Karl Haas and his London Baroque Ensemble in the Brandenburgs

I'm on a bit of a Bach "binge" lately and here's the complete Brandenburgs conducted by scholar-conductor Karl Haas with his London Baroque Ensemble. Recorded in the early 50's, this set was held in high regard into 60's surpassed only by versions featuring Menuhin, Richter, Marriner and Pailliard. With musicians such as Jean Pougnet, Georges Tessier, Emmanuel Hurwitz  Anthony Pini, Frederick Riddle, Richard Adeney, Carl Dolmetsch and Sydney Sutcliff, it is not difficult to understand why this set held ground for such an extended period of time.

As mentioned in a previous post, Haas was one of the more important influences on what we know as today's style of period performance. A German refugee, he settled in London and spent many years there teaching, conducting, and doing scholarly research. It's no wonder that London was probably the "capital" of the early music movement due to, in no small part, to Haas' presence and that of his numerous students and acolytes. 

Karl Haas

For sure, this set peels away a lot of the varnish and exposes Bach's intricate and detailed writing in a clear and precise manner. Details are abundant and lines that were formerly buried in excess string personnel leap off the score. If I have any criticism it is that some of the tempos, notably the first movement of No 6, are somewhat slower than what we are used to today. And, the recorder substituting for the clarino in No 2 is far less satisfying than the brilliant trumpeting that we would have afew years later by the likes of  Andre and Scherbaum. Still, the sum of this accomplishment of Haas is greater than the parts so we should be fortunate to have this document which, when all is said and done, is a step on the road to a better historical understanding of the needs, demands, and wants of J S Bach.

I'd like to mention that for some reason, the first lp (featuring No 2) of this three lp series was recorded in the UK while the remaining two were recorded in France. Looking at the personnel on these records, I noticed a mixed French and English ensemble for the French recordings and an "all" English crew for the record from the UK. Quite interesting and if anyone knows the tale behind this, I'd love to hear it!

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Agi Jambor performs Bach

Followers of this modest blog probably figured out long ago that I love Bach's keyboard works played on piano. There is just something completely satisfying and mesmorizing when listening to one masterpiece after another brought to life on a concert grand piano. My latest installment features Toccatas and Fantasias as realized by the Hungarian-American pianist/teacher Agi Jambor.

Jambor was a fascinating woman, an excellent pianist and a true citizen of the world. From a 1993 Baltimore Sun profile, Stephen Wigler writes:

" She achieved fame as a pianist twice, and was forgotten each time; she used to play duets in Berlin with an amateur violinist named Albert Einstein; she arrived penniless in America after World War II, unable to speak English and without a piano, and resumed her career by practicing on a battered upright at a YWCA in Washington; she married and divorced a Hollywood star; and she was a hero of the anti-Nazi resistance in her native Budapest, where she narrowly escaped death several times by passing herself off as a prostitute named Maryushka."

Incredible stuff I would say. If Jambor did not play Bach with such conviction, she would surely have won an Emmy for a reality television series! Her mastery of the material is without a doubt absolute and it is quite obvious that the fingerprints of her esteemed teacher Edwin Fischer are liberally spread throughout this program. This is strong, reverential Bach played with a masculine touch by a remarkably feminine but strong willed woman. That is fascinating in itself. I am pleased to have come across this unique 2 lp set for it adds to another dimension of my listening from this greatest of masters.

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The American Brass Quintet in Modern American Music

The old brassman in me really loves the terrific playing on this lp. Modern American Brass Music as interpreted by the "original" members of the American Brass Quintet.

There is great sensitivity, insight and intuitiveness here. Let me point you, the reader and listener, to the original Gramophone review from 1969. I cannot better the critic's assessment of this challenging program. What I will say is that it was a damn shame when esteemed conductor Gerard Schwarz placed his trumpet in the case and closed it in place of a baton. Schwarz was one of the most gifted young trumpeters of his day - he had awesome technique, incredible chops and was blessed with keen musical insights  for a trumpet player!  I guess those qualities played a mjaor role towards him developing as an international conducting sensation.

This music on this record is not for the weary by any stretch of the imagination. It is demanding, atonal, and requires a fair amount of study and above all, an open mind. I don't usually post music such as this but the virtuosity of the musicians compels me to do so. Hopefully, you will not be disappointed.

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George Szell and Thomas Scherman conduct Brahms

From a Music Appreciation issue, the glorious music of Brahms juxtiposing perennial favorites, the Academic Festival Overture and Variations on a Theme by Haydn with the less heard "New" Liebeslieder Waltzes. The orchestral selections are led by George Szell with "his symphony orchestra" while Thomas Scherman conducts the choral waltzes.  Vocal soloists are Lucine Amara, Frances Bible, David Lloyd and  Hugh Thompson. The duo pianists are the excellent Abba Bogin and Eileen Flissler.

Music Appreciation, Book of the Month, Musical Masterpieces of the World were great services in their day. Marketed to the masses, their issues introduced many a lay person to the great classics by "assisting" the listener in choice of repertoire and performance. In essence, the services made choices for listeners who might have not made a choice at all if left to their own devices. For the most part, performances were well chosen and the artists often musicians overlooked or underappreciated by the big labels.

As you would expect, George Szell leads pointed and detailed renditions of the Haydn Variations and the Academic Festival Overture. A total unsentimental approach ensures an orchestral approach which is above all, based on precision with respect to the architecture of each piece. With Szell, the overall structure does not break down into mere episodes. If one can say anything about Szell, he was a consistent artist whose recordings came to symbolize "quality," both in sensible interpretation and immaculately prepared performances.

Scherman's New Liebeslieder waltzes are more thean adequate though strangely, I feel that vocal contributions are rather pushed and pulled at times. With a solid quartet, I find this quite odd however, there is an  upside in that Bogin and Flissler are quite effective as duo pianists. These waltzes are beautiful examples of Brahms' mastery of the human voice though Scherman could have introduced a little more subtlety to the proceedings.

Both recordings are decent mono and date from the mid 50's.

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L'orchestre Hewitt performs Handel's Water Music

I'm not exactly being "random" what with two baroque posts in a row but I came into possession of a very clean copy of the Haydn Society issue of the French lp pictured above. Maurice Hewitt conducts L'orchestre Hewitt in Handel's Water Music in more or less an edition which presents most of this wonderful music.

Maurice Hewitt is one of the pioneers in the performance of the the baroque masters. In fact, you might say that he laid the groundwork for such artists as Rampal, Pailliard, Pierlot, Andre, Veyron Lacroix and others. The performance here is faithful to the score, free from large orchestral excesses though admittedly, one must recognize the fact that the Hewitt Orchestra was not a first rate band since there are some obvious technical issues especially with intonation in the winds. Still, we have to be grateful for musicians like Hewitt who took time to blow the cobwebs off of "ancient" music and present it in a more faithful fashion then many of his predecessors.

The Haydn Society issue lists a release date of 1954 but this record was probably recorded two to three years earlier.

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Sylvia Marlowe performs keyboard concertos of Bach with Daniel Saidenberg conducting

Today, concertos for multiple harpsichord of Bach performed by Sylvia Marlowe with Pamela Cook, Robert Conant and  Theodore Saidenberg. The "Baroque" Chamber Orchestra (not sure if this is a pickup group or the Saidenberg Little Symphony) is led by the longtime leader of the Saidenberg Little Symphony, Daniel Saidenberg. My transfer is from an American Decca release, DL10028, though the cover above is from a different issue on another label.

These early attempts at "authentic" baroque always fascinate me. Here, the harpsichords are obviously large and somewhat clanky and the orchestra hardly is observant of what we now consider period practice and balance. Still, there is a delight here in the playing as the musicians relish the way Bach's melodies and harmonies intertwine and develop like peeling the layers back from an artichoke. This is definitely not "run through" Bach since Marlowe and Saidenberg have given careful time and preparation to this lp. Definitely a byway on the road to where we are today in performance and practice of baroque classics.

I think records like this are important  because they document the work of individuals who, in their day, worked tirelessly to promote good music and culture to wide swaths of people from varied backgrounds. Marlowe was a gifted and energetic ambassador of the harpsichord and Daniel Saidenberg a great founder, builder and leader of numerous orchestras in the US. As years go by and tastes change, we slowly forget these pioneers and finding records like this one are important in jogging the collective memory.

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Hindemith from Henry Swoboda

The Swoboda festival continues! Squirrel and I are keeping the Swoboda flame burning.

From 1951, this Westminster lp features Kammermusik No 4 (also known as the Violin Concerto No 3) and the Four Temperaments. Soloists are the fine Czech-Austrian violinist Peter Rybar and the excellent Czech pianist Franz Holletschek. The orchestras are the Winterthur SO and the Vienna SO respectively.

As mentioned previously, Swoboda's best results were with works that were really out of the orchestral mainstream. For whatever reason, his level of inspiration and creativity tended towards pieces that were not old warhorses. Here we have have engaging and insightful interpretations of two, at the time "fringe" pieces, that are prepared well and presented with flair.  You know, a  few months ago, I offered an excellent recording of the Four Temperaments with Victor Aller and Felix Slatkin, one that I consider a near benchmark. Well, here is another equally fine record, a bit less edgy, smoothed out a bit if you will, but no less vital and committed to Hindemith's soundworld. I believe this and the Aller are much better then Lukas Foss' recording with the Zimbler Sinfonietta, a recording that is a bit detached for me. The Violin Concerto receives a splendid go but I think it an inferior piece to the Four Temperaments since it is far less engaging.

I wish that Swoboda had recorded the symphony "Mathis der Maler," an all time favorite of mine and a piece that is a great masterpiece, at least to my ears.

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Albert Spalding's Last Recital at Boston University

This was a terrific find.  It shot to the top of the queue based on my own selfish, personal preferences. From a Halo lp, this record contains the contents, minus Spalding's vocal introduction to Malguena, of the violinist's last public recital (really a master class presentation) at Boston University, a mere two weeks prior to his death at sixty four in 1953. This program features piano accompanist Jules Wolffers.

The style of playing here is from a time when people were still fascinated by the sight of a horseless carriage and musical entertainment was most convenient for people by attending a band concert in the park. With gentle and lyrical phrasing and judicious use of portamento, Spalding coaxes the listener into special, personal musical world. Just listen to the two Hungarian Dances of Brahms and you'll get my drift. This is not to say that Spalding is a relic from the past, he is in perfect tune to the music of  deFalla and Albeniz and he creates quite an authentic Iberian sound if I say so myself. This is playing, that though it is far from technically perfect, is nevertheless self assured, direct, and well, joyful. Oh, and if Ave Maria does not cause your knees to buckle......

This Halo recording has ok sound and was probably recorded in some cheap setup. However, it is an important document of one of the first great American born violinists and that's treasure enough for me!

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The Curtis Quartet performs Schumann's Op 41 Nos. 1 & 3

This post is specifically for my admirable colleague Squirrel of  "Squirrel's Nest." You all know Squirrel is the absolute king and connoisseur of chamber music and I, for one, am most grateful for his terrific posts, often introducing me to artists that I only might have heard of or even NEVER heard of. One such group that I came to admire through Squirrel is the Curtis Quartet whose members were: Jascha Brodsky - 1st Violin, Louis Berman - 2nd Violin, Max Aronoff - Viola, and  Orlando Cole - Cello. Here is an absolute splendid album by this group - Schumann's  Op. 41, Nos. 1 & 3. 

These quartets were conceived quickly and were written while Schumann was inspired by ,after close study,  the quartets of Haydn, Mozart, and Schumann. I must say that I find Schumann a singularly fascinating character. He could go weeks, months even, without any real compositional activity of note and then bam! in a flash of inpiration and white heat, turn out pages and pages of excellent music. Often Schumann found his muse when he was very high with excitement or, low in despair. Incredible. The works here are delights in that they contain stylistic hints ranging from Bach through Schubert but in the end, they are very much works of high romanticism.

In the good old days, there were many quartets playing the US, often associated with the preeminent music schools and universities. The Curtis Quartet is certainly of that ilk and they had a long, probably 30 year association with the Curtis School. Interestingly, the group started their existence as the "Swastika Quartet"...I kid you not! When Hitler came to power in  Europe, Mary Louise Curtis gave the quartet permission to formally incorporate Curtis into their name. Prior to the war, The Curtis Quartet was  the foremost American born and bred ensemble of its kind and for many, it was a near household name. After the war, as the members took on other teaching and playing responsibilities, concerts and touring became less though the nucleus of the group was together through the 1970's. Among the most famous works written for the Curtis was Barber's masterpiece, his Op 11 which contains the famous "Adagio."

This Westminster issue, WL 5166, dates from 1952. If only the Curtis had recorded Number 2!

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