Used Bin Troll Tweets O.

Ethelbert Nevin

[December 2015.]

naxos_8573229

Grażyna BACEWICZ: Concerto for String Orchestra (1948); Symphony for String Orchestra (1946); Piano Quintet No. 1 (1952; arr. Mariusz SMOLIJ, 2013)*. Ewa Kupiec* (pno), Capella Bydgostiensis Chamber Orchestra, Mariusz Smolij (cond.). Naxos 8.573229 (1 CD) (http://www.naxos.com/).

Clenched string writing: bitter when not aggressive and aggressive when not bitter. At least it’s good to see more Bacewicz on record. MAYBE.

haensslerprofil_ph14036

“Reflections.” Pierre BOULEZ: Anthèmes pour violin seul (1991). Eugène YSAŸE: Sonata Nos. 2 and 4 (1923). Salvatore SCIARRINO: Sei Capricci (1976). Jörg WIDMANN: Études I-III (1995, 2001, 2002). Carolin Widmann (vln). Hänssler Profil PH14036 (1 CD) (http://www.haensslerprofil.de/).

Wispy Sciarrino framed by the ever-progressive Ysaÿe, who always stands up well to Boulez. Widmann’s brother contributes three etudes. MAYBE.

ravello_rr7915

Frances WHITE: She Lost Her Voice That’s How We Knew (2004). Kristin Norderval (sop). Ravello Records RR7915 (1 CD) (http://www.ravellorecords.com/).

Another for the “do not judge by its cover” pile, also ignore that shakuhachi credit. Here’s an eerie opera for soprano and electronics. YES.

eloquentia_el1125

J.S. BACH: Die Kunst der Fuge (1740-45, 1748-50). Sit Fast: Atsushi Sakaï, Isabelle Saint-Yves, Thomas de Pierrefeu, Josh Cheatham (viols). Eloquentia EL1125 (1 CD) (http://www.eloquentia.fr/).

Eleven fugues are enough to make this one of the best. Sit Fast’s viols spin smooth, unornamented lines, registering lugubrious clarity. YES.

mercuryclassics_b002159302

“The Brooklyn Rider Almanac.” Rubin KODHELI: Necessary Henry! (2012). Dana LYN: Maintenance Music (2012). Padma NEWSOME: Simpson’s Gap (2012). Daniel CORDS: The Haring Escape (2012). Aoife O’DONOVAN: Show Me (2014). Vijay IYER: Dig The Say (2012). Greg SAUNIER: Quartet, Parts One & Two (2012). Ethan IVERSON: Morris Dance (2012). Colin JACOBSEN: Exit (2014)*. Gonzalo GRAU: Five-Legged Cat (2014). Christina COURTIN: Tralala (2012). Glenn KOTCHE: Ping Pong Fumble Thaw (2014). Bill FRISELL: John Steinbeck (2012). Shara Worden* (voice), Brooklyn Rider: Johnny Gandelsman, Colin Jacobsen (vln), Nicholas Cords (vla), Eric Jacobsen (vlc). Mercury Classics B0021593-02. (1 CD) (http://www.mercuryclassics.com/).

Among gritty pop-flavored quartets, Jacobsen’s Exit with Worden’s eerie soprano makes the only impression. IF JUST FOR THE ONE, PROBABLY NOT.

kairos_0012832kai

Mauricio SOTELO: Chalan (2003)¹; Como Llora el Agua (2008)²; Wall of Light Black – for Sean Scully (2005-06)³; Night (2007)⁴. Trilok Gurtu¹ (perc), Juan Manuel Cañizares² (flamenco guit.), Marcus Weiss³ (sax), Miquel Bernat⁴ (perc), musikFabrik^1,3,4, Stefan Asbury¹, Brad Lubman³, Mauricio Sotelo⁴ (cond.). Kairos 0012832KAI (1 CD) (http://www.kairos-music.com/).

Ach Kairos, how could you fail me? Sotelo is a fragile hybrid of Scelsi and Lachenmann. Even the percussion concertos make no impression. NO.

Bacewicz, Bach, Boulez, Cords, Courtin, F White, Frisell, Grau, Iverson, Iyer, Jacobsen, Kodheli, Kotchke, Lyn, Newsome, O'Donovan, Saunier, Sciarrino, Sotelo, Widmann, Ysaÿe

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