Walt Mundkowsky

Walt Mundkowsky was born 1944 in San Antonio, TX. As a teenager, he had a dachshund named after Hugo Wolf. Extensive writings on film (cf. his “Cinema Obscura” column in Home Theater, 1995-2001). He favors the mine-shaft approach to music listening — in-depth exploration of tiny, unrelated areas. A resident of Beverly Hills, he has lived in basements in Denver, London and Stockholm, and may very well do so again.

Walt’s Ratatouille 2.

Diddling with Bach has been old hat for more than a century, and lately I’ve sighted Goldbergs from accordion, brass quintet, cathedral organ, jazz trio, overdubbed guitars, and several string ensembles.

Walt’s Ratatouille 2.

Diddling with Bach has been old hat for more than a century, and lately I’ve sighted Goldbergs from accordion, brass quintet, cathedral organ, jazz trio, overdubbed guitars, and several string ensembles.

New Music on Naïve Montaigne, Part Two

At first (in the early ’90s) there was Disques Montaigne, then Auvidis Montaigne, and now Naïve Montaigne. The new label has established a midline series, stocked with 20 previous titles and a sampler.

New Music on Naïve Montaigne, Part Two

At first (in the early ’90s) there was Disques Montaigne, then Auvidis Montaigne, and now Naïve Montaigne. The new label has established a midline series, stocked with 20 previous titles and a sampler.

Walt’s Ratatouille 1: Mostly Strings

Mostly Strings: Schnittke, Paul Bley, et al.

Walt’s Ratatouille 1: Mostly Strings

Mostly Strings: Schnittke, Paul Bley, et al.

New Music on Montaigne Naïve

Largely because of the Arditti Quartet Edition’s 35 volumes, Auvidis Montaigne has become indispensable to fans of contemporary music’s modernist wing. Reorganized as Naïve Montaigne, the label is discounting 20 titles to midprice.

New Music on Montaigne Naïve

Largely because of the Arditti Quartet Edition’s 35 volumes, Auvidis Montaigne has become indispensable to fans of contemporary music’s modernist wing. Reorganized as Naïve Montaigne, the label is discounting 20 titles to midprice.

An Assortment of Goodies

Before Stefan Winter launched the Munich-based Winter & Winter label, he produced a stream of uncommon jazz releases at JMT.

An Assortment of Goodies

Before Stefan Winter launched the Munich-based Winter & Winter label, he produced a stream of uncommon jazz releases at JMT.

Three ECM Releases

I approached the new Hilliard Ensemble disc with some optimism, and not only because it lacks intimations of hipness (no squalling Garbarek sax or “holy minimalist” vibe).

Three ECM Releases

I approached the new Hilliard Ensemble disc with some optimism, and not only because it lacks intimations of hipness (no squalling Garbarek sax or “holy minimalist” vibe).

Really Old Music

The sacred music that enjoys a popular profile falls into two groups, the High Renaissance and the Late Renaissance (sometimes termed the Counter-Reformation).

Really Old Music

The sacred music that enjoys a popular profile falls into two groups, the High Renaissance and the Late Renaissance (sometimes termed the Counter-Reformation).

Dictatorship? In Music? Man The Barricades!

Mike Silverton and Walt Mundkowsky blindside a CD annotator.

Dictatorship? In Music? Man The Barricades!

Mike Silverton and Walt Mundkowsky blindside a CD annotator.

Helicopter String Quartet

The product of a commission Stockhausen couldn’t accept (“The string quartet is a typical genre of the 18th century”) and a later dream, the work places the members of the Arditti String Quartet in separate airborne helicopters.

Helicopter String Quartet

The product of a commission Stockhausen couldn’t accept (“The string quartet is a typical genre of the 18th century”) and a later dream, the work places the members of the Arditti String Quartet in separate airborne helicopters.

Three Reviews

A longtime staple of the Harmonia Mundi catalogue, Gregorio Paniagua’s La Folia deserves comment for its title alone.

Three Reviews

A longtime staple of the Harmonia Mundi catalogue, Gregorio Paniagua’s La Folia deserves comment for its title alone.

Notes on Schnittke

Russian composer Alfred Schnittke died in Hamburg August 3, 1998, silenced by the last in a series of debilitating strokes that began 13 years earlier.

Notes on Schnittke

Russian composer Alfred Schnittke died in Hamburg August 3, 1998, silenced by the last in a series of debilitating strokes that began 13 years earlier.