20th century classics July 29, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, recordings, 3commentsEMI has released a set of recordings from their huge back catalog devoted to major works (classics, if you will) of the previous century. There is a lot of great stuff to be found on these discs, including some definitive performances. Here’s a rundown and information on where to order or download:
Messiaen
Turangalila Symphony
Quartet for the End of Time
Theme and Variations for cello and piano
Hindemith
Symphony ‘Mathis der Maler’
Concert Music, op. 50
Der Schwanendreher for viola and orchestra
Symphonia Serena
Symphonic Metamorphosis
Nobilissima Visione
Nielsen
Symphony No. 5
Violin Concerto
Flute Concerto
Clarinet Concerto
Wind Quintet in A major
Dutilleux
Le Loup
Cello Concerto “Tout un Monde Lointain”
Violin Concerto “L’Arbe Des Songes”
Metaboles
The Shadows of Time
Symphony No. 2
You can find all of these albums available for download at iTunes here.
And physical CD’s for purchase at Arkiv Music here.
Also featured:
Prokofiev
Suk
Bartók
Schoenberg
A few old-school Mahler’s 9th recordings April 19, 2008
Posted by trumpetboy in : appreciation/criticism, audio, composition, conducting, guest post, music, recordings, add a commentI’m pleased to welcome as my first guest blogger Jeffrey Work, principal trumpet of the Oregon Symphony. He, among other things, is an enthusiastic collector of old recordings, and as such, I thought that he might like to delve into his massive collection and give us some nuggets that relate to the upcoming work on the next classical series: Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. Enjoy! — CN
As the Oregon Symphony’s musicians prepare for our upcoming performances of the Mahler 9th, most of us will head to our record and CD libraries. It’s a common first step before we go to the more important second step: heading to the practice room. My routine is no different. (more…)
U.S. orchestras begin recording again March 30, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a commentCaught this article on Yahoo about the recent (and very small) expansion in the recording activities of some US orchestras.
Here’s the first couple paragraphs:
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Not long ago, American orchestras considered the notion of creating new recordings an almost impossible dream.
Among the hurdles: longstanding union regulations that made the process untenably expensive in the United States, a market flooded with mid-priced catalog reissues and budget recordings that made new full-priced titles less appealing to consumers, changed financial expectations at major labels (demanding that classical recordings earn their keep rather than be prestige money-losing projects) and the sales woes of the broader recording industry.
But several world-renowned American orchestras have figured out how to start recording again — many adopting a do-it-yourself mind-set that centers on digital retail. Already familiar to indie rock acts, the approach was entirely new terrain to orchestras that in decades past had enjoyed lavish contracts.
thomas adés nytimes profile March 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, chamber music, composition, music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a comment 
G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times
British composer phenom Thomas Adés (age 37) is presenting a concert of his music at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group on Friday, March 29th. The New York Times’ Vivien Schweitzer writes this article about his background and ethos in today’s edition of the paper. Here are a few of my favorite observations from the article:
indianapolis streams with instantencore.com March 22, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a commentI love the concept - you can go to the website and either stream the works for free or buy them for between $.99 - $1.79 per work (depending upon length). The recordings are made from live concerts (presumably from three or four of them edited together to cover audience noises, musician mishaps, etc.).
This is something that I wish we could implement here in Oregon. Sadly, the last two seasons have had no broadcast quality archival recordings made - funding was cut to help address the deficit situation in which we currently find ourselves.
I hope that there is some way to restore the $70,000 or so it would take (and I believe that this is a liberal estimate, it may be much lower) to at least have our current excellent concerts at least available for future use for either streaming, downloading, or physical distribution. As it stands right now, the archival recordings which are currently being made do not come close to being of the quality necessary for produce a commercially available recording or broadcast. It’s sad.
columbus recording its own memorial February 27, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a commentSad, but true:
Douglas Fisher
Member, Columbus Symphony Orchestra
President, Local 103, AFMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2008
Columbus Symphony Musicians Vote To Allow Live
RecordingNext week’s Columbus Symphony Orchestra program will be recorded live for the international recording company Denon, which will release it on compact disc. At the personal request of Music Director Junichi Hirokami, the Musicians voted to allow this recording under a new national recording agreement which allows live recordings to be produced for a tenth of what a normal studio recording of the same program would cost.
hmm… February 17, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : fun, music, recordings, add a commentI don’t know why this appeals to me, must be the weird violist mental thing, but here’s a cool story about a unique recording released in New Zealand:
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - It’s a doggone chartbuster — a song audible only to dogs has topped New Zealand record charts, and is looking to go global.
A Very Silent Night, recorded at a frequency only dogs can hear, was so popular among owners it hit number one at Christmas, but has been receiving mixed responses from listeners.
“The most violent one was a dog that physically attacked the radio when it was played and went quite berserk and totally destroyed it,” said Bob Kerridge, chief executive of animal welfare group, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
“On the other side of the scale, they just lie down and did nothing.” The charity CD, priced at NZ$4.99 ($3.93), contained an instrumental and a vocal version of the song, but Kerridge said he did not know what kind of music dogs would hear.
“Never having heard it myself, I don’t what they’ll hear and of course I don’t know how dogs hear music,” he said.
Kerridge added dogs in Australia and the United States could soon have a listen.
Around NZ$22,000 ($17,300) has been raised by the disc’s sale.
interview with grammy winning flutist February 15, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : contemporary, music, recordings, add a commentDavid Stabler has a short Q&A with Molly Barth, who was a founding member of the new music ensemble eighth blackbird which just won a Grammy award last week. Click here to read it.
china forbes solo album due February 11, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, popular music, recordings, 3comments
Yes - you heard right - Pink Martini chanteuse China Forbes has an album due out February 26th, 2008. (more…)
grammy for eighth blackbird February 10, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : contemporary, music, recordings, add a comment
At tonight’s Grammy Awards, new music ensemble eighth blackbird won the Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance - that means (I’d assume) that Wilsonville resident, Willamette faculty, and member of fEARnoMUSIC (as well as frequent OSO substitute), flutist Molly Barth will soon have her very own Grammy sitting on her mantel at home! Congrats to her and the rest of the ensemble on a well-deserved win!
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