Used Bin Troll Tweets JJJ.

Ethelbert Nevin

[September 2022.]

William BOLCOM: Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano (2017)¹; Suite No. 2 for Solo Violin (2011)². Steven Gross¹ (hrn), Philip Ficsor^1,2 (vln), Constantine Finehouse¹ (pno). Naxos 8.579102 (1 CD) (www.naxos.com).

It sure ain’t Brahms: Poor balance clouds the violin in the unimpressive Trio. A nine-part Suite wraps this disappointing 40-minute disc. NO.

“Orchestral Music, Volume One.” Jan NOVÁK: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra (1949)¹; Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra (1952)²; Concentus biiugius for piano four hands and string orchestra (1977)³. Vilém Veverka² (ob), Alice Rajnohová¹, Lucie Schinzelová³, Kristýna Znamenáčková³ (pno), Ensemble Opera Diversa^1,2,3, Gabriela Tardonová^1,2,3 (cond.). Toccata Classics TOCC0551 (1 CD) (www.toccataclassics.com).

Three Neo-Classical pieces by Novák (1921-84) start obligingly from Martinů but may add duskier hues or proceed in ribald directions. MAYBE.

“Duel.” Elizabeth HINKLE-TURNER: Spellbound (2006; rev. 2015). Molly JOYCE: Attack and Sustain (2020). Riikka TALVITIE: Seireenietydi (2006). Minna LEINONEN: Pheme (2011; rev. 2021). Nina SHEKHAR: Honk if you Love Me (2018). Jovanka TRBOJEVIC: Le fantôme du vent (1999). Maija HYNNINEN: Earthship (2015)*. Carolyn BORCHERDING: Frenetic Disintegration (2018). Lucy Abrams-Husso (clar, b-clar), Eva Trygg* (fl), Aleksi Trygg* (vln), Sirja Nironen* (vlc), Antti Ohenoja* (perc), Martin Malmgren* (pno), Janne Valkeajoki* (cond.), Tuukka Tervo (sound design). Siba Records SRCD1028 (2 CDs) (www.siba.fi).

An eight-part double set with bold pieces for clarinet (or bass clarinet) plus electronics (Earthship adds more) for every temperament. YES.

“The Expanded Body.” Alessandro PERINI: Space / Spectrum (2017)¹; Intorno alla traccia (2017-20)²; On that day my left ear became a frog (2018)³; Epicentro (2020)⁴; Steel string quartet (2016)⁵; Rondò (2020)⁶; N-S (2017)⁷. Simone Beneventi¹ (kalimba), Ars Nova Ensemble¹: Alessandro Perini, Jonatan Sersam, Francesco Del Nero (toy piano), Natalie Eriksson² (clar), Marco Fusi³ (vln), Irene Bianco⁴ (pno), Stanislas Pili⁵, Vincent Caers⁵, Nagisa Shibata⁵, Oded Geizhals⁵ (perc), Ruben Mattia Santorsa⁶ (e-guit), Duo Dillon-Torquati⁷: Francesco Dillon (vlc), Emanuele Torquati (pno). Kairos 0015061KAI (1 CD) (www.kairos-music.com).

At the frontier of sounds: Instruments and their humans with added gadgets, like a different bow, automated keys, or motorized tuners. MAYBE.

“Relationships.” Elizabeth MACONCHY: Violin Sonata No. 2 (1943); Violin Sonata No. 1 (1927). Nicola LeFANU: Abstracts and a Frame (1971). Giles SWAYNE: Duo, Op. 20 (1975); Echo, Op. 78 (1997); Farewell, Op. 151 (2017). Malu Lin (vln), Giles Swayne (pno). Resonus RES10271 (1 CD) (www.resonusclassics.com).

Bracingly modern violin-plus-piano works reflect a non-trivial vein of British style (a family actually: mother, daughter and cousin). YES.

“Intonations.” Derek BERMEL: Intonations (2016)¹; Ritornello (2011)²; Thracian Sketches (2003)³; Violin Etudes (2009-16)⁴; A Short History of the Universe (as related by Nima Arkani-Hamed) (2013)⁵. Derek Bermel^3,5 (clar), Christopher Otto⁴ (vln), Wiek Hijmans² (e-guit), JACK Quartet: Christopher Otto^1,2,5, Austin Wulliman¹, Ari Streisfeld^2,5 (vln), John Pickford Richards^1,2,5 (vla), Jay Cambell¹, Kevin McFarland^2,5 (vlc). Naxos 8.559912 (1 CD) (www.naxos.com).

Wide ranging things spied before, perhaps with more direction or resolve. Still, the JACK foursome imitating a harmonica is pretty neat. NO.