Category Archives: Music

Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat, S. 124, Piano Concerto No. 2 in A, S. 125, Sonata in B Minor, S. 178

Franz Liszt was another of those nineteenth-century child prodigies, which may explain something very odd: because his family’s financial circumstances dictated that he begin concert tours at a very early age (sort of a musical variation on a classic rags-to-riches … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat, S. 124, Piano Concerto No. 2 in A, S. 125, Sonata in B Minor, S. 178

Guarneri Quartet’s The Hungarian Album (Ernö Dohnányi, String Quartet No. 2 in D-flat Major, Op. 15, String Quartet No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 33; Zoltan Kodály, String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10)

The Guarneri Quartet is one of the most distinguished ensembles of the latter half of the twentieth century. It was founded in 1964, reportedly at the instigation of Alexander Schneider of the legendary Budapest String Quartet, although Arnold Steinhardt’s recollection … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Guarneri Quartet’s The Hungarian Album (Ernö Dohnányi, String Quartet No. 2 in D-flat Major, Op. 15, String Quartet No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 33; Zoltan Kodály, String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10)

Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14, Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17 (Part II: Love Scene); Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid: Suite; Waltz; Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite

The idea of “meaning” in music is a complex one, the pursuit of which can go all sorts of places I don’t want to go right now. Suffice it to say that most commentators feel that relating music to some … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14, Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17 (Part II: Love Scene); Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid: Suite; Waltz; Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite

The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Somehow 50 years have come and gone since Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. And unless you’ve been living in a cave (or have been too preoccupied with the intense political goings-on around the world in 2017), you … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Cats Laughing’s A Long Time Gone – Reunion at MiniCon 50

“Achievement unlocked!” I have to confess something to you.  The reason I asked to review this CD and DVD set wasn’t because I knew about the band.  It was because I like cats, and the band name is incredible.  So … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Cats Laughing’s A Long Time Gone – Reunion at MiniCon 50

Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan’s Small Town

Bill Frisell, one of the elder statesmen of the electric guitar in America, and young acoustic bassist Thomas Morgan team up for a sublime set of tunes on Small Town. It was recorded live in 2016 at the storied Village … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan’s Small Town

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s Sampradaya

Big Earl Sellar penned this review. This is one of those discs I haven’t been able to pry out of my computer since I got it. A jugalbandi, or duet, between two santoors, this disc contains just over 66 minutes of … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s Sampradaya

Ravi Shankar’s The Extraordinary Lesson

This three-part DVD captures a performance and a masterclass Ravi Shankar gave before an audience in Paris on successive days in September 2008. The only shortcoming of this disc is that it doesn’t include the first day’s concert at the … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Ravi Shankar’s The Extraordinary Lesson

Juan de Marcos Afro-Cuban All Stars’ Absolutely Live II (Viva Mexico!)

“¡Viva Mexico!” Thus opened this concert by the Afro-Cuban All Stars in the central Mexican city of Guanajuato. Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, the founder and leader of this superb ensemble, salutes the crowd, who throughout the set loudly proclaim their … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Juan de Marcos Afro-Cuban All Stars’ Absolutely Live II (Viva Mexico!)

Various Artists’ The Rough Guide to the Music of India

Liz Milner penned this review. Hurray for Bollywood! Three cheers for Ken Hunt, the compiler who has unearthed a treasure trove of fabulous music! Thumbs down to the author of the sleeve notes who has deprived his audience (especially newcomers to … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Various Artists’ The Rough Guide to the Music of India