Blogging is a discipline and I have let this blog languish awhile, but not for lack of new music. My tastes have been eclectic and my new acquisitions have included:
- Stephen Hough's English Album. How did I miss English piano virtuoso Stephen Hough for so long? Must have more! He is like a Marc-André Hamelin, but with more soul. My wife finds most English music from the 19th century, on, to be boring. I have a taste for it, myself.
- Danses Et Divertissements, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quartet. I love the sound of wind ensembles, and this is an interesting collection of mostly French pieces, some of which is a little esoteric.
- 201 Years Of Grace - Tsalka Plays A Lindholm Clavichord. This was an extraordinarily expensive album to acquire. Excellent sound of some off-the-beaten-track pieces on a monster clavichord, but played by pianist, not an experienced clavichordist.
- String Quartets by Brahms and Verdi, performed by the Artemis Quartet. There is an irony in placing both composers on the same program. I can't get enough string quartet music. I don't know if I'm qualified to comment on the nuances of string ensembles, as I have uncritically wallowed in the sound of each and every recording I have. Perhaps I have picked all winners.
- Journeys: Music of Robert Baksa. Very pleasant and conservative music for guitar, flute, and viola, in various combinations. An enjoyable album, but I don't know if I need another dose of Baksa: his music is competent and tuneful, but it doesn't make me think very hard.
- Dvořák: Piano Quintets, performed by the Goldner String Quartet. No. 1, Op. 5 and No. 2, Op. 81. I'm always looking for new Dvořák and his quintets are a pleasure. I found, to my surprise, that I already had Op. 81 with the Leipziger String Quartet: I kept telling myself, "gosh, this sounds familiar!" Op. 81 is clearly the crown jewel.
- Bach: Organ Sonatas BWV 525-530, performed by Christopher Wrench. I already have these Trio Sonatas on a much older recording by Ton Koopman. I find the Trio Sonatas to be especially accessible. I really can't say either recording is the better. In that case, do I really need two? Can one have too much Bach?
And, speaking of Bach, I will be making a one-week pilgrimage to the Land of Bach in a couple of weeks. More about that next.
