Jordan Mattox

Weekly Classical Music Dump

  1. Reicha Rediscovered Vol. 1 and 2 Ivan Illic Here’s his wiki summary: Anton (Antonín, Antoine) Joseph Reicha (Rejcha) (26 February 1770 – 28 May 1836) was a Czech-born, Bavarian-educated, later naturalized French composer and music theorist.[1] A contemporary and lifelong friend of Beethoven, he is now best remembered for his substantial early contributions to the wind quintet literature and his role as teacher of pupils including Franz Liszt, Hector Berlioz and César Franck. He was also an accomplished theorist, and wrote several treatises on various aspects of composition. Some of his theoretical work dealt with experimental methods of composition, which he applied in a variety of works such as fugues and études for piano and string quartet.I really enjoyed these recordings and Illic’s lovely performance.
  2. Janáček – Brahms – Bartók Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Fazıl Say (piano)This is a masterful recording. Kopatchinskaja has played with all the major orchetstras in Europe and has been super productive, releasing multiple recordings a year for the past few years. Say is equally productive, and I greatly enjoyed his recording of the Goldberg Variations that came out last year.
  3. Mirrored in Time Jörgen Van Rijen / Alma QuartetI can’t say that I recall coming across much chamber music for the trombone. Jörgen van Rijen is trying to remedy that by putting together this collection. I had mixed feelings listening to it. There certainly are reasons why trombone is traditionally not a feature of chamber music. The album is a mixed bag, but one that you might listen to for the novelty.
  4. The Golden Renaissance: William Byrd – Stile AnticoStile Antico is one of our great vocal ensembles of early (western) music. This is, in my mind, one of my favorites in the past few years. The is second release in a series on renaissance composers.
  5. 12 – Ryuichi SakamotoSakamoto has had a highly productive career, going back to 1978, and, sadly, was recently diagnosed with cancer. This album a series of ambient synth and electronic recordings that are his quiet and somber reflections on his mortality. I agree with this Pitchfork review: “But rather than mythologize his life in narrative songwriting or theatrical instrumental fireworks, he’s chosen a quiet grace, one more subtle and restrained than even his softest prior work. Rarely does an album this understated say so much.”

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Jordan Mattox

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