NAXOS OF AMERICA | NAXOS OF CANADA | NEW RELEASE GUIDE
8
NAXOS
NAXOS
JOHANN JACOB FROBERGER
23 SUITES FOR
HARPSICHORD
8573493-94 | 747313349371
2 CD | SRP
US
$25.99
CA
$25.99
COMPOSER: Johann Jacob Froberger
ARTIST: Glen Wilson (harpsichord)
NAXOS
MALCOLM WILLIAMSON
ORGAN MUSIC
8571375-76 | 747313137572
2 CD | SRP
US
$25.99
CA
$25.99
COMPOSER: Malcolm Williamson
ARTIST: Tom Winpenny (organ)
NAXOS
RAVEL & DEBUSSY
MUSIC FOR TWO GUITARS
8573286 | 747313328673
1 CD | SRP
US
$12.99
CA
$12.99
COMPOSER: Claude Debussy ·
Maurice Ravel
ARTIST: ChromaDuo
NAXOS
GEORGES ONSLOW
STRING QUINTETS, VOL. 1
8573600 | 747313360079
1 CD | SRP
US
$12.99
CA
$12.99
COMPOSER: Georges Onslow
ARTIST: Elan Quintet
· Froberger was the most famous
keyboard virtuoso of the mid-
seventeenth century. This recording
of his elegant, colorful and intricately
expressive dance music in the
French lute-style, arranged here in
chronological order, is the first to
employ all available sources in a new
edition by Glen Wilson.
· An online essay accessible at www.
naxos.com/notes/573493.htm explroes
in depth his views of the many
problems of performance practice and
explains the famous programmatic
pieces, which shed light on events in
Froberger's life, including a near-
drowning of a travellign companion in
the Rhine.
· One of Australia's greatest composers,
Malcolm Williamson settled in Britain
and rose to the position of Master
of the Queen's Music in 1975. He
was championed by a number of
prominent musical figures and write in
almost every genre.
· A skilled keyboard player and a Catholic
convert, he wrote for the organ
throughout his life and these works
reveal his deep immersion in religious
music, initially inspired by Messiaen.
· His instinct for dramatic bravura and
colorful registrations can be heard in
Resurgence du Feu whilst the beautiful
poetic miniatures Little Carols of the
Saints reveal deeply human qualities,
elements developed mroe substantially
in Mass of a Medieval Saint.Elegy - JFK
is fittingly sombre.
· This album is the first to present an
entire program of works by Debussy
and ravel, the greatest exponents of
Impressionism in music, transcribed
for two guitars.
· The arrangements bring new life to the
rich canvas of sonorities and complex
harmonies in these popular works.
· The reflective atmosphere in Debussy's
famous Clair de lune and special
upper-harmonic effects in La plus que
lente contrast with the "merry romp"
of the Golliwog's Cakewalk and Ravel's
nod to Schubert in the Valses nobles et
sentimentales.
· An English aristocrat with a mixed
heritage, Georges Onslow was highly
regarded for his musical talents during
his lifetime, being praised by Berlioz
and Schumann and becoming known
as the "French Beethoven".
· Onslow composed 34 string quintets
at a time when teh string quartet was
dominant and his discovery of the
double bass to replace the second cello
was transformative.
· Challenging notions of stringed
instruments as being merely lyrical
in character, these quintets are
striking for their contrasts of warm
expressiveness and great dramatic
intensity. They are true hidden gems to
rival the great composers of chamber
music in this era.