DCD 051 - Backwards in Time

This program we journey backwards through musical history. It's a short trip, but a fun one. We start in the romantic era with a Dvorak string quartet. Then we go back to the classical period for two short works by Beethoven -- including the rarely heard 1821 revised version of "Fur Elise." We end up in the high baroque, with a selection of Italian works for natural trumpet and organ.

We'll be making some changes to the DCD Classical Cast over the next few programs -- let us know what you like and what you don't. You can either email us at info@dcdrecords.com, or just leave your thoughts in the comments field of this blog.

Onward to show #100!

- Ralph

This program we play:

Dvorak: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 34 (mvt. 1)
Pro Arte quartet
University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Music

Beethoven: Fur Elise (1821 version)
"Letzter musickalischer Gedanke," WoO 62 (Hess 41)
Stephen Beck, piano
Monument Records

Viviani: Sonata Prima per Trombetta sola
Gabrieli: Intonazione Dodici Toni
Fantini: Sonata "Morone"
Fantini: Seconda Ricercata "Acciaioli"
Thomas A. Freas, clarion
Timothy M. Lewis, organ
Fanfare Consort

DCD 050 - Artist-Run Labels

Program #50 of the DCD Classical 'Cast features three artists who've created their own record labels. At one point artist-run labels were considered little more than vanity projects. But with the rise of the Internet, things have changed.

Many artists who, in the past, could have only achieved success signed to a major label, now have quite healthy careers performing and recording on their own.

The three we feature on this podcast -- Mark Gardner, Robert DeGaetano, and Gary Levinson -- make music on their own terms. And classical music's the better for it.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Mark Gardner: "Island" and "Midlife Crises"
Mark Gardner, piano

Bohuslav Martinu: Three Madrigals (Nos. 1 and 2)
Gary Levinson, violin; Cynthia Phelps, viola
Zeus Entertainment

Robert de Gaetano: "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Perspective"
Robert de Gaetano, piano
Crystonyx

DCD 049 - American Composers

This episode we sample works from three American composers. One is very famous, and the two others deserve to be.

We start with Samuel Barber (he's the famous one). The "Adagio" movement of his String Quartet Op. 11 is well-known throughout the world. We play the opening movement from this outstanding work, and hope listeners will eventually listen to the entire composition as Barber originally intended.

I confess that Arnold Rosner is one of my favorite contemporary composers. His blend of medieval and modern seems perfect for the time, creating a rich, melodic music that moves at a slow, stately pace. We feature his appropriately named "A Gentle Musike."

Enst Bacon was something of a character. This Chicago-born composer wrote over 250 artsongs, as well as many other compositions. He also led something of a rough-and-ready life, and his self-taught compositional style gave his music a distinctively American and individualistic voice. We play part of his violin sonata in the program.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Samuel Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11, mvt. 1
1807
DTR Records

Arnold Rosner: A Gentle Musicke, Op. 44
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra; David Amos, conductor
Laurel Records

Ernst Bacon: Sonata for Violin and Piano
James Greening-Valenzuelam violin; John Walker, piano
Con Brio Records