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

Podcast episode #043 posted

This episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" we present an assortment of choral music. You'll hear selections from groups large and small. We play selections from the Seattle Pro Musica, Rutgers Collegium Musicium, and the Consort Chorale.

The podcast was easy to put together, but the title was a little tricky to come up with. What is the proper word for a group of choirs? I'm not sure it's the correct answer, but I went with "A Collection of Choirs."

- Ralph

Podcast episode #040 posted

The first of our two-part look at Musica Rediviva's new releases just got posted today. Episode 40 of the DCD Classical 'Cast looks at two releases that are concerned with new sounds.

The Tribukait/Pettersson/Berg Trio is all about new sounds. This contemporary chamber group comprises of a keyboardist, a flutist and a percussionist, giving them a wide variety of new and unusual instrumental combinations.

Torbjörn Näsbom and Andreas Edlund play music from the Baroque period, but they, too are concerned with new sounds. Näsbom performs on the nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish folk instrument that's a distant cousin to the medieval hurdy-gurdy (it's that fiddle-like thing in the image above, left).

So our podcast alternates between old music with a new sound, and new music with a new sound. And it all sounds great.

- Ralph

Podcast episode #29 now available

I just posted epispode #29 of the DCD Classical 'Cast. The title is "Summertime Fare." All of the selections have a light texture, which is the common theme.

We start with a Baroque lute duet performed by John Schneiderman, and then sample some short piano works of Brahms ably played by Vera Breheda.

The final selection is a concerto for double bass. The title may suggest a heavy work, but it's actually a short early classical composition for double bass and harpsichord. And so the podcast ends on a light (but very low) note.

- Ralph

20,000 Downloads

An amazing thing happened today -- the DCD Classical 'Cast passed the 20,000 download mark. Yes, I know. There are far more popular podcasts than our modest effort who boast 20,000 downloads a month -- or sometimes even a day!

Nevertheless, for a program dedicated to classical music, and one further limited to independent labels that we carry, I think this is an important milestone to achieve.

The artists and labels that give us permission to use their material are grateful for your attention -- and we certainly are, too. While most of our listeners are here in the States, we have goodly number of international listeners. Spain, Singapore, the Netherlands, Thailand, the Czech Republic, Australia -- it's an impressive list.

We'll do our best to continue delivering the best podcast we can. Thank you for listening.

Let's see how long it takes us to double that number....

- Ralph