Podcast Episode #27 posted

DCD Classical 'Cast #027 has just been posted to the web. The episode, titled "Biggs, Beethoven and the Barber" features a selection from one of our newest labels -- Consort Press. California-based composer and conductor John Biggs leads a performance of his "Mass for Our Time."

We also continue our survey of Monument Records, this time presenting a world premier recording of a Beethoven string quartert.

And it all starts with probably the most unusual recording heard yet on the DCD Classical 'Cast -- an occarina ensemble performing Rossini. It's not as strange as it might sound, though. The Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese as an organization has been around since the late 19th century, and they're performing arrangements made for the ensemble in 1901.

- Ralph

Podcast #26 posted

Early this morning I uploaded the DCD Classical 'Cast #026. The title of the episode is "Some American Classics," but its something of a cheat. Two of the three works are by Americans -- the other is a composition by a relatively unknown composer of the classical era, Christian Gottlieb Neefe.

I usually come up with the title for the episode after I've programmed all the works. I'll take a step back and see what patterns emerge. In this case, there wasn't one unifying theme -- just a two-thirds majority of American composers.

I hope you enjoy the program.

- Ralph

When is Beethoven not Beethoven?

It's a question that continually plagues classical music lovers. How much (or how little) of an incompleted work be finished by someone else and still be considered a valid composition by the primary composer?

As I've been pulling together pieces for our next podcast, its something I've thought about. Probably the most famous example is Derryk Cook's completion of Mahler's 10th Symphony, which some consider an acceptable addition to Mahler's catalog and others do not.

For our next program of the DCD Classical 'Cast, we'll be playing an excerpt from a Sonata quasi una fantasia by Beethoven. The work was sketched out around 1792, but left incomplete at the time of his death.

The melody was completely written out, and a good deal of the left hand filled in as well. Beethoven left notes that the final movement, the least complete of the three, recapped large sections of the opening movement. Noted Beethoven scholar and composer A. Willem Holsbergen completed the work, using his knowledge of Beethoven's style to basically "connect the dots."

While we can debate whether the finished work is as Beethoven would have done it, I think it's well worth hearing. I'm certainly no Beethoven expert, but I didn't hear anything that sounded out of place. And more importantly, I didn't hear anything that sounded like dry academic writing -- anyone should be able to enjoy this sonata on its own merits even without knowing the backstory.

I'll be recording the vocal track for the podcast within the next day or so, so you'll soon be able to judge for yourself.

- Ralph

Podcast #24 posted

I spent this past weekend recording and editing the DCD Classical 'Cast episode #24. With everything else going on, it can be difficult sticking to a twice monthly podcasting schedule! I feel this one snuck in just under the wire.

The program continues our survey Beethoven on Monument Records. We also feature a selection from the latest release of guitar music from VGo Recordings, and finish with a sampling from the Ineditia catalog.

- Ralph

Inedita of Italy

We are now carrying the Inedita label of Italy. Inedita specialises in under-recorded and previously undiscovered repertoire, which are two areas of classical music I'm always interested in.

The label has a close working relationship with Monument Records, which has a similar recording philosphy. Now begins the grinding work of getting their extensive catalog of recordings processed and entered, but its a task I'm looking forward to.

Be sure to keep watching the website!

- Ralph

Podcast #23 posted

I recorded the DCD Classical 'Cast, episode 23 on Monday, and finished editing and production earlier today.

This time around we feature music by Allegri and Mozart, two composers related to each other in a very unusual fashion (you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out more). We also resume our look at the Monument Records catalog.

- Ralph

When 2 and 2 make 3 -- sort of

I'm predisposed to make connections -- which turns out to be a good thing for DCD's customers. When a label has two or more releases with related repertoire, I'll more often than not group them together and sell them for a reduced price.

The Monument Records titles are now posted on the site, and in the catalog are two CDs devoted to Beethoven's dance music for piano. Both feature pianist Stephen Beck, and there's no duplication of repertoire.

Therefore, I've created a new listing offering both of these releases together for a special price that's about 20% less than the cost of purchasing them individually.

Just part of the service here at DCD -- and one of the advantages to reading this blog. I'll be creating a special banner for the home page soon which will run about a month, but the offer itself will remain good as long as the product is available (as only you, dear reader will know).

- Ralph

Beethoven String Quartet Music

Today I completed the final entry of the Monument Records catalog -- sort of. I still need to post some audio samples, but that's a much more involved process than clacking away at a keyboard, so it will take a little while.

This release collects various string quartet fragments and sketches from Beethoven's notebooks, and gives us a fascinating hint of what might have been. The centerpiece of the album is the "Brilliant" String Quartet, which gets it name not from the quality of the music itself, but as a dedication to noted Beethoven scholar Ira F. Brilliant. The quartet was realized by Giovanni Biamanti, and is decidedly more successful and closer to the spirit of Beethoven than most posthumous collaborations I've heard.

- Ralph

Beethoven -- And More!

If you've been following the most recent posts, then you know I've been working on processing the Monument Records catalog -- a catalog centered around Beethoven's under-performed and under-recorded repertoire.

While "Masters of the Classical Keyboard" does have some Beethoven (and another world premiere recording at that), pianist Stephen Beck explores other composers active at the time. Haydn and Mozart, the composers most closely associated with Beethoven are respresented, but so are some others. Beethoven's publisher, Diabelli has a work on this disc, as does Czech composer Jan Ladislav Dussek, Carl Phillip Emmanual Bach (J.S. Bach's son, and considered at the time the more famous Bach of the two), and more.

The result is an interesting collection that puts Beethoven in perspective with his contemporaries.

- Ralph

Beethoven's Military Music

We now have another release from Monument Records posted on our website, complete with track listings. This time around, its a collection of "military" piano music by Beethoven.

Some of these selections, such as the March from "The Ruins of Athens" may be familiar, but many will not. In addition to Beethoven's variations on "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the King," there are several world premiere recordings mixed into this recital.

A very interesting collection, and one that shows how the times colors the arts -- many of these works were written during the Napoleonic Wars.

- Ralph

More Beethoven; More Dance Music

We now have Monument Records' second collection of Beethoven's dance music posted on our website. This disc, like the release "Early Dance Music of Beethoven," contains a number of world premiere recordings.

The sound quality -- and the performance -- holds to the same high standards as the rest of the Monument catalog. Once I get through posting all the individual titles, I'll explore the possibility of offering both CDs of Beethoven's dance music for piano at a special price. Stay tuned!

- Ralph

Fantasies for Piano by Beethoven

Today I was able to post another Monument release. The Fantasies for Piano album features three of Beethoven's "Sonatas quasi una fantasia." It includes the two published as Beethoven's Op. 27 (No. 2 is the "Moonlight" sonata). And it features a finished version of a sonata that survived in sketch form. That sonata in D major (Biamonti 213) received its world premiere recording with this release.

Great stuff!

- Ralph

Early Dance Music

Another Monument release has been posted. Beethoven: Early Dance Music provides an illuminating glimpse at the stylistic development of the young composer. And it features two world premiere recordings.

You'll be hearing some of these works in future podcasts.

- Ralph

Beethoven Cameos

Today I finished the webpage for Beethoven: Cameos for Piano
from Monument Records. As I said last time, entering all those track listing can take a while -- especially when it has to take a back seat to other aspects of running a record label!

Nevertheless, if you look over the selections, I hope you'll agree it was worth the effort. There's a lot of seldom-heard Beethoven on this recording waiting for you to explore.

- Ralph

A Monumental Task

Posting a new product is always an involved process. Although we use templates to streamline the process, in the end pages only go up as fast as the data can be entered.

I finally got the first of the Monument's releases posted, and there's more to come. Today I finished the recording of Beethoven's piano arrangement of his "Creatures of Prometheus."

The track listings are quite extensive on some of Monument's recordings, which really slows the process down. With so many world premier recordings and under-represented works, though, I think its important to provide as much information as possible.

Now adding soundbites to a release with 32 tracks is another story.....

Ralph

Beethoven and beyond

Our 21st podcast is finally posted, and ready for your listening pleasure. I wanted to make sure we included something from Monument Records, which is why the podcast was delayed.

There was a lot of material to choose from. This program you'll hear the first act to Beethoven's "Creatures of Prometheus," for solo piano. Stephen Beck performs from Beethoven's own transcription of this orchestral work.

DCD 021 -- Beethoven and beyond

- Ralph