Search - Schuller, Todd, Kirstein :: 3 Concertos: Horn Piano Bassoon

Three Concertos by Gunther Schuller!!

Darin Tysdal | Bloomington, MN 55420 | 10/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD gives us opportunity to hear works by Gunther Schuller that are not otherwise represented in the catalog. In fact, Schuller deserves more exposure on CD than he is granted nowadays. I don't think I have ever heard any of his "Third-Stream" music, but I suppose that this CD has some of that influence. The Bassoon and Horn Concertos are recent recordings. The Piano Concerto is a recording of the premiere performance. Although this work is a great one, perhaps one of the best piano concerti written by an American in this century, this recording really shows its age. It needs another recording (perhaps with the Donald Martino Concerto) badly, but this one will fill the bill until that happens. The other two recordings are easier on the ear. The horn concerto begins like the Ravel Left-Hand-low rumblings in the orchestra crescendoing to the entrance of the soloist. The Bassoon Concerto is more humorous-there are quotations from Peter and the Wolf, for instance, which reminds me of the bassoon pieces of Peter Schickele. Performances must be considered authoritative, and the sound quality is better on these two pieces. More please!"