New releases

[Jonathan]

Really looking forward to the next installment on Somm of F.X.Scharwenka's transcriptions of Beethoven's 2nd and 7th symphonies played by Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman.

[Pulcinella]

A strange choice, given its expansiveness, for someone with a stated distaste for long stretches of music - that Mass is considerably longer than Rameau's Pigmalion... still, thanks for flagging it up, I look forward to hearing that, being a strong admirer of the Cappella Pratensis way of doing things.

Not sure how I stumbled across them, but I remember that I ordered three CDs direct from them/(their site?) that are mainly Josquin. I have the Tallis Scholars version of this Obrecht mass.

[Bryn]

The BPO Petrenko set of Shostakovich (S8, S9, S10) gets a glowing review in today's Times:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/k...1eb56d525061cc

I see that a 96/24 2-channel stereo version of the 8th is now available on QOBUZ. No sign (yet?) of the 9th or 10th, however.

[Pulcinella]

I see that a 96/24 2-channel stereo version of the 8th is now available on QOBUZ. No sign (yet?) of the 9th or 10th, however.

Stephen Johnson gives four stars for performance and five stars for recording in the May 2023 issue of BBC MM.
He has some doubts, and prefers Vasily in places.

[Alison]

ES likes the Tenth, the Eighth and Ninth somewhat less in May Gramophone. Not elemental enough, too sophisticated etc.

[RichardB]

A new recording of Dowland's Lachrimae on Alpha, by the Musicall Humours consort. Very restrained and beautiful playing, and more varied than you'd expect on account of the players swapping instruments for different pieces, quite an unusual strategy for a viol consort but why not?

[Mandryka]

https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/james-dillon-emblemata-carnival

(Sounds very good music to me! I mean, like, really very very good! Probably just in the mood for it.)

[Mandryka]

A new recording of Dowland's Lachrimae on Alpha, by the Musicall Humours consort. Very restrained and beautiful playing, and more varied than you'd expect on account of the players swapping instruments for different pieces, quite an unusual strategy for a viol consort but why not?

It’s not a big beef and it’s easily dealt with, but I just wish they’d play the lachrimae uninterrupted, and not mix it up with other pieces. It’s a cycle IMO and benefits from being heard as such.

[Bryn]

https://www.delphianrecords.com/prod...emata-carnival

(Sounds very good music to me!)

Thanks. I will check out the 96/24 option via QOBUZ.

[Jonathan]

Really looking forward to the next installment on Somm of F.X.Scharwenka's transcriptions of Beethoven's 2nd and 7th symphonies played by Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman.

Which arrived ahead of schedule direct from Somm. Maybe tomorrow I might have time to listen to it!

[RichardB]

It’s not a big beef and it’s easily dealt with, but I just wish they’d play the lachrimae uninterrupted, and not mix it up with other pieces. It’s a cycle IMO and benefits from being heard as such.

That's one way of hearing it, but not the only one I think. The "other pieces" are all from the same 1604 publication as the pavans and surely there's no need to cleave to the published order any more than with any other collection of the time.

Oh yes, and the two new James Dillon discs. Fascinating and attractive music as always, and so much more individual and original than 99% of contemporary chamber music. I do find the echoes a somewhat heavy-handed way to use "live electronics", but that's a small complaint under the circumstances.

[Master Jacques]

It’s not a big beef and it’s easily dealt with, but I just wish they’d play the lachrimae uninterrupted, and not mix it up with other pieces. It’s a cycle IMO and benefits from being heard as such.

There is a theory that Downland may not have envisaged them being played uninterrupted as a cycle, but would have expected them to be varied with the "divers other pavans, galliards and allemands" which he had published with his "seven teares". So dividing it into suites might actually be a viable solution. I rather prefer to hear them split, like jewels ("teare" has the double meaning of gem) set into a crown.

Luckily CD programming makes it possible for us to play them just as we wish.

[Mandryka]

There is a theory that Downland may not have envisaged them being played uninterrupted as a cycle, but would have expected them to be varied with the "divers other pavans, galliards and allemands" which he had published with his "seven teares". So dividing it into suites might actually be a viable solution.

Interesting - is there anything to read about this?

“teare" has the double meaning of gem

Very good factoid! The preface makes it clear that tear is already complex idea, with seven nuances, without that additional one. Hard to play in a way which brings out the different senses.

[Mandryka]

so much more individual and original than 99% of contemporary chamber music.

That’s so true!

[HighlandDougie]

Pace the usual snooterati about Steve Reich, this:

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0BV4JBWGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

is due tomorrow. Music which never fails to energise/uplift me so, being biased in its favour because of Colin Currie, I have high expectations.