Used Bin Troll Tweets GG.

Ethelbert Nevin

[April 2018.]

“Assemblage.” George LEWIS: Mnemosis (2012)¹; Hexis (2013)²; The Mangle of Practice (2014)³; Assemblage (2013)⁴. Ensemble Dal Niente: Emma Hospelhorn^1,2,4 (fl), Katie Schoepflin^1,2,4 (clar), Taimur Sullivan⁴ (sax), John Corkill^1,2, Gregory Beyer⁴ (perc), Ben Melsky⁴ (hp), Mabel Kwan^1,2, Winston Choi^3,4 (pno), Tarn Travers^1,2, Minghuan Xu^3,4 (vln), Ammie Brod^1,4 (vla), Chris Wild^1,2,4 (vlc), Michael Lewanski^1,2,4 (cond.). New World Records 80792 (1 CD) (http://www.newworldrecords.org/).

Beyond the intellectual considerations, these four high-wattage pieces are invigorating and brilliantly executed. An important release. YES.

Johannes BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1, Op. 68 (1876); Symphony No. 2, Op. 73 (1877); Symphony No. 3, Op. 90 (1883); Symphony No. 4, Op. 98 (1885). Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons (cond.). BSO Classics 1701/03 (3 CDs) (http://www.bso.org/).

Assembled from live recordings, this is one of the liveliest Brahms symphonies series in ages. Do they always play like this in concert? YES.

Hans ABRAHAMSEN: String Quartet No. 4 (2012); String Quartet No. 3 (2008); String Quartet No. 2 (1981); 10 Preludes (String Quartet No. 1) (1973). Arditti String Quartet: Irvine Arditti, Ashot Sarkissjan (vln), Ralf Ehlers (vla), Lucas Fels (vlc). Winter & Winter 910 242-2 (1 CD) (http://www.winterandwinter.com/).

Could it be the Arditti foursome’s stout indifference? No, it’s probably the aloof music itself. These quartets make awful calling cards. NO.

Jean PAPINEAU-COUTURE: Quatuor à Cordes No. 1 (1953); Quatuor à Cordes No. 2 (1967); Quatuor à Cordes No. 3 (1996); Quatuor à Cordes No. 4 (ca. 1996-2000, incomplete); Slanò, Trio d’archets (1975). Quatuor Molinari: Olga Ranzenhofer, Frédéric Bednarz (vln), Frédéric Lambert (vla), Pierre-Alain Bouvrette (vlc). ATMA ACD2 2751 (1 CD) (http://www.atmaclassique.com/).

An influential Canadian who matured into expressive dissonance without serialism. The incomplete No. 4 and the string trio stand tall. MAYBE.

Charles KOECHLIN: Sonate pour violon et piano, Op. 64 (1915-16)¹; Quintette pour piano et cordes, Op. 80 (1917-21; ed. Otfrid NIES, 2017)². Quintette Syntonia: Romain David^1,2 (pno), Stéphanie Moraly^1,2, Thibault Noally² (vln), Caroline Donin² (vla), Patrick Langot² (vlc). Timpani 1C1241 (1 CD) (http://www.timpani-records.com/).

Following a warm and tuneful violin sonata, imagine if Schoenberg were French and despondent and had taken a crack at a Piano Quintet. MAYBE.

Anthony BURGESS: The Bad-Tempered Electronic Keyboard: 24 Preludes and Fugues (1985); Finale: Natale 1985 (1985). Stephane Ginsburgh (pno). Grand Piano GP773 (1 CD) (http://www.grandpianorecords.com/).

As did Bach and Shostakovich, Burgess circumnavigates all keys. But despite proficiency with snappy material, these 24 do not penetrate. NO.