1975 saw the release of many records of interest to oboists, and space limitations will make it necessary for me to mention some in passing only. I would be happy to print longer reviews from any interested readers in future issues.
The "record of the year" for me, at least; is JOHN MACK's long-awaited performance on disc of the Mozart Quartet K. 370 and the Loeffler Rhapsodies. It's good to have the Loeffler in the catalog once again; these beautiful and unique pieces have been recorded in the past by both Harold Gomberg and Robert Sprenkle, but neither version has been available for some time. It goes without saying that John Mack is one of the world's leading oboists. Look for this brand new Advent release at your record dealer's.
Timbral Variations - WILMA ZONN, oboe with Paul Zonn, clarinet and the University of Illinois Contemporary Chamber Players. Avant-gardists will welcome this splendid collection of works by Paul Zonn, Stuart Smith, Franz Furrer, and Edwin London, and many IDRS members will remember the Zonns' brilliant performance of Furrer's Dialogue at the 1973 Sioux Falls convention. UBRES CS-301
Bach Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1030, Couperin Concert No. 9, Il ritratto dell'Amore;" and Marin Marais Couplets on "Les Folies d'Espagne" HEINZ HOLLIGER with Christiane Jaccottet, harpsichord, and Marcal Cervera, viola da gamba. Philips 6500 618
JS Bach Sinfonias from Cantatas BWV 12 and 21 and CPE Bach Concertos in B-flat and E-flat. HEINZ HOLLIGER with the English Chamber Orchestra under Raymond Leppard. Philips 6500 830. It seems everything Holliger touches turns to pure gold and these two discs are no exception. The first release is interesting in that none of the three works was originally intended for the oboe. Reading Holliger's sleeve notes reveals him in the role of musicologist and he makes a convincing case indeed for the addition of these works to the oboe repertoire. Of course the playing is brilliant and I find the fluency of tongue and fingers in the Marin Marais work really stunning.
Eighteenth Century Music for Oboe and Organ - GEORG MEERWEIN, oboe and Wilhelm Krumbach, organ. Works of Krebs, including the beautiful F minor Fantasie, Bach, Homilius, Kaufmann, and the charming Partita of Johann Wilhelm Hertel. These are lovely, full-toned performances by the first oboist of the Bamberg Symphony. The pitch level of the organ employed makes it necessary for the oboist to transpose a half-step higher, unsettling for the listener with absolute pitch. Musical Heritage Society MHS 3139.
Concerti of Domenico Cimarosa, Arrigo Pedrollo, Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, and Vincenzo Bellini. PIERRE PIERLOT with I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone conducting. The concerti of Pedrollo and Wolf-Ferrari, both lovely romantic works, make this disc especially welcome. Musical Heritage Society MHS
The Art of Renato Zanfini. Works of Haydn, Albinoni, Handel, and Schumann. RENATO ZANFINI, oboe, with Riccardo Castagnone, harpsichord and piano, and the Angelicum Orchestra, Luciano Rosada, conductor. Rather routine performances of routine literature, but a good opportunity to hear one of Italy's leading soloists. The Handel sonata (the G minor) is played without the slightest attempt at ornamentation, something that takes a little daring today! Musical Heritage Society MHS 3177.
Vivaldi - The Oboe Concertos. PIERRE PIERLOT with I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone conducting. These two discs include twelve concertos between them - lots of Vivaldi and more than I care to take, at one sitting anyway. Yet there is much imagination here and a large body of music that many oboists are not acquainted with. Musical Heritage Society MHS 951 and 952.
Poulenc Trio for Piano, Oboe, and Bassoon and Villa-Lobos Duo for Oboe and Bassoon. LAILA STORCH, with Arthur Grossman, bassoon and Randolph Hokanson, piano. The Poulenc is a well-known charmer but the Villa-Lobos is new to me and it is a real tour-de-force for the oboist. Here's a piece I would much rather listen to than play! Musical Heritage Society MHS 3187.
(All these MHS releases are available only through the Musical Heritage Society at 1991 Broadway, New York, New York 10023. Write for their catalog.)
Hindemith Sonata for English Horn and Piano. WILLIAM KOSINSKI, English horn with Lincoln Mayorga, piano. I am also pleased to see another performance of this 1941 composition, a staple of the English horn literature, in the catalog. Mr. Kosinski studied with Marcel Tabuteau and is one of the Los Angeles area's leading players. GSC 4
Distant Hills. Oregon PAUL McCANDLESS, oboe and English horn, Glen Moore, bass, Ralph Towner, guitar, and Collin Walcott, sitar and tabla. Here is the oboe in a different and lovely setting - an intriguing sound which blends qualities of Eastern and Western music in a most successful way. Vanguard VSD 79341
Rimsky-Korsakov Variations for Oboe and Brass Band. YEVGENY LYAKHOVITSKY, oboe, with the USSR Ministry of Defense Symphonic Band. HMV Melodia ASD 3107
Reizenstein Sonatina for Oboe and Piano, Op. 11. JANET CRAXTON, oboe, with Lamar Crowson, piano. L'Oiseau Lyre SOL RAA
Mozart Concerto, K. 314. WERNER TRIPP, oboe, with the Vienna Philharmonic under Karl Bohm. Deutsche Grammophon DG 2530 527
Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto. JOHN WILLIAMS, oboe with the Bornemouth Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund conducting. HMV ASD 3127
Barlow The Winter's Passed; Hanson Pastorale for Oboe, Strings and Harp; Copland Quiet C1ty. ROBERT SPRENKLE, oboe; RICHARD SWINGLY, English horn with the Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Howard Hanson conducting. Eastman Rochester Archives ERA 1001