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[1.]

I couldn't find a previous post on this person so I thought I would kick one off.

Czech composer and teacher, mainly (but not exclusively) of organ music, of which he was something of a pioneer in his country.

Two recommended discs:

1.
Three Legends (1880s, 1908)
Sonata in F-sharp minor (1917)

Petr Rajnoha, organ of the Smetana Hall, Prague - Arta (Czech Republic) F10151

The conclusion of the 1st Legend is very evocative, the sonata is also impressive. Klicka certainly knew the work of the French school, but adds much local colour.

2.
L'orgue romantique tchèque
Concert Fantasia on St. Wenceslas Chorale (1895)
Concert Fantasia in F-sharp minor
Legend No. 1 in D minor
Concert fantasia in C minor (1886)

Michel Estellet-Brun, organ of St. Joseph des Nations, Paris (rebuilt 2006 and said to closely resemble the original organ of the Rudolfinum in Prague, dismantled in 1918) - Alpha Productions 106

The St. Wenceslas piece was one of the few works by Klcka to be published outside Bohemia - most of the others in these recitals owe their current existence to the work of the two organists on these CDs.

Needless to say Klicka doesn't merit an entry in Grove, however you will find his son Václav (1882 - 1953) there.

These discs are hard to find, but worth tracking down as they most rewarding. They were only issued in China and Hong Kong, to my knowledge.

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Piano Concerto No. 1 ("Dragon") Op. 25b (1982)
Joseph Banowetz, piano; Beijing Central Opera Orchestra,  Zheng Xiao-Ying
Hong Kong Records 8.242108 (1986, P 1988 )

BMG re-issue HKD-110 (1990)*

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Piano Concerto No. 1 ("Dragon") Op. 25b (last movement only)
Joseph Banowetz, piano; Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn
Marco Polo 8.223915 (1986, P 1987)

This is a live performance from the "1st Contemporary Chinese Composers Festival" and is one of the few recordings available in the West. It first sparked my interest in this composer.

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"China Capriccio" Orchestral transcription of "Overture and Dance" for piano
Beijing Central Opera Orchestra,  Zheng Xiao-Ying

In collection "Chinese Orchestral Music"
Hong Kong Records 8.880040 (1984)

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Symphonic Poem "Bayanhar" Op. 50 (1990)
Opera Overture "Yue Fei" Op. 37 (1985)
Streams of Sorrow, for String Orchestra
Chinese Rhapsody No. 3 Op. 46b (1989, saxophone & strings) with Paul Brodie, saxophone
Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Lai Tak-Ng
ROI Productions RA-971010C (1997)

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Symphonic Overture no. 1 Op. 25a (1977)
Two Pieces in Saibei Folk Style -
1. A Morning Song on the Mountains Op. 15 (1973)
2. Saibei Dance Op. 21 (1975)
Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings Op. 41 (1987, with James Campbell, Clarinet)

Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Lai Tak-Ng
ROI Productions RA-971011C (1997)

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Symphonic Overture No. 2 Op. 47a (1989)
Violin Concerto in B (sic) Op. 47b (1996, with Lu Si-Qing, violin)

Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Lai Tak-Ng
ROI Productions RA-971012C (1997)

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"Selected Choral Works" (2-CD set)

A Psalm of David Op. 43 (1987 - setting of Psalm 22 for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and organ)
Two Anthems Op.32 (1982):
1. Holy Image I can Trace (wds. William Blake)
2. Hallelujah

Jane Chu, Dmitry Trapeznikov, Yurlov State Academic Chorus, Stanislav Gusev

ROI Productions RA-991002C (1999)

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"Dream of Dunhuang" ballet in 3 acts Op. 29 (1979-80) (2-CD set)

Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra,  the composer

ROI Productions RA-0010013C (2000)

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Piano  Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 57 (1999)
Hsu Fei-Ping, piano; Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Konstantin Krimets
Poem for Dance, Op. 40 No. 3
Hsu Fei-Ping, piano

ROI Productions CD-0064 (2001, P 2002)

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"The Little Match Girl", ballet in 1 act after H.C. Andersen Op. 24 (1977)
Moscow Russian Philharmonic Orchestra,  the composer

Suite from the ballet, with Mandarin commentary by Zhang Yue
Beijing Central Opera Orchestra,  Zheng Xiao-Ying

ROI Productions CD-0163 (1996, 1978, P unknown)

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*Klaus Heymann sold most of the Hong Kong Records catalogue to BMG. He later regretted this, as he lost control of the earliest recordings of violinist Takako Nishizaki (a.k.a. Mrs Heymann).

[Bluebell ABCD 503]

Dear All,

I wanted to bring this composer to your attention. as what music of his that I have been able to hear is quite delightful.
A search of the of site reveals no previous mention, so apologies if I am covering old ground.
Jacobsson is ignored by Grove (nothing new!) and merits only a brief article in the Swedish edition of Wikipedia

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jacobsson

(Google translation edited)

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"Jacques (John) Jacobsson , born August 2, 1835, died June 4, 1909, was a Swedish composer and purveyor of musical instruments and scores.
Jacobsson studied with Ludvig Norman , Gustav Mankell and Franz Berwald . He was employed by Edward Josephson's music shop and lending library from 1849 and took over the business in 1861 together with the associated piano store. He ran this enterprise until 1876. He received the title "hovmusikhandlare". Jacobsson was also an organist at the synagogue.
He made himself known as a prolific composer, in particular, solo songs, some of which gained (great) popularity. He also composed choral works and piano pieces, as well as larger works, such as a Mass, the overtures Sommarminnen (Summer Memories - 1876),  En dröm A Dream (1881; ballad with orchestra), "Sweden's flag" (for male choir and solo with orchestra), chamber music, festival marches etc. His operetta "Ungmors cousin" was performed in 1868.

Jacobsson was awarded Litteris et Artibus 1866 and was elected on March 27, 1888 as member (No. 477) of the Royal Academy of Music."

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This last item is poetic justice as, according to other notes in my possession, Jacobsson had to study privately because of a rule which existed at the time: his employment in the music trade made him ineligible as a student at the Royal Swedish Academy.

Currently only three recordings are available, all due to the advocacy of pianist Margot Nyström


Bluebell ABCD 503 (only available as a download)*
Piano Quartet in D minor (?1864) - a work full of joie de vivre - reminds me of the Gouvy Quintet from about the same time.
Piano Trio in G minor (1867)
Nine miscellaneous piano pieces

Bluebell ABCD 082 (physical CD and download)
Song collection "Ljuva Minnen" (Lovely Memories) - again very much worth listening to

Proprius PRCD9041 (physical CD and download)
Works for cello and piano - also pieces by J. A. Hagg and Emil Sjogren.

* available from various sites, but Classics Online also provides a booklet with tracklisting and notes (in Swedish only, unfortunately!)

If anyone knows of other material please reply to this posting.