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Brain
 
 
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Brain [Original recording remastered]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Paul [Composer] Dukas (Composer), Marin Marais (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble (Performer) | Format: Audio CD
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Price: $17.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Customers buy this album with Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Audio CD $11.98

Brain + Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
Price For Both: $29.96

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  • This item: Brain ~ Ludwig van Beethoven Audio CD

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  • Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Audio CD

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Product Details
On this CD:
  1. Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, Op. 16
    Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
    with Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble, Dennis Brain

  2. Villanelle for horn & piano (or orchestra)
    Composed by Paul [composer] Dukas
    with Dennis Brain

  3. Le Basque et double, for viola da gamba & continuo in A major (Pičces de viole, Book IV, Nos. 39-40)
    Composed by Marin Marais
    with Dennis Brain

  4. Quintet for horn, violin, 2 violas & cello in E flat major, K. 407 (K. 386c)
    Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    with Dennis Brain

  5. Trio for horn (or viola or cello), violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 40
    Composed by Johannes Brahms
    with Dennis Brain

Editorial Reviews

From ClassicsToday.com

Was Dennis Brain the greatest horn player ever? No argument from me. It's hard to imagine a more consummate master of any instrument or a more thoroughly developed musician, and his performances on this disc provide ample evidence of his prodigious artistry in something he especially loved--chamber music. Although he could have adopted and owned an exclusive role as virtuoso soloist, Brain chose to devote much of his time to performing in the more or less equal-partner settings offered by trios, quartets, and quintets, and in works composed for his particular skills, such as Britten's incomparable Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings. There's a special poignancy to the three selections that open the program: the Beethoven Quintet and the pieces for horn and piano by Dukas and Marais were recorded at the 1957 Edinburgh Festival concerts just one week before Brain's death while driving back to London. He was 36, and like tenor Fritz Wunderlich, who died of accidental causes at the same age (in 1966), the world was deprived of a great artist at the peak of his powers.

Brain's performance of Dukas' ravishing little frolic, Villanelle, is nothing less than sensational. It's not just a stream of formidable leaps and flashy runs, but, responding to his very enthusiastic audience, Brain finds room for subtle refinements and delivers a clinic in breath control, phrasing, and articulation within the context of a piece that's already devilishly difficult. Similarly, in the horn entrance in the Andante of the Mozart quintet--this work and the Brahms Trio were recorded in BBC's London studios six months earlier--Brain spins a strand of pure gold out of Mozart's elegantly simple theme. It's a small gesture but it's borne of a rare and intense musicality. The Brahms, in which Brain is joined by partners Max Salpeter (violin) and Cyril Preedy (piano), shows three musicians in complete communicative harmony, as energetically, intently involved in the performance as we can imagine. The live concert sound really does give us a sense of being there that August evening--and not only because of coughs (politely kept to breaks at ends of movements) or clapping. The piano is a bit tinny on top and the balances aren't consistent, but these turn out to be very minor artifacts; the studio recordings are not balanced any better (the strings in the Mozart are a bit stifled), but again, your ear immediately adapts. Brain fans will need this.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Recording of the Best Horn Player Ever Born, June 7, 2003
By J. L. Estrada "UCLA '92" (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Brain (Audio CD)
This CD is - Thank God! - a re-release of a BBC Records Recording from 1974 Titled simply, "Dennis Brain (1921-1957)". When I was a horn student in Highschool back in the 80's, my parents brought it back for me from Europe. I have been looking for this recording on CD ever since then because I completely wore the record out. It is absolutely the best horn playing you will EVER hear. I used to play the record at least ten times a day - it inspired me to practice four hours a day and to despair that I would never play half as well as this genius. It brought tears to my eyes to hear it again and to remember what it was like to fall in love with Horn music and to spend so many happy hours rejoicing in the sound this man made with this wonderful instrument. The music is completely miraculous. What a tremendous loss he was, God rest his soul.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Once again an unforgettable cd!, February 24, 2002
By W. T. Prim (Cumming, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Brain (Audio CD)
As with all of Brain's performances, satisfaction is guaranteed! Not to dwell on a point brought up by the other reviewers, but the Villanelle is exceptionally spectacular. Forget the fact that he missed the high C at the end, it only spotlights the fact that this was a live performance, and unedited as such. It also shows us that we are all human, and even a missed note does not detract from the glory of his musicianship and virtuosity! This album (like others) really captures the magnificence of Brain's musiciality, from his seemingly unplayable pianissimos to his flawless and perfectly clean articulations. Nothing will help you to appreciate horn music better than this cd (and the Mozart cd) and few others will have you running to the practice room quicker. A must buy for any horn student or anyone that just appreciates horn playing at its finest.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Horn's fans BUY this cd!, September 18, 2001
This review is from: Brain (Audio CD)
I think this should be an essential recording for all the horn's players or fans.
Here we have some of the most important and beautiful chamber music for horn (Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms) and one of the most exciting solo piece for horn (Dukas's Villanelle).
The star of the cd is (of course) Dennis Brain, who in my humble opinion IS the best horn player ever.
Since the legendary recording of Mozart's concerti (that every serious horn's fan should own) you can hear how the technique and the musicianship in Dennis's playing are both wonderful.
Here we have something more to prove this (if it was necessary...)
The Villanelle is outstanding, as said. The finale is rushed so fast that is almost unbelievable. The only little complaint (?) is that if I remember, he first bars are written for "hand-horn" that means to be played without using the valves but using instead the right hand in the horn's bell to perform the notes that are otherwise not possible to obtain using the lips only.
Here it seems not to be the case, but as I said it's a very little remark.
But the piece I like the most is the Mozart's quintet, that is the most difficult and virtuoso piece for horn written by the great composer. Especially in the last movement the horn has to compete in technique and articulation with the first violin, but never forgetting the elegance and grace characteristics of Mozart's music.
The second movement is, for this point of view, exemplary; each phrase is played with extraordinary musicianship and beauty.
The Beethoven quintet is maybe better here than in the other recording with Walter Gieseking and the Philarmonia winds (another essential cd for Dennis's fans) and the Brahms's trio (a wonderful piece of music) shows as Dennis was perfectly suited even with a romantic piece like this (he was somehow "accused" to be without nerves...).
In conclusion, I think that after purchasing the Mozart's concerti, this should be your next horn's cd.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy this for the Dukas, Marais, Mozart
As others have said, the recordings listed in my title are sublime. Unbelievable that all are live!

Only four stars for this release due to the age of the recording... Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. Ramshaw

5.0 out of 5 stars Dennis Brain is superb
My mother bought this CD for me because I play the French Horn. Listening to a legendary horn player like Dennis Brain is a wonderful experience. Read more
Published on October 2, 2005 by Xxmusic_is_my_lifexX

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets!
This album and Brain's other recordings are a must for any French Horn player. His performance on this album is stunning.
Published on November 14, 2004 by Matthew Paisley

5.0 out of 5 stars BBC Legends: Dennis Brain
This disc is full of essential horn music. On first listen, the playing almost made my jaw drop. Owning many other Brain recordings, I was certain that this disc would be great... Read more
Published on June 4, 2001 by Stuart Womble

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Horn Quintet K 407 / Horn Trio Op40 / Quintet Op16 opens new browser window is one of Dennis Brain's 12 releases. Browse Dennis Brain's Discography opens new browser window and watch Dennis Brain's videos opens new browser window on SoundUnwound.

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