Three Romantic Violin Concertos: Bruch, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovksy

SKU: HL.14028266

Cyril Scott was an English composer, writer, and poet. He was essentially a late romantic composer, whose style was at the same time strongly influenced by impressionism. His harmony was notably exotic. Scott wrote around four hundred works,which include two mature symphonies, three operas, three Piano concertos,concertos for Violin, Cello, Oboe and Harpsichord, several overtures, four oratorios, as well as a mass of chamber music.

While less appreciated during his lifetime, it is Scott's late works(written between 1950 and his death) that are the most individual, with their ever-shifting harmoniccolours and wayward inflections of phrase and mood,capturing perfectly the way the mind shifts, backwards and forwards, between reminiscence, regrets, and self-assertion.

Composed in 1961 for Flute and Piano and premiered by William Bennett and Margaret Norman on November 9 of that year, Sonata For Flute is perfect  example of the genius of Scott's late works.

SKU: DZ.DZ-4287

ISBN 9782898522048.

Antônio Francisco Braga (1868-1945) belongs to the generation of Brazilian composers of the first republican period, aesthetically tied to romanticism, alongside Henrique Oswald (1852-1931), Leopoldo Miguez (1850-1902), Glauco Velásquez (1884-1914), and Barrozo Neto (1881-1941). Born in Rio de Janeiro, on April 15th, 1868, he began his musical studies at the Asilo dos Meninos Desvalidos, in 1876. In 1883, he enrolled at the Imperial Conservatório de Música where he studied harmony and counterpoint with Carlos de Mesquita – a former student of César Franck, Durand, and Massenet – and clarinet with Antônio Luís de Moura. Braga's first compositions date from this period: Sonho de Dante (1885), Dolce far niente (1886), the first Valse Romantique for piano (1886), among others.
In 1887, he premiered his first symphonic work, Fantasia-Abertura. In 1890, being one of the finalists in a competition to choose the new Brazilian national anthem, Braga was awarded a scholarship to study in Europe, where he took classes with Jules Massenet at the Paris Conservatory. During this period, he wrote some of his most important symphonic works, Paysage, Cauchemar, Episódio Sinfônico, and Marabá (which was performed by Richard Strauss and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1920, in Brazil). His opera Jupyra is considered one of the greatest Brazilian compositions of that genre.
Back in Brazil, he was appointed professor of counterpoint, fugue, and composition at the Instituto Nacional de Música, in 1902. There, some of the finest Brazilian composers studied with him, like Glauco Velásquez and Lorenzo Fernândez.
Braga wrote operas, symphonic works, songs, sacred music, two Masses, music for piano, different chamber formations, band, and choir. He is the author of many patriotic hymns, the most popular of which is Hino à Bandeira (with lyrics by Olavo Bilac). He explored Brazilian nationalist elements in some of his works, as in Variações sobre um Tema Brasileiro and in the Trio for violin, cello and piano, whose third movement is based on a lundu (a musical genre and dance of Afro-Brazilian origin).
In addition to being a composer, Braga was one of the most active conductors of his time, having been ahead of three orchestras in Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Nacional de Música, Sociedade de Concertos Sinfônicos, and Theatro Municipal. Braga conducted the Brazilian premiere of major symphonic works such as La Mer (Debussy), Pacific 231 (Honegger) besides other numerous Brazilian compositions.
In 1938, he retired from Instituto Nacional de Música. He passed away on March 14th, 1945, in Rio de Janeiro.
Unfortunately, Francisco Braga never wrote for the guitar. However, over a century ago his music had already been incorporated to its repertoire. According to information found in newspapers of the time, Spanish guitarist Josefina Robledo included transcriptions of pieces by Braga in her programs when she performed in Brazil: Gavota e Minuete (from the melodrama Contratador de Diamantes), in 1919, in São Paulo, and the waltz-caprice Corrupio, in 1921, in Rio de Janeiro.
The piano score of Madrigal Pavane was dedicated to Alexina Leitão and published by Casa Vieira Machado, in 1901. According to the composer’s catalogue, there are two other versions of this piece: strings orchestra (1901) and quartet (which is still in manuscript). Dedicated to Braga’s childhood friend José de Souza Rocha, Timburibá (the name of a Brazilian tree) is a tango for piano from 1886, published by Narciso & Arthur Napoleão.

Antônio Francisco Braga (1868-1945) appartient à la génération des compositeurs brésiliens de la première période républicaine, esthétiquement liés au romantisme, aux côtés de Henrique Oswald (1852-1931), Leopoldo Miguez (1850-1902), Glauco Velásquez (1884-1914) , et Barrozo Neto (1881-1941). Né à Rio de Janeiro, le 15 avril 1868, il commence ses études musicales à l'Asilo dos Meninos Desvalidos, en 1876. En 1883, il s'inscrit au Imperial Conservatório de Música où il étudie l'harmonie et le contrepoint avec Carlos de Mesquita – ancien élève de César Franck, Durand et Massenet – et clarinette avec Antônio Luís de Moura. De cette période datent les premières compositions de Braga : « Sonho de Dante » (1885), « Dolce far niente » (1886), la première « Valse Romantique » pour piano (1886), entre autres.
En 1887, il crée sa première œuvre symphonique, « Fantasia-Abertura ». En 1890, étant l'un des finalistes d'un concours pour choisir le nouvel hymne national brésilien, Braga obtient une bourse pour étudier en Europe, où il suit les cours de Jules Massenet au Conservatoire de Paris. Durant cette période, il écrit certaines de ses œuvres symphoniques les plus importantes, « Paysage », « Cauchemar », « Episódio Sinfônico » et « Marabá » (interprétée par Richard Strauss et la Philharmonie de Vienne en 1920, au Brésil). Son opéra « Jupyra » est considéré comme l'une des plus grandes compositions brésiliennes de ce genre.
De retour au Brésil, il fut nommé professeur de contrepoint, de fugue et de composition à l'Instituto Nacional de Música, en 1902. Là, certains des meilleurs compositeurs brésiliens étudièrent avec lui, comme Glauco Velásquez et Lorenzo Fernândez.
Braga a écrit des opéras, des œuvres symphoniques, des chansons, de la musique sacrée, deux messes, de la musique pour piano, différentes formations de chambre, un orchestre et une chorale. Il est l'auteur de nombreux hymnes patriotiques, dont le plus populaire est « Hino à Bandeira » (avec des paroles d'Olavo Bilac). Il a exploré des éléments nationalistes brésiliens dans certaines de ses œuvres, comme dans « Variações sobre um Tema Brasileiro » et dans le Trio pour violon, violoncelle et piano, dont le troisième mouvement est basé sur un « lundu » (un genre musical et une danse afro-américaine). Origine brésilienne).
En plus d'être compositeur, Braga a été l'un des chefs d'orchestre les plus actifs de son époque, ayant dirigé trois orchestres à Rio de Janeiro : « Instituto Nacional de Música », « Sociedade de Concertos Sinfônicos » et « Theatro Municipal ». Braga a dirigé la première brésilienne d'œuvres symphoniques majeures telles que « La Mer » (Debussy), « Pacific 231 » (Honegger) ainsi que de nombreuses autres compositions brésiliennes.
En 1938, il prend sa retraite de l'Instituto Nacional de Música. Il est décédé le 14 mars 1945 à Rio de Janeiro.
Malheureusement, Francisco Braga n’a jamais écrit pour la guitare. Cependant, il y a plus d'un siècle, sa musique était déjà incorporée à son répertoire. Selon des informations trouvées dans les journaux de l'époque, la guitariste espagnole Josefina Robledo incluait des transcriptions de pièces de Braga dans ses programmes lorsqu'elle se produisait au Brésil : « Gavota e Minuete » (du mélodrame « Contratador de Diamantes »), en 1919, à São Paulo, et la valse-caprice « Corrupio », en 1921, à Rio de Janeiro.
La partition pour piano de « Madrigal Pavane » a été dédiée à Alexina Leitão et publiée par « Casa Vieira Machado », en 1901. Selon le catalogue du compositeur, il existe deux autres versions de cette pièce : orchestre à cordes (1901) et quatuor (qui est encore manuscrit). Dédié à José de Souza Rocha, ami d'enfance de Braga, « Timburibá » (nom d'un arbre brésilien) est un tango pour piano de 1886, publié par « Narciso & Arthur Napoleão ».
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Cyril Scott was an English composer, writer, and poet. He was essentially a late romantic composer, whose style was at the same time strongly influenced by impressionism. His harmony was notably exotic. Scott wrote around four hundred works,which include two mature symphonies, three operas, three Piano concertos,concertos for Violin, Cello, Oboe and Harpsichord, several overtures, four oratorios, as well as a mass of chamber music

Cyril Scott was an English composer, writer, and poet. He was essentially a late romantic composer, whose style was at the same time strongly influenced by impressionism. His harmony was notably exotic. Scott wrote around four hundred works,which include two mature symphonies, three operas, three Piano concertos,concertos for Violin, Cello, Oboe and Harpsichord, several overtures, four oratorios, as well as a mass of chamber music

SKU: FG.55011-906-2

ISBN 9790550119062.

Harri Wessman's Summer Variations for viola and piano (1998) exploites the rich and romantic sound of the viola and enjoys the many shades of summer days. It is dedicated to violist Yuri Gandelsman, who premiered the suite with Risto Lauriala 15th June 1998.

Duration: c. 11'

Movements:
1. Summer theme
2. What is this?
3. Pizzicato
4. Con sordino
5. Stile concitato ostinato
6. Tango
7. Finale

Harri Wessman (b. 1949) is interested in all aspects of music that may be expressive, without in any way ignoring the possibilities of melody. He himself describes his harmonic method as a kind of contrapuntally treated jazz harmony. Wessman is particularly preoccupied with the ability of music to express emotions, an interest which has led him to study the so-called doctrine of the affections and the musical rhetoric of the baroque era. His Eine kleine Figurenlehre for wind quartet and piano is a playful application of a set of baroque musical figures.

His output is dominated by chamber and vocal music as well as a number of concertos for various instruments such as the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra and the Serenade for Piano and String Orchestra. During recent years pedagogic music has become a more and more central area in his output with an emphasis on creating repertoire for budding musicians, from beginners to young professionals. He has even tailored some solo and chamber works for young musicians that he personally knows: e.g. Five Trombone Pieces for Minna Kajander (1992), Five Horn Pieces for Jenni Kuronen (1993), Five Piano Etudes for Tiina Karakorpi, Five Trumpet Pieces for Alevtina Parland and Five Double Bass Pieces for Amanda Thieme. Other chamber and solo pieces include Pan and the Nymph Pitys (1979) for flute and guitar, Three Caprices for Konstantin Weitz (1994) for solo violin and Capriccio for wind ensemble (1989).

SKU: BR.OB-3210-16

ISBN 9790004300701. 10 x 12.5 inches.

Johannes Brahms' first Piano Concerto was the fruit of a complex, protracted, and extremely trying creative process. Its origin goes back to a sonata in D minor for two pianos conceived in spring 1854. The impulse for the creation of the main subject was however a shocking event: According to Joseqph Joachim, the theme originated after hearing about Schumanns suicide attempt. A few months earlier, Schumann had revealed Brahms to the musical world in his essay New Paths. In this article, Brahms is extolled as the musician who is called to give expression to the feeling of his times in an ideal fashion. The unusually rapid genesis of the D-minor sonata and its prevailingly dark, monumental mood can be interpreted as an impassioned compositional response to Schumann's suicide attempt. However, the year-long struggle to arrive at the final form of the work should perhaps also be seen in the context of the resounding praise of Schumann's prophetic article. Brahms undoubtly felt a growing inner pressure to live up to the expectations aroused therein.Together with Clara Schumann, Brahms played the three so far existing movements of the sonata, but he was very self-critical. He felt that he had not been able to realize the monumentality he had envisioned, and which Clara Schumann felt, by merely doubling the piano sound. He soon decided to transform the sonata into a symphony (his first orchestral project). However, this idea did not seem to fit his vision either. Only in spring 1855 did he strike upon the definitive solution: a piano concerto. With Brahms as soloist, this concerto premiered in 1859, though he initially had little success. He wrote to Joachim about one of the first performances that the concerto was a brilliant and unmistakable - failure. This hardly surprised Brahms, for he was undoubtedly aware of the newness of the work, which surpassed the expectations of the audience. The work's complex structure and symphonic dimensions, the solo part's rejection of showy, elegant brilliance, and the uniquely Brahmsian orchestral density it maintains throughout; all of these qualities inevitably exasperated audiences at first - until they raised this work to the ranks of the most celebrated concertos of all time.