PLINIO FERNANDES – SAUDADE
PLINIO FERNANDES, guitar
DECCA GOLD (impossible to read the issue number-so small!)
A lovely album, the first solo release on a major label by this Brazilian guitarist including fine performances of arrangements of popular songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and a number of Preludes by Villa-Lobos. On three tracks he is joined by another renowned musicians -Sheku (cello) & Braimah (violin) Kanneh-Mason and Maria Rita (voice).
MOONSTRIKE
APOLLO CHAMBER PLAYERS
JOHN HERRINGTON, narrator
AZICA ACD-71352 59’45
This is a remarkably fresh release of wonderful performances of three new commissions of ‘globally-inspired’ music reflecting specific cultures. Jennifer Higdon’s In the shadow of the mountain (2020) is inspired by the composer’s upbringing in the Appalachian mountains. Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s MoonStrike (2019) brings together three American Indian legends and combines them with the founder of the Apollo Chamber Players’ love of space. This features narration from Chikasaw astronaut John Herrington, the first American Indian citizen to fly in space. Pierre Jalbert’s L’esprit du Nord (Spirit of the North) (2019) ends the disk, this work drawing on French-Canadian musical traditions.
MOTHER SISTER DAUGHTER
MUSICA SECRETA, LAURIE STRAS, director
LUCKY MUSIC LCKY001
Beautifully produced all round this CD brings fine performances of a well planned and researched programme with the focus on devotional music created and performed by women of the convent where Galileo Galilei’s daughter resided. The larger part of the programme consists of three sets of Vespers – those of St Lucy and two of St Clare. A further Renaissance liturgical sequence, parts of a Mass of the Blessed Virgin and a contemporary composition, The veiled Sisters, by Joanna Marsh, completes the disc. Recorded in Cambridgeshire the singers (a female ensemble in existence for over thirty years)) are complemented with reproduction period instruments.
JOHANN PACHELBEL – HEXACHORDUM APOLLINIS; CHACONNE IN C MAJOR
ENRICO BISSOLO, harpsichord
DYNAMIC CDS7961 58’38
The title work on this disc is a fascinating composition. A set of 6 arias with variations written for either harpsichord or organ. Mathematically complex with symbolism relating to numerology and the Kabbalah the booklet notes point out some interesting features and point to a work that should perhaps be more widely known and appreciated. The Chaconne is a more known work.
BOHUSLAV MARTINU – SYMPHONIES 5 & 6
RADIO-SINFONIEORCESTER STUTTGART DES SWR
ROGER NORRINGTON, conductor
SWR CLASSIC SWR19119CD 60’18
As with his other four symphonies these date from the latter part of Martinu’s life, during his time in America. These are two substantial works. No 6 is alternately titled Fantaisies symphoniques. Both of these works have innovations and show a progression in the composer’s writing. Extending ideas of structure and of harmonic progression and influenced by his move to the US Martinu, however, never abandons the foundations of his Czech beginnings.
EDWARD GERMAN – BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC 10
SLOVAK RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ADRIAN LEAPER, conductor
NAXOS 8.555171 67’28
I got to know some of Edward German’s music first of all through popular piano transcriptions and still only know a couple of his works. Here we have them – suites from Henry VIII and Merrie England together with incidental music from a number of other productions – Nell Gwyn, Romeo & Juliet, Tom Jones as well as The Tempter and Gipsy Suite. As with other release in this strand the music is melodic and often quite memorable. Another lovely release.
JOHN BURGE – SINFONIA ANTIQUA – ONE SAIL
JOANNA G’FROERER, flute, RACHEL MERCER, cello
THIRTEEN STRINGS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, KEVIN MALLON, conductor
NAXOS 8.579073 64’23
This highly enjoyable disk brings a compilation of the Canadian composer’s work all of which has been commissioned by Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra. There is a lot of rhythmic energy to be found here as well as reflection and interesting shifts of harmony. Burge’s music seems to spring out of earlier traditions but with fresh things still to say. Alongside the two title works are also Forgotten Dreams and Upper Canada Fiddle Suite.
KONSTANTIN VASSILIEV – GUITAR WORKS 1
YURI LIBERZON, guitar, PATRICK O’CONNELL, guitar
NAXOS 8.574315 71’30
Inventive and at times quite mesmerising, this is a wonderful collection from highly talented guitarists of Vassiliev’s music. It is good to see this release from Naxos which shines a light on this contemporary composer whose sound world crosses the boundaries of jazz, contemporary Western styles and Russian traditional music. Very enjoyable.
TOURNAMENT FOR TWENTY FINGERS
EMMA ABBATE & JULIAN PERKINS, piano four hands
BIS BIS-2578 69’47
This is a fabulous compilation of twentieth century British piano duets performed brilliantly by Emma Abbate & Julian Perkins. There is a special link between performers and one of the composers, Stephen Dodgson (Tournament for Twenty Fingers and Sonata for piano duet). The piano on which these recordings was made was bequeathed by him to the duo. Beginning with Lennox Berkeley – Palm Court Waltz, Sonatina in E flat and Theme and variations there is a huge variety of mood and structure in this programme. Richard Arnell’s Sonatina for piano duet and Constant Lambert’s Trois pieces negres pour les touches blanches complete the disk. A very welcome release of little heard repertoire.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – 6 SUITES FOR CELLO SOLO
DAVID STROMBERG, baroque cello, cello piccolo
OEHMS 0C498 (2CDs) 60’03 & 79’30
This is a lovely production. These fresh recordings of the 6 solo cello suites are the result of meticulous research and preparation by cellist David Stromberg. The first five suites are performed on a baroque cello which, according to the notes, has a slightly different tuning for number five. The sixth was apparently originally written for a five-stringed instrument which is used here. Straightforward and very accessible notes are included in the accompanying booklet.
KLAS TORSTENSSON – LANTERN LECTURES
NORRBOTTEN NEO, CHRISTIAN KARLSEN, conductor
BIS BIS-2516 71’06
Contemporary Swedish born composer Klas Torstensson has spent much of his working life in the Netherlands. Here is an exciting performance of a work completed in 2002. The title of the work harks back to eductional slide lectures, with each movement centred on a natural Nordic phenomenon. Between each movement is a shorter Brass Link. The music is often percussive and with striking contrasts of timbre and dynamic.
SP