DCD 114 - March On!

Here's a podcast episode that should get you moving! From the DTR catalog, we present selections from March On! -- an organ recital of symphonic marches arranged for the organ. Michael Stairs performs on the Longwood Gardens Organ.

The disc -- and our podcast -- features famous marches, as well as some that aren't so well known. You'll hear John Philip Sousa's "The Washington Post March," and Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March." But the program also includes the Bridal March from "The Birds," by British composer Charles Hubert Parry. We also play an arrangement by Felix-Alexandre Giulmant, a renowned French organist -- a Marche Relgieuse on Handel's "Lift Up Your Heads."

A varied and exciting program, indeed!

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #114 - March On!

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play selections from "March On!" with Michael Stairs on the Longwood Garden Organ including:

John Phillip Sousa: The Washington Post March

Charles Hubert Parry (arr. Alcock): Bridal March from "The Birds"

Felix Alexandre Guilmant: Marche Religieuse on Handel's "Lift Up Your Hands"

Jeremiah Clarke: Prince of Denmark's March

DCD 113 - 20th Century 4-Hand Piano Music

20th Century 4-Hand Piano Music. The title for this podcast episode looks like a mouthful, but it accurate describes the music we play this time -- and it also is the name of the recording we feature.

Laurel Records released a unique CD from the piano duo of Margret Elson and Elizabeth Swarthout back in 1996. It does indeed include only music composed by Americans in the 20th Century, written for piano four-hands.

Although that seems to be a fairly narrow focus, the duo still had more than enough music to choose from. The disc opens with "Gazebo Dances" from then young and up-and-coming composer John Corigliano. It's a treat to hear this seldom-performed work.

The release surveys the field well. Included are duos by earlier composers such as Wallingford Rieger and Vincent Persichetti, as well as a 1996 composition by Claire Polin.

All in all, it's an exciting program of music that, because it's for piano duo, is not often heard by the public.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #113 - 20th Century American 4-Hand Piano Music

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play selections from "20th Century American 4-Hand Piano Music" by the Elon-Swarthout Duo. Including:

John Corigliano: Gazebo Dances, Mvts. 1 & 2

Vincent Persichetti: Concerto for Piano 4 Hands (final mvt.)

Claire Polin: Phantasmagoria

Wallingford Rieger: Evocation

DCD 112 - Alain Organ Music

James Higdon is well-qualified to perform the music of organist/composer Jehan Alain. He's a recognized authority of the French organ repertoire, and studied with Marie-Claire Alain, the daughter of the composer and one of the stars of the organ world.

Higdon recorded Jehan Alain's complete works for organ, performing on one of the few instruments in this country that matched the original registrations Alain had in mind.

A master musician performing works he intimately understands on an instrument perfectly suited for the music. What more could anyone ask for?

You don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #112 - Alain Organ Music

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from Jehan Alain: Complete Works for Organ, Vol. 2 with James Higdon

Alain: Variations on a Theme of Clement Jannequin

Alain: Prelude et Fugue

Alain: Deuxieme Fantasie

Alain: Variations sur Lucis Creator

DCD 111 - Teatro Imaginario: Scarlatti Sonatas

The VGo label specializes in high-quality classical guitar recordings -- with one exception. They also released a harpsichord recording, done with the same high production values as the rest of the VGo line.

The disc, entitled "Teatro Imaginario" features fifteen harpsichord sonatas by Dominico Scaraltti

Patrice Mathews is a well-known harpsichordist, and has a solid reputation both as a soloist and as an in-demand player with early music ensembles. The disc presents some of Scarlatti's most popular harpsichord sonatas (out of the 550 he wrote). In this podcast we select four from the album, sort of a "best of the best."

You don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #111 - Teatro Imaginario

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from "Teatro Imaginario: Scarlatti Sonatas" with Patrice Mathews

Scarlatti: Presto in A major, K. 4

Scarlatti: Allegro in E minor, K. 147

Scarlatti: Allegro in C-sharp minor, K. 247

Scarlatti: Allegro in A minor, K. 532

DCD 110 - An Orchestra Of One

This episode of the DCD Classical 'Cast we feature selections from one of the many recordings Clipper Erickson made for the DTR label. The title of the release "An Orchestra of One" pretty much sums up the concept. Erickson performs a variety of works arranged for solo piano that really test the performer's mettle!

It's an outstanding album of pianistic virtuosity, played by a top-flight artist. This was a show I really enjoyed putting together!

You don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #110 - An Orchestra of One

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from "An Orchestra of One" by Clipper Erickson, including:

Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Myra Hess: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147 BWV 147

Fritz Kriesler arr. by Sergei Rachmaninov: Liebesfreud

Margaret Bonds; Troubled Water

Charles Gounod, arr. by FranzLiszt: Waltz from 'Faust'

DCD 109 - Arthur Bliss String Quartets

British composer Arthur Bliss was extremely self-critical. Although he composed four string quartets, only three were ever performed, and he allowed only two to be published. His first two quartets were written when he was a young man, and these were the works he later withdrew. It wasn't until after his fiftieth birthday that he wrote a chamber work that he thought worthy of public performance. This would be designated his String Quartet No. 1.

In 1950, Bliss completed his second and last string quartet, a work he regarded as one of his best chamber music compositions.

This program we play selections from an outstanding recording by the German ensemble the Fanny Mendelssohn Quartett. The CD includes both of Arthur Bliss' approved string quartets, and wonderful works they are!

You don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast #109 - Arthur Bliss String Quartet

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from the Troubadisc release "Arthur Bliss: String Quartets"

Arthur Bliss: String Quartet No 1, Mvts. 1 & 2

The Fanny Mendelssohn Quartett

Arthur Bliss: String Quartet No. 2, Mvts. 3 & 4

The Fanny Mendelssohn Quartett

DCD 108 - Moments with Annette

Nowadays, Annette DiMedio is a respected pianist and teacher. A native of Philadelphia, she's soloed with the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as orchestras around the world, and currently serves on the faculty of the University of the Arts.

But when she was still a young girl with a promising career ahead of her, she made a recording with the DTR label. This episode we feature selections from that debut recording. The release features not only DiMedio's performances, but also poems she wrote to go with the works. It's an interesting document of an artist who we now know would fulfill the promise of this early recording.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Just click on the link below to play through your computer.

DCD Classical 'Cast #108 - Moments with Annette

- Ralph Graves


This episode we play selections from the DTR release, Moments with Annette

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableaux, Op. 39, No. 5
Annette DiMedio, piano

Chopin: Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48. No. 1
Annette DiMedio, piano

Debussy: La Cathedrale Engloutie
Annette DiMedio, piano

Ginaster: Piano Sonata, mvts. 3 & 4
Annette DiMedio, piano

DCD 107 - David Baker: Jazz Concertos

David Baker has enjoyed a remarkable career both as a jazz musician and a classical composer. He's worked with some of the biggest names in both fields (and currently serves as conductor and artistic director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

When Baker first started composing in the "third stream," he was commissioned by James Pellerite, a fellow faculty member at Indiana University School of Music at Bloomington. The result was a flute concerto, which was recorded by Laurel Records.

Also on this Laurel Records release is Baker's concerto for violin and jazz band. For the recording, an all-star group was assembled by Carmen Dragon, who conducted the work for the session.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to enjoy a podcast. Just click on the link below to download to your computer.

DCD Classical 'Cast #107 - David Baker: Jazz Concertos

- Ralph Graves


This episode we play selections from this David Baker concerto release:

Baker: Concerto for Flute, String Quartet, and Jazz Band, Mvt. 1
James Pellerite, flute
David Baker, conductor


Baker: Concerto for Violin and Jazz Band
James Getzoff, violin
Carmen Dragon, conductor