Used Bin Troll Tweets O.

Ethelbert Nevin

[December 2015.]

naxos_8573229

Grażyna BACEWICZ: Concerto for String Orchestra (1948); Symphony for String Orchestra (1946); Piano Quintet No. 1 (1952; arr. Mariusz SMOLIJ, 2013)*. Ewa Kupiec* (pno), Capella Bydgostiensis Chamber Orchestra, Mariusz Smolij (cond.). Naxos 8.573229 (1 CD) (http://www.naxos.com/).

Clenched string writing: bitter when not aggressive and aggressive when not bitter. At least it’s good to see more Bacewicz on record. MAYBE.

haensslerprofil_ph14036

“Reflections.” Pierre BOULEZ: Anthèmes pour violin seul (1991). Eugène YSAŸE: Sonata Nos. 2 and 4 (1923). Salvatore SCIARRINO: Sei Capricci (1976). Jörg WIDMANN: Études I-III (1995, 2001, 2002). Carolin Widmann (vln). Hänssler Profil PH14036 (1 CD) (http://www.haensslerprofil.de/).

Wispy Sciarrino framed by the ever-progressive Ysaÿe, who always stands up well to Boulez. Widmann’s brother contributes three etudes. MAYBE.

ravello_rr7915

Frances WHITE: She Lost Her Voice That’s How We Knew (2004). Kristin Norderval (sop). Ravello Records RR7915 (1 CD) (http://www.ravellorecords.com/).

Another for the “do not judge by its cover” pile, also ignore that shakuhachi credit. Here’s an eerie opera for soprano and electronics. YES.

eloquentia_el1125

J.S. BACH: Die Kunst der Fuge (1740-45, 1748-50). Sit Fast: Atsushi Sakaï, Isabelle Saint-Yves, Thomas de Pierrefeu, Josh Cheatham (viols). Eloquentia EL1125 (1 CD) (http://www.eloquentia.fr/).

Eleven fugues are enough to make this one of the best. Sit Fast’s viols spin smooth, unornamented lines, registering lugubrious clarity. YES.

mercuryclassics_b002159302

“The Brooklyn Rider Almanac.” Rubin KODHELI: Necessary Henry! (2012). Dana LYN: Maintenance Music (2012). Padma NEWSOME: Simpson’s Gap (2012). Daniel CORDS: The Haring Escape (2012). Aoife O’DONOVAN: Show Me (2014). Vijay IYER: Dig The Say (2012). Greg SAUNIER: Quartet, Parts One & Two (2012). Ethan IVERSON: Morris Dance (2012). Colin JACOBSEN: Exit (2014)*. Gonzalo GRAU: Five-Legged Cat (2014). Christina COURTIN: Tralala (2012). Glenn KOTCHE: Ping Pong Fumble Thaw (2014). Bill FRISELL: John Steinbeck (2012). Shara Worden* (voice), Brooklyn Rider: Johnny Gandelsman, Colin Jacobsen (vln), Nicholas Cords (vla), Eric Jacobsen (vlc). Mercury Classics B0021593-02. (1 CD) (http://www.mercuryclassics.com/).

Among gritty pop-flavored quartets, Jacobsen’s Exit with Worden’s eerie soprano makes the only impression. IF JUST FOR THE ONE, PROBABLY NOT.

kairos_0012832kai

Mauricio SOTELO: Chalan (2003)¹; Como Llora el Agua (2008)²; Wall of Light Black – for Sean Scully (2005-06)³; Night (2007)⁴. Trilok Gurtu¹ (perc), Juan Manuel Cañizares² (flamenco guit.), Marcus Weiss³ (sax), Miquel Bernat⁴ (perc), musikFabrik^1,3,4, Stefan Asbury¹, Brad Lubman³, Mauricio Sotelo⁴ (cond.). Kairos 0012832KAI (1 CD) (http://www.kairos-music.com/).

Ach Kairos, how could you fail me? Sotelo is a fragile hybrid of Scelsi and Lachenmann. Even the percussion concertos make no impression. NO.

Bacewicz, Bach, Boulez, Cords, Courtin, Frisell, Grau, Iverson, Iyer, Jacobsen, Kodheli, Kotchke, Lyn, Newsome, O'Donovan, Saunier, Sciarrino, Sotelo, WhiteF, Widmann, Ysaÿe

[More Ethelbert Nevin, Used Bin Troll Tweets]

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