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Three Generations of Mazurkas
The mazurka is a traditional Polish folk dance in triple time (three beats to the bar). In the very early 1800s. Maria Szymanowska was the first composer to write formal Mazurkas for the piano. They are very short, quite simple and incredibly varied and tuneful. Only a decade or so later, Chopin developed the mazurka…
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David Ellis: Concert Music
David Ellis has been a major figure in British music for longer than he cares to remember – a doyen of the ‘industry’ as conductor, composer, record producer and for many years head of music for BBC North. This is a super anthology of orchestral works recorded at different times by various Manchester orchestras; the…
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The Harmonious Thuringian (Harpsichord)
Thuringia is a region of Germany in which both Bach and Handel grew up. It was here that a distinctive form of harpsichord was built, very different to most others, with a wonderful tone. This was most likely the type of intrument with which the composers were familiar. One survives and has been replicated beautifully…
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Rimsky-Korsakov for Piano Duo
After more than thirty years Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow can lay claim to be regarded as one of the world’s foremost piano duos, displaying stunning precision in their ensemble and remarkable musicality. Following their critically acclaimed Divine Art CDs containing transcriptions of works by Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Chopin, they present music by…
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In Beauty Walking – Orchestral Music by Carson Cooman
As well as being a very busy and highly regarded organist, teacher and music consultant, Carson Cooman is one of America’s most prolific and gifted composers. His work retains the best of traditional forms in a modern and personal idiom; here, he has produced a body of lyrical works which are truly Romantic and pastoral…
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John Garth – Accompanied Keyboard Sonatas, Op. 2 & Op. 4
Along with his friend and teacher Charles Avison, Garth was one of the leading lights of the music scene in northern England in the late baroque era (late 18th century). His music was completely neglected until re-introduced by The Avison Ensemble in concerts and with their groundbreaking recording of his Cello Concertos in 2007 (DDA…
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Remembering Alfred Deller
Alfred Deller was ‘discovered’ by Michael Tippett, and with the supprt of Tippett, Walter Bergmann and others, re-introduced the countertenor voice to the current music repertoire. His influence cannot be overstated. This CD is a tribute to Deller by musicians who have carried on his tradition in major contributions to music both in Britain and…
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Music from Armenia for Cello and Piano
In Europe and the US, familiarity with Armenian music has been largely limited to Khachaturian but there is a surge of interest in the unique distinctive melodic traditions of the country. This collection contains formal works and arrangements of folk tunes from the Talalyan archives which derive from the collecting of Gomidas (Komitas) and is…
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Litany – Organ Music by Carson Cooman
Carson Cooman is one of America’s most prolific and feted composers of our time. Also writer, critic, teacher and organist (Organist and Composer in Residence at Harvard), his music is never avant-garde but varies from the mildly challenging in harmonic structure to firmly traditional tonality, all with a fine sense of style and inspiration. This…
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The Operatic Pianist
This is a superbly entertaining program of transcriptions and fantasies on opera themes and arias, presented with style and flair by British pianist Andrew Wright, who also composed three of the fantasies. With well known themes from Verdi, Wagner, Bellini and Meyerbeer, in excellent solo-piano form, this is a tremendous tour-de-force! Also see volume 2…
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Mozart, Beethoven, Bach-Busoni Piano Works
A British pianist specializing in the late baroque and classical periods, Jill Crossland has acquired an impressive reputation for her new insights into even the most familiar and hackneyed of ‘core repertoire’ works. Penguin Guide to CDs has said “a natural Mozartean … wonderfully lyrical Beethoven”. Here, Jill gives that special treatment to the ‘Moonlight’…
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The Expressive Voice of the Flute
Among the instruments, the flute is one which has one of the widest expressive tones, especially heard to advantage in this collection of 46 light classics, ranging from the dreamy and romantic to the lively and sparkling. Original works are joined by many arrangements of popular orchestral or piano pieces, many by the performers. A…