JAVS Fall 1996

71

RECORDINGS

Hindemith: The Complete Works for Viola, vol. 2: Sonatas for Solo Viola op. 25 no. 1; op. 31 no. 4; op. 11 no. 5, and from 1937. Paul Cortese ASV CD DCA 947 (Koch International). Aaron Jay Kernis: Still Movement with Hymn; Colored Field-Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra. Paul Neubauer, et al. Argo 448 174-2. Forsyth: Viola Concerto; Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi; Hindemith: Trauermusik; Lubomir Maly, viola, Prague Symphony Orchestra and Radio Chorus, Vaclav Smetacek, Milos Konvolinka, conductors. Panton 81 130602. Review: Although this recording was made many years ago, it was put on CD only three years ago and came into my hands only re cently. Violists: the concerto by Cecil Forsyth (1870-1941) is a major composition, twenty seven minutes in length, that deserves to be played as much as any other viola concerto in the repertoire. Looking through some old cata logs, I could not find a single composition by Forsyth. A violist himself, he has written a composition ofextraordinary beauty. Mr. Maly has written a cadenza that does excellent ser vice to the work, and his playing, overall, is impeccable. I wonder how many other concer tos are hidden in the mothballs? Can the con certo written by Fricker and much admired by William Primrose be far behind? Michael Kurik: Sonata for Viola and Harp; String Quartet no. 2; Matisse Impressions; Concerto for Harp and Orchestra; John Kochanowski, viola, Blair Woodwind Quintet, Blair String Quartet, Mario Falcoa, harp, Nashville Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor. New World Records 80497.

Bax: Elegiac Trio for Flute, Viola and Harp; Nonet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, String Quartet, Bass, and Harp; Sonata for Clarinet and Piano; Quintet for Harp and Strings; Roger Chase, viola, Nash Ensemble. Hyperion CDA 66807 (Harmonia Mundi USA). Brahms: Sonata for Viola and Piano op. 120 no. 1; Dvohik: Sonatina for Violin and Piano; Hindemith: Trauermusik, Duett. Wilfried Strehle, viola, Wolfgang Boettcher, cello, Karina Wisniewska, piano. Nimbus N15473. Brahms: Sonatas for Viola and Piano op. 120 nos. 1, 2; Laurent Verney, viola, Nicholas Angelich, Piano. Harmonia Mundi France HMN 911565 (Harmonia Mundi USA). Britten: "Lachrymae"; Sinfonietta; "Sword in the Stone," Movement for Wind Sextet & Nightfall; Roger Chase, viola, Nash En semble et al. Hyperion CDA 66845. Clarke: Viola Sonata; Prelude, Allegro & Pastorale for Viola and Clarinet; Two Pieces for Viola and Cello; Passacaglia on an English Tune; Patricia McCarty, viola, et al. North eastern Ner 212. Dohnanyi: Serenade for String Trio; Piano Quintet; Douglas Paterson, viola, Schubert Ensemble of London. Hyperion CDA 66786 (Harmonia Mundi USA). Fuchs: Fantasiestucke for Viola and Piano; Sonata for Viola and Piano; Trio for Viola and Piano; Jonathan Bagg, viola, Jane Hawkins, piano. Centaur CRC 2278 (Qualiton). Hindemith: Trio for Heckelpone, Viola and Piano; Die Serenaden; Sonata for Oboe and Piano; Gunter Teufel, viola, et al., CPO 999332-2 (Naxos).