A Composer's arrangements of other composers

I always enjoy listening to and experiencing what one composer does with another composer's work. Often times, the results have the listener hearing a whole new angle on a piece that they thought they knew inside and out. Perhaps the greatest example of this type of transcription is Ravel's brilliant work with Mussorgsky's equally brilliant piano masterpiece "Pictures at an Exhibition."

I offer the contents of two lps, one led by Vladimir Golschmann and the other by probably the best "resident" conductor of the last century (at least in the US), Louis Lane. The first recording in stereo features Lane conducting "The Good Humored Ladies" and "The Wise Virgin"; this is music based on Domenico Scarlatti and J S Bach.  Lane leads strong performances where the musicians sound like they are enjoying themselves immensely. One would think that Lane probably came as a welcome alternative to the hardriving Szell, at least for these players in Cleveland.

The mono Golschmann lp is, in my opinion, of extreme interest for it features Golschmann's own arrangements of Chopin piano pieces. These little gems are marvelously orchestrated and are a fond reminder of the"complete" musician that Golschmann was. It's rather too bad that they are all but forgotten since they would make terrific encores or selections in a "pops" program. The second side of the Golschmann disc showcases a delicious Rossiniana.

Nice, lighter fare here available in FLAC format.

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The wonderful Schuyler Symphony in Verklaerte Nacht and Suite Provencale!

Haha...got your attention! Who, what, where??? The Schuyler Symphony is of course the RCA Camden pseudonym for the St Louis Symphony Orchestra and its music director of a quarter century, Vladimir Golschmann.  On this Camden release, Golschmann leads strong performances of Schoenberg's "Verklaerte Nacht", Milhaud's  delightful "Suite Provencale", and a couple of encore Dvorak Slavonic Dances from Op. 46.

Golschmann was a fine conductor, if not at the very top tier. Well respected, and highly held by musicians and teh public alike,  he was a welcome guest conductor and a favorite of a number of composers, probably due in part to his musical honesty and freedom from excess and egotism. The program here is tailor made for Golschmann as he was closely associated with both Schoenberg and even more so with Darius Milhaud.  My favorite on this recording is Suite Provencale, it simply sparkles. Its really a wonderful piece of writing if you do not know of it, you need to make an acquaintance. Golschmann lets the music speak clearly and naturally and though Munch's take with the superior BSO is tremendously exciting, the latter conductor does tend to overdrive the piece. Golschmann seems so right.

Sound is so so on this Camden as it is in most Camden reissues. How technology for reissuing classics has changed!  Still, it is nice to have Golschmann conducting this orchestra, one that best represents his art on record. Mono FLACs.


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Prokofiev conducted by Eduard van Remoortel and the St Louis SO

Here's what appears to be a rather rare find - Eduard van Remoortel conducting the St Louis Symphony Orchestra in Prokofiev's Suite from the Love for Three Oranges and the Scythian Suite on Columbia.

Many of you might know Remoortel from his series of recordings for VOX made mostly in Bamberg and Vienna during the 50's and 60's. I recall a rather fine Grieg disc as well as a convincing Beethoven 7 from London. Anyway, Remoortel had a rather brief and painful stay in the States as music director of the St Louis SO during the late 50's and early 60's. Following the long, and well regarded tenure of Vladimir Golschmann and, being a very young man (not yet in his mid 30's), didn't help the situation. On top of that Remoortel was apparently unhappy with many musicians and he tried to fire a good number though with mixed results. Bottom line, on paper  a failed effort and Remoortel would not hold another significant American appointment, guesting in Europe instead until his early death around the age of 50 in 1977.

Well...its not ALL negative! This is a fine recording by a very good, second tier orchestra. Golschmann had excelled in this repertoire and the STLSO was well prepared for these recordings. Remoortel's efforts are solid and I think this is a fine testament to his musicianship. To fill out  a cd, I've included Golschmann conducting Chout of a  few years earlier, that  being a Capitol record. Enjoy!

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