Schoenfield: 4 Parables / Vaudeville / Klezmer Rondos

Paul Schoenfield (Composer), John Nelson (Conductor), New World Symphony (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New World Symphony
• Conductor: John Nelson
• Composer: Paul Schoenfield
• Audio CD (June 14, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Argo
• ASIN: B000004CVY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,829 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dazzling contemporary work for piano, January 6, 2004

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Schoenfield: 4 Parables / Vaudeville / Klezmer Rondos (Audio CD)

Paul Schoenfield's work is hard to describe: basically tonal, but with elements of many different compositional schools thrown in to create a highly personal mix.

"Four Parables" is in essence, a piano concerto -- a virtuosic romp that sometimes sounds like Gershwin on psychedelic drugs -- and as such requires a formidable pianist to negotiate its difficulties. We are lucky to have Jeffrey Kahane serving as (at this time) the sole recorded advocate of this entertaining and often humorous work, helped by the talented young musicians of the New World Symphony, and all directed with great spirit and style by John Nelson.

The fillers, hardly afterthoughts, are engaging, too: excellent renditions of the quirky "Vaudeville" and "Klezmer Rondos," the latter with Carol Wincenc on flute. Argo's sound is natural and clear -- perhaps on the bright side, but it complements the vivid colors of Schoenfield's writing.

If you are unfamiliar with one of America's most original living composers, this recording is a great place to begin.

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Provocative, August 6, 2009

By 

Karl W. Nehring (Ostrander, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schoenfield: 4 Parables / Vaudeville / Klezmer Rondos (Audio CD)

American composer Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947) brings listeners real delight in these pieces, which often sound like a cross between Mahler and Klezmer. At times, this music sound absolutely crazy--just like life. Each piece features a solo instrumentalist playing with the orchestra: Kahane on piano, Basch on piccolo trumpet, and Wincenc on flute. This is wonderful CD, strikingly original and delightfully provocative, that I recommend highly. Moreover, not only is it delightful musically, it is recorded spectacularly.