deller, but contemporary music with Cathy Berberian and the London Sinfonietta. Our horizons were limitless. The name of the group reflects this - 'Sheba', in reference to the best-known baroque piece for two oboes, 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' by Handel, - and 'Sound', being the kind of name you wouldn't use in strictly classical circles. All future members of the group shared this eclectic experience of musical styles. I am particularly grateful to the first members, who made financial sacrifices until we had established ourselves.
"As I wanted the group to be unique in every respect, I decided that we would play, if possible, unpublished Baroque music, so I spent hours and hours in libraries looking for interesting scores. Harold Lester brought his extensive knowledge of early harpsichord music, and arranged some of it; and I also wanted a more jazzy arranger. Brian Kay of the King's Singers suggested Gordon Langford, who had written beautifully for them; he wrote a Folk Song Suite for us [Kaleidoscope CD, tracks 15 -19], the first of many arrangements. Our subsequent commissions were not only contemporary serious music, but also jazz and rock.
"I decided that our presentation was very important. Our dresses were glamourous, shot silk, in bright reds, and the men had cummerbunds to match. Each work was introduced by a member of the group, which was unusual at that time. We commissioned special music stands from the furniture department of the Royal College of Art, and draped the funiture on the platform in red velvet.
"We played all over the UK, in concert halls, at music clubs and festivals, and we did regular London concerts at the Wigmore Hall. One was recorded, and is the source of several tracks on these CDs. We often worked with well-known actors such as Gabriel Woolf [The Bassoon Song, Kaleidoscope CD, track 7], Derek Jacobi, Nicolas Parsons and Spike Milligan, on whose TV programmes we appeared. We did lots of Children's Concerts too, at which the greatest success was a special story, 'The Key to the Zoo', written by humourist Miles Kington, with music by Stephen Oliver. In the story we each became an animal character, with an appropriate hat.
"We toured abroad too, especially in Germany, Italy and Arabia. In Italy they preferred to have a singer with the group, and we took people such as the contralto Margaret Cable and the tenor Christopher Underwood. We also played in Holland, and on TV in Flanders. We broadcast in the UK too - on the BBC music channel Radio 3, but I was also on the talk channel Radio 4, on 'Woman's Hour'. At the time I had three children under eight as well as my career - quite a new thing back in 1975 - and this created quite a lot of interest among the listeners, who then wanted to know what our music sounded like. This led to the BBC financing a recording, many of whose tracks appear here." |
| 29.00 eur Buy |
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ID: MSVCD92013
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Collection: Instrumental
Subcollection: Piano and Clarinet
The works on this CD span almost 30 years, from 1965 to 1994. The most striking factor is the varying yet equally successful approach adopted in writing for the clarinet by these very different composers, all of whom cater for the unique character of the instrument.
tracks: Elizabeth Maconchy: Fantasia Anthony Powers: Sea/Air Piers Hellawell: High Citadels Harrison Birtwistle: Verses Richard Rodney Bennett: Scena III Hugh Wood: Paraphrase on "Bird of Paradise" Gordon Crosse: A Year and a Day Martin Butler: Capistrano Song Michael Berkeley: Flighting |
| 12.00 eur Buy |
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ID: MSVCD92025
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Collection: Vocal Collection
Subcollection: Vocal and Piano
British music for voice and piano, all written between 1970 and 1998, by the cream of contemporary compsoers
tracks: James MacMillan:
Ballad
The Children
Scots Song Elizabeth Maconchy: Sun Moon and Stars / The Hill / Solitude Clothed with the Star Judith Weir: Bessie Bell and Mary Gray Bonnie James Campbell Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight The Gypsy Laddie The Braes of Yarrow Gabriel Jackson: Liadan Laments Robin Holloway: Olive Tree The Palm Tree Robbers' Den Fig Tree in Leaf Wherever we may Be Peter Maxwell Davies: Farewell to Stromness Yesnaby Ground Nicola LeFanu: But Stars Remaining George Nicholson: Abroad and at Home I passed by his Garden J'ai peur Call (Incident at Weekend Party) |
| 12.00 eur Buy |
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ID: MSVCD92064
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Oboe
This is a disc of music for chamber ensembles and solo performers written by two of Britain's leading women composers, who also happen to be mother and daughter. Sparklingly presented by Okeanos, comprising several leading contemporary music performers.
tracks:
LeFanu:
Lament
A Travelling Spirit
Soliloquy (solo oboe)
Mira Clas Tenebras
Maconchy:
Reflections
Miniature (solo oboe)
Morning, Noon and Night (solo harp)
Okeanos players are: Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano); Sally Bradshaw (mezzo-soprano; Bridget Carey (viola); Neil Heyde (cello); Kate Romano (clarinet); Jinny Shaw (oboes, cor anglais); Lucy Wakeford (harp); John Turner (recorder) |
| 12.00 eur Buy |
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ID: SIGCD443
CDs: 2
Type: CD
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Allan Clayton
Mary Bevan
Myrthen Ensemble
1. The Night Peter Warlock 2.11
2. Nachtens, Op. 112 No. 2 Johannes Brahms 1.45
3. Vor der Tur, Op. 28 No. 2 Johannes Brahms 1.58
4. Unbewegte laue Luft, Op. 57 No. 8 Johannes Brahms 4.07
5. Der Gang zum Liebchen, Op. 31 No. 3 Johannes Brahms 3.15
6. Walpurgisnacht, Op. 75 No. 4 Johannes Brahms 1.32
7. Standchen, Op. 106 No. 1 Johannes Brahms 1.43
8. Der Abend, Op. 64 No. 2 Johannes Brahms 3.51
9. Vergebliches Standchen, Op. 84 No. 4 Johannes Brahms 1.43
10. Unterm Fenster, Op. 34 No. 3 Robert Schumann 1.26
11. Mondnacht, Op. 39 No. 5 Robert Schumann 4.07
12. Zwei Venetianische Lieder, Op. 25 No. 17: Leis rudern hier Robert Schumann 1.58
13. Zwei Venetianische Lieder, Op. 25 No. 18: Wenn durch die Piazzetta Robert Schumann 1.16
14. Die Lotosblume, Op. 25 No. 7 Robert Schumann 1.49
15. In der Nacht, Op. 74 No. 4 Robert Schumann 5.20
16. Nocturne, Op. 13 No. 4 Samuel Barber 3.32
17. Sun, Moon and Stars Elizabeth Machonchy 3.51
18. Clair de lune, Op. 83 No. 1 Joseph Szulc 3.25
19. Damunt de tu nomes les flors Federico Mompou 4.22
20. Guitares et mandolines Camille Saint-Saens 1.49
21. Apparition Claude Debussy 3.48
22. La nuit, Op. 11 No. 1 Ernest Chaussan 2.47
23. 7 Chansons grises, No. 5: L?heure exquise Reynaldo Hahn 2.51
24. La fuite Henri Duparc 2.15
25. Revons, c'est l'heure Jules Massenet 5.04
26. Clair de lune, Op. 46 No. 2 Gabriel Faure 2.56
27. Pleurs dlor, Op. 72 Gabriel Faure 2.47
28. Tarentelle, Op. 10 No. 2 Gabriel Faure 2.17 |
| 26.00 eur Temporarily out of stock |
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ID: TRO-CD01426
CDs: 1
Type: CD
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Subcollection: Violin
Recording:
Juni 2002
Tonstudio Teije van Geest,
Clara Wieck Auditorium, Heidelberg-Sandhausen
Recording engineer, Teije van Geest
* World Premiere Recording |
| 15.00 eur Buy |
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