"From the Forest" - Early Classical Works for Horn
CHRISTOPH FOERSTER: Concerto in E-flat (1st movement)
Stewart Rose, fh; St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble
Arabesque CD-6750 (www.arabesquerecords.com)
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If Leopold Mozart, Telemann, and early Haydn pull your chain, you'll enjoy this charmingly wrought little concerto by a contemporary of Bach who...in the context of his time...was actually somewhat avant-guarde. This is 'sensitive' music from the crossover point between late Baroque and early 'classical'. Foerster, who served the prince in Merseburg, wrote tons more music but is remembered almost exclusively for this one piece which, like the recording and its performance, is genial and entertaining.
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"Stadtpfeiffer", Music of Renaissance Germany
Piffaro, a Renaissance Wind Band
Dorian CD-90292 (www.dorian.com)
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Half a century ago, Noah Greenburg and the New York Pro Musica introduced a generation of curious early-music neophytes to the wonders of Renaissance Band music. The players here are technically much more adroit, though their playing lacks some of the quirky humor of Greenburg's crew. Still, these pieces for sackbuts, shawms, and recorders (in various groupings) delights by its unfussy manner and unforced sonics.
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"Saxophone Masterpieces"
PAUL CRESTON: Sonata, Op. 19 (1st movement)
Eugene Rousseau, sax; Jaromir Klepac, p
RIAX CD-1001 (www.riax.com)
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Rousseau, recently invited to join the University of Minnesota music faculty, has established himself as one of the world's premiere saxophone teachers and performers (during three decades at Indiana University in Bloomington). This album shows him in five excellent 20th century scores (others by Muczynski, Heiden and Kabelac). The Creston Sonata deserves its place as probably the most-performed of all Saxophone scores.
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"Mr. Mellow" - Jazz arrangements for Saxophone and Big Band
DOMINIC SPERA: "Blues for Mr' Mellow"
Eugene Rousseau, sax; The ER Big Band/David Baker, conductor
Liscio Recordings CD-01188 (contact Rousseau's studio: 612-624-3875)
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Fun versions of jazz standards by Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Thelonious Monk, George Gershwin and others show that a classically-trained saxophonist knows how to let his hair down. Try "Stardust".
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MARC EYCHENNE: Cantilene et Danse (1961)
BEETHOVEN: Trio in Eb, Op. 11 (Variations, 3rd movement)
Eugene Rousseau, sax; Haydn Trio of Vienna
RIAX CD-1003 (www.riax.com)
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The Algerian Eychenne knows how to make the combination of violin, sax and piano really sing. And Beethoven's light-hearted Trio, here with a soprano saxophone transparently taking over the part originally for clarinet, reminds that this so-serious composer also had his lighter side. A perfect album to introduce anyone to the beguiling possibilities of the classical saxophonist.
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JINDRICH FELD: Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra (3rd movement)
Eugene Rousseau, sax; Janacek Philharmonic Orch/Otakar Trhlik, cond
RIAX CD-1004 (www.riax.com)
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Rousseau discovered Czech composer Feld's music by accident back in the early 1970s, and their friendly relationship has resulted in more than an hour's new music for Rousseau's instrument. The first of these was the 1980 Concerto which, despite its use of a tone-row, persuades with an ardent, communicative emotional energy. In the grey seas of so much undistinguished late 20th century writing, Feld stands out a hero.
Note that some of these recordings may be difficult to locate, and a best final resource would be the office of Professor Rousseau himself, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis (612-624-3875).
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"Meditation"
RAVEL: Piece en Forme de Habanera
Eugene Rousseau, sax; unnamed Japanese pianist
ALM Records CD-7021 (see statement above)
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As befits an album of 'meditations', this disc of brief works by Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Massenet and others sooths in the best sort of way...and then, with an occasionally zippy excursion into Fritz Kreisler or Pierre Max Dubois, perks you up again, too. The sax as supple lyric soloist.
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"Gale Force" (quintet music by composers from North America)
VINCENT PERSICHETTI: Pastoral
The Prairie Winds
Albany CD-401 (www.albanyrecords.com)
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Chicago Symphony Orchestra players create this superb ensemble, and their performance of pieces by John Harbison, Samuel Barber, Jacques Hetu and others likely will be regarded as a classic. The Persichetti Pastoral is one of his most charming, laid-back compositions. Superb.
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"Flute Recital from La Belle Epoque"
CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR: Suite for Flute and Piano, Op. 34 (mvts 1 & 3)
Marina Piccinini, flute; Anne Epperson, piano
Claves CD-502009 (www.claves.ch)
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Who can resist Debussy, Hüe, Faure, Godard, Enescu and WIDOR...glory, such sweet things. If you only know of Widor from his Organ Symphonies (and famous Toccata), discover an entirely different...and wonderful...aspect of his art here. Piccinini's luminous tone is like honey and pearls (not together!). Yow!
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BRIGHT SHENG: "Flute Moon" (Flute Concerto, 1999)
Sharon Bezaly, flute; Singapore Sym Orch/Lan Shui, cond
BIS CD-1122 (www.qualiton.com)
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And, after swooning for Marina, another gorgeous flute-player, a 29-year-old Israelinow living in Salzburg. And Mr. Sheng's exotic, poetic pages capture the imagination fully. Not just another Quantz Concerto. There is so much incredible, virtually unknown music...old and new...to discover. Give yourself a gift.
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