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)