Nov 2021 – Alto CD

American Masterpieces: Grofé – Thomson – Gould – Copland

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“Abravanel’s account highly recommendable … played with great conviction” [Thomson] “colours glowing, resonantly atmospheric ..most enjoyable” [Gould] “so vivid and atmospheric …astonishing recorded sound .. Guaracha irresistibly catchy” [Copland] “orchestral vitality and rhythmic power” (all 3 stars Penguin Guide)

Ferde Grofé – Grand Canyon Suite [31:59]

[1] Sunrise 5:26 [2] Painted Desert 5:37 [3] On the Trail 7:42

[4] Sunset 5:00 [5] Cloudburst 8:12

Utah Symphony Orchestra / Maurice Abravanel (1-5) rec 1959

Virgil Thomson – The Plow that Broke the Plains [13:57]

[6] Prelude 1:26 [7] Pastorale (Grass) 1:10 [8] Cattle 2:54

[9] Blues (Speculation) 2:35 [10] Drought 0:57 [11] Devastation 4:52

Symphony of the Air / Leopold Stokowski (6-11) rec 1961

Morton Gould – Fall River Legend [20:16]

[12] Prologue and Waltzes 3:17 [13] Elegy 3:19

[14] Church Social 3:25 [15] Hymnal Variations 4:29

[16] Cotillion 3:27 [17] Epilogue 2:16

[18] Morton Gould – Guaracha (Latin-American Symphonette)

Morton Gould and his Orchestra (12-18) rec 1960 3:13

[19] Aaron Copland – El Salon Mexico [9:42]

Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati (19) rec 1957

Brahms Piano Concertos Nos.1 and 2*

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“These present an even more formidable achievement …readings that are strong and positive as well as thoughtful … [No.1] “crisp, lifted rhythms and a raptness to compare with Barenboim and Arrau, hold one’s attention as a live performance would” [No.2] “That sense of spontaneity is similarly conveyed in the performance of the Second Concerto … formidable technique and warm, positive temperament …Tirimo is far from reticent as a soloist. He gives a commanding account” (both: Edward Greenfield / Gramophone & both 3 stars Penguin Guide) [2nd] “takes its place among three or four best versions of this much-recorded work” (High Fidelity, USA)

Disc 1: [55:14]

Brahms Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor Op.15

[1] Maestoso 25:14

[2] Adagio 16:26

[3] Rondo (allegro non troppo) 13:27

Recorded April 1980; Producer: Barry McCann; Engineer: Mike Clements

Disc 2: [49:30]

Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat Op.83*

[1] Allegro non troppo 18:08

[2] Allegro 8:48

[3] Andante 13:14

[4] Allegro grazioso 9:16

Recorded August 1974; Producer & Engineer: Brian Culverhouse

Judy Garland – BEST EVER COLLECTION !

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

28 tracks, 79 minutes of one of Hollywood’s most endearing, but also tragic, major stars who could act as well as sing and who blazed a trail from The Wizard of Oz, through For Me & My Gal Meet Me in St.Louis, and Easter Parade and many more !

1. Over the Rainbow (Wizard of Oz) 2:47

2. Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart 2:55

3. On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe (with The Merry Macs) 3:07

4. (Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me Love You 3:10

5. For Me and My Gal (with Gene Kelly) 2:29

6. Be a Clown (with Gene Kelly) 2:36

7. When You Wore a Tulip (and I Wore a Big Red Rose) (with Gene Kelly) 2:35

8. On the Sunny Side of the Street 2:30

9. I’m Nobody’s Baby 2:53

10. But Not for Me 3:07

11. It’s a Great Day for the Irish 2:26

12. That Old Black Magic 2:43

13. A Couple of Swells (with Fred Astaire) 2:36

14. Easter Parade (with Fred Astaire) 2:40

15. Get Happy 2:47

16. You’ll Never Walk Alone 3:17

17. How About You? 2:57

18. Love 3:23

19. Friendship (with Johnny Mercer) 2:31

20. Embraceable You 2:48

21. This Heart of Mine 3:13

22. I’m Just Wild About Harry 1:55

23. The Man That Got Away 3:38

24. By Myself 2:34

Meet Me in St. Louis:

25. Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis 2:13

26. The Boy Next Door 3:05

27. The Trolley Song (Ring ring ring …) 2:44

BONUS: 28. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 2:00

Joseph Haydn Symphonies 88, 94, 101 – Legendary Symphonic recordings

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:03 +0000

Symphony No. 88 in G major [21:02]

[1] Adagio – Allegro 6:49

[2] Largo 6:16

[3] Menuetto: Allegro 4:22

[4] Finale: Allegro con spirito 3:34

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwängler /rec 1952

Symphony No. 94 in G major “Surprise” [20:47]

[5] Adagio cantabile – Vivace assai 6:30

[6] Andante 5:40

[7] Menuetto e trio: Allegro molto 5:08

[8] Finale: Allegro di molto 3:27

Symphony No. 101 in D major “Clock” [25:49]

[9] Adagio – Presto 8:52

[10] Andante 6:06

[11] Menuetto e trio: Allegretto 6:34

[12] Finale: Vivace 4:15

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Pierre Monteux / rec 1959

Hymns from Cambridge (with Descants)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:03 +0000

“the descants of much-loved Director Richard Marlow embellish 24 popular hymns from Tinity College”

[1] Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Tune: Blaenwern)/ W.P. Rowlands 3:20

[2] Rejoice, the Lord is King /HWV 286 /G.F.Handel 2:38

[3] Come, thou long-expected Jesus (Tune: Cross of Jesus) /John Stainer 1:48

[4] Hark! the glad sound (Episcopalian Harmony) /John J.Husband 1:56

[5] Hark! a herald voice is calling /William Henry Monk 2:18

[6] On Jordans’s bank the Baptist’s cry /Anon, German 2:17

[7] Praise to the Lord, the Almighty /German Trad. 2:54

[8] My God, I love thee, hymn (from ‘Solomon’) /G.F.Handel 2:34

[9] Immortal love for ever full /Jeremiah Clarke 3:18

[10] Jesus Christ is Risen Today (hymn Anon, Lyra Davidica) 2:24

[11] Love’s redeeming work is done. /hymn Anon. 2:09

[12] Jesus lives! Thy terrors now (Tune: St. Albinus) /Henry John Gauntlett 2:40

[13] Ye choirs of New Jerusalem (St. Fulbert) /Henry John Gauntlett 2:28

[14] All People That on Earth Do Dwell (‘Old Hundredth’) 3:03

[15] The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns /Jeremiah Clarke 2:26

[16] O Thou Who Camest From Above /S.S.Wesley 2:37

[17] Come, thou Holy Spirit, come /Samuel Webbe 3:08

[18] The Church’s One Foundation (Tune: Aurelia) /S.S.Wesley 3:57

[19] The God of Abraham praise Thomas Olivers 4:20

[20] O praise the Lord, ye servants of the Lord /Anon. 2:55

[21] Disposer supreme Thomas Ravenscroft 3:01

[22] Immortal, invisible, God only wise /J.Roberts (Caniadau y Cyssegre) 2:25

[23] Christ is our Corner-stone (tune Harewood) /S.S.Wesley 1:50

[24] O love divine, how sweet thou art! /S.S.Wesley 2:40

A Minstrel’s Christmas – English, German, Czech, French, Austrian Carols from many periods

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:03 +0000

“Opening vivaciously, this collection simulates a visiting village group with pleasing simplicity …Many highlights from Deller himself, on magical form here” (Penguin Guide)

1. Anon., England, early C14: Alleluya psallat** 1:10

2. Anon. C17: Patapan 0:58

3. Anon., traditional: Here We Come a-Wassailing* 2:16

4. Anon. London Wait: Past Three o’Clock 1:53

5. Anon. Trad., England: I Saw Three Ships 2:02

6. Anon. Trad., England: The Coventry Carol 2:21

7. Anon. C16 (spring carol): Good King Wenceslas (text: J.M. Neale, C19) 2:44

8. Joseph Möhr & Hans Grüber: Silent Night 1:58

9. Anon., trad: Elizabethan popular: The Old Year Now (Greensleeves)* 2:00

10. J.H. Hopkins: Hymn: We Three Kings of Orient Are 2:20

11. Anon., traditional: Down in Yon Forest* 2:25

12. Anon. Trad., England: The First Nowell 3:09

13. Anon. Czech Carol: Rocking (Hajej, nynjej) 1:29

14. Anon. England: Christmas carol: God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen 2:35

15. Anon: Dormi Jesu 1:24

16. Anon. Ca.C15: Boar’s Head Carol 1:44

17. Anon. medieval & Gustav Holst (arr.): Lullay My Liking 2:00

18. E.H. Sears & R.S. Willis: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 2:23

19. Anon. Germany & Robert Herrick, 1647: Herrick’s Carol 1:37

20. C.J. Alexander & H.J. Gauntlett: Once in Royal David’s City 2:36

21. Anon. medieval/Cecil Sharp (arr.): Carol: The Holly and the Ivy 2:43

22. Anon. Germany (Scheidt & J.S.Bach (harmonised): O Little One Sweet 2:39

23. Anon. medieval, (ca 1425): Processional song of the Nuns of Chester 1:41

24. Anon. C16: Winter-Rose 1:41

25. G.F. Handel (attr.): Joy to the World (text: Isaac Watts)* 1:33

26. Anon. C14, arr. Bach: Carol: In Dulci Jubilo (harmonised: J S Bach) 2:29

27. Anon., traditional, old Welsh: Deck the Halls* 1:08

28. Anon. William Ballet’s Lute-book Lullaby* 2:13

29. Ye Shepherds leave* 1:48

30. Anon., traditional, old Besançon: Carol tune: People Look East* 1:55

31. Anon., traditional, Blessed be that Maid Mary* 1:25

32. Anon., ca 1520-30: Sir Christemas* 2:53

33. Anon.C15, arr.M.Praetorius.: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming* 2:22

34. Anon.: The Twelve Days of Christmas* 2:41

35. Johann Georg Ebeling: All My Heart This Night Rejoices* 2:40

36. Anon., traditional, Czech: The Birds* 1:06

37. Anon. Trad., England: Wassail Song* (counter-tenor version) 1:30

38. Anon., traditional, England (west country): A Merry Christmas* 1:37

Alfred Deller, counter-tenor & director Deller Consort / Desmond Dupré, lute / Stanley Taylor,

recorder / April Cantelo, soprano /Gerald English, tenor / Maurice Bevan, baritone

*Group as above but instead sopranos Eileen Poulter & Mary Thomas, and additional tenor

Wilfred Brown; ** Deller Consort with Musica Antiqua Wien / René Clemencic