Harriet Wingreen, piano; The New Art Wind Quintet; The New York Woodwind Quintet; The Saidenberg Chamber Players; Samuel Baron, conductor
Throughout his life Wallingford Riegger independently followed his own musical inclinations, unaffected by prevailing trends and “isms” and turned out works of great originality and distinction. His music is brilliantly contemporary, marked always by a constant search for new and often startling resonance, great rhythmic vitality, and a serious preoccupation with formal structure.
The Concerto is a work of great animation, admirably condensed in form and highly interesting throughout for its unusual instrumental colors. The piano writing is thin and brilliant, organic at all times and standing out in sharp relief against the winds. The first two movements are atonal in idiom. The finale, though essentially diatonic in character, ends atonally. In this work Riegger is as preoccupied with terseness of form as he is with resonance.
Ezra Laderman’s Octet was composed in 1957, and is written for flute (and piccolo), clarinet, bassoon, horn, and string quartet. It is a work of warmth and lyric grace, well designed and imaginatively scored. Especially in the quiet passages the ensemble has a delicate resonance and subtle coloring that holds great charm. The work is divided into three sections: A. Theme, B. Variations. and C. the Finale, a rondo in which all the elements are further variations of the Theme that is stated in simple unison at the opening of the work.
The following variations are brief and to the point, finely contrasted and becoming more involved as the work progresses. At the end of the rondo the Theme is heard once more in its opening form, followed by a short and brilliant passage for all instruments which brings the work to a close.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Wallingford Riegger: Concerto for Piano and Wind Quintet/Ezra Laderman: Theme, Variations and Finale
| MP3/320 | $13.00 | |
| FLAC | $13.00 | |
| WAV | $13.00 | |
| CD | $13.00 |
Track Listing
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Concerto for Piano and Woodwind Quintet: I. Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Concerto for Piano and Woodwind Quintet: II. Andante
Wallingford Riegger
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Concerto for Piano and Woodwind Quintet: III. Allegro molto
Wallingford Riegger
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Theme
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation I - Allegro Vivace
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation II - Moderato
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation III - Allegretto
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation IV - Adagio
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation V - Andante con moto
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Variation VI - Moderato
Ezra Laderman
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Theme, Variations and Finale: Finale Rondo (Variation VII) - Allegro Vivace
Ezra Laderman
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