The Music of William Kraft

1. Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists and orchestra
Composed by William Kraft
Performed by Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Zubin Mehta

2. Contextures: Riots - Decade '60
Composed by William Kraft
Performed by Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Zubin Mehta

3. Games: Collage No. 1, for brass Collage No. 1
Composed by William Kraft
with Los Angeles Horn Club
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

4. Double trio
Composed by William Kraft
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

The Music of William Kraft,William Kraft,Zubin Mehta,Los Angeles Horn Club,Stuart Fox,Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra,Charles DeLancey,Forrest Clark,Mitchell Peters,Tomas Raney,Walter Goodwin,William Kraft,Zita Carno,Roger Bobo,Cambria Records,Chamber,Chamber Music,Classical,Classical Composers,Concerto,Orchestral,Orchestral Music,Percussion Concerto

Average customer rating: Screamers: Virtuosity beyond belief!!!

Screamers: Difficult Works For The Horn John Cerminaro , Toby Saks , William Kraft , Henri Lazarof , Stephen Mosko , and California EAR Unit Manufacturer: Crystal Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sonatas by Beethoven, Hindemith and Heiden From Bach to Bernstein - Romantic Music for Horn & Piano Horn Concertos Kalevi Aho: Concertos Perspectives ASIN: B000003J67 Release Date: 1997-10-28

Tracks:

1. Adagio And Allegro: Adagio
2. Adagio And Allegro: Allegro
3. Evening Voluntaries
4. Divertimento A Tre - Charlotte Cerminaro
5. Hexadecathlon: 'A New-Slain Knight': Intro/First Movt
6. Hexadecathlon: 'A New-Slain Knight': Entr'acte/Second Movt
7. Hexadecathlon: 'A New-Slain Knight': Entracte Two/Third Movt/Epilogue
8. Intrada For Solo Horn

Customer Reviews:

Screamers: Virtuosity beyond belief!!!.......2002-04-09

Everything on this cd is terrific, but the Kraft "Evening Voluntaries" is simply not to be believed. The range Cerminaro covers is over four and a half octaves, from the low pedal C to a written high G above C. He plays unearthly chords, lips trills, Glissandos, huge interval leaps and machine-gun staccatos. Honestly, I would have thought this kind of gymnastic virtuosity on a French horn completely impossible if I hadn't heard it for myself.

Average customer rating: amazing

Bobissimo! The Best of Roger Bobo Manufacturer: Crystal Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Hindemith | Hindemith, Paul | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wilder | Wilder, Alec | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Tuba | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Viola | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Roger Bobo: Tuba Libera Portrait of an Artist: Arnold Jacobs Orchestral Excerpts for Tuba Favorite Things Velvet Brown, Tuba ASIN: B000003J2J Release Date: 1993-06-15

Tracks:

1. Sonata No.5 In D Minor: Adagio
2. Sonata No.5 In D Minor: Allegro e Spiritoso
3. Sonata No.5 In D Minor: Alla Sicilliano
4. Sonata No.5 In D Minor: Allegro Assai
5. Introduction And Dance
6. Sonata For Basstuba And Piano: Allegro Pesante
7. Sonata For Basstuba And Piano: Allegro Assai
8. Sonata For Basstuba And Piano: Variationen
9. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Takes A Dancing Lesson
10. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Falls In Love
11. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Goes Folk Dancing
12. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Chases A Monkey
13. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Sings A Lullaby
14. Children's Suite: Effie The Elephant: Effie Joins a Carnival
15. Encounters II For Unaccompained Tuba
16. Two Songs: Andante
17. Two Songs: Allegro
18. Cadence VI For Tuba And Tape
19. Tuba Encore Piece

Customer Reviews:

amazing.......1999-05-29

It's Roger Bobo, what more can be said. This is one of the finest albums of tuba music recorded by one the world's greatest tuba players. You're doing a disservice to yourself by not owning this.

Average customer rating: A fine collection of recent compositions for Wind Ensemble Add this to your collection!

New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble Manufacturer: Albany Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Percussion | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000K2N6 Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Ceremonial For Symphonic Wind Band
2. Olympic Dances: Prelude
3. Olympic Dances: Epithalamion
4. Olympic Dances: Variations
5. Olympic Dances: Finale
6. Concerto For Four Solo Percussion & Wind Ensemble: Recitavo Quasi Senza Misura, Largo e Rubato
7. Concerto For Four Solo Percussion & Wind Ensemble: Allegro con brio
8. Concerto For Four Solo Percussion & Wind Ensemble: Cadenza e Variazioni
9. Les Couleurs Fauves: Persisting Bells
10. Les Couleurs Fauves: Ritual Dance Masks (Part I)
11. Les Couleurs Fauves: Ritual Dance Masks (Part II)

Customer Reviews:

A fine collection of recent compositions for Wind Ensemble.......2007-03-11

Bernard Rands' 12 and ½ minute "Ceremonial" (1992) is a mysterious and dramatic ritual. It starts with an alternation of imposing brass chords and hazy harmonic clusters over a drum tattoo (certain passage of Varèse's Amériques comes to mind), from which a sinuous and wistful melody soon emerges (1:43), played by the bassoon in its upper register, and whose contour recalls the theme from Ravel's Bolero. The Bolero inspiration is very much in evidence, as the motto returns, each time more complex in orchestration and with a progressive crescendo, regularly interrupted by the strange harmonies, until its climactic and abrupt conclusion.

John Harbison's four "Olympic Dances" (1997) are written in the vein of Stravinsky's Symphony of Wind Instruments, with whiffs of Tippett's Ritual Dances from his Opera "Midsummer Marriage". It is mostly pastoral in character. This is not one of its composer's most original and memorable compositions.

In his Concerto for Four Solo Percussion & Wind Ensemble (1995), William Kraft doesn't go just for sheer unleashed power, as you might expect from such a piece. Despite occasional outbursts, the composition is mostly subdued and goes for color rather than violence. With its crystalline glockenspiel and vibraphone over hushed tremolos in the winds, the first movement is mysterious and beautiful as a dream of Chinese bells and gongs. The second movement an A-B-A' form, starting with a perky dialog of flute and bassoon soon joined by brass, reminiscent of the "Giuoco delle coppie" movement in Bartok's Concerto for orchestra. At 1:09 enters a half-military, half-Jazz-like rhythmic drumming, and two minutes later a more vehement version of the beginning music over percussion closes the movement.

The third movement is original in its construction, starting with a powerful and menacing cadenza for solo timpani, followed by a series of 12 variations arranged in couples, with percussion statement and orchestral comment. In its moments of unleashed power, the movement is close to some of Husa's compositions (the percussion movements of his "Music for Prague 1968" and "Apotheosis of this Earth", for instance), but here again, Kraft's music is oftentimes texturally quite sparse and deals more with color than violence.

"Couleurs Fauves" (1995) is one of Husa's most recent works for Wind Ensemble (a fine collection of almost half of his output in the genre can be found on a 2CD set from Mark Custom Records - see my review). It starts in a manner strikingly close to Kraft's Concerto, with a sinuous and sensuous melody played by oboe over drops of glockenspiel (the movement is titled "persisting bells"). In a simple formal construction often favored by Husa, that material is soon elaborated and rises to a triumphant, almost Britten-like climax, then recedes back to the introductory melody, now played by piccolo. The second movement "Ritual Dance Masks" is more violent and dramatic, much in the mood of the same second movement of "Apotheosis of this Earth" which I referred to here above, depicting the destruction of planet earth. The movement's second part (here conveniently sub-tracked) returns to the mood of the first movement, with another sinuous melody now on clarinet over drum tattoo, soon joined by piccolo flute playing quarter-tone slides. Another awe-inspiring and brassy build-up of tension and this time the movement ends at its climactic point. Husa's formal procedures may be simple and perhaps even simplistic, but they contribute to his music's great dramatic impact.

Add this to your collection!.......2000-02-01

A must for any wind ensemble collection. Battisti's interpretation of these challenging pieces captures every subtle nuance, every emotion. The Husa is indeed breathtaking, one of the finest recordings of any Husa composition. This is a great collection of contemporary wind literature.

Average customer rating:

Waves Manufacturer: Hungaroton ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Penderecki | Penderecki, Krzysztof | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Persichetti | Persichetti, Vincent | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Tuba | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000030B9 Release Date: 1996-07-09

Tracks:

1. Vier Haltungen zu einem alten Thema
2. Solo No. 3
3. Parable for Solo Tuba XXII
4. Capriccio
5. Aria di coloratura per tuba sola
6. Boast
7. Encounters II
8. Solo Tuba Music
9. Liberation of Sisyphus

Average customer rating: Pacific rim master ,finally! we hear him.

Lou Harrison: Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra; Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra Manufacturer: Crystal Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Harrison | Harrison, Lou | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Music of Lou Harrison Dancing with Henry: New Discoveries in the Music of Henry Cowell Luigi Dallapiccola: Sonatina canonica; Tartiniana seconda; Due Studi; Quaderno musicale di Annalibera Harrison: Piano Concerto/Suite For Violin, Piano And Small Orchestra La Koro Sutro ASIN: B000003J7E Release Date: 1993-06-15

Tracks:

1. Concerto For Violin And Percussion Orchestra: Allegro maestoso
2. Concerto For Violin And Percussion Orchestra: Largo; Cantabile
3. Concerto For Violin And Percussion Orchestra: Allegro, Vigoroso, poco presto
4. Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra: Allegro
5. Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra: Andante
6. Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra: Largo
7. Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra: Canons And Choruses
8. Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra: Allegro Finale

Customer Reviews:

Pacific rim master ,finally! we hear him........1999-06-05

Lou Harrison's music is very American,meaning first neglected most of his life as Cowell,as Cage,as Partch, as Feldman,as Nancarrow, then raised to the sky, as if we have known him/them all along. We haven't ! and it's great to finally see his music now not only recorded but performed. Perhaps the current buzz of world music and the globalization of culture has helped grease Harrison's relative popularity. His music first and foremost holds fascination for its integral use of percussion and the accessibility factor. And here the "Concerto for Organ" utilizes a great pallette of percussion instruments,some Korean. Harrison's imagination leans toward Asian music,he traveled there for a way of reliquishing and coming to terms with the tyranny of Europe.Boulez,serialization,12-Tone was all bad stuff for Americana.But what I find perplexing is for all the non-European departures in gesture only, the organ here merely replaces the 19th Century orchestra. An organ in-an-of-itself always sounds cathedral-like and has nothing to do with the gestures of the East. There is a way around this, and Harrison seems to think about this. His use of middle register clusters helps transform the organ away from this historical stereotype creating evocative,two-three simple tones repeated moments,indeed beautiful. But Harrison's primary sonoric constitution remains within the European sphere. The organ bass pedals as well make-up the lower strings of the antiquated orchestra throughout this work,adding counterpoint very traditionally. The percussion for the most part are forced into collective statements suppressing each unique's sound. When everyone plays the same rhythms, (as in the first movement here) we only hear large impenetrable punctuations,not each instruments evocativeness.Another problem is always structure. Harry Partch as well solved the timbral problem for Americana, but left form, the unfolding of his sounds untouched from its European tyranny. Harrison as well utilizes here in the "Organ Concerto" very traditional formal schemes and gestures,"Andante". As if he is forcing these equisite,evocative percussion moments into shoes one size too small.

Average customer rating:

Kraft: Three Concerti Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Percussion | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DUAW Release Date: 1995-03-06

Average customer rating: Rare delights

Thomas Stevens, Trumpet Manufacturer: Crystal Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Trumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Thomas Stevens Trumpet Sonatas Thomas Stevens, Trumpet ASIN: B000003J60 Release Date: 1993-12-29

Tracks:

1. Signals
2. Encounters III: Strategy
3. Encounters III: Truce Of God
4. Encounters III: Tactics
5. Soliloquy Of A Bhiksuni
6. Var Movts: Theme
7. Var Movts: Very Fast; Attacca To Fast And Marked
8. Var Movts: Slow, In A Lyrical Style
9. Var Movts: Fast And Rhythmic
10. Two Little Serious Pieces: Allegro
11. Two Little Serious Pieces: Tempo Di Valse
12. B flat Tpt Solo: Good Times (Alla Marcia)
13. B flat Tpt Solo: Hard Times (Interrupted Blues)
14. B flat Tpt Solo: Time To Go
15. The Fires Of Prometheus

Customer Reviews:

Rare delights.......2000-06-07

Comtemporary music for trumpet, alone and accompanied, is not always the most accessible idiom for listeners. However, this recording contains works that are exciting, dramatic, and poetic at times. Tom Stevens, the great Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philhamonic for many years, performs with amazing facility and imagination. A portion of the works on the disc are Stevens' commissions and are standard reference recordings for the works. Well worth a listen.

Average customer rating: wonderful, over and over again Better every time I listen

Bach: Solo Cantatas (BWV 51, 54, 55, 82) Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: American Bach Soloists: Cantatatas, Vol. V Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 2 - Trauerode ASIN: B000001SFB Release Date: 1995-01-25

Tracks:

1. Widerstehe Doch Der Sunde, BWV 54 - Cantat For The 7th Sunday After Trinity: Aria - Widerstehe Doch Der Sunde
2. Widerstehe Doch Der Sunde, BWV 54 - Cantat For The 7th Sunday After Trinity: Recitative-Die Art Verruchter Sunden
3. Widerstehe Doch Der Sunde, BWV 54 - Cantat For The 7th Sunday After Trinity: Aria-Wer Sunde Tut, Der Ist Vom Teufel
4. Ich habe genug BWV 82Ich habe genug BWV 82 - Cantata For The Feast Of The Purification: Aria-Ich Habe Genug
5. Ich habe genug BWV 82Ich habe genug BWV 82 - Cantata For The Feast Of The Purification: Recitative-Ich Habe Genug
6. Ich habe genug BWV 82Ich habe genug BWV 82 - Cantata For The Feast Of The Purification: Aria-Schlummert Ein, Ihr Matten Augen
7. Ich habe genug BWV 82Ich habe genug BWV 82 - Cantata For The Feast Of The Purification: Recitative-Mein Gott, Wenn Das Schone: Nun!
8. Ich habe genug BWV 82 - Cantata For The Feast Of The Purification: Aria-Ich Freue Mich Auf Meinen Tod
9. Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht, BWV 55 - Cantata For The 22nd Sunday After Trinity: Aria- Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht
10. Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht, BWV 55 - Cantata For The 22nd Sunday After Trinity: Recitative-Ich Habe Wider Gott Gehandelt
11. Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht, BWV 55 - Cantata For The 22nd Sunday After Trinity: Aria-Erbarme Dich!
12. Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht, BWV 55 - Cantata For The 22nd Sunday After Trinity: Recitative-Erbarme Dich! Jedoch Nun Trost Ich Mich
13. Ich Armer Mensch, Ich Sundenknecht, BWV 55 - Cantata For The 22nd Sunday After Trinity: Chorale-Bin Ich Gleich Von Dir Gewichen
14. Jauchzet Gott In Landen, BWV 51 - Cantata For The 15th Sunday After Trinity: Aria-Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, Julianne Baird
15. Jauchzet Gott In Landen, BWV 51 - Cantata For The 15th Sunday After Trinity: Recititative-Wir Beten Zu Dem Tempel An
16. Jauchzet Gott In Landen, BWV 51 - Cantata For The 15th Sunday After Trinity: Aria-Hochster, Mache Deine Gute
17. Jauchzet Gott In Landen, BWV 51 - Cantata For The 15th Sunday After Trinity: Choral-Sei Lob Und Preis Mit Ehren... Alleluja!

Customer Reviews:

wonderful, over and over again.......2006-03-22

I particularly enjoy listening to the first track from Bach's Cantata: Widerstehe Doch Der Sunde, BWM 54. I recently heard it performed live by another group, and must say this recording's much better. I've listened to this CD over and over again.

Better every time I listen.......2004-09-15

I have been listening to this recording on and off for the last 6 weeks. It is never boring and is's getting better each time I listen to it.

Average customer rating:

Dialogues & Entertainments Manufacturer: Klavier ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Corigliano | Corigliano, John | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Convergence Dream Catchers Rendezvous Escapades Sojourns ASIN: B000003M6A Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

1. Early Light
2. Dialogues And Entertainments: Friends
3. Dialogues And Entertainments: Interlude
4. Dialogues And Entertainments: Homage St. Marks
5. Dialogues And Entertainments: Let Not The Black Sun Deceive You
6. Miniature Ov
7. Four Maryland Songs: At The Edge Of The Choptank River
8. Four Maryland Songs: A Maryland Road
9. Four Maryland Songs: Fisherman's Sonnet
10. Four Maryland Songs: The Sires Of Seventy-Six
11. For Precious Friends Hid In Death's Dateless Night: Mournful Hymns Did Hush The Night
12. For Precious Friends Hid In Death's Dateless Night: Broken Loops Of Buried Memories
13. For Precious Friends Hid In Death's Dateless Night: Which By And By Black Night Doth Take Away
14. Gazebo Dances: Ov - North Texas Wind Sym/Eugene Corporon
15. Gazebo Dances: Waltz - North Texas Wind Sym/Eugene Corporon
16. Gazebo Dances: Adagio - North Texas Wind Sym/Eugene Corporon
17. Gazebo Dances: Tarantella - North Texas Wind Sym/Eugene Corporon

Average customer rating:

Voices of Change: American Contemporary Chamber Music Manufacturer: Crystal Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Flute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003J6K Release Date: 1993-12-29

Tracks:

1. Evening Scenes: In Memory Of My Father
2. Evening Scenes: The Storm
3. Evening Scenes: A Lullaby
4. Meditation
5. Chronies: Toccata
6. Chronies: Intermezzo
7. Chronies: Scherzo
8. Chronies: The Humidity Rag
9. Melange: Solo
10. Melange: Duet
11. Melange: Quartet
12. Melange: Sextet
13. Sonatina D'Estate: Largo Religioso E Tranquillo
14. Sonatina D'Estate: Allegretto Deciso Ma Sempre Giocoso
15. Sonatina D'Estate: Solfeggietto
16. The Scrolls

Track Listings:

1. The Royal Edition, No. 66 Of 100: Maurice Ravel
2. The Swedish Caruso
3. The World's Greatest Popular Standards
4. Urban Classical: The Music of Ed Bland
5. Virko Baley: Jurassic Bird
6. Vocal Artistry of Marion Talley
7. Wilhelm Backhaus (Pianists of the Golden Era)
8. Wind Quintets
9. Wolfgang Sawallisch Conducts Richard Strauss & Richard Wagner
10. World Champions - National Band of New Zealand

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Surf Battle at Redondo Beach [Import]

Abril: Concerto for piano; Hemeroscopium [Concerto for orchestra]

B.B. King Tribute

Snapshots 1.2 [Extra tracks]

Acoustic Live [Import] [Live]

All We Need (Is Another Chance)

A Kid's Best Friend Is a Dog

Beethoven: String Quartets, Op. 2

American Troubadour

33

2 Originals: Semantic Spaces + Karma [Import]

Alive in Japan

Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned [Import]

Haydn: Complete Piano Trios

How Sweet It Is