Music for String, Percussion & Celesta

Bartok (Artist), Dohnanyi (Artist), Cleveland Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000423H
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,618 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #99 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Percussion

Track Listings

1. Music for strs, perc & celestra: I. Andante tranquillo

2. Music for strs, perc & celestra: II. Allegro

3. Music for strs, perc & celestra: III. Adagio

4. Music for strs, perc & celestra: IV. Allegro molto

5. Con for string qt & Orch: I. Allegro vivo

6. Con for string qt & Orch: II. Adagio

7. Con for string qt & Orch: III. Tempo moderato

8. Capricio for pn & chm ens: I. Allegro

9. Capricio for pn & chm ens: II. Adagio

10. Capricio for pn & chm ens: III. Allegretto

11. Capricio for pn & chm ens: IV. Andante

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice mix of 20th century compositions, July 4, 2001

By 

Robert L. Estes (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music for String, Percussion & Celesta (Audio CD)

These are wonderful recordings. It's my favorite rendition of Bartok's masterful Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste (oddly described by the liner note writer as "abstract" - I would say intensely melodic...). The Clevelanders perform marvelously, and Dohnanyi's conducting leadership is on-target. It's too bad that he has not recorded more of Bartok's works - and this will probably be "it" considering the scope of Boulez's project with the CSO and the general collapse of the orchestral CD market. London/Decca's engineers capture all of the nuances of the piece with outstanding balance and clarity.

I was not familiar with the Martinu piece, so I can only report that it is an eminently listenable and enjoyable composition. The Janacek "Defiance" concerto is an illuminating "surprise" ending to the CD. I would have trouble playing this with two hands - to think that it is a left hand only piece (written for Otakar Hollmann, who lost his right arm in World War I) is mind-boggling. The performance by pianist Joela Jones and members of the CO is outstanding.

This CD is valuable for the Bartok alone - the Martinu and Janecek recordings make it an outstanding 20th century compilation. You may be able to find a copy used or on one of the auction sites. It's definitely worth a listen if you enjoy 20th century orchestral music.