(Zinka Milanov, soprano & Božidar Kunc, piano) A Milanov Recital:
. . . . . 22793. (Giuseppe Giordani) “Caro mio ben”
. . . . . 22794. (Robert Schumann) Leiderkreis: “Mondnacht”, Op.39 #5
. . . . . 22795. (Robert Schumann) song from “Myrten”: “Widmung [Dedication]”, Op.25 #1 Read more »
Category Archives: CK - Listening 2011
First-time listening for December, 2011
First-time listening for November, 2011
22786. (Richard Wagner) Der Fliegende Holländer [The Flying Dutchman] [highlights;
. . . . . d.Konwitschny; Frick, Schech, Schock]
22787. (King Crimson) Three of a Perfect Pair
22788. (Robert Plant) The Principle of Moments Read more »
First-time listening for October, 2011
22780. (John Lee Hooker) House of the Blues
22781. (A Split Second) Ballistic Statues
22782. (Fripp & Eno) Evening Star Read more »
First-time listening for September, 2011
22769. (George Frederick Händel) Dank sei dir, Herr!
22770. (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Vesperae solemnnes de confessore, K.339: “Laudate Dominum”
22771. (Giuseppe Giordani) Caro mio ben Read more »
First-time listening for August, 2011
22763. (Fall Out Boy) Split EP
22764. (Elliott Brood) Mountain Meadows
22765. (Big Macceo Merriweather) Worried Life Blues [The Blues Collection #38] Read more »
Fake Shark — Real Zombie!
I didn’t know about this appealingly scruffy Vancouver punk band until just now. Listening to their 2008 debut album Zebra! Zebra!, I can hear a logical descendant of old Vancouver punk bands like Skinny Puppy, which I was very fond of in the 1980’s. There’s a substantial techno influence, and much more rhythmic and structural complexity, but the mood they produce is as punky as anything done in the Archaic Punkal Age. The drumming is to the click, the vocals harsh, but not irritating.
First-time listening for July, 2011
22756. (7 Seconds) Out The Shizzy
22757. (Junior Boys) Begone Dull Care
22758. (Jordan Rudess) Notes on a Dream Read more »
First-time listening for June, 2011
22753. (Fake Shark-Real Zombie!) Zebra! Zebra!
22754. (Jitendra Abhisheki) Raga Shivmat Bhairav
22755. (Jitendra Abhisheki) Raga Puriya
Read more »
Augustín Barrios, the Great Paraguayan
If you are bored with the familiar repertoire for classical guitar (what you might call the Segovian Canon), then you might try the compositions of the Paraguayan polymath Augustín Barrios (1885–1944). Guitarist John Williams has led the revival of his work. A poet, mathematician and journalist, as well as a performer and composer, Barrios was a Paraguayan mestizo, fluent in the Guaraní Indian language as well as Spanish. His compositions are warm, imaginative, and virtuosic enough to challenge and excite any guitarist. Yet underneath they have a solid architecture. For example, the piece called La Catedral seems as delicate as a snowflake, but it’s structure is as strong and disciplined as a Bach partita. Most of the pieces that I heard have this “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quality. Other pieces that especially move me are Una Limosna Por el Amor de Dios, Aconquija, Maxixe, and Chôro da Saudade. But, they are not exceptions: every piece I’ve heard is worth listening to several times. Paraguayan folk music influenced his work as much as the familiar baroque and classical sources, giving it a flavour you won’t find elsewhere. Williams offers several recordings. I’m listening to The Great Paraguayan, which offers seventeen representative pieces.
First-time listening for May, 2011
22747. (Kinks) Kinks
22748. (Rosebuds) The Rosebuds Make Out
22749. (Jimmy Smith) Jimmy Smith [Verve Jazz Masters #29]
Read more »