Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann

Track Listings
1. Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 32    
2. Concerto for Violin, Piano & String Quartet, Op. 28    
3. Two Pieces for Violin and Viola, Op. 4    
4. Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, Op. 46    
5. Trio No. 2 for Violin, Cello and Piano, OP. 77    

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Lowell Liebermann, born in 1961, is a prolific, successful composer who seems immune to the latest fashions in sound-effects and other innovations. His music is tonal and conservative, technically first-rate, unfailingly interesting, and unabashedly expressive and beautiful. The four works recorded here were composed between 1978 and 2001. The earliest, Two Pieces for Violin and Viola, sound most contemporary: a bit dissonant, linear, contrapuntal, combative; one is lyrical, the other vigorous. The other works are all cast in one continuous movement divided into distinct sections. The Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet begins with a tinkling piano solo in the high register that recurs at key points. The soloists trade and develop lovely melodies and brilliant runs, the quartet comments. The Violin and Piano Sonata features strong contrasts of mood and texture; its flowing lines, high violin register and piano figurations are reminiscent of Prokofiev. The program begins and ends with a Piano Trio. No. 1 opens with an expansive stratospheric violin melody over a delicate, impressionistic accompaniment. The strings converse, the mood becomes agitated, building to several climaxes. No. 2 is the program's most recent work. Two impetuous, driving sections, punctuated by crashing chords, flank a calm, somber, somewhat eerie slow part that grows in intensity and builds to a passionate climax. The playing is superb. Terwilliger's tone is ravishing; his duo with Cooperstock is already renowned worldwide for its style and polish, and Diaz fits in seamlessly. The Ying Quartet lends empathetic support. --Edith Eisler

Album Description
Peter G. Davis writes: "Spanning the years 1978 to 2001, the music on this disc gives a useful overview of the musical aims and stylistic development of a prominent, productive, and often provocative American composer between the ages of 17 and 40. It is a useful mini-survey and a revealing one as well. All five works are written for small instrumental combinations, an exposed medium in which no composer has ever found an easy place to hide. In chamber music every note counts, and the composer must make the performer as well as the listener feel actively engaged with the music's substance and forward progress at all times, if the piece is to emerge as a fully satisfying listening experience. Anyone who listens closely to Lowell Liebermann's scores has to be impressed by their ability to do precisely this in music notable for its clarity and textural lucidity. Some will be tempted to call these works neo-romantic, neo-classical, post-modern, or any number of other fashionable terms, most of them not very helpful. Labels are often misleading, but one thing is certain; Liebermann is not concerned with startling his audiences by experimenting with radical new structures, never-before-heard musical sounds, or extended instrumental techniques. Indeed, he adopts a more conservative stance that apparently stings certain critics for whom novelty is absolutely essential if a new work is to be considered artistically valid. So much the worse for them. Liebermann is too busy composing to enter into such aesthetic arguments. The title of each piece on this disc honestly describes what it is, and in terms that composers as far back as Haydn and Mozart would recognize. Liebermann's music falls gratefully upon the ear, but it is filtered through the sensibility of a composer who clearly lives in our time and is fully aware of the tumultuous musical upheavals of the past century, even as he consciously makes the choice to offer us something that rises above the fray. Liebermann writes music that above all strives for balance and beauty - and braininess as well, for all those who care to dig beneath the surface. It is a healthy sign of the times that a composer can once again choose to be accessible in this way and not be automatically squashed and discouraged by the mandarins of contemporary music. Such was the fate of many American composers active in the generation that preceded Liebermann, and the new music scene is still in recovery from those bad old days."

Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann, Music, Andres Diaz, Lowell Liebermann, Andrew Cooperstock, Erika Eckert, William Terwilliger, Chamber, Chamber Music, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers
No Boundaries
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • If Music Could Spin the World...
  • An enjoyable CD
  • no sophomore slump here
  • Different and inspiring!
  • Dual Disc
No Boundaries

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GinasteraAll Works by Ginastera | Ginastera, Alberto | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LecuonaAll Works by Lecuona | Lecuona, Ernesto | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LisztAll Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LutoslawskiAll Works by Lutoslawski | Lutoslawski, Witold | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Ravel, MauriceRavel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by RachmaninovAll Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by StravinskyAll Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
PianoPiano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Classical Instrumental MusicClassical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The 5 Browns
  2. No Boundaries
  3. The 5 Browns
  4. Memory [Includes Bonus CD]
  5. Romance Of The Violin (Live From New York In Concert)

ASIN: B000ELJB0A
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

  1. Rhapsody in Blue
  2. Malaguena from Andalucia Suite
  3. Simple Gifts/Going Home; Shaker Hymn\ Going Home
  4. Full Stride Ahead (Rag)
  5. Feria from Rapsodie Espagnole
  6. Gargoyles, Op. 29; III. Allegro moderato
  7. Gargoyles, Op. 29; IV. Presto feroce
  8. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6
  9. Variations on a Theme of Paganini
  10. Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2; I. Danza del viejo boyero (Dance of the Old Cowherd)
  11. Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2; II. Danza de la mozo donosa (Dance of the Delightful Young Girl)
  12. Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2; III. Danza del gaucho matrero (Dance of the Artful Herdsman)
  13. Valse and Romance; Valse
  14. Valse and Romance; Romance
  15. The Firebird (from the 1911 Version)

Amazon.com

This piano-playing team of five siblings could be easily dismissed as just another crossover ploy, but that would be a mistake. My initial surprise turned into an hour of pleasant listening and, on rehearings, to admiration for this unique ensemble of talented young artists. For one thing, they've got the chops to bring off some fiendishly difficult works. Listen to the way sisters Desirae and Deondra tackle modernist Witold Lutoslawski's Variations on a Theme of Paganini, or brother Ryan's colorful romp through Ginastera's tricky dance rhythms. The fivesome also achieve carefully balances in their concerted works, with a scrupulously turned version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and their arrangement of highlights from Stravinsky's Firebird. Those in doubt should hear tracks two through four, for irresistible versions of Lecouna's popular Malaguena, a fetching combination of Dvorak and Copland, and a piano rag by John Novacek. A delightful, spirited disc that never fails to please. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars If Music Could Spin the World..........2006-12-05

...this CD would have our planet twirling voraciously. The Browns are back, and they're as stunning as ever. The brilliant fivesome (Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan) simply shine in this recording. Their first recording was absoulutely breathtaking, but you could sense a cautious sort of "nervousness." The 5 Browns have overcome all caution, nervous or naught, and whiz confidently through dazzling solos, duets, and, of course, quintets. The highlights of this CD for me personally were 1) The 5 piano Rhapsody in Blue 2) Malaguena, performed by the lovely Brown brothers 3) Last but DEFINATELY not least, the 5 piano interpretation of Stravinsky's Firebird. Oh, I cannot convey to you the power and incandescent beauty of 'The Firebird,' especially on 5 pianos! 'The Firebird' alone makes this CD a winner. Other than that, frankly, I didn't get all excited about the other tracks. The Argentinian Dances are quite masterfully performed by Ryan, and I very much enjoyed Desirae and Deondra's (the inseparable duoists) 'Variations on a Theme of Paganini." This is not to be confused with the immensely popular 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini'(composed by the incomparable Rachmaninoff.) All in all, if you enjoy a twist (but a respectful twist) on the world's greatest music, you will enjoy the power that's contained in this little Dual Discer.
(As a closing note, the video side of the disc is very entertaining, including music videos of Rhap in Blue, Simple Gifts, and The Firebird. Of course they cut the clips a bit, and I won't say it isn't noticeable, but boy is it cool to see the 5 in action!)

5 out of 5 stars An enjoyable CD.......2006-08-05

I would have to say that I was absolutely amazed with this CD. I'm usually not the type of person who would listen to classical music, but I thoroughly loved it. I love playing it in the car on the way to class; it gets me relaxed. Buy 'No Boundaries'!! You will not regret it!

5 out of 5 stars no sophomore slump here.......2006-08-04

I had always been a little bored by music for 2 or more pianos, but this disc changed my mind -- very exciting!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting The 5 Browns - what a nice bunch. They are all very talented, but the sum is even better than the parts -- what playing & what great enthusiasm. They obviously have fun making music together and they have the chops to make it exciting for the listener. Especially fun are Rhapsody in Blue and the excerpts from the Firebird. The DVD video bits are a nice bonus.

I'm waiting impatiently for their next disc.

5 out of 5 stars Different and inspiring!.......2006-06-22

Well, I must say that I enjoyed this second CD better than the first one. There was more variety and I loved the arrangements for 5 pianos! As a teen classical pianist, it is cool to see someone finally making classical music fun and interesting. They have re-inspired me and my love for classical music!

5 out of 5 stars Dual Disc.......2006-06-21

I really enjoyed the DualDisc version. Being able to see the 5 Browns playing adds so much. This is a wonderful disk. A great gift to introduce younger and older audiences to classical music!
James Galway plays Lowell Liebermann
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Standing Ovation for Mr Libermann!!!!
  • I wanted to like this.
  • Good music, superbly performed
  • Delicious New Wine in Fine Vintage Bottles
  • The best flute music of the twentieth century
James Galway plays Lowell Liebermann

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Galway, JamesGalway, James | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Lowell Liebermann: Complete Chamber Music for Flute
  2. Liebermann: Piano Concertos
  3. Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2
  4. Liebermann: Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Flute & Orchestra
  5. Alexa Still, Flute

ASIN: B00000DFKH
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

  1. Concerto For Piccolo And Orchestra, Op. 50: Andante comodo
  2. Concerto For Piccolo And Orchestra, Op. 50: Adagio
  3. Concerto For Piccolo And Orchestra, Op. 50: Presto
  4. Concerto For Flute, Harp And Orchestra, Op 48: Moderato
  5. Concerto For Flute And Orchestra, Op 39: Moderato
  6. Concerto For Flute And Orchestra, Op 39: Molto adagio
  7. Concerto For Flute And Orchestra, Op 39: Presto

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Standing Ovation for Mr Libermann!!!!.......2002-03-27

The first work and the first time I heard of Mr. Libermann was on public radio, in 1995. At the time the Concerto for Flute and Harp was being performed by the Minessota Orchestra under Maestro Eiji Oue. Since then I always 1 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this........2001-12-07

Having studied flute, I was excited to hear the new repertoire being hailed as an "instant classic" . . .after all doesn't the CD cover say "these compositions have become staples of the modern flute literature?" Well, give me a staple remover. How something becomes a staple within a year or two is beside the point. The music is repetitive, the harmonic language cloying, the orchestral colors almost non-existent. (I know you have to write lightly to showcase these solo instruments, but enough celesta already!) You hear a heavy John Williams influence throughout . . .unfortunately the influence does not take seed to produce an individual vocabulary. This review may not ssem "helpful" because it is so critical, but I am generally easy to please. One listen is all I could bear.

5 out of 5 stars Good music, superbly performed.......2000-10-01

I was privileged to be at the world premiere of the Liebermann Flute Concerto in St. Louis years ago. The audience went nuts afterward. My impression of his music has only gotten stronger since that time.

This disc contains wonderful performances of exciting music which satisfies one more with repeated listening. I don't know any greater measure of good music.

5 out of 5 stars Delicious New Wine in Fine Vintage Bottles.......2000-09-30

The concertos on this album contain some of Liebermann's most satisfying and idiomatic music, all compellingly performed by James Galway at his most committed and inspired. The slow movement of the Flute Concerto soars through lush washes of splendorous colors to emotional peaks of glorious sonority, the likes of which have been sadly absent from any composer's bag of tricks since the arching oceans of sound that flowed so effortlessly from Richard Strauss.

The idea of a piccolo concerto might seem preposterous, until one hears the warm, rich voice the instrument assumes in Galway's hands. Simply put, never before has a piccolo sounded like this. The piccolo has always been something of an orchestral extravagance, added to a piece in much the same way that a chef garhishes the main course. What a revelation it is to hear this diminutive instrument's hidden lyricism swell to operatic proportions.

Liebermann's music itself is significant not only for its sonic beauty and often profound emotion, but for its impeccably detailed architecture, as well. Each piece grows organically and naturally from small, meaningful sounds and figures. One is never lost, even though it may not be apparent exactly why, because the elements that hold each piece securely together are subtly interwoven beneath the surface in a masterful manner that often remains elusive to an untrained ear. In a sense, Liebermann is a musicologist's dream, for the complexity of his music unfurls in astonishing, graceful layers, somewhat in the manner of a sweet yet sharp Vidalia onion.

Unhappy, cynical music critics -- most of whom are, unfortunately, bitter, failed musicians -- would be quick to dismiss the sometimes sensuous, sometimes austere lyricism of Liebermann's music as derivative. Those professional musicians among us who have had the pleasure both to hear and to perform the works of this remarkable artist know better. Liebermann's music is derivative in the same way that Beethoven is derivative of Haydn, the way Strauss is derivative of Wagner, only Liebermann draws effortlessly from the entire spectrum of Western music, to which any curious musician living in this age of recordings cannot be oblivious. There is no truly new music, and that's a good thing. Anything worth playing or hearing is a culmination of its musical heritage, which any composer is foolish to try to subjugate. All the elements of Liebermann's immediately identifiable works come together to reveal a uniquely individual musician elegantly situated along the timeline of musical history.

5 out of 5 stars The best flute music of the twentieth century.......2000-09-28

There is a very good reason why the music of Liebermann has become so popular with flautists all over the world. As we all know, the flute does not have a very large repertoire, and certainly not a large repertoire of good pieces. Although there have been some very good flute concertos written this past century, Liebermann's concerto has to be considered the strongest, on the basis of its melodic, harmonic and technical inventiveness, not to mention the wildly colorful orchestration that surpasses even the concertos of Nielsen and Ibert. An even stronger argument in Liebermann's favor is the very high percentage of standing ovations his pieces receive in concert. When was the last time YOU saw an audience rise spontaneously to its feet after the Prokofiev Sonata or a Mozart concerto?

Add to this Galway's impeccable playing and you have a disc that every serious flute student should own, not to mention anyone interested in the future of American music.
The Piano Album
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good, not great.
  • Incredible!
  • overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano
The Piano Album

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ChopinAll Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by CzernyAll Works by Czerny | Czerny, Carl | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dohnányi, Ernö von | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GodowskyAll Works by Godowsky | Godowsky, Leopold | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MacDowellAll Works by MacDowell | MacDowell, Edward | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by RubinsteinAll Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
EtudesEtudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Serenades & DivertimentosSerenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Divertimentos
Character PiecesCharacter Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program MusicTheatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Hough, StephenHough, Stephen | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
CapricesCaprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Stephen Hough's New Piano Album
  2. Stephen Hough Piano Collection
  3. York Bowen: Piano Music
  4. Karl Czerny: The Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740
  5. Stephen Hough's English Piano Album

ASIN: B00000C2KC
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Hexentanz
  2. Chant Polonais No. 1 In G 'Maiden's Wish'
  3. The Crimson Petal
  4. The Fuchsia tree
  5. Capriccio In F Minor, Op. 28 No. 6
  6. Minuet In G, Op. 14 No. 4
  7. Nocturne, In B Flat, Op. 16 No. 4
  8. Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2
  9. Melodie In E
  10. Caprice-Burlesque
  11. My Favorite Things
  12. Kashmiri Song
  13. Music Box
  14. The Swan
  15. Papillons
  16. The Gardens Of Buitenzorg- (From 'Java Suite', Book 3)
  17. Waltz In A, Op. 2
  18. En route, Op. 9
  19. Sicilliano, Op. 42 No. 2
  20. Caprice espagnol, Op. 37

Tracks:

  1. Variations Brillantes Op. 14
  2. The Enchanted Nymph
  3. Der Kontrebandiste
  4. Melody In F
  5. Gargoyles, Op. 29: I. Presto
  6. Gargoyles, Op. 29: II. Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
  7. Gargoyles, Op. 29: III. Allegro moderato
  8. Gargoyles, Op. 29: IV. Presto feroce
  9. The Musical Snuffbox
  10. The Musical Snuffbox
  11. Etude de style, Op. 40 No. 1 'Agilite'
  12. Till I Wake
  13. Weep You No More
  14. March Of The Siamese Children
  15. Valse mignone
  16. Serenata, Op. 15 No. 1
  17. Bourree (From Violin Sonata No. 2)
  18. Erinnerungen (Triakontameron No. 25)
  19. Adagietto (From 'L'Arlesienne')
  20. Ungarishe Zigeunerweisen

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good, not great........2002-05-22

I got this double cd, since a fellow reviewer of Hamelin's Kaleidoscope said he couldn't fully endorse that disc, since this cd would be so much better. Wrong again, sewer boy!

Thanks to Arthur Schnabel complete recordings of Sonatas, Concertos and Variation Works have become the mainstay of the recorded piano repertoire. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine that this has not always been the case. Yet, just have a look at the complete Rachmaninov recordings on RCA to see that even this giant mostly recorded little trifles, since the record buyers of his time prefered snacks over meals.

This generous and economic double cd contains a compilation of mostly romantic smaller scale works, that Rachmaninov's clientele would have enjoyed. Some are obscure, others e.g. Ljadov's snuff box and Taussig's Gypsy tunes are pretty well known.

Hough-a man from the splendid 1961 vintage, just like Hamelin and your's truly- is a highly accomplished pianist. His playing is good, yet not up to the Hamelin standards. The repertoire, however, started to bore the hell out of me after a while. I admit, that there are true exceptions like the Liebermann Gargoyles, but for me this set was simply too much of a good thing.

The interpretations vary from decent to good. I used to own an lp of the French virtuoso Setrak, that contained both the Ljadov and Taussig mentioned above and believe you me those interpretations dwarfed what we get here.

In conclusion, a generous compilation of smaller scale pianoworks. Good clean piano playing and more than adequate recordings.

5 out of 5 stars Incredible!.......2001-01-12

I am a pianophile and longtime record collector, and this is one of the most awe-inspiring recordings I have ever heard. Stephen Hough's pianism - and I don't mean to be hyperbolic - simply exhausts all adjectives one might try to use to describe it. This is the kind of album to listen to not so much for the music (though these are charming and now-rarely heard pieces) but for the artistry of the performer. For stunning virtuosity, listen to the final measures of the Moszowski piece or to the MacDowell; for rich tone and melting legato listen to Hough's own transcriptions of the two Roger Quilter songs. Out of hundreds of CDs I have heard, this is one of my absolute favorites - and a steal at the price. Stephen Hough is the modern day Cortot, Gieseking, Rachmaninoff, and Joseph Levine, for he has it all - drama, precision, color, intellect, raw strength, and yes - delicacy. I rarely make recommendations like this, but you absolutely must hear this recording.

5 out of 5 stars overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano.......2001-01-06

This is music that seems to have lapsed into a forgotten time warp, like when you open that old wood truck in the attic to find odd bits and particles,objects,dolls and photographs that immediately transports you into another fantasia place. That's what this music does. Hough has selected for the most part fast filigreed,rapid cascades and ribbons of pieces. Each however has its own narrative,its own special tale to reveal, a special musical texture,an endearing melody. Needless to say most of the composers here are those you've never heard before,like Ignaz Friedman, whose "Music Box" is not what you think, yes it has that timbre of forever moving tickly tones,for a ballerina popping out of a ceramic box. But there is a large pallette of sophistication here as well with the unique timbre of the piano. Every piece does this admirably. The Hexentanz of MacDowell (arr.Liszt) is a helter-skelter piece never stopping,scaling the upper regions of the keyboard,and this would be an encore work. It keeps you on the edge of your upholstered chair.Leoplold Godowsky is not an unfamiliar name,he is a specialist in the art of the arragement trying to capture a timbre, and here in Camille Saint-Saens forever memorable "Swan"the final days of post-romantic Louis Napoleon the Third era is handled with just a few more ripples in the pond than before almost imperceptible.

When played in consecutive order all these works I found myself bored,this music inhabits such a rich timbral world that it's message overspends itself, overspills into the next work. A modernist voice of Lowell Lieberman is here, a postmodern specialist in this genre of the new tonality, or the past revisited. Proust taught us the rich chasms of remembering, and the process of reoccurence of time returning in differnt guises. Lieberman's "Gargoyles" has its own sardonic charm.,equally at home compliasant with his timbral brethren.
Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2

    Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Lowell Liebermann: Piano Music, Vol. 1
    2. Liebermann: Piano Concertos
    3. Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann
    4. Liebermann: Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Flute & Orchestra
    5. Lowell Liebermann: Complete Chamber Music for Flute

    ASIN: B00023P3ZC
    Release Date: 2004-06-29

    Tracks:

    1. Gargoyles, op. 29: Presto
    2. Gargoyles, op. 29: Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
    3. Gargoyles, op. 29: Allegro moderato
    4. Gargoyles, op. 29: Presto feroce
    5. Variations on a theme by Anton Bruckner, op. 19
    6. Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Adagio
    7. Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Scherzo: Presto
    8. Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Lento
    9. Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Scherzo: Presto strepitoso
    10. Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Sonata Notturna"), op. 10
    11. Album for the Young, op. 43: Dance
    12. Album for the Young, op. 43: Song
    13. Album for the Young, op. 43: Endless Melody
    14. Album for the Young, op. 43: Boogieman
    15. Album for the Young, op. 43: Ghost Waltz
    16. Album for the Young, op. 43: Ostinato
    17. Album for the Young, op. 43: Marching off to War
    18. Album for the Young, op. 43: Rainy Day
    19. Album for the Young, op. 43: Broken Heart
    20. Album for the Young, op. 43: Lullaby
    21. Album for the Young, op. 43: Starry Night
    22. Album for the Young, op. 43: Hommage - Faure
    23. Album for the Young, op. 43: Funeral March for a Pet Rat
    24. Album for the Young, op. 43: Hommage - Alka
    25. Album for the Young, op. 43: Melancholy
    26. Album for the Young, op. 43: Barcarolle
    27. Album for the Young, op. 43: The Little Baby Rhino
    28. Album for the Young, op. 43: Toccata
    American Virtuoso
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      American Virtuoso

      Manufacturer: Albany Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      Solo InstrumentalSolo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000JJSP1S
      Release Date: 2006-11-01

      Tracks:

      1. Sonata No. 3 for Piano, Op. 82
      2. Suite R-B
      3. Four Etudes
      4. Recalling
      5. Collusions
      6. Balletto
      7. Janabe Tapatio "Mexican Hat Dance"

      Product Description

      This compilation represents a cross section of American piano music written around the turn of the new millennium. The title American Virtuoso refers as much to the music as to its performer and describes how these composers have idiomatically responded to the challenge of writing for the piano. Yet the range of styles here is as wide as the generation gaps between the composers. All of the works, except for the first two Thomas Etudes, were written for and premiered by James Giles. All receive their world premiere recordings here, except for the Wild arrangement, which Wild himself has recorded in the past. Mr. Giles has earned a reputation as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation, acclaimed for the dynamic brilliance and communicative power of his playing. Giles performs regularly throughout the United States as recitalist and concerto soloist. His international tours have taken him to the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Cortot in Paris, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and several cities in China. A native of North Carolina, Giles studied with Byron Janis at the Manhattan School of Music, Jerome Lowenthal at the Juilliard School, Nelita True at the Eastman School and Robert Shannon at Oberlin College.
      Lowell Liebermann: Piano Music, Vol. 1
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Lowell Liebermann: Piano Music, Vol. 1

        Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
        All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2
        2. Liebermann: Piano Concertos
        3. Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann
        4. Lowell Liebermann: Complete Chamber Music for Flute
        5. Liebermann: Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Flute & Orchestra

        ASIN: B00009WVR6
        Release Date: 2003-07-22

        Tracks:

        1. Impromptu No.1
        2. Impromptu No.2
        3. Impromptu No.3
        4. Nocturne No.1, Op.20
        5. Nocturne No.2, Op.31
        6. Nocturne No.3, Op.35
        7. Nocturne No.4, Op.38
        8. Nocturne No.5, Op.55
        9. Nocturne No.6, Op.55
        10. Nocturne No.7, Op.65
        11. Apparition No.1 - Inquieto, Teneramente E Fragile; Un Poco Delirando
        12. Apparition No.2 - Nobile
        13. Apparition No.3 - Affrettando Misterioso
        14. Apparition No.4 - Supplichevole
        Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann

          Manufacturer: Albany Records
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          ClassicalClassical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
          Similar Items:
          1. Lowell Liebermann: Piano Music, Vol. 1
          2. Liebermann: Piano Concertos
          3. Liebermann: Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Flute & Orchestra
          4. Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2
          5. Lowell Liebermann: Complete Chamber Music for Flute

          ASIN: B0002W4TA8
          Release Date: 2004-09-28

          Tracks:

          1. Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Piano, Op. 32
          2. Concerto for Violin, Piano & String Quartet, Op. 28
          3. Two Pieces for Violin and Viola, Op. 4
          4. Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, Op. 46
          5. Trio No. 2 for Violin, Cello and Piano, OP. 77

          Amazon.com

          Lowell Liebermann, born in 1961, is a prolific, successful composer who seems immune to the latest fashions in sound-effects and other innovations. His music is tonal and conservative, technically first-rate, unfailingly interesting, and unabashedly expressive and beautiful. The four works recorded here were composed between 1978 and 2001. The earliest, Two Pieces for Violin and Viola, sound most contemporary: a bit dissonant, linear, contrapuntal, combative; one is lyrical, the other vigorous. The other works are all cast in one continuous movement divided into distinct sections. The Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet begins with a tinkling piano solo in the high register that recurs at key points. The soloists trade and develop lovely melodies and brilliant runs, the quartet comments. The Violin and Piano Sonata features strong contrasts of mood and texture; its flowing lines, high violin register and piano figurations are reminiscent of Prokofiev. The program begins and ends with a Piano Trio. No. 1 opens with an expansive stratospheric violin melody over a delicate, impressionistic accompaniment. The strings converse, the mood becomes agitated, building to several climaxes. No. 2 is the program's most recent work. Two impetuous, driving sections, punctuated by crashing chords, flank a calm, somber, somewhat eerie slow part that grows in intensity and builds to a passionate climax. The playing is superb. Terwilliger's tone is ravishing; his duo with Cooperstock is already renowned worldwide for its style and polish, and Diaz fits in seamlessly. The Ying Quartet lends empathetic support. --Edith Eisler

          Album Description

          Peter G. Davis writes: "Spanning the years 1978 to 2001, the music on this disc gives a useful overview of the musical aims and stylistic development of a prominent, productive, and often provocative American composer between the ages of 17 and 40. It is a useful mini-survey and a revealing one as well. All five works are written for small instrumental combinations, an exposed medium in which no composer has ever found an easy place to hide. In chamber music every note counts, and the composer must make the performer as well as the listener feel actively engaged with the music's substance and forward progress at all times, if the piece is to emerge as a fully satisfying listening experience. Anyone who listens closely to Lowell Liebermann's scores has to be impressed by their ability to do precisely this in music notable for its clarity and textural lucidity. Some will be tempted to call these works neo-romantic, neo-classical, post-modern, or any number of other fashionable terms, most of them not very helpful. Labels are often misleading, but one thing is certain; Liebermann is not concerned with startling his audiences by experimenting with radical new structures, never-before-heard musical sounds, or extended instrumental techniques. Indeed, he adopts a more conservative stance that apparently stings certain critics for whom novelty is absolutely essential if a new work is to be considered artistically valid. So much the worse for them. Liebermann is too busy composing to enter into such aesthetic arguments. The title of each piece on this disc honestly describes what it is, and in terms that composers as far back as Haydn and Mozart would recognize. Liebermann's music falls gratefully upon the ear, but it is filtered through the sensibility of a composer who clearly lives in our time and is fully aware of the tumultuous musical upheavals of the past century, even as he consciously makes the choice to offer us something that rises above the fray. Liebermann writes music that above all strives for balance and beauty - and braininess as well, for all those who care to dig beneath the surface. It is a healthy sign of the times that a composer can once again choose to be accessible in this way and not be automatically squashed and discouraged by the mandarins of contemporary music. Such was the fate of many American composers active in the generation that preceded Liebermann, and the new music scene is still in recovery from those bad old days."
          American Viola Works
          Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
          • Excellent rare viola repertoire
          American Viola Works

          Manufacturer: Cedille
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
          ViolaViola | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
          ClassicalClassical | Imports | Stores | Music
          Similar Items:
          1. William Primrose: Viola Transcriptions
          2. Lillian Fuchs: Complete Music for Unaccompanied Viola

          ASIN: B00004YLEZ
          Release Date: 2000-09-19

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars Excellent rare viola repertoire.......2001-12-10

          Cathy Basrak is one of many young violists on the scene today. She does an excellent job on her debut CD by presenting works not often heard today. Some of the works are even first recordings. If you love the viola and hunger for new or rare repertoire like I do, then this CD is for you. The works span the years 1940 to 1984. Some have a contemporary sound but are still quite accessible. A real gem of a find.
          60 Years 60 Flute Masterpieces (Highlights)
          Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
          • 60 Years 60 Flute Masterpieces
          • There'll always be a Galway
          60 Years 60 Flute Masterpieces (Highlights)

          Manufacturer: RCA
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          DuetsDuets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          QuartetsQuartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          QuintetsQuintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by ArnoldAll Works by Arnold | Arnold, Malcolm | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by Carl Philipp Emman. BachAll Works by Carl Philipp Emman. Bach | Bach, Carl Philipp Emman. | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Franck, César | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          Giuliani, MauroGiuliani, Mauro | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by KhachaturianAll Works by Khachaturian | Khachaturian, Aram | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by VivaldiAll Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by DebussyAll Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          ConcertinosConcertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
          Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
          FluteFlute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          GuitarGuitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
          Galway, JamesGalway, James | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
          Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
          Solo InstrumentalSolo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
          Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
          Classical Instrumental MusicClassical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
          Similar Items:
          1. Flute Greatest Hits
          2. The Very Best of James Galway
          3. The Great Flute Concertos
          4. Bach: Flute Sonatas
          5. James Galway - Dances for Flute

          ASIN: B00000K2F3
          Release Date: 1999-09-14

          Tracks:

          1. Suite No. 2 In B Minor, BWV 1067: Menuet
          2. Suite No. 2 In B Minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie
          3. Concerto In E, Op. 8 No. 1, 'Spring': Allegro
          4. Allegro
          5. Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 31: Polacca
          6. Concerto for Flute & Harp In C, K.299: Andantino
          7. Flute Quartet in A, K.298: Rondeau: Allegretto grazioso
          8. Grand duo concertant In A, Op. 85: Scherzo
          9. Il carnevale di Venezia, Op. 77
          10. Sonata in A: Allegretto poco mosso
          11. La Flute de Pan, Op. 15: Pan et les bergers
          12. Syrinx
          13. Concerto For Flute & Orchestra: Allegro vivace
          14. Fantasia para un gentilhombre: Canario
          15. Three Shanties For Wind Quintet, Op. 4: Allegro vivace
          16. Concerto For Flute & Orchestra, Op. 39: Presto

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars 60 Years 60 Flute Masterpieces.......2005-10-12

          Everything this man does is great, so putting many years together in one place could only be the same.

          4 out of 5 stars There'll always be a Galway.......1999-10-10

          Of course this is a 5-star production, but I deducted a star only because any one who has been collecting Galway recordings already has all or most of the selections on this CD. As with other artists, BMG has been repackaging earlier Galway offerings under many names and excuses; is the simply the latest (though certainly not last) in the series. The music is the usual mixture of short pieces that can stand on their own and movements that cannot out of the context of the larger works from which they are lifted.

          Still I put this CD on as background music to a dinner and it worked just fine. So like most Galway collections, it makes for some lovely listening when doing something else or just relaxing. In fact, when your baby gets tired of those Bach for Babies sets, try Galway as a very nice substitute. Hey, BMG! How's that for a packaging idea?
          Trio Fedele Debut: Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Trio Fedele Debut: Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann

            Manufacturer: Artek
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
            FluteFlute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
            All Works by LiebermannAll Works by Liebermann | Liebermann, Lowell | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B000M2EBWY
            Release Date: 2007-02-27

            Track Listings:

            1. Chopin: Complete Mazurkas / Frederic Chiu
            2. Concerto Al Andalus
            3. Copland: Complete Works for Violin and Piano
            4. Debussy: Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien [IMPORT] [Import]
            5. Do You Love Wagner?
            6. Dowland: The First Booke of Songes
            7. Dvorák: Symphonien Nos. 8 & 9 "Aus der neuen Welt"
            8. Fantasies...For Flute
            9. Faure: Berceuse in D; Sonata for violin No1
            10. Flute Music of the Americas

            Track Listings

            track listings

            Track Listings

            Stampede [Explicit Lyrics]

            Valses Poeticos

            The Blues "White Album"

            Price for Peace

            Oddzar

            Universal Nubian Voices

            Torchy/Blue Moon [Import]

            Vivaldi: Sonate a tre "La Folia"/Corelli: Sonates Op.5/Tartini: Concertos [Box set]

            Walls Hearts & Heroes [Import]

            Trio, Vol. 3

            Welcome to Wherever You Are [Original recording remastered]

            The 24K Family

            Su Mejor Epoca

            Slow Flow

            Hits of '39