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Following on from the the recent posts concerning the enterprising CD's issued by the Tiroler Landesmuseum, and whilst also acknowledging the considerable interest and discussion concerning Rufinatscha's symphonic contributions, has anyone listened to his two piano quartets, which were issued on one of thier CD's in 2000, but which may not now be available. The earlier of the two, in C minor dates from 1836, and whilst enjoyable enough, is unsurprisingly derivative at times. However, the A flat major of 1870, is, IMHO, one the the most impressive chamber works for this combination, and surely deserves to be recognised as such. As with many of the Tiroler Landesmuseum's recordings, the piano is a Conrad Graf from 1838, but seems to me more than acceptable here - and certainly does not seem to have a detrimental effect on the performance, which in most cases is NOT usually the case!

Having re-visited these works today, I must now also renew my acquaintance with his string quartets - E flat major of 1850; and G major of 1870, which were released back in 2001!

I thought I would flag up this re-release at the absurdly low price of 5.99 Euros! These recordings were previously issued by Thorophon some years ago and comprise what seems to be Louis Ferdinand's complete surviving opus. Whilst accepting that his music may be considered a little early for discussion here, it clearly demonstrates a more-than-competent compositional ability and foreshadows the nascent Romantic movement in a number of his well-written chamber works - in particular the F minor Piano Quartet Op6.

For those interested, Toccata's third volume of Moszkowski's orchestral works is now imminent! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/orchestermusik-vol-3/hnum/10747815 & https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moszkowski-Orchestral-Sinfonia-Varsovia-Classics/dp/B09JJ9CH6R/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=moszkowski&qid=1637057509&qsid=260-8415457-7084025&s=music&sr=1-1&sres=B09JJ9CH6R%2CB08ZBRS5SP%2CB08D4F8P1H%2CB08CJNPPVB%2CB086L29NRC%2CB084WLBV3K%2CB07WT6SP5S%2CB07KBSXB27%2CB01J1Y690K%2CB01ETDAYEU%2CB01FY844W2%2CB01D9DBJG8%2CB018T9UWZ6%2CB0176N4AZ4%2CB0131AE3D0%2CB00W4FTJP6&srpt=ABIS_MUSIC

Having just been looking at the Dux website, I noticed this new release which includes Lemba's 1st piano trio of 1929 which, judging from the excerpts available on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Estonian-Piano-Henry-David-Varema-Mihkel/dp/B09KZNT5LH/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=estonian+piano+trios&qid=1636459046&qsid=260-8415457-7084025&sr=8-2&sres=B09KZRDY2H%2CB09KZNT5LH%2CB09KZM32L9%2CB09KZL48GZ%2CB09KZK8RDX%2CB09KZHZLHT%2CB09KZHB2M5%2CB09KZFJ8KQ%2CB09KZD7BYB%2CB09KZ9S62J%2CB09KZ2BMKC%2CB09KZ22DX6%2C3982269210%2CB08VBJWYDD%2CB08KJFLWC9%2CB08RTT12D4&srpt=ABIS_MUSIC, make it another must-have! The Eller pieces are also attractive, but the remainder of the items are not suitable for further discussion here, and, in any case, not of any interest to me personally! As I say, though, do not let the 1929 date of composition for the Lemba put anyone off, as it is certainly a full-blooded late romantic contribution by a composer likely known already to some on this forum for his symphony and piano concerto(s). The CD itself only seems to be available from Dux themselves at present, but no doubt will appear at other outlets soon enough for those interested in the physical CD rather than the download offered by Amazon.

This release, from the end of 2019, seems to have passed me by somehow. Everything I have so far heard by this younger brother of Georg Schumann has been most enjoyable - very melodic and certainly very conservative - especially so when still composing in the 1930's. Until recently, he was only really known, if at all, for his organ sonatas, but his quite considerable output consists mainly of chamber music, much of it still unpublished, but,regrettably, not much for orchestra. I am also looking forward very much to receiving my copy of the just-released clarinet sonatas 1 & 2 by CPO!https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/camillo-schumann-sonaten-fuer-horn-klavier-nr-1-2/hnum/9572535

I have always enjoyed exploring the plethora of minor late 19th century Russian composers, mainly from a piano perspective perhaps, but I was really pleased to note this new release which features what I believe to be the first recording of Nikolai Amani's Op1 String Trio. The only downside to this release, however, is the rest of the programme! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/musik-aus-der-zentralbibliothek-zuerich/hnum/10587380

James Willshire has just brought to my attention his exciting new CD of piano music by Cecil Coles, who some may remember from an earlier Hyperion release featuring orchestral works and songs. I am not sure whether or not this is his complete surviving piano music, but the piano sonata (incomplete?) certainly seems to promise much - and once again reminds us of the great loss to music in general suffered as a result of the 1914-18 conflict. https://www.delphianrecords.com/products/cecil-coles-gustav-holst-piano-music

I have just noticed this release - a must-buy for me! All too often, even today, Coleridge Taylor is indelibly linked with the Hiawatha trilogy, and, to a lesser extent, Petite Suite de Concert, but nothing much else. However, in more recent times, we have had a variety of recordings of other works of his, and his chamber music in particular has demonstrated his considerable abilities as a composer, even in his earliest works - which, as we know, were certainly recognised by Stanford. Coleridge Taylor composed many songs throughout his relatively short life, and with a few exceptions, are quite unknown today, so this release is most welcome! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/heart-hereafter/hnum/10469618

I wonder if anyone here has come across the music of the Italian violinist and composer Alfredo d'Ambrosio. I had known about him for some time but always assumed his compositions to be mainly salon miniatures rather suited to the typical palm court ensembles of years past!. However, it came to my notice that there were more serious works to consider - not least the two violin concertos featured on this DVD (no CD unfortunately), which I duly ordered and have just received. I have only listened to the first so far but would certainly recommend this rather excellent production without hesitation! It would surely be a must-have for all lovers of full blooded late romanticism, well-presented with accomplished soloists backed up with committed orchestral support. Hyperion ought to seriously consider these two concerti before someone beats them to it for a CD release! https://sites.google.com/site/comitatoperigrandimaestri/home

I'm sure there are some here who have been following these releases with interest - although I appreciate that some of his later works do fall beyond the remit of this forum (and also my interest FWIW!) eg piano concertos 4 & 5. I am not exactly sure what is due to come out in this series of recordings; I obtained the original Lp's over 30 years ago and I understood then that there were to be 7 box sets in all, but I have only ever known of three, which I manged to obtain at the time - concertos, orchestral works & music for the stage (including his opera, Tsar Kaloyan). Presumably to have been included in the other sets would have been his music for string orchestra (symphony No2 etc), chamber music, piano music & vocal/choral music, but I wonder if these were ever released.

Anyway, it would seem that the actual recordings were made at the time (1970's), as the Symphony No2 for string orchestra Op44, entitled "May", appears in the first volume of symphonic works in the Capriccio edition. Dating from 1949, I did not know exactly what to expect, but enthusiasts for lush, late romantic string music need have no concerns, and, IMHO, this work is an absolute winner! I am aware that there have been concerns rasied elsewhere about the sound quality of the recordings, but I wouldn't let that stand in my way, and they are not at all bad, in fact far better than those rather unreliable Balkanton originals! 

Have just noticed this by chance at JPC! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/dvorak-fall-dyakov/hnum/10342551. This Piano Trio in A minor Op4 dates from 1899, and the soundbites are most encourageing! Siegfried's older brother Leo was of course the famous operetta composer, and needs no further introduction here. Apparently Siegfried composed operas and symphonies, as well as chamber music.

I had never come across the German-American Gustav Strube before, but have noted with considerable interest this new Centaur release which features his 1925 viola sonata, as well as works by Arthur Foote and Rebecca Clarke. A very brief description on the Records International website mentions "conservative Germanic Romanticism" - which is fine by me! Further investigation of Strube reveals that he wrote at least 3 violin concertos (1907-1943), and a Symphony (1910) amongst other orchestral works, as well as an enticing quantity of chamber music!

[Norwegian]

This new Dacapo release consisting of (mainly) Danish works for violin and orchestra caught my attention. Most of these shorter works would appear to be first recordings and surely will be most welcome. I can't see why, though, the need to include the Norwegian Svendsen's ubiquitous Romance, which does not need further introduction despite its obvious attraction! The rest, however, should prove to be of considerable interest - the only other works previously recorded are Gade's Capriccio, and although Lange Muller's Romance Op63 appeared on a Kontrapunkt CD with piano accompaniment, I'm fairly sure the orchestral recording is a 'first'! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/romance/hnum/10322211

Here is some late romantic Norwegian piano music which may be of interest. It seems that this is the first of a 2-volume collection of Signe Lund's complete piano works, and rather attractive too, judging from the extracts, IMHO. Although of a slightly later vintage, I imagine this music will make an admirable complement to that of Agathe Backer-Grøndahl. https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/etudes-poetiques-works/hnum/9730385

Although the Lazzari trio has been recorded previously, that by Wilhelm Kienzl would seem to be a first, to the best of my knowledge. There is also an "encore" by Wilhelm Jeral.

The suggestion that the 3CD set of the piano concertos was to be the beginning of a Vladigerov Edition has now proved to be correct -with this forthcoming release of what Capriccio calls "volume 1" of the orchestral works! What better than to start the series with the reissue (from the LP's) of both symphonies as well as a couple of shorter works. Perhaps some of his later music may be pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable on this forum, but I am really looking forward to this! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/pancho-vladigerov-orchesterwerke-vol-1/hnum/10317232

Although not a new release as such, I have just come across this rather curious assembly of works for saxophone and orchestra, mainly because of the inclusion of the van der Pals Concertino. However, with the exception of the Phyllis Tate- which seems to be beyond the scope of this forum, and my interest, the rest of the works featured seem to be most attractive!

I recently came across this rather enticing anthology of various South American romantic violin sonatas, which may be of interest to some. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B089CRX5D6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o01?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Although I have tried to ascertain if there is an actual physical CD generally available, it would seem not, and therefore I have had to resort to the second-best medium of the download, with the unfortunate lack of liner notes. However, I do recommend the repertoire without hesitation. There is, of course, an alternative recording of the Soro, coupled with another of his sonatas, but I was especially struck here with the sonata by the Colombian composer Guillermo Holguin!

Although these are later works, there seems to be nothing unacceptable judging from the soundbites here! I will be ordering this without doubt! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/violinkonzert-3-iberico/hnum/10245676

Here at last is Novak's early but enjoyable piano concerto, which I know will be of interest to some of us here!https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/klavierkonzert-toman-and-the-wood-nymph/hnum/10257598