In regards Paul Caro (1859-1914)

[Alan Howe]

I have rarely met such wonderful generosity of spirit in an unfamiliar composer and I'm still wondering whether this was Bruckner's real legacy.

[Gareth Vaughan]

(there are 183 entries):

Yes, Alan, but only 104 are music scores. The rest are records for works by authors who have "Paul" or "Caro" in their names and have nothing to do with music, as far as I can see. Still 104 is encouraging.

[Alan Howe]

Oops, apologies. I shouldn't have been speed-searching for the symphonies.

[Alan Howe]

My copy of the Gramola 2-CD set arrived today. As far as I can judge, Caro really is the stand-out composer featured here. Not that there's nothing else of interest, but Caro's lyricism is so beguiling that it's hard not to be attracted back to his music. I'd be tempted to dub him 'Cantabile Caro', but I suspect someone's already thought of that or something like it.

[semloh]

SPMK has uploaded what appears to be the whole of Hommage à Paul Caro to YT. It's beautiful music.

[Martin Eastick]

Has anyone here managed to obtain the actual CD issued by SPMK "Hommage à Paul Caro" rather than a download. The link posted here previously seems to take to me to a page showing the artwork (presumably) of the CD in question, but that is far as I can get. Their website doesn't seem to be particularly helpful!

[Wheesht]

They require payment by bank transfer, the cost is 40.00 Euro, postage included. I can provide bank account details in a PM.

[Maury]

I agree abut the song like character of Caro's music; it's quite lovely. I wonder if he was a string player rather than a pianist given 34! string quartets  (is that right?}. Also listening to short samples his string writing seemed more assured than the piano part to my ears.

[Tartini]

A new release featuring Paul Caro's String Quintets will be released tomorrow, December 22.   https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9838695--paul-caro-string-quintets?srsltid=AfmBOoqLkuQSPFj9tRBOfjEXuCKSmv9qJyH-SnUXnlCXRbqYRgqlgCu_

[eschiss1]

Thanks!!

[Mark Thomas]

Like the previous releases of Caro's chamber music these quintets receive persuasive and sympathetic performances, but I found that my reactions to them differ. The Second String Quintet comes across as possessing all the qualities that made the music in the earlier recordings so endearing: an abundance of lyricism, almost over-generous melodically, but never meandering and with plenty of incident and momentum in the faster movements. Gemütlich, without being cloying or sentimental. For me at least, the First Quintet lacks something - maybe it's the quality of the melody, maybe the harmonic language doesn't have the warmth of the Second, perhaps it's a little more "academic", I don't know, but it somehow lacks the appeal of Caro's Piano Trio or the String Quartet.

[eschiss1]

that's the B-flat minor quartet, right? I just uploaded the parts as digitized by SBB to IMSLP recently, I think... (I know Op.7 is the 2nd of a pair starting with Op.6, but I forget if it's his 2nd string quartet entirely.)

[semloh]

For me at least, the First Quintet lacks something - maybe it's the quality of the melody, maybe the harmonic language doesn't have the warmth of the Second, perhaps it's a little more "academic",

That reflects my reactions too, Mark. To my ear the first quintet includes clear echoes of the great Schubert C minor quintet, especially in the use of pizzicato; and, there are phrases that sound like quotations from both that work and Dvorak. That said, there's no mention in the liner notes of any such links - so maye it's just me!