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Actually this is my current favorite Raff symphony (knocked 8 and 9 off the perch a few months ago when I became super obsessed with it). I like the Tudor much much better than the Marco Polo but I would LOVE to hear Albert's conducting of it if CPO can ever work out a release of that recording.

I just think every movement of this is very strong, particularly the opening (love the tympani) and the march. Avrohom's analysis, available at raff.org, made me appreciate it even more. I think it's just brilliant.

Yavar

You mention Lee Holdridge's excellent recorded Violin Concerto No. 2 here:
http://www.violinconcerto.de/collection.php?action=composer&composer=Holdridge&first_name=Lee

No mention of his Violin Concerto No. 1 in the unrecorded section...

Sadly I can't find any information about it at either his website or Wikipedia, but if he intended to suppress it I wonder why he'd call his recorded violin concerto "No. 2"!

Yavar

No special * for the Dvorak? I think it's incredible!

Yavar

I just wanted to back up TerraEpon and say that the (Elmer) Bernstein guitar concerto, played by Christopher Parkening on the only current recording (and the LSO conducted by Bernstein himself), IS FANTASTIC. One of the composer's best works, in my opinion, and that's saying something. It easily holds its own among the best of Villa-Lobos, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, even Rodrigo. Everybody here should buy it.

Yavar

Christian Tetzlaff! I just heard him do Szymanowski's 1st here at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and he was terrific! First time I heard him was several years ago when working for the Houston Symphony. He did Joachim's 2nd and it was hands down the best live performance of any concerto I've ever heard!

He's definitely somebody who's open to more obscure music, and who plays it better than anyone else.

Unfortunately he may be in a contract right now...

Yavar

Mark, is there any chance of CPO issuing the rest of the Albert Raff recordings? I've heard he did all the symphonies and you just confirmed that he recorded at least the Shakespeare Overtures as well...

I for one think his performances of the last five symphonies are just as good and sometimes better than Stadlmair's.

Yavar

I find Reinecke's PCs rather erratic.  Of the 4 the last is probably the least distinctive, although the sheer memorability of its material makes its neglect somewhat mystifying.  Maybe the fact that its style was extremely conservative for its timeprovides a possible explanation.  The 2nd (actually the 1st, chronologically) has the best overall material, but there are structural problems with the finale (due, in part, to the composer's clumsy, and rather unnecessary attempts at a cyclic relatiohship between the 2nd and 3rd movements) that render it less than wholly satisfactory, although still worthy of more frequent revival.  Of the remaining two, I rank the 3rd ahead of the 1st in terms of balance between effective material and formal restraint and concision.  The cyclic aspects are well balanced and the material is inspired throughout, although the piano dominates the proceedings in the first movement a little too much.  The 1st is a dramatic and effective work, but not nearly as accomplished a piece as the 3rd.

Just goes to show you how opinions differ...I find myself enjoying the 1st and 4th concertos of Reinecke's much more than the 2nd and 3rd.

Yavar

I don't know the work, Herbie, but I must say you've got me interested! Would you mind uploading it?

Yavar

I'm still surprised that Noskowski's 1st Symphony is the work of a student. What a gorgeous work, full of depth. Hardly to believe that this masterpiece is written by the same composer of the above mentioned piano pieces.

Well, Raff wrote some lightweight, pretty piano pieces too, and look at all HIS masterpieces!

Yavar

Yeah, Jim, they play that at the Hollywood Bowl (with fireworks) too...

Bleh.

Yavar

Some of Copland's best (and most Romantic-sounding) music has finally been recorded for release on Naxos: I am of course referring to his complete film scores (never before released) to Our Town and Of Mice and Men (his first two dramatic -- and full length -- film scores). If these two are successful I'm told they'll also do a complete re-recording of The Heiress, which won him an Oscar (Our Town and Of Mice and Men were both nominated, as was The North Star, but none of those won). Of course further in the future I'd love a complete Red Pony. If you are unfamiliar with these scores or only know them through puny suites I think you're in for a surprise! They're some of his best music.

Yavar

P.S. While I'm talking about film music I must mention Virgil Thompson, who wrote some fine documentary scores but also some fantastic concert music as well.

The thing I most miss about the old forums is all of Avrohom's amazing posts.

Yavar

http://classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8827

I stumbled across the review and I must say it has me very interested!

Yavar

Stunningly beautiful and memorable: Reinecke PC3.

It's all a matter of taste, I suppose, but I prefer 1 and 4, though I like 3 better than 2.

Yavar

I guess these don't quite qualify as unsung, but Saint-Saen's two piano trios are both amazing...as are Faure's two piano quintets.

Yavar