Customer Reviews

Chamber Music By Women Composers

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As promising as a collection of pieces written by women over the last 150 years sounds, I was greatly disappointed with the execution. Yes, the works themselves are fantastic, and so often overlooked by performers and academics. However, The Macalester Trio, with the addition of a few friends, fail musically on every account. Even the most basic elements like intonation or synchronized entrances are executed so poorly that one wonders if a college or high school ensemble couldn't have played it better. It's as if the musicians aren't listening to each other at all. I am especially disappointed with the violinist, Joseph Roche, who appears to have no concept of phrase structure, creates no subtleties of color or dynamics, has extremely bad intonation, and overall sounds like he's just playing for himself.
I am saddened to give such a scathing review. This could have indeed been a landmark recording. But instead, due to sophomoric playing and very poor execution, it does a terrible disservice to the wonderful women whose music it purports to promulgate. What a shame.

This was a break-through box set when first released in the Seventies, & it's still an excellent collection. The Talleferre & Schumann compositions are wonderful. Beach was a genius trapped in the Teutonic Boston Brahma tastes of her era; but she was, in my modest opinion, the top banana of the bunch, & did pay some attention to the 20th Century. Fanny Mendelssohn had talent & maturity. Lili Boulanger (Nadia's sister) died very young; the works by her & Carreno have a great deal of charm. Only the Chaminade Trio doesn't hold my interest.

The thirty year old liner notes have a bit of a "Gee whiz, women CAN compose music" attitude. But the music is the thing here. & the price is swell for a two CD set. The playing is gracious at best, the sound just fine...