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My thanks to britishcomposer for uploading this enjoyable work.  The only other work by this composer I have come across was on an album  I bought many years ago called 'Musik am Gothaer', which work was his 'Concert-fantasie'for Cello & Orchestra (Op. 33) .

Checking for any other orchestral works he may haver written, I came across the reference below - way to mighty for my feeble grey matter!! - but its opening line says he was "... the most prolific arranger and editor of music for the cello in the 19th century".

https://mhm.hud.ac.uk/chase/article/friedrich-gr-tzmacher-an-overview-george-kennaway/

His dates (1832 - 1903) place him right in the middle of the 'UC remit' and yet he appears to be virtually unknown as well as unheard.  Is this because his music might be 'pleasant but not memorable' or for some other reason (e.g. he composed very little?)

Any enlightenment appreciated.

Best wishes

Richard

Apologies if there is a previous thread on this which I have not been able to find.

just listening to this work. This was apparently broadcast on 28th December (at a concert in Ukraine?). If anyone had any further information on the orchestration and timings of the individual dances within this overall 'suite' it would be much appreciated.

thanks

Richard

Folks,

Just come across this work on YT - seems full-blooded 'romanticism' to my simple ear (disregarding the date!) but what do you think and does anyone have any more information that the bald title in the YT film??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6lPQbb7Ln0

Cheers

Richard

Just FYI

Just noticed our friends in the Tyrol are back with a 50% off Xmas offer. However, a quick peruse through their catalogue didn't show me any 'new this year' romantic orchestral works (unless I missed them) so this year I will have to give this a miss.

Happy Xmas to all and many thanks once again to Mark, Alan, Ilja and the rest of the gang who keep UC up and running and a joy to read all the posts.

Richard

Whilst re-cataloguing my CDs, I came to an old Turnabout CD (cat no. 30371 00462) with two early piano concertos by Beethoven (No. 0 in E flat maj and a 'one movement' very early piece in D maj (attr.) and which also contains a piano concerto by JL Dussek.  This last is shown on the inlay as P969 in B-flat major - its mvmts are I. Allegro 12'40, II. Larghetto 4'27 and Rondo (allegro ma non tanto) 5'00.

The numbering of Dussek's works seems (to me) very dubious/confusing at the very least and I can find no references at all to 'P' cataloguing - just 'CRAW and Opus numbers.  As his work list (WIKI and IMSLP) contains more than one work in B flat maj, I'd appreciate it very much if anyone can clarify which particular work this is.

Many thanks

Richard

Following so shortly after the very emotional death of our Queen, so sad this morning to read of the death of Lars Vogt.  I only saw him a few of times when, as resident conductor of the Northern Sinfonia, I when to local concerts at the Sage, Gateshead, most memorably for the re-creation of that massive programme of Beethoven's symphonies and Piano Concertos, including (IIRC) Symphonies 5 & 6 and Piano Concerto No. 4.

As both conductor and soloist I could only admire his enthusiasm and skill - he clearly put every ounce of his being into the performance.

A very sad passing for his family, his music and last but not least, classical music here in the North East. 

RIP

Richard

JP,

Followed the links you kindly gave and found some listings of CDs of potential interest.  Tried to contact via e-mail Mr Miroslav Vilimec (Aug 17th) to make more detailed enquires and maybe take matters further but so far no reply.  However, I did discover Jakub Jan Ryba's work via this web-site and then  on Spotify, there are some nice early romantic works (Cello concerto & D minor violin concerto).  The web-site also lists a CD with Ryba's (only surviving) symphony on but I cannot find it listed anywhere else and until Mr Vilimec replies I'm temporarily stumped.

Anyway, many thanks for your 'intro' to this area of Czech music.

Best wishes

Richard

I'm just starting a new cycle of going through my CDs (A-Z by composer) and looking for any gaps I might wish to fill.  In doing so I've noticed that Atterberg wrote 3 ballets. Now, whilst I'm not usually a fan of complete stage works recordings, I usually like the overtures/preludes, suites etc. often taken from them.

In the case of Atterberg's ballets, I'm finding slim pickings or even less in both recordings available and even non-academic literature about these works (i.e. I'm looking for the sort of level of info that would be on accompanying sleeve notes).

Like many a 20th c. composers, some of his later works (e.g. Sym 9) are definitely not my cup of tea but quite often somewhat earlier stuff I find is still quite 'romantic' in style.

If anyone can advise on either available recordings and/or information on his ballet works I would really appreciate it. 

Thanks

Richard

Does anyone have any information on this work.  All I've found is it being listed in WIKI (which says his first three (early) symphonies were not given 'numbers' when published, hence this being published as 'No. 4'.  If those early three are included, then this is his 7th symphony. 

I can find no recording nor even comments about it.  also, although WIKI gives this as OP. 49, elsewhere I've seen that same number attributed to his PC (which I have under OP. 47 - hope that's correct!)

Any info appreciated.

Cheers

Richard

A little before Xmas I downloaded (from PRESTO) the Brilliant Classics box-set of orchestral clarinet works.  Amongst them was a work by Rossini - 'La Donna del Iago' (The Lady of the Lake) - which appears to be an 'Introduction, Theme and Variations', taken from tunes in his opera of the same name.

This started me looking for similar clarinet works he may have composed and I came across the following:

1) Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra in C maj (1809) on a Supraphon CD (with Ludmila Petrekova as soloist

2) Introduction, Theme and Variation for Clarinet in E flat Major / B Major on an ORFEO CD with Dieter Klocker as soloist

3) Introduction, Theme and Variation for Clarinet in B minor / B Major (together with some other clarinet/orchestra works) on the same ORFEO CD.

Can anyone please advise is the 'La Donna...' work one of the items 1-3 above or is it a separate work in its own right?  A bit of trawling on the web produced very little information on ANY of these works, nor anything resembling a list of his clarinet (or any other solo instrument) and orchestra works, never mind opus numbers or anything else to help differentiate them.

Any help appreciated.

Best wishes

Richard

Question: Which symphonic work of his is the one on the OLYMPIA label '400 years of Dutch Music vol 2"?  It says on the reverse side of the CD sleeve this is Symphony No. 4 (Op. 19, no key or tempi given) in 1 movement (or at least 1 track, presumably in sections), duration ca.22 minutes.

Browsing IMSLP & Musicweb International gives mention of these Symphonies: Op 5 (No. 1 D maj - this Op No. shared with a concerto?!), Op 13 (No. 2 G maj), Op 16 (No. 3 C min) and Op 19 (also No. 3 in C min) and Symphony No. 10 D maj (WoO)

No mention at all of a Symphony No. 4! (or indeed anything else after No. 3 and  before No. 10)

If anyone can shed any light on what I am listening to (on Spotify) for the 'Symphony 4' work above, it would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Richard

I've seen two works, both with this same Opus number attributed to them. 

These works are (i) Song of the Volga Boatmen (Hyperion and elsewhere) and (ii) Theme and Variations in G minor for strings (Google search).  Can anyone shed any light on this please?

Thanks

Richard

Johanna Senfter was born in 1879 into a wealthy family in Germany where her musical talents were encouraged to flourish. A respected violinist, pianist and philanthropist, she was also a prolific composer, though many of her 130+ works have only been uncovered since her death.

Her beautiful and haunting Elegie for violin and piano is included in the Feminae in Musica album. Previously unrecorded, Senfter's Concerto in C minor for Two Violins and String Orchestra (opus 40) is presented with Ten Old Dances for Two Violins (opus 91) on the Feminae release "Senfter: Compositions for Two Violins".

(above is the blurb from the 'Feminae' web-site)
--------------------------------------------------------
Just noticed this 'new' release when I went to the 'www.feminaerecords.com' web-site for details of the Elisabeth KUYPER violin Concerto, which I've just downloaded from Amazon.

Has anyone any details or experience of this - it is totally new to my (limited) knowledge?

Having enjoyed her symphony No. 4 B min (from UC a few years ago IIRC??), I hope to sample this VC shortly.

Cheers

Richard

Firstly, my thanks to Britishcomposer for uploading Mel Bonis's Suite Orientale.  Along with Mayer's Symphony No. 6 (only syms 7 and 8 to go now?!), this could well be a mouth-watering selection to listen to.

As I'd never heard any of Mel Bonis' works before (orchestral or otherwise), this upload prompted me to do a bit of sleuthing and eventually I found available a CD of all her orchestral works (see link below, and possibly elsewhere too?), recorded by the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra about a decade ago.

This doesn't seem to be listed with any of the major retailers nor are any other details obviously available on-line either about these works (or even liner notes).

The works recorded are listed as:
•   Suite en Forme de Valses
•   Danse Sacree
•   Les Femmes de Legendes
•   Suite Orientale
•   Sarabande
•   Pavane
•   Pourree (= Bourre)

https://laboiteamusique.eu/brand/le-chant-du-linos/page/2/

Best wishes

Richard

Just came across this on YOUTUBE.  A (short?) violin concerto (or part thereof) by Michal Jelski.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouUga5XM-gc

Apart from him getting a very brief mention (IIRC!!!) in a previous post about Bobinski et al PCs, I've never heard of him (and couldn't find anything else either with quick paddle and nothing else on UC either).

If anyone can add any light (or extension) to this lovely but short taster - either the man or his music - it would be much appreciated.

Best wishes and stay safe

Richard

I recently came across a PC by Arvids Zilinskis.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_TXwIYKIY&t=9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTzEeX_DRDI

Although dated to the mid-1940s, it really struck me as almost archetypal 'romantic' except for a few short 'modernistic' interludes.  Whilst not in the style of Andre Mathieu, nevertheless it was he who came to mind as I listened.

I rarely look for 20th C works (after WW1) or spend time listening to them as 99% seem to disappoint but in this case I'm glad I made an exception.

If any other UC members get a chance to listen, I'd be interested on your take on this work.

Best wishes

Richard

Friends,

There are a number of 'complete works' box-sets and CDs on sale or due very shortly and undoubtedly more will follow to celebrate this event.  The reason for this post is that, although the web-site 'Unheard Beethoven' has a list of seldom/never before heard works that can be downloaded as mp3 files, these are, as far as I know, all on a synthesised rendering of the works. 

As these box sets come to market, I would really appreciate it if members, as and when they become aware, can post a notification of any non-synthesised work they think has previously not been available on CD.  Whilst my own particular interest is orchestral (symphonic/concertante works), I appreciate many members have interests in choral/vocal, chamber and instrumental works so I would not wish to restrict any such notifications to my own narrow interest.

If anyone knows anywhere else I could look for this info with the same 'authority' that UC members are able to give, please let me know.  Similarly, although Classic FM are having a 'once a week' year long celebration, there rarely play anything not already on CD and I don't know if the regime at Radio 3 are (or are not) making any special plans

Any help (in due course) will be much appreciated.  Like dogs, a list is not just for Christmas!

Best wishes ti all

Richard Moss

After a gap of several years, I've just listened again to my 'Brilliant Classics' 3-Cd box-set of Shostakovich's 'complete' concertos (2 piano, 2 violin & 2 cello).  Apart from the well-known 2nd movement of the 2nd piano concerto, nothing else struck me as remotely romantic and the box-set has therefore gone into the charity bin and unfortunately reinforces my view that most (not all!!) of the time, 20th century compositions post 1918 are not worth buying (unless a known, 'romantic' composer, like Rachmaninov or Elgar) has produced a late work.  I realise there are many exceptions (Brun comes to mind - I think the CDs I've got of his early symphonic works are quite enjoyable 'romantic' music but samples I've heard from his latter works leave me cold; also Mathieu's piano concertos, for example, are still a delight! as is some film/TV/game music). 

Too many CDs (and possibly music critics?) attribute the word 'romantic' in their blurbs about some little known works, presumably 'bait to catch a fish' so unless I can hear a decent sample in advance, I'm afraid I'd rather spend my money on unknown (to me) 19th century works.  They too may prove to be a waste of money but the odds are somewhat better in my favour of finding something I'll enjoy listening to.  Limited funds have to go where they will produce the most listening pleasure (and if it's not a pleasure, why listen??) and the 'Victorian era' seems the best bet for me for 'romantic' music.

Some years ago, the moderators tried to give a workable definition of 'romantic' music when non-romantic music (for want of a better phrase) was split away.  I've noticed a growing trend to have some discussions about more recent music (and I don't have any issues with open, constructive discussions about any topic) but I do sometimes struggle to see how some topics relate to 'romantic' music.  However, at the same time I love the in-depth views and knowledge of UC members and even if some of the music isn't for me, I still love to read about these things.

Best wishes

Richard

Apologies to moderators for this 'new' post - couldn't find the earlier thread on this.

My Xmas present to myself (some further T-L CDs I wanted) arrived just before xmas.  As usual, Silvia was most helpful in helping to complete my order and get it despatched. 

The reason for this post is to bring to the attention of members that the CD with symphonies 2 & 3 by Josef NETZER is still available, even though the on-line shop doesn't list it.  I've already given them a first play-through and I found them really enjoyable (the sort of simple binary decision I make now is - DO I WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS OR NOT?  Life is too short to spend time on stuff that isn't enjoyable).

A definite YES was the answer (I'd already got his Syms 1 & 4 the other year).  Anyway, just to let you know they are still there if you want them!  (you just need to contact Silvia to get her to arrange to ship them to you)

Hope members had a good Xmas and will have a happy new year

Cheers

Richatrd 

While re-playing some of William Sterndale Bennett's concertos (prompted by the recent UC thread on his anniversary), I played the CD conducted by Wetton that contained his Symphony G min, Pno Conc No. 4 in F min and the solo piano Fantasia.

Although the notes say this is essentially a 'quasi sonata' in 4 movements, much of it struck me as (i) lovely lyrical material and (ii) some passages could easily be taken as the soloist's section within a concerto.

My real question to UC  members is: "Do you have any suggestions for other piano solo music that could be taken for a solo passage in a concerto rather than typical sonata/salon pieces?"

Nearly all the 'romantic' piano concertos that come to mind (e.g. Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov, Paderewski, Chopin and many others) tend to have very beautiful 2nd movements (and sometimes similar sections in the outer movements) and within these, lovely solo individual passages and it is the sound of these passages that I am trying to find in a solo work.

All/any suggestions much appreciated - I am not very familiar with solo works so wouldn't know where to look!