Another Token Creek Podcast

Episode #72 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" features music from another Token Creek Recordings CD. This time it's the music of Bach, recorded live over a three-year period at the Token Creek Chamber Music Festival.

I can't say enough about how interesting and unique these performances are. The best way is to just encourage you to download the podcast and listen for yourself.

- Ralph

Sound files completed for Muczynski CDs

Over the weekend we've added sound files to our webpage for "Robert Muczynski, Composer, Pianist in Recital, Vol. II." This CD documents the latter part of Muczynski's career from 1970 through 1994, and features several works that have become piano repertoire standards.
And now you can get an idea of what they sound like before you buy!

- 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

Episode #56 of the DCD Classical 'Cast posted

Program #56 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" features selections from the two new releases from the Con Brio label. And it just happens to be bi-coastal in the process!

Jocelyn Swigger is based at Sunderman Conservatory, in Gettysburg, Pennslyvania, and the Icicle Creek Piano Trio call Leavenworth, Washington their professional home. They may be seperated by a vast distance, but these recording artists are close together where it counts. Both releases feature imaginative performances and some darned good music-making.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Just follow the links and listen!

- Ralph

Debut CD from pianist Jocelyn Swigger

Jocelyn Swigger is a respected member of the Sunderman Conservatory of Music. She's also a top-level pianist, as she demonstrates in her new recording from Con Brio. The disc, entitled "Piano Recital," is just that -- a survey of various works that demonstrate the range of Swigger's talent.

The disc includes perennial favorites such as Chopin and Mozart, as well as some more unusual works, such as Morton Gould's "Boogie-Woogie Etude."

We've just received this disc, and it's now available through DCD Records.

- Ralph

Podcast Episode #47 posted

Just posted part two of our Robert Muczynski overview. This particular episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" we focus on music from the latter part of Muczunski's career. In addition to his solo piano music, we also play some selections from his other chamber music for flute and for clarinet.

All of the selections come from volume 2 of Muczynski's recital disc on Laural Records.

- Ralph

Podcast episode #046 posted

The Laurel recordings of composer-pianist Robert Muczysnki have been selling extremely well for us, and I thought it was time to look at those discs in detail. The two-CD series features Muczynski performing a wide range of his piano works that run from his earliest published piano composition on through to one of his last, written in 1994.

With this much music to sample, I decided to break up the program into two podcast episodes. The first part is on episode #46 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast," which I just posted today. It concentrates on Muczynski's earlier works. Part two, which will follow in about two weeks, will have mostly his later compositions.

Interesting music from a truly gifted composer and performer!

- 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

American Portrait - new release from Con Brio

We add a new release from Con Brio Recordings to our catalog. "American Portraits" is an exciting piano recital of American music. Pianist Noelle Compinksy Tinturin plays with real conviction, and has chosen a program that does more than just rehash the same basic repertoire.

George Gershwin and Louis Moreau Gottschalk, two composers who normally show up on American collections are represented, but then there's the rest of the CD. Tinturin plays selections by Chick Corea's "Children's Songs" which sound very much like Bartok minatures in this context. And other composers such as William Bolcolm and John Novacek. There's even something from Peter Tinturin, a well-respected Russian emigre composer (and Tinturin's father-in-law).

- Ralph