CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Gounod: Messe Solennelle de Sainte Cécile; Petite Symphonie for wind instruments

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 25, 2003
If you spent any time singing in a choir, especially a church choir, you've probably performed this. This recording does it justice on a budget. Personally I think the standout in this recording are the men of the Rene' Duclos Choir. Great performances by the Conservatoire orchestra and conductor Hartemann brings out the reverential qualities in the score and downplay the bombast. The filler seems to be just that. Sir John Barbirolli is a conductor that I admire very much and I find it hard to believe that I can't seem to get into his performance of the Petite Symphonie.

CD-Charts Position 2
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A Copland Celebration Vol. 1

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Sony

Release Date November 07, 2000
Good recording of an identifiably "American" composer. Whether you believe that his "serious" compositions should out-weigh public attention (and recognition) of his ballet scores is just a matter of taste and exposure. I recommend reading any one of several good biographies available to more fully appreciate his scope and talent. Then check out as many recordings as possible.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Old Wine in New Bottles

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Mark Masters

Release Date August 01, 2001
Good recording of an identifiably "American" composer. Whether you believe that his "serious" compositions should out-weigh public attention (and recognition) of his ballet scores is just a matter of taste and exposure. I recommend reading any one of several good biographies available to more fully appreciate his scope and talent. Then check out as many recordings as possible.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

French Music for Wind Ensemble

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Chandos

Release Date October 28, 1992
This CD offers three delightful French scores played with aplomb and subtlety by the Athena Ensemble. The timing -- less than 50 minutes -- is hardly exemplary by modern standards but the list price of less than $9 makes up for that.

The program offered here -- Gounod's "Petite Symphonie in B flat major for Nine Wind Instruments", Poulenc's "Sextet for Piano and Wind Instruments and Ibert's "Trois Pieces Breves for Wind Quintet" -- are all lightweight fare characterized by clever writing for winds, a chamber sensibility and emphasis on enjoyment rather than profundity or power.

I've heard the Petite Symphony in several recordings, most of which are more straightforward than this subtle performance. The Poulence and infrequently ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Spohr: Overture, Op. 12; Quartet-Concerto, Op. 131; Nonet, Op. 31

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: MD&G Records

Release Date June 26, 2001
This CD offers three delightful French scores played with aplomb and subtlety by the Athena Ensemble. The timing -- less than 50 minutes -- is hardly exemplary by modern standards but the list price of less than $9 makes up for that.

The program offered here -- Gounod's "Petite Symphonie in B flat major for Nine Wind Instruments", Poulenc's "Sextet for Piano and Wind Instruments and Ibert's "Trois Pieces Breves for Wind Quintet" -- are all lightweight fare characterized by clever writing for winds, a chamber sensibility and emphasis on enjoyment rather than profundity or power.

I've heard the Petite Symphony in several recordings, most of which are more straightforward than this subtle performance. The Poulence and infrequently ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Milhaud, Gounod and Debussy

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Koch Int'l Classics

Release Date January 25, 1995
This CD offers three delightful French scores played with aplomb and subtlety by the Athena Ensemble. The timing -- less than 50 minutes -- is hardly exemplary by modern standards but the list price of less than $9 makes up for that.

The program offered here -- Gounod's "Petite Symphonie in B flat major for Nine Wind Instruments", Poulenc's "Sextet for Piano and Wind Instruments and Ibert's "Trois Pieces Breves for Wind Quintet" -- are all lightweight fare characterized by clever writing for winds, a chamber sensibility and emphasis on enjoyment rather than profundity or power.

I've heard the Petite Symphony in several recordings, most of which are more straightforward than this subtle performance. The Poulence and infrequently ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Josef Hofmann, Vol. 4

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Video Artists Int'l

Release Date June 02, 1995
Hofmann - particularly late Hofmann - may be an acquired taste.
Despite having been the protégé of Anton Rubinstein, "the wonderful boy" was recognized from quite an early age as the exemplar of a modern style of playing - textually faithful, eschewing swooning or bombast. (See, for example, the references to Hofmann in Henry Lahee's wonderful survey from 1900, Famous Pianists of Today and Yesterday.)
Still, a number of younger colleagues expressed ambivalence. Horowitz was floored by Hofmann's keyboard command - everyone was - but he, Artur Rubinstein and Arrau, to name just three - seem not to have been terribly moved by Hofmann's musicianship.
But which Hofmann are we considering? His playing for the gramophone - as early as 1903 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga: Musica para Orquesta, 1818-1824

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Fuga Libera Label

Release Date November 13, 2007
Hofmann - particularly late Hofmann - may be an acquired taste.
Despite having been the protégé of Anton Rubinstein, "the wonderful boy" was recognized from quite an early age as the exemplar of a modern style of playing - textually faithful, eschewing swooning or bombast. (See, for example, the references to Hofmann in Henry Lahee's wonderful survey from 1900, Famous Pianists of Today and Yesterday.)
Still, a number of younger colleagues expressed ambivalence. Horowitz was floored by Hofmann's keyboard command - everyone was - but he, Artur Rubinstein and Arrau, to name just three - seem not to have been terribly moved by Hofmann's musicianship.
But which Hofmann are we considering? His playing for the gramophone - as early as 1903 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Strauss, Gounod and Nin

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Cbc

Release Date October 21, 1993
Hofmann - particularly late Hofmann - may be an acquired taste.
Despite having been the protégé of Anton Rubinstein, "the wonderful boy" was recognized from quite an early age as the exemplar of a modern style of playing - textually faithful, eschewing swooning or bombast. (See, for example, the references to Hofmann in Henry Lahee's wonderful survey from 1900, Famous Pianists of Today and Yesterday.)
Still, a number of younger colleagues expressed ambivalence. Horowitz was floored by Hofmann's keyboard command - everyone was - but he, Artur Rubinstein and Arrau, to name just three - seem not to have been terribly moved by Hofmann's musicianship.
But which Hofmann are we considering? His playing for the gramophone - as early as 1903 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Copland: Appalachian Spring, Nonet for Strings, String Quartet

CD-Charts > Music > Nonets
from: Music Masters Jazz

Release Date April 05, 1994
Dennis Russell Davies conducts the St' Luke's Chamber Ensemble in what is erroneously titled 'Appalachian Spring', concert suite for full orchestra: in fact the 1944 ballet score was written as a suite for chamber orchestra in 1945 and it is that smaller ensemble arrangement that is so beautifully rendered on this fine recording from 1990. The score is for 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, bass, flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano. The ensemble effect is both gently tender and sprightly in the dance sequence. It is an early Copland score and one that is cherished as a regular repertoire piece, whether in the large orchestral version or in this much preferred intimate state. The performance here is immaculate, clear, and finely finessed.

As a wisely ... Read More: