{"id":2623,"date":"2015-11-04T10:37:25","date_gmt":"2015-11-04T10:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.larkreviews.co.uk\/?p=2623"},"modified":"2015-11-06T16:50:15","modified_gmt":"2015-11-06T16:50:15","slug":"cd-reviews-november-2015-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/?p=2623","title":{"rendered":"CD REVIEWS \u2013 November 2015 – 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
DANCING DAY \u2013 MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS<\/strong><\/span>
\n Choir of Men & Boys of ST THOMAS, FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK<\/strong><\/span>
\n JOHN SCOTT, Conductor<\/strong><\/span>
\n SARA CUTLER, Harp,\u00a0 STEPHEN BUZARD & BENJAMIN SHEEN, Organ<\/strong><\/span>
\n RESONUS RES10158 (63\u201958)<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

This is a lovely recording of seasonal works from the 20th<\/sup> and 21st<\/sup> Centuries based on medieval texts and melodies. There are two main works \u2013 Britten\u2019s A Ceremony of Carols <\/i>& Rutter\u2019s Dancing Day<\/i>. Both of these also feature the harp which adds a further link to the past and variety of timbre. The CD opens with Matthew Martin\u2019s lively Novo profuse gaudio<\/i>. There is a poignancy to this release in that it includes an arrangement by the much lamented Philip Ledger of the Sussex Carol<\/i> and that John Scott died unexpectedly in August. A lasting record of John Scott\u2019s work with this choir.<\/p>\n

NOVA! NOVA! \u2013 CONTEMPORARY CAROLS FROM ST CATHARINE\u2019S<\/strong><\/span>
\n Choirs of ST CATHARINE\u2019S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE<\/strong><\/span>
\n EDWARD WICKHAM, Conductor,\u00a0 WILL FAIRBAIRN, Organ<\/strong><\/span>
\n RESONUS RES 10159 (66\u201900)<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Edward Wickham presents the girls choir and mixed student choir in a programme that mixes the sacred and secular, as carols have done for centuries. Some of the carols are commissions for St Catharine\u2019s. Many familiar contemporary composers are featured including Sally Beamish, John Tavener, James MacMillan and Roxana Panufnik. Two extended compositions are included \u2013 Christopher Fox\u2019 A dream of winter<\/i> and Stevie Wishart\u2019s Three Carols. <\/i>These together with six other carols are world premiere recordings. An interesting showcase of recent Christmas compositions.<\/p>\n

L\u2019ORGUE SYMPHONIQUE \u2013 FRENCH ORGAN WORKS FROM WINDSOR CASTLE<\/strong><\/span>
\n RICHARD PINEL, Harrison & Harrison organ, St George\u2019s Chapel, Windsor Castle<\/strong><\/span>
\n RESONUS RES 10160 (74\u201940)<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Fine examples of French symphonic organ works are to be found on this CD. Richard Pinel\u00a0 presents a wonderfully evocative programme, showing his own musicianship and the suitability of this organ for this repertoire. Roger-Ducasse\u2019s one movement Pastorale <\/i>follows the contrasting five movements of Vierne\u2019s Symphony No 2 in E minor. <\/i>The disc ends with Durufle\u2019s Suite, Op 5<\/i> which begins in dark, brooding fashion and ends with a brilliant Toccata<\/i>. I really enjoyed this CD.<\/p>\n

J.S.BACH ORGAN WORKS VOL 3<\/strong><\/span>
\n ROBERT QUINNEY, Metzler organ of Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge<\/strong><\/span>
\n CORO\u00a0 COR 16132<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

The two previous Bach volumes by Robert Quinney have presented interesting and well balanced programmes, sympathetically played on this beautiful new organ. This volume does not disappoint. Here we have Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, 3 Preludes on Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Pastorella, Prelude & Fugue in C (BWV547), Canonic variations on Vom Himmel hoch <\/i>and Prelude & Fugue in G (BWV541)<\/i>. There is a freshness to some of these recordings even when the music is quite familiar. Lovely!<\/p>\n

J S BACH \u2013 18 LEIPZIG CHORALES<\/strong><\/span>
\n ALEXANDER KNYAZEV, Walcker organ of the Riga Dome<\/strong><\/span>
\n MELCD 10 02397 (106\u201958) (2 CDs)<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
\nI haven\u2019t encountered many Russian organists so it was good to find this CD from Alexander Knyazev, who graduated from two Russian conservatoires specialising in a different instrument at each \u2013 organ and cello. Here we have a complete recording of Bach\u2019s so-called Leipzig Chorales \u2013 part of a collection of revised compositions from throughout his life which Bach made in the last decade of his life, selected as being particularly significant to him. Although performed very well I didn\u2019t initially like the sound of this recording. The cavernous acoustic made for some indistinct lines and overall blurriness. However, the varied registration and sympathetic interpretation of these settings drew me in. A welcome addition to the host of recent all-Bach releases.<\/h6>\n
<\/h6>\n
CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR \u2013 THE ORGAN SYMPHONIES VOL 4<\/strong><\/span>
\nJOSEPH NOLAN, Cavaille-Coll organ of La Madeleine, Paris<\/strong><\/span>
\nSIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD337 (98\u201903) 2 CDs<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

Joseph Nolan\u2019s complete Widor symphonies cycle continues with this 4th\u00a0volume.\u00a0Symphony No 7\u00a0<\/i>&\u00a0Symphony No 8<\/i>\u00a0are featured on this double CD. Both large scale works are expertly performed here on an authentic instrument. Mr Nolan\u2019s performances allow this music to truly come alive and to appear fresh and exciting. Vol 5 is due to be released very soon. Music to be immersed in.<\/p>\n

MASAAKI SUZUKI PLAYS BACH ORGAN WORKS<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n
Schnitger\/Hinz organ in the Martinikerk, Groningen, The Netherlands<\/strong><\/span>
\n BIS BIS-2111 (79\u201926) Hybrid CD\/SACD<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

A new recording of organ music by JS Bach is not an uncommon thing. I often wonder why so many recordings continue to be made, especially when they feature Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV565<\/i>. However, good programming, mixing the familiar with the less so and with variety of style and registration, performed by a sympathetic and talented organist on a\u00a0 splendid instrument, can still excite and entertain. Such is the case with this CD from Masaaki Suzuki on the Groningen organ. The recording is superbly produced.\u00a0 The programme includes the extended Pastorale in F major, Partita: O Gott, du frommer Gott <\/i>and the Canonic variations: Vom Himmel hoch da komm\u2019 ich her\u2019 <\/i>alongside the E minor and G major Prelude & Fugue <\/i>and the Fantasia in G major<\/i>.<\/p>\n

MAX REGER \u2013 COMPLETE ORGAN WORKS<\/strong><\/span>
\n Christian Barthen, Stefan Frank, Bernard Haas, Hans-Jurgen Kaiser, Edgar Krapp, Ludger Lohmann, Wolfgang Rubsam, Josef Still, Kirsten Strurm & Martin Welzel <\/strong><\/span>
\n organs of\u00a0 Evangelical Church, Giengen an der Brenz \u2013 Fulda Cathedral \u2013 Trier Cathedral \u2013 Passau Cathedral \u2013 St Martin\u2019s Cathedral, Rottenburg am Neckar \u2013 Christuskirche, Mannheim \u2013 Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago.<\/strong><\/span>
\n NAXOS 8.501601 (over 19\u2019) 16CDs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Described as \u201cthe greatest German composer for organ since Johann Sebastian Bach\u201d Reger\u2019s catalogue is prolific. Here Naxos has created a wonderful collection of his complete organ works. Large scale compositions include the Symphonic Fantasia & Fugue <\/i>& Fantasy & Fugue on B-A-C-H<\/i>. Alongside these are the exstensive chorale settings and smaller scale pieces . The use of twelve organists and seven different instruments brings added variety and interest to this most useful and well-presented set. A very useful reference work as well as a source of hours of entertainment and inspiration.<\/p>\n

SP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DANCING DAY \u2013 MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS Choir of Men & Boys of ST THOMAS, FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK JOHN SCOTT, Conductor SARA CUTLER, Harp,\u00a0 STEPHEN BUZARD & BENJAMIN SHEEN, Organ RESONUS RES10158 (63\u201958) This is a lovely recording of seasonal … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2623"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions\/2625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}