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Today we have short reviews of two recent CDs. First up is Music from the Americas featuring the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet on the Summit label. The recording features works of Liduino Pitombeira, Robert Muczynski, Alec Wilder, Paul Valjean, and John Harbison. The Lieurance Woodwind Quintet is the longstanding faculty woodwind quintet at Wichita State University, and this recording reflects well that they are an outstanding group. The recorded quality is excellent, with hornist Nicholas Smith producing a wonderful, blending sound. The balance of the group and ensemble is excellent.
Of the works recorded I have performed the Muczynski and Harbison works previously, and these are great performances. Of the others, on hearing them I would love to perform any of them, they are all very attractive works. If woodwind quintet is an interest this new recording is in the category of “must own.” It is available for download on iTunes or can be purchased online through normal CD outlets. The listing in the Summit website is here.
The other CD of the day is A Passionate Horn featuring Andrew M. McAfee. The CD represents the playing of McAfee well and includes works of Gliere, Franz Strauss, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Büsser, and James Winter. I recorded three of the same works on my own CDs (Les Adieux and Canto), so to those I won’t offer specific comments, but I would like to focus in on the Sonata by James Winter.
This work was a new one to me and will be to many in the horn world. James Winter (1919-2006) was recognized during his lifetime by the International Horn Society as an Honorary Member. Long time horn faculty at Fresno State, he was also editor of The Horn Call, president of the IHS, and according to his bio in addition to horn taught “music theory, history, conducting, brass instruments, and brass pedagogy.” The important item in that quote being music theory, as I was completely surprised to learn he was also a composer and has a PhD in composition, having earned this degree during a leave from Fresno State in 1954.
I had no idea what to expect musically of this Sonata but was very intrigued to find out. In the context of the recording I was expecting something lyric but instead this is a fairly gritty, “modern” sounding work. The work was composed in 1955 and this is the world debut recording. The short samples on CD Baby give a sense of the work, one that will hopefully become better known in our horn world through this recording.
