23139. (Jón Leifs) Hafis [Drift Ice], for Mixed Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 63
23140. (Jón Leifs) Song: “Máninn Líður” for Mezzo-Soprano & Orchestra, Op.14a
23141. (Jón Leifs) Song: “Vögguvísa” for Mezzo-Soprano & Orchestra, Op.14a
23142. (Jón Leifs) Guðrúnarkviða for Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone & Orchestra, Op.22 Read more »
Category Archives: CJ - Listening 2012
First-time listening for December, 2012
First-time listening for November, 2012
23094. (Hector Berlioz) Les nuits d’été [s. Kiri te Kanawa]
23095. (Hector Berlioz) Le mort de Cléopâtre, Scène lyrique [s. Norman]
23096. (Memphis Slim) Beer Drinkin’ Woman [Blues Collection #13]
23097. (George Frederick Händel) Faramondo, Opera in 3 Acts [d. Palmer; Fortunato, Baird] Read more »
Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B‑f
The sinfonia concertante is a form that sits a little uncomfortably between the symphony and the concerto. Instead of a solo instrument battling heroically with or against the orchestra, a concertante of various instruments (usually three or four) play solo parts in conversation against the backdrop of the orchestra. This definition has fuzzy edges, and many works might be classified as sinfonia concertante which are named something else. The term is usually associated with the late baroque period, and Haydn composed three of them. Among them is his Sinfonia Concertante in B‑flat, Hob. I/105, composed in 1792, which is a fine exemplar. Violin, cello, oboe and bassoon perform the “solo” roles in this one. The “conversation” seems like a pleasant one, as if the instruments were relaxing with brandy and cigars after a fine dinner. The viola’s voice, particularly, comes across as mellow, but never maudlin. In fact, I think the best time to listen to this would be precisely in those physical circumstances.
First-time listening for October, 2012
23046. (Ella Fitzgerald) Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Songbook
23047. (Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays) As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
23048. (Albert King & Otis Rush) Door to Door Read more »
Juno Reactor’s First Album
I’ve been fond of Juno Reactor’s eclectic electronica since I first heard Beyond the Infinite in 1996. I’ve listened to most of their albums frequently, especially Bible of Dreams. But I pretty much forgot about their first release, Transmissions (1993). Revisiting it now, I see why. It has little of the input from world musical traditions that they became famous for. It now sounds pretty much like conventional trance poised somewhere between darkrave and goa trance. But in fact, it was a pioneering work from which these trends subsequently evolved. It still plays well, and doesn’t deserve to be entirely ignored, just because the group went on to develop a more sophisticated sound.
First-time listening for September, 2012
23000. (George Frederick Händel) Brockes Passion, Oratorio Hvw.48 [d. McGegan; Klietman,
. . . . . Gáti]
23001. (Weather Report) Weather Report
23002. (Ramsey Lewid Trio) The Best of the Ramsey Lewis Trio Read more »
First-time listening for August, 2012
22975. (Arthur Sullivan, mus. & W. S. Gilbert, text) The Mikado [D’Oyly Carte; Ayldon, Wright]
22976. (Purrkur Pillnikk) Ehgji En
22977. (Jo Basile) Vienesse Waltzes for Accordion
22978. (Sunna Gunnlaugs) The Dream Read more »
First-time listening for July, 2012
22953. (George Frederick Händel) Belshazzar, Oratorio [d. Knothe; Schreier, Frank-Reinecke,
. . . . . Treckel-Burkhardt, Pohl]
22954. (7 Seconds) 7 Seconds
22955. (Youth Lagoon) The Year of Hibernation Read more »
First-time listening for June, 2012
22924. (Dead Kennedys) Spend July 4th With Dead Kennedys [Live at Central London Poly,Nov 26 . . . . . 1982] (released 1992)
22925. (Bing Crosby) Bing Crosby with Paul Whiteman Orchestra
22926. (Adele) iTunes Live from SoHo
22927. (Rastafari Elders) Rastafari Elders Read more »
First-time listening for May, 2012
22906. (Jimi Hendrix) Band of Gypsys
22907. (Frank Zappa) Jazz from Hell
22908. (Cramps) Songs The Lord Taught Us
(Feodor Chaliapin) Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin Sings: Read more »