DCD 016 - Holiday Special, Part 2

This is the second of two special programs featuring music for the holidays. In this podcast, we look at two DTR releases, both featuring the Longwood Gardens organ. We also sample two selections from "Christmas by the Amber Sea," a collection of contemporary Latvian Christmas music.

I hope you enjoy these special programs. We'll return in January with our regular schedule of podcast releases. Best wishes of the season from everyone here at DCD Records.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records


This program we play:

Variations on Adeste Fideles Michael Stairs, organ

Medley: Let It Snow; Up On the House-Top; Deck the Halls
Michael Stairs, organ
DTR

Sisask: Christmas Oratorio
New York Latvian Concert Choir; Latvian National Symphony Orchestra; Andrejs Jansons, conductor
NYLCC

O Holy Night
Davyd Booth, violin; Michael Stairs, organ
DTR

Lusens: Child of the Stars
New York Latvian Concert Choir; Latvian National Symphony Orchestra; Andrejs Jansons, conductor
NYLCC

DCD 015 - Holiday Special, Part 1

This is the first of two special programs featuring music for the holidays. In this podcast, we journey from England to Mexico to Latvia and finally land back home in America. All the selections come from releases available through DCD Records -- and if you listen carefully to the program, you might not hear the sound of reindeer, but you will hear about our special gift to you.

Christmas is my favorite season, and I really enjoyed putting this two-part program together. I hope these selections bring you pleasure.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records

This program we play the following:

Rutter: What Sweeter Music
Good King Wensceslas
St. Clement’s Choir; Peter Richard Conte, music director ; Kenneth Cowan, organ
DTR

Garcia: Hermoso amor, Romance a 4
Convivium Musicum Gothenburgense
Sven Berger and Andreas Edlund, conductors
Musica Rediviva

Ritmane: Christ is Born / Kristus ir Dzimis
New York Latvian Concert Choir; National Opera Chamber Orchestra; Andrejs Jansons, conductor
NYLCC

The Holly and the Ivy
O Holy Night
Inner Voices
Laurel Records

DCD 014 - From the Renaissance to the 20th Century

This program we continue our general survey of the music carried at DCD Records, ranging from the renaissance to the modern age (hence the title of the podcast). In addition to a variety of works from different labels, we also present a selection from the best-selling album at DCDRecords.com for September, 2006.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records

This program we play the following:

Chopin: Polonnaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 "Heroic"
Howard Karp, piano
UW-Madison

de Wert: Noli timere
Rutgers Collegium Musicum; Andrew Kirkman, conductor
DTR

Bloch: Scherzo Fantasque for Piano and Orchestra
Micah Yui, pianist; The London Symphony Orchestra; David Amos, conductor
Laurel Records

A selection from the DCD Top of the Charts for September, 2006

DCD 013 Ethel Smythe's Chamber Music

Troubadisc has released a four-volume set surveying the chamber music of Dame Ethel Smythe (1858-1944). This remarkable English composer forged a musical career at the turn of the Twentieth Century despite crushing adversity. Facing an enormous amount of discrimination because of her sex, she managed to turn out an impressive body of music -- and have it published and performed, to boot.

Renate Eggebrecht, co-founder of Troubadisc Records, has long been a champion of women composers, so its not surprising that she would turn her attention to Smythe. The intimate nature of chamber music gives us a unique perspective on this sometimes larger-that-life figure. After all, we're talking about someone who was not only friends with luminaries such as Clara Schumann and Virginia Wolf, but was a driving force of the Women's Sufferage Movement at a time when such activity was met with active hostility and sometimes violence. And, as you'll hear in this podcast, she was a gifted composer with a talent for melody.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records

This program we feature the following:

Smythe: String Quartet No. 1, Op, 1

Smythe: Sonata for Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 5

Smythe: "Chrysilla" from Four Songs for Mezzosoprano and Chamber Orchestra

Smythe: "Before the Squall" from Three Moods of the Sea

DCD 012 – Nighttime in Virginia, or “Say Hello to My Little Friend”

Usually there’s a very slender window of time open for me to record the DCD Classical ‘Cast. As I was setting levels, I heard a cricket singing loud and clear in the corner of the studio. I wasn’t able to track him down, and given the choice of delaying the recording for a couple of weeks or plunging ahead and hoping the mic wouldn’t pick up the sound, I chose the latter. While I didn’t really hear it on the headphones, Jimminy came through loud and clear on the final recording. I apologize, and can only hope that with the change in weather, this will be a one-time problem.

This program features works that range from solo piano pieces to full orchestral movements. We also share a few selections from our top-selling recording for August, 2006. Which release is it? You’ll have to listen – it’s not listed in the show notes below.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records

This program we feature the following:
Gottschalk: “Souvenire de la Havane”
Crystonyx

Bliss: String Quartet No. 1 in B flat major, Mvt. 4 Vivace
Troubadisc

Rosner: “Motet,” from Five Meditations, Op. 36
Laurel Records

Three selections from the DCD Top of the Charts for August, 2006

DCD 011 - The Pro Arte Quartet

By lucky happenstance, our two newly added labels, the UW-Madison School of Music and Laurel Records have both recorded the Pro Arte Quartet. Both we'll feature in this episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast."

In a way, it's not surprising. The quartet, founded in 1912, has a long and distinguished recording career. In the 1920's, for example, they were the first chamber ensemble to extensively record. The podcast alternates between their Laurel Records releases of the 1980's and their current output for UW-Madison.

The program has been languishing in the can for a while. We've had to switch servers, and were unable to upload either podcasts or image files until the transfer was complete. If you have any problems with any of our links, please let me know. I'll be testing everything personally, but its a growing site. Any help would be most appreciated. E-mail me at mailto:info@dcdrecords.com?subject=Podcast.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records

This program, we play the following:
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in a minor, Op. 13 (mvt. 1)
UW-Madison

Rozka: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 38 (mvt. 2)
Laurel Records

Dvorak: String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 51 (Finale)
UW-Madison

Bloch: Two Pieces for String Quartet
Laurel Records

DCD 010 - A new release -- and a new label

Our tenth podcast was to be a showcase for another new label we've picked up; the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Music. It still basically is. We just had to make room for a new release.

Musica Rediviva's latest effort is an interesting collection of music by Helena Ek. A specialist in the field of early music, Ek presents a survey of songs devoted to various aspects of the Virgin Mary. There are some obvious choices, like selections from the Cantiguas de Santa Maria, the famous collection of Alfonso X. But mixed in with that are some other medieval, renaissance and even baroque compositions give the recital added dimension. Ek even includes some traditional folk songs and a contemporary composition or two. It's a compelling listen, and I (for one) thoroughly enjoyed it. On the podcast I play two tracks to give you an idea of the flow and overall sound of Maria.

The rest of the program is devoted to the releases of the UW-Madison label (that's not an official abbreviation, but the full name is a mouthful). There's some contemporary music commissioned by the school, as well as some outstanding performances by the faculty.

By an interesting confluence, the two newest labels to the DCD family also share the same artists. The Pro Arte Quartet has been the resident artists at UW-Madison since about the First World War, and their current lineup has recorded several quartets on the school label. They also, about a decade ago, recorded for Laurel Records. Next time, then, we'll finish our look at UW-Madison and continue our profile of Laurel by playing tracks from the Pro Arte Quartet on both labels.

And please remember that all comments are welcome! Positive more than negative would be nice, but criticism is given equal weight with kudos in influencing the direction of these podcasts. E-mail me at mailto:info@dcdrecords.com?subject=Podcast.


- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records



This program, we play the following:

Söderström: Jungfru Maria
Trad. 1500: St.Göran och draken
Helena Ek, soprano; Göran Måsson: pipes, frame drum, string drum, hurdy-gurdy
Musica Rediviva

Larsen: Concert Dances, Mvt. 1
UW-Madison Symphonic Wind Ensemble; David E. Becker, conductor
UW-Madison

Schubert: Irrlich
Paul Rowe, baritone; Martha Fischer, piano
UW-Madison

R. Strauss: “Improvisation” from the Violin Sonata, Op. 18
Parry Karp, cello; Howard Karp, piano
UW-Madison

DCD 009 - Laurel Records: the Barshai recordings

This program we introduce a not-so-new label: Laurel Records. Laurel was founded in 1974 by noted film and TV composer Herschel Burke Gilbert, and is run today by his son. I've been a fan of Laurel for some time, and it's very exciting personally to be working with this distinguished label.

The Russian conductor Rudolph Barshai is well-represented with five Laurel releases. Barshai’s career includes work with the giants of Russian music, such as Shostakovich and Rostropovich, and has many highlights too numerous to mention here (although not here).

We sample three of Barshai's recordings with Laurel, and are offering all five for a special price on our website. Enjoy some great, unabashedly romantic music-making with this edition of our podcast.

And don't be shy about speaking your mind! It would be great to have some discussion about the music featured in our podcasts. Whether you love the music or hate my mispronunciations, send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com.

- Ralph Graves
President, DCD Records



This program, we play the following:

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 5 in D, K.175, Mvt. 1
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra; Rudolph Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, Mvt. 2
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra; Rudolf Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, Mvt. 3
Mark Zeltzer, piano; Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra; Rudolf Barshai, conductor
Laurel Records

DCD 008 - New releases -- and a new label

Things have been hopping here at DCD recently, significantly impacting our podcast schedule (as if you haven't noticed). The good news is that we now have even more music to share -- and we intend to do just that. Look for a stepped up podcast schedule beginning with this show. Thanks for your patience and support.

This program we introduce a new label -- Champignon International, the home of the early music group, the Fanfare Consort. In addition to sampling selections from the Consort's two albums, we also give you a first taste of some new releases.

VGo Recordings has a new release featuring Grisha, a young guitar virtuoso from Russia. In addition to that, we also debut a cut from "Violin Solo, Volume 2," on Troubadisc. Renate Eggebrecht performs on the first SACD from this fine German label.

Circulation has continue to grow for our podcast, and we couldn't be happier. If you have a moment, drop us a line. I'd love to know where you're listening, and what you like (or don't). Send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com

- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Girolamo Fantini: Sonata “Morone”
Thomas A Freas, clarino; Timothy M. Lewis, organ
Champignon International

Paco de Lucia: Taranta
Grisha, guitar
VGo Recordings

Giovanni Bonaventura Viviani: Sonata Prima per Trombetta sola
Thomas A Freas, clarino; Timothy M. Lewis, organ
Champignon International

Bela Bartok: Sonata for Solo Violin – Mvt. 2 Fuga: Risoluto, non troppo vivo
Renate Eggebrecht, violin
Troubadisc

Archangelo Corelli: Sonata in D major for clarion, two violins and basso continuo
Fanfare Consort
Champignon International

DCD 007 - Music of Tribute, Part 2

This is the second installment of a two-part program. Labor Records has released a series of recordings entitled “Music of Tribute." Each disc mixes music by a particular composer with music written by others in homage, dedicated to, or just influenced by that composer. Four discs have been released so far -- Heitor Villa-Lobos, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Dominico Scarlatti.

The third volume is centered around Gabriel Fauré. In 1920, Fauré resigned as director of the Conservatoire, where he had worked since 1905. The French publication Reveue Musicale invited several of his most prominent pupils to write works to a collection that would commemorate the event. Contributors included Florent Schmitt, Georges Enesco, and Fauré's most famous student, Maurice Ravel.

The most recent release in the series is all about Dominico Scarlatti. Unlike the previous three recordings, there's no tribute collection that the modern works presented are drawn from. Scarlatti's elegent piano sonatas have influenced and inspired many composers throughout the centuries -- this CD presents but a small sampling of them.

These two titles, along with the first two volumes, are available from DCD Records, either individually or at a special price for all four.


And as always, I'd love to hear from you about the program. What elements do you like? What should go? Send your bouquets and brickbats to info@dcdrecords.com.

- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Fauré: Prelude No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 103, Vladimir Valjarevic, piano
(Labor)

Ducasse: D'un extreme lenteur - Vladimir Valjarevic, Ivailo Nanev, pianos
(Labor)

Ravel: Berceuse for violin and piano - Svetla Kaitcherva, violin; Vladimir Valjarevic, piano
(Labor)

D. Scarlatti: Sonata in G major, L. 486 - Viktoria Lakissova, piano,
(Labor)
Godowsky: Concert-Allegro - Viktoria Lakissova, piano,
(Labor)

DCD 006 - Music of Tribute, Part 1

This podcast is the first installment of a two-part series. Labor Records has released a series of recordings entitled “Music of Tribute,” based on a fascinating premise. Each disc mixes music by a particular composer with music written by others in homage, dedicated to, or just influenced by that composer. Four discs have been released so far — Heitor Villa-Lobos, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Dominico Scarlatti.

The first volume is centered around Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. For the centennial of the composer’s birth, the musicologist and pianist José Eduardo Martins asked several composers to write works in Villa-Lobos’ honor. The Music of Tribute release is based on the resulting collection, which includes works by several Brazilian composers, as well as others from the US, Portugal, Spain and Austria.

Claude Debussy is the subject of the second volume. After Debussy’s death in 1918, the French journal Revue musicale invited several composers who were either French or active in the French musical scene to write short tribute pieces. Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy was published in 1920. This CD is a collection of works from that publication, as well as music by Debussy.

- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Villa-Lobos: Choros No. 5, Alma Brasileria - José Eduardo Martins, piano
(Labor)

Guarnieri: Improviso No. 2 (Homenagem a Villa-Lobos) - José Eduardo Martins, piano
(Labor)

Peixinho: Villabarosa (Homenagem a Villa-Lobos) - José Eduardo Martins, piano
(Labor)

Ravel: Le Duo pour Violin et Violoncello - Evgenia-Maria Popva, violin; Anatoli Kristev, cello
(Labor)

Debussy: Des pas sur la neige - Pavlina Dokovska, piano,
(Labor)

DCD 005 - Keyboards -- Pianos and more!

This program presents a variety of keyboard performances. For some folks, the term "keyboard" is synonymous with "piano," but we go a little further. For others, the term conjures up images of the king of instruments (that's the organ), and we have that, too. But what tends to be forgotten is the family of keyboard percussion.

While the vibraphone is an accepted solo instrument in jazz, in classical music it — along with the xylophone, marimba and glockenspiel -- remain in the background, serving to add a bit of occasional color to orchestral scores.

As a keyboard percussionist, I was very excited when Musica Rediviva released an album of contemporary solo marimba compositions. It really shows what the instrument is capable of, both technically and in terms of serious musical expression. I enjoyed it very much, and I hope you do, too.
- Ralph Graves


This program, we play the following:

Debussy: Reflects dans l’eau - Aileen Chanco, piano
(Con Brio)

Mozart: Fantasia in F Minor K. 608 - Ted Alan Worth, organ
(DTR)

Gottschalk: Chanson - Robert DeGaetano, piano
(Crystonyx)

Berg: Over the Moon - Daniel Berg, marimba
(Musica Rediviva)

DCD 004 - Contemporary music from America and Latvia

This podcast is sort of a study in contrasts. We play two short solo piano works by Mark Gardner, a brilliant composer and pianist living out on the west coast. That's followed by a large orchestral and choral work by Latvian composer Bruno Skulte. What do these works have in common? Well-written, accessible and compelling music that speaks in their respective composers' voices.

This program I also mention my radio background. For those who'd like to hear me host a program that plays complete works, listen in every Wednesday 6:00am to 9:00am to WTJU in Charlottesville, VA. My program, Gamut is streamed live over the Internet.

This program, we play the following:

Gardner: The Price of Art; "Dance of the Defiant," and "Existence of Handel" - Mark Gardner, piano
(Mark Gardner)

Skulte: A Herder's Life - Rhapsody
New York Latvian Concert Choir; Chamber Choir "Balsis"Choir Class of the Riga 4th Music School; Latvian National Symphony Orchestra; Dita Kalnina, soprano; Antra Bigaca, mezzo-soprano; Viesturs Jansons, tenor; Samson Izjumovs, baritone; Ints Teterovskis, baritone; Lelde Vikmane, narrator; Andrejs Jansons, conductor
(NYLCC)

DCD 003 - Chamber music

Our third podcast presents a variety of chamber music. The intimate nature of small ensemble performance seems a perfect match for the resources and artistic visions of independent classical labels.

At the same time, chamber music is often more challenging to record than orchestral music. As you'll hear, both sound quality and level of performance remains high through all the selections.

This program, we play the following:

Tchaikovsky (arr. Volkert): Three Pieces; 1. Allegretto vivo e scherzando - Volkert-Walther Trio
(Con Brio)

Bacewicz: String Quartet No. 4, mvt. two - Wister Quartet
(DTR Recording Company)

Mendelssohn-Henzel: Piano Quartet in A major, first movement - Renate Eggebrecht, violin; Friedemann Kupsa, cello; David Cann, viola; Staf Mickish, piano
(Troubadisc)

DCD 002 - Artist-run labels

Our second podcast continues our survey of the independent classical labels we carry. This time, we focus on artist-run labels. In order to have the freedom to make (and record) the music they want to, some artists create their own record labels.

Vanity projects? If these were self-taught amateurs, perhaps. But when the performer is a professional musician who has gone through intense training for a career in classical music — I think not. At their best, self-recorded artists can deliver exciting, deeply personal performances that can't be found anywhere else.

To demonstrate that point, we play the following selections:

DeGaetano: Crystonyx - Robert DeGaetano, piano
(Crystonyx)

Bach: Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001 (Adagio and Fuga) - Garrett Fischbach, violin
(Fischbach)

Beethoven: Romance in F major, Op. 50 - Patricia McCarty, viola; Martin Amlin, piano
(Ashmont Music)

DCD 001 - Welcome to DCD Records

Our premier podcast provides a sampling of the independent classical artists and labels carried by DCD Records. This program begins a survey of the labels associated with DCD Records. We play the following selections:
Bach: Allein Gott in der Hőh sie Ehr' BWV 662
James Higdon, organ
(DCD Records)

Gade: Tango–Fantasia
Vieri Bottazzini,flute; Lilian Tonella, piano
(Callisto Records)

Biber: Passacaglia for solo lute
Boris Gaquere, guitar
(VGo Recordings)

Gibbons: Magnificat
Convivium Musicum
(Musica Rediviva)