Friedrich Wuhrer plays Schubert

A request for more from Friedrich Wuhrer and he we have it. Wuhrer performs sonatas in C minor and B Major, originally issued on Vox and here on Dover. I would say these mono recordings date from the mid 50's since Wuhrer made a lot of records during this time frame, right into the 60's.

Unfortunately for Friedrich Wuhrer, he has been overshadowed by many geniuses of the keyboard and a few overtly strange and overbearing ones at that! Wuhrer himself was a consumate, quiet artist who possessed great technique, terrific and tasteful musicianship and a firm grasp of the keyboard works of the great German and Austrian masters. In short, he was a man that could go about his business in well, a businesslike manner, though producing a product that was not at all businesslike sounding. Good music, without extremism, consistent, and faithfully rendered, that's Wuhrer.

I have grown to love, and appreciate, these Schubert sonatas because they are so beautiful and bear the stamp of the master lieder writer that this composer was. Unlike the drama and angst of late Beethoven, the exhaustion of it you might say, Schubert's music unfolds naturally and gradually. Given Wuhrer's strength's, he is indeed a superb advocate for Schubert.

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The symphonies of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

A delightful two record set, from Nonesuch, that I loved some 25 years ago but had somehow lost, in between moves, is my offering today. Rediscovered at the Goodwill a few months back, here are seven symphonies by the second youngest of the great J S Bach's sons, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach. These works are played with great elan by the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under its conductor of some forty years, Helmut Muller-Bruhl. The recordings date from 1973-4.

J C F Bach is overshadowed by his more illustrious brothers C P E Bach, J C Bach and W F Bach. Perhaps much of this has to do with the fact that  J C F spent the bulk of his creative life, out of the limelight, at the minor princely court of Buckeburg. Unlike, the internationally recognized, and well traveled, J C Bach, for example, J C F  Bach was content to perform his functions as Konzertmeister and sometime composer in relative obscurity albeit with the occasional trip to Hamburg to visit with his older brother C P E, the successor to Telemann in that great Hanseatic city. C P E, of course, was considered one of the very greatest composers of the day.

The seven symphonies here date mainly from the late 1760's with the exception of number 20 which is from a couple decades later at the end of Bach's life. Comparing them to say, Haydn at that period, I would find them no less mature or inspired and representative of the best musical trends of that day. The symphonies are engaging and entertaining as that would be the expectation of courtly patrons and distinguished guests. These symphonies are worthy of the Bach name, less quirky then C P E's ouerve but not as cosmopolitan as the ones by younger brother J C, a musician who was heavily influenced by Haydn and Mozart and, recognized as their equal.

All in all, these lps make for delightful listening because the music is solid, well crafted and the performances are fresh.

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Izler Solomon conducts Bloch, Antheil and Richter

Izler Solomon c.1948

While I mourn the loss by the Patriots in the Super Bowl, there is some consolation in this fine recording (1956 mono) by American conductor Izler Solomon. Featuring the MGM String Orchestra and the Guilet Quartet, Maestro Solomon offers up a concerto grosso of Bloch, a serenade by George Antheil and the Lament of Marga Richter.

Izler Solomon was a very visible presence in the American midwest for over 30 years and a strong advocate of new music, premiering over 150 works during his lifetime. In this recording he displays both ingenuity and great flexibility which make the listening here more then just satisfactory. MGM released a good size number of these lps dedicated to modern music and I have yet to encounter a lemon. A very nice testimony to a fine musician and three different but equally talented composers.

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Coronation and Banquet Music with the Boston Baroque Ensemble

I love picking up forgotten lps featuring Boston based musicians and here's a neat little one featuring the Boston Baroque Ensemble of Daniel Pinkham. No, this is NOT the Boston Baroque of Telarc recordings fame but rather a chamber group of associates of Pinkham's, most of them teachers from NEC and Harvard. If I were to guess, I'd place this mono Cambridge recording about 1967 or so.

Daniel Pinkham is little known beyond Boston but for those in early music, he was one of the big time pioneers. He was a performer (a terrific organist and harpsichordist), editor, musicologist and composer, in fact his own compositions were heavily influenced by the music of the baroque era. Everything that I have heard by Pinkham is tasteful, well thought out and crafted. This lp of music by Telemann, Zelenka and Boismortier is no exception. My only wish is that Cambridge had thought better to have included another composition to bring this over the 40 minute mark.

Well worth your listening...

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John Kirkpatrick plays music of Edward MacDowell

Lovely playing on this record by John Kirkpatrick of piano miniatures by Edward MacDowell. I believe the original issue was late 40's by which time, Kirkpatrick had established himself as probably the preeminent interpreter of music for piano by American composers. In his day, he was recognized as an expert in the music of  both Charles Ives and Carl Ruggles.

Though his music was not strictly "American sounding," MacDowell was one of the first American born composers to gain fame beyond our shores and he did serve as an inspiration/mentor to others who would develop a more idealized American school of composition. It is important to recognize thta MacDowell's education was wholly European and that his models were based on established forms from the continent. Not to say that MacDowell is an imitator - far from it. His works are individual, often pastoral in outlook, uncomplicated, and they are his way of describing his world in a way that is accessible, forthright, yet full of character. Probably the best comparison is to the composer Grieg who MacDowell was a direct contemporary and admirer of.

This is a beautiful program sensitively presented by John Kirkpatrick.

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Mozart with Harry Blech and the London Mozart Players

A little Mozart today featuring the talents of Harry Blech with the London Mozart Players. I believe this RCA Bluebird was recorded in the early 50's during the first years of the LMP. It is probably one of the first Mozart symphony records by a smaller ensemble and it is a good one. Sensible tempos, a collegial approach and an esprit de corps mark this stylish lp.

Harry Blech was a very popular and sought after musician in his day. He appeared to have been a generally well liked man, respected for his musicianship and he was sought after by many as a chamber music partner or orchestral collaborator. Such was his popularity that he brought together many of the best musicians in London to form the LMP, which was done on a shoestring and a promise. Musicians sought to work with Blech because he treated everyone as a colleague, in the best sense of the word.

I like this record because it is free from ego or willfullness. It is music presented on its own terms by collaborative musicians who collectively believe in the product and want to do their best for that reason alone. In a word, refreshing and wonderful!

Happily, the LMP is still going strong after all these years.

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The Baroque Oboe with Harold Gomberg

While I'm thinking New England Patriots at the moment, I suppose I can take a few minutes and concentrate on the classics!? With the recent shutdown of Megaupload, who knows how long any of us will be around doing our thing? As Otter says in Animal House, "What a shame that a few bad apples have to spoil a good time for everyone."

so....Harold Gomberg performing baroque works for the oboe accompanied by continuo and small chamber ensemble. Interestingly, this must be one of the very first conducting efforts on record by the much maligned Seiji Ozawa, probably made while he was Leonard Bernstein's assistant in NY and right before he headed north to Toronto. Gomberg, of course, is the consumate artist, with a mousselike tone and elegance in phrasing. Though a somewhat controversial figure (many fault him for being in the ring that led to the great Mitropoulos' demise in NY), he was nonetheless an oboist on par with Tabuteau as having the greatest influence on a school of players that now hold important chairs in many orchestras throughout the USA. This record is a pleasing document of his artistry. And, the music is wonderful too!

With that, Go Patriots! It all comes down to Tom Brady, a superb artist in his own right!

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