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I've only relatively recently gotten into organ music (a silly statement, I suppose, as it's as diverse a- well, anyway.) I've seen CDs advertised by cpo of Wilhelm Middelschulte's music, and was just skimming a 60-page score of his "Canons und Fuge über den Choral: "Vater unser im Himmelreich" : für Orgel" - dedicated to Reger's friend Karl Straube - and now am getting fairly curious what his music sounds like, and if the ambition (of a few of his works, anyhow- there are miniatures in his output too, I do see) is matched by content?  (Can't play organ, and my ability to make MIDIs went away several years ago )
This particular work seems not to be recorded (looks interesting though), but some other works large and small of his do seem to be, so ... thanks in advance anyhow
Eric

Had a look at the score of the first of these two early string quartets by Ludwig Thuille when I was writing something on the composer for MusicWeb a few years ago. (Not very characteristic works to be studying I have to be the first to admit! And at the time unrecorded, too.) If only because of that tenuous connection I guess I will mention that their appearance on MDT (in the September/not-yet-available section) - Quartet no. 1 in A (1878), quartet no. 2 in G (1881, incomplete).  Capriccio CD, performers the Signum quartet. Description here. (Coincidentally the same keys as chosen by Schmidt for his quartets, but the first and probably the second- which I haven't seen- much more traditional works. The first does look like it sounds good and fortunate in melody, anyway.)

Eric

I'm interested in the music of Robert Fuchs (1847-1927).  Four string quartets are attributed to him, I know of no others, or so I thought.  I was looking through the extensive list of Fuchs works at the online Musiksammlung catalog of the Austrian National Library (http://onb.ac.at/kataloge/index.htm and click Katalog der Musiksammlung ) and found listed a 5th string quartet, dated later than the 1916 fourth in A major.  Misfiled work of another composer? Discovery (erm, probably not?) ... Unfortunately don't have any trips planned to Vienna in the foreseeable future, and not quite sure what to ask the librarians, so not sure what to do about this really.
(If you search under Fuchs, Robert you get 770 hits; it's no. 82. "5. [Streich-] Quartett. [Partitur.] ("Amont, 2.9.1925") " A link with a scan of the title page is there, also. (The scan does say Robert Fuchs, so probably not misfiled. Hrm... maybe incomplete, which would solve the mystery quite entirely of course...) Kf. H. Böck 1953 (another line in this odd card listing) may mean it was published in 1953- not sure; I hadn't heard of it so doubt it was published at all...
Eric

Not sure if he falls inside the orbit?ambit? of this forum, but what I have heard of and know of his music seems at least, interesting; and the trend or fad of naming pieces titles like "music for symphony orchestra" or "music for string quartet" seems to date back to him and may have been influenced by him (so far as later composers knew of his output, which is a question.)  Anyone know his work, any opinions, any recommendations?

A specific question really, though no reason it can't anchor a general one.
I was looking some while back at Garland Publications' edition of three symphonies by Ferdinand Ries (symphonies 1, 2 and 9 - now called 1 2 and 7). All three had opus numbers, and the first two seem to have been reprinted, reasonably enough and as seem to have been that edition's usual but not invariable practice, from early published scores.  Op.121 (symphony 7 in A minor) however seemed to be taken from a manuscript facsimile. This leaves a few possibilities-
1 -there was a published score but, like many 20th century scores (but unlike, I think, many 19th century ones), it was a manuscript facsimile;
2 -there was a published score but comparison with the manuscript revealed so many errors that it was better to publish the manuscript instead (hrm, shades of certain contemporary works indeed)
3 -there was no contemporary published score.
If 3, it seems unusual (it would not be for the 20th century, but this was a 19th century composer) to assign an opus number to the work. (He did not, for instance, to his symphony in E-flat, recorded by cpo as no.8. I haven't seen that cpo recording, whose notes may clear all of this up completely.)  Is there a reason and story here with this work (no.7) (re choices 1,2,3,), and very generally has there ever really been a rhyme or reason of any sort assigning opus numbers to music? (Not for nothing with Krommer's, for another example, confusing opus number situation- double assignments of the same opus # to different works e.g.- did Padrta feel the need to create a more systematic catalog of his output... anyways.)

Eric

Have noticed that the Dvarionas, Foerster quartets, the recent Sterling Raff, and some other recent recordings about which (for some of the recordings...) the question has arisen "where can I get these?" have appeared in Records International's August '10 Catalogue (which appears now on the first of the month, pardon horrible grammar please. I have no association with this company except for having used them to buy a few CDs. If this is considered spam, I apologize- and please delete of course...)
Eric

The copy of a work that was scanned in and uploaded to Sibley Library Research (urresearch.rochester.edu) and from there by me transferred to imslp.org , Fini Henriques' Religioso for violin op.34, seems to have come with a violin part enclosed for another work entirely. (Should have noticed _that_!) Does anyone
(1) Know the original instrumentation of the Religioso (web searches are unhelpful on this- have tried targeted ones too, and I think books.google.com as well...)- the version uploaded was for violin and piano, and I think a version for violin and organ has been recorded; but for all I know it may have been written for violin and orchestra - I don't know.
(2) Have the original, actual, appropriate violin part and can (legally - within the US or Canada; in the EU this is still in copyright) scan this in, then either send it to me or upload it to IMSLP themselves?
(http://imslp.org/wiki/Religioso_for_Violin,_Op.34_(Henriques,_Fini) )

If this post is out of bounds I apologize of course and poof!

I notice in MDT's August forthcoming releases an announcement of Josef Bohuslav Foerster's 5 (or 4-and-1, since the 5th wasn't exactly finished by the composer) string quartets.  Is this a new recording or a reissue? (The performers are the Stamic Quartet.) I've seen quartet 4 in score some while back and liked it (this may have been my introduction to the composer, though I've heard a couple of symphonies - 1 and 4, I think - and his cello and first violin concertos since, maybe a piano trio too.) Anyhow, I'm happy about the release in principle but wonder if anyone knows anything about it

I asked about the Lange-Muller violin concerto in C op. 69 (1904?) aways back. Finally got a chance to hear this concerto (over the radio) which has been recorded as part of the Danacord Danish Violin Concerto series, I believe. Wanted to answer my own question and ask for other opinions - it seemed to me that the Lange-Muller concerto (also available in full, but manuscript, score over IMSLP) is rather enjoyable. Has anyone else gotten a chance to hear it? Thoughts? Other works on the album, similar contemporary lesser-known (Scandinavian, say) works not already covered in current threads?

Ok. I'll bite.

If someone starts a topic Piano Quartet must hear I'll make a strong case for Melanie's opp. 69 & 124 

(from the thread Women unsungs)
Major "sung" piano quartets - for the usual combination, piano violin viola cello - from the classical and Romantic periods, or Romantic-minded works from the modern era- would include:
*Mozart's 2 quartets
*Schubert's adagio and rondo
*Schumann's second piano quartet (his early C minor piano quartet is basically unsung)
*Brahms' 3 piano quartets
*Fauré's 2 quartets
*Dvorak's 2 quartets
*Beethoven's quartet version of his piano quintet
*Copland's quartet

Perhaps to greater or lesser extents (very debatable, partial list - and I'm not quite sure of my standards for inclusion unfortunately, which need to be clear of course)
*Martinu's quartet
*Mahler's quartet movement
*Frank Bridge's phantasy piano quartet
*William Walton's piano quartet
*George Enescu's 2 piano quartets
*Sergei Taneyev's piano quartet
*Beethoven's 3 early piano quartets
*Josef Suk's early quartet

I've heard by this composer a symphony and two (of three written and recorded) string quartets, and I believe one other work also- will have to check. He has a local reputation, I gather, in his birthplace of Fortaleza - someone who grew up there tells me that he wrote operas (about which I know nothing else). Anyone else heard his music and have any opinions?
Eric

I notice the IMSLP scores of Bazzini's quartets (from Merton music) which look like interesting scores, and I notice that there is what seems to be an integral recording of them too by the Quartetto d'Archi di Venezia (available at my local university library in electronic form). Has anyone heard it (them), any opinions? (I no longer have staff/student access to such things )
Eric

Possibly outside the remit of this forum, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Naxos is releasing their first new (I think??...) CD - 8.572014 - of Havergal Brian's music in some time - symphonies 11 (1954) and 15 (in A, 1960) and two early concert/comedy overtures/tone poems.  (No. 11 begins with an extremely passive-quiet contrapuntal piece really unique in his output, continues through a scherzo of sorts into an active finale; no. 15 is in three connected movements the first and third of which are - rather jokey.  Not my favorite Brian (no. 15 is rather less good e.g. than no. 16 which followed, which is on a Lyrita CD)  - I have radio tapes of both symphonies - but good and enjoyable in my honest opinion.)
(Not the best "review" possible of the works in advance of release, I know. Still very glad to see the recording anyway, and I like no. 11 more than it sounds like I do. Especially that first movement. Looking forward to hearing the overtures.)
http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/NR_July10/8572014.htm
Eric

So I got a chance to hear the Sterling CD of symphonies by Robert Hermann (C major, 1895 and B minor, 1905).  Having heard it, first, I'm a little surprised- maybe only a little- by how singularly tepid all the reviews I've read are.  This is really very good music, I think. (Subjective opinion, of course! Still, there does seem to be something particularly committed about the music and the performances - especially in the B minor second symphony, with its vein of melancholy and faint hint of archaism. This has brought me back several times so far.) Any yea or nay here?
Eric

I notice that Chandos is releasing a recording of second releases of his symphonies- the first symphony (just beat out the gate by Northern Flowers a few months ago, otherwise it would be a premiere recording), and the seventh symphony (C major op.81 for strings and harpsichord, recorded awhile back in Soviet days; and, also, performed though not recorded, in Canada just a few years ago conducted by Gabriel Chmura.) This new  recording of 1&7 though is conducted by Thord Svedlund, who conducted Chandos' last Weinberg recording (of concertos). (Which leads to a conjecture about Chmura and Chandos, but who knows.)

Eric

Some composers whose music I like rather a lot haven't had their music recorded at all, I think, since the LP era, which seemed to call for a topic of some sort of itself. 

Dimitrie Cuclin with his 20 symphonies came to mind immediately (to my mind, anyway - go figure) - I have his 11th symphony in A-flat minor (one of the only symphonies I know in that key, not in G-sharp minor even for what that matters) and also a tape of his A minor 9th symphony. Good stuff, but aside from his notoriety for composing a very lengthy 12th symphony who's even vaguely heard of him today (maybe outside of his native Romania)?
Also from Romania there's Dumitru Capoianu's violin concerto (once on LP with Anatol Vieru's flute concerto, conducted like the Cuclin 11th by Emanuel Elenescu).  Local university library has this LP, I remember enjoying the violin concerto and intend to hear it again soon, good and lyrical. Student of Andricu one of whose sinfoniettas is occasionally broadcast on BBC3 Through the Night, and of Martian Negrea a movement of whose Spring Symphony was recorded (anything else? Not sure.)
From Croatia there's Dora Pejacevic, whose piano quintet (about 1916?) is also sometimes broadcast over Through the Night (which has arrangements with Croatian Radio and many other national radio services.) According to en-Wikipedia she also composed a substantial symphony and many other works; on the basis of that quintet, I'd like to hear more.  There's also Fran Lhotka (a Dvorak pupil whose string quartet and orchestral Frescoes I think I've heard and enjoyed), among others. Of course, some of these may not have been recorded commercially at all, but fairly sure they haven't been recorded on CD.
Mark mentioned in another thread Jan L Bella's symphonic poem Fate & the Ideal; this too was recorded on an Opus LP in 1982 (under its name Osud a Ideal) but also has not, I think, made any more recent appearances
(I do think US classical stations are reluctant as a rule, with exceptions, to play LPs, so glad I can receive the BBC which has no such qualms. But anyhow and anyway.)
Not an unusual question (hardly!) but who are you looking to see "resurrected"?
As to Cuclin, the symphonies I've heard do have some little bit in common with Myaskovsky - a turn-off for some on this forum, I realize - though in saying so I'm not sure I can pinpoint why, exactly.  Also some good sense of surprise and of rhythm (e.g. the end of symphony 11, whose final A-flat, after several syncopated Gs, is -- ... very quiet.)
They are also both cyclic (likewise the one I've only seen in score, not heard, no. 14 in E minor.)

Also expected from cpo in March 2010 according to their website-
Gunter Raphael symphonies 2-5
Goepfert clarinet concertos
a new recording of Dvorak's A major cello concerto reconstruction with other cello and orchestra works

(Possibly more besides, but that's what I find)

Listened today to the 2nd symphony (1911) of this Swiss composer - born Lucerne 1878, died 1959 Grosshochstetten - for the first time.

(I think I recall beginning his en-Wikipedia article, but I hadn't heard anything of his until now.) It was on BBC Radio 3 last week (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00r2lk9) (Kitajenko conducting Berne Symphony).  In the 2nd symphony I hear something of Brahms (possibly the Brahms of serenade no. 2), maybe Dvorak, maybe Strauss or Bruckner; the slow movement's ending is impressively still - there's a lot to be said about this 40-minute work and really I'm still digesting it I do hope to hear more of his music and am glad more has been recorded. The 5th symphony of 1929 with its opening Chaconne has always sounded interesting to me.
Glad to have heard his music finally.
(Briefly see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Brun)
Anyone familiar with the other symphonies, the concertos, the string quartets, other works? Heard the other recordings, know of ones in progress? Opinions? Thanks-
Eric

The link http://www2.rozhlas.cz/archivy/index.php?HLEDPO=632110
describes a performance and studio recording (for Czech Radio) of a brief C major symphony by Franz Krommer.  The only C major symphony I know of is his 9th from 1830 (see the list in the Krommer Wikipedia article, for instance), a symphony that's described in the book "The symphony in Beethoven's Vienna" - in a page viewable in Google Books - as "ambitious" - which does not imply 10 minutes long. Does anyone know if there's a misprint somewhere, a misattribution, or something else going on? This is a minor question, not of much interest, but I am interested.

(I have a simllar question also of just passing interest about a possible 5th string quartet by Robert Fuchs, but I'll let that pass for the time being.)

Eric