Recordings
A Cry Was Heard (DXL 1190)
A Cry Was Heard showcases the astonishing virtuosic, lyrical, and dramatic power of the sackbut, in the hands of internationally acclaimed sackbut player Emily White. Joined here by countertenor Guy James and the ensemble, Sackbut Frenzy, White interweaves traditional repertoire such as Schütz and Castello with new music by John Kenny, Peter McCarthy, and White herself, along with historically informed fresh takes on music by Strozzi, Grandi, and Palestrina. This is an album that must be heard to be believed.
Track List
1) PALESTRINA Io Son Ferito, Ahi Lasso (5:42)
2) PETER MCCARTHY O’r Galons (5:27)
3) JOHN KENNY Haiku (1:18)
4) EMILY WHITE Spring in an Unreal World (2:59)
5) GRANDI O Quam tu Pulchra Es (3:31)
6) PHILLIPS Fantasia (3:03)
7) STROZZI Che si Puo Fare? (3:45)
8) PHILLIPS Amarilli Mia Bella (3:41)
9) FRESCOBALDI Se L’aura spira tutta vezzosa (4:04)
10) SCHÜTZ Auf Dem Gebirge hat Man ein Geschrei
Gehöret (5:09)
11) CASTELLO Sonata Quinta from Sonate concertate
libro secondo (5:26)
Beethoven and Schumann Quintets (DXL 1205)
While many Romantic-era arrangements provide chamber versions of orchestral or operatic works – the equivalent of a home sound system – this arrangement of Beethoven’s Sonata for Piano and Cello, Op. 5 No. 1 by Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) was different. Beethoven’s work here is scaled up, rather than scaled down, with a virtuosic duo recast as a Grand Quintuor Concertant, effectively turning a competition between two people into a lively conversation among five.
Schumann piano trios (DXL 1197)
For a pianist, the repertoire comes from Schumann and Brahms is a golden period in the mid 1800s, full of great pianists who composed for the piano. The instrument itself was also coming into its own. There’s a special kind of music that comes out of it, spontaneous and organic, during this high level of creativity in the German Romantic period. Schumann is really, really close to my heart. He always has been. I wrote my dissertation on what we can learn about Schumann’s piano music both from historical pianos and from the pupils of Clara Schumann.
Track List
ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-56)
Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 63
1. Mit Energie und Leidenschaft (12:45)
2. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu rasch (5:01)
3. Langsam, mit inniger Empfindung (5:48)
4. Mit Feuer (8:02)
Piano Trio No. 2 in F Major, Op. 80
5. Sehr lebhaft (7:50)
6. Mit innigem Ausdruck – Lebhaft (8:15)
7. In mässiger Bewegung (6:01)
8. Nicht zu rasch (5:58)
Devotion: sacred and secular songs by Henry Purcell (DXL 1183)
Ensemble Unmeasured presents a cross-section of Henry Purcell’s astonishing writing for solo voice and continuo, showing the emotional range, depth, immediacy, and richness of his music.
Track List
1) From Rosy Bow’rs (6.38)
2) Amidst The Shades (2.57)
3) Fly Swift, Ye Hours (5.24)
4) Lord, What Is Man? (5.49)
5) The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation (7.02)
6) O Solitude (5.24)
7) O Fair Cedaria (4.08)
8) The Fatal Hour (3.31)
9) Music For A While (3.45)
10) Incassum, Lesbia (7.21)
11) Sweeter Than Roses (3.16)
12) When First Amintas (2.27)
13) An Evening Hymn (4.51)
Brahms Cello Sonatas (DXL 1181)
A fresh take on Brahms’ sonatas for cello and piano, inspired by the playing style of Brahms and his closest colleagues.
Brahms’ sonatas for cello and piano are among the most beloved in the repertoire. Over the last century and a half, they have developed an august performing tradition, and in the process have lost some of the freshness and vitality that they had when they were new. This debut recording restores that freshness, guided by a rich historical record surrounding the Brahms circle’s playing style.
Track List
Sonata for Pianoforte and Violoncello, Op. 38
1) Allegro non troppo (13:31)
2) Allegretto quasi Menuetto (5:16)
3) Allegro (6:33)
Klavierstücke, Op. 76
5) Capriccio in F sharp minor (3:47)
6) Capriccio in B minor (3:36)
7) Intermezzo in A flat major (2:05)
8) Intermezzo in B flat major (2:12)
9) Capriccio in C major (3:30)
Sonata for Pianoforte and Violoncello, Op. 99
10) Allegro vivace (8:37)
11) Adagio affettuoso (5:41)
12) Allegro passionato (7:32)
13) Allegro molto (4:38)