New podcast epsides in production

Finishing up scripts for the next 2 episodes of the DCD Classical 'Cast. Recording voice tracks for both tonight! We'll have a program featuring the Seattle Pro Musica's latest release "American Masterpieces," and another that will have (at least in part) selection from Vartan Manoogian's CD Henk Badings: Trio-Cosmos.

- Ralph

Sound files added to Henk Badings release

We just added sound files for Henk Bading's "Trio-Cosmos," as we continue to upgrade our website. Vartan Manoogian turns in a remarkable solo performance of these violin trios. (How does he do it? Overdubbing, of course).

DCD Classical 'Cast #65 posted

The latest episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" features two unique solo artists: Jerome Mouffe, and Les Timming. Mouffe's an up-and-coming young classical guitarist whose debut recording, "Capriccio" displays sublime virtuosity.

"Les Timming Solo - Compositions and Improvisations" is a recording of a legendary recital given at the University of Wisconsin. Timmig, on a variety of wind instruments, performs his own compositions for solo winds, as well as some truly inspired improvisations.

- Ralph

DCD Classical 'Cast #64 posted

We're still trying to catch up on our release schedule for the "DCD Classical 'Cast." Server issues delayed them for a while, and now we have some compatibility problems that should soon be under control.

Episode #64 features music from a two CD collection from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Music. Noted pianist and composer Gunnar Johansen served as artist-in-residence at the university for decades, presenting a string of stunning piano recital performances over the years. This set features the best of those recitals, from 1958 through 1972.

You'll hear Johansen perform some of his strongest repertoire, as well as an excerpt from one of his own compositions.

- Ralph

DCD Classical 'Cast #63 posted

At long last, episode #63 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" is now available. The program features two recordings by oboist Mark Fink. "Music for Strings" pairs him with members of the Pro Arte Quartet, while "Russian Music for Oboe of the Twentieth Century" pairs the solist with the University of Wisconsin Madison Russian Folk Orchestra for some rousing folk song arrangements.

This episode was scheduled to be released February 26, 2009. The retooling of our website and moving from one server to another (and the subsequent unexpected glitches) pushed that release date back. We have the next two episodes awaiting release. We'll probably post one of them next week and the following the week after in an effort to get back on our biweekly schedule.

Thanks for your indulgence. And please let us know what you think of the program! You can write us at info[at]DCDRecords.com, or send us a tweet at Twitter.com/DCDRecords, or even sign up for our FaceBook fan page. We're one [very small] media company that's trying to be social!

And remember -- you don't need an iPod to enjoy a podcast. You can download it to any digital music player or just listen to it on your computer.

- Ralph

Podcast Episode #039 Posted

We just posted the 39th episode of the DCD Classical 'Cast. This time around, we look at the music for piano 4-hands. Both Laurel Records and the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Music have some interesting releases using this somewhat unusual combination.

U of W's entry is a four-CD set tracing the career of Howard and Francis Karp. From this release we play a selection by Franz Schubert and another by Antonin Dvorak.

Laurel's release is a collection of 20th century music for piano 4-hands. Margret Elson and Elizabeth Swarthout play works by several American composers. On the podcast we play selections from Wallingford Riegger and Vincentg Persichetti.

It was a fun show to put together -- I hope you enjoy it!

- Ralph

And podcast #28 is out now, too.

I've been doing a pretty good job of maintaining our schedule for the DCD Classical 'Cast, and getting two podcasts posted each month. A business trip and some last-minute projects have put me seriously behind, though.

Yesterday I pulled together the material, wrote the script, cut the vocal tracks, mastered and posted Episode #28, collapsing a two-week production cycle down to 24 hours.

It's a simple program -- just a selection of Mozart for a summer's evening, courtesy of Laurel Records, Gary Levinson, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music.

And it features something my old bosses at WJMA would appreciate -- less talk, and more music.

I hope you enjoy it!

- Ralph