SKU: HL.14008396

ISBN 9780711921337. 8.5x12.0x0.533 inches.

This work was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate its 40th birthday. The first performance took place in June 1986 at St. Magnus' Cathedral, Kirkwall, as part of the tenth St. Magnus Festival. Written for and first performed by Isaac Stern, Davies's Violin Concerto brings together two streams in his music: symphonism and folk-fiddling. In its strongly developed substance, it asks to be measured in the company of Beethoven, Brahms and Sibelius, while there is also, particularly in the middle movement, a strong element of the Scots lament. The orchestra is generally muted in colour, though there is a dramatic role for the timpanist. There are three movements, played without a break - this is only one of many connections with the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Duration c. 30mins.

SKU: HL.14020990

ISBN 9780711923904. 5.5x7.5x0.283 inches.

If Davies's Cello Concerto has already evoked comparisons with Elgar's, that is perhaps an indication not only of its wealth of solo melody (there is hardly a page where the cello is not singing, or if not that, then dancing), and of its predominantly slow tempos, but also of its musical stature. This second Strathclyde concerto is a virtuoso piece for the entire ensemble, which is used almost throughout as a clutch of soloists rather than as a tutti block. The general tone is one of passionate but interior dialogue, especially in the opening Moderato and the slow movement; and though the finale is more extrovert, the work ends back in quietness and rumination.

SKU: HL.14023249

ISBN 9788759861981. 11.75x16.5x0.45 inches. English.

Tenebrae (1982), a single-movement cello concerto, commissioned and premiered by Rostropovich who praised the composer for his fine understanding and command of the rich timbre of the instrument. It is a convincing and almost nightmarish work containing music which leaves a tremendous impact on the listener. Not least in the central section where ghastly and terrifying apparitions are invoked out of the darkness. The final poetical section of the work is directly inspired by the description of the closing movement of Leverkuhn's Cantata in Thomas Mann's Doktor Faustus.

SKU: BR.PB-5297

Haydn's C major Concerto now in a new, up-to-date edition

EB 8634 (edition for violin and piano) with cadenzas by Thomas Zehetmair

ISBN 9790004211755. 10 x 12.5 inches.

Haydn's Violin Concerto in C major has always been closely linked to Breitkopf & Hartel, which began selling copies of the work back in 1769. The first edition came out in 1909 and helped secure the work a broad dissemination and lasting popularity. Strangely enough, this first edition is one of the most important sources today, since its own source a copy of Haydn's autograph, perhaps the autograph itself was lost at the end of World War II. Although other copies from Haydn's time were made, they are textually less reliable. Walter Heinz Bernstein has created an easily playable and pleasant-sounding piano score on the basis of the first edition, whereby he has respected the early classical continuo practice. As he did earlier in the G major Concerto (EB 8606), Thomas Zehetmair has once again accepted the challenging task of embellishing the solo part with stylistically accurate cadenzas and flourishes. This delightful concerto is thus now available in a modern edition.The piano-harpsichord part by Walter Heinz Bernstein features a continuo part in keeping with the late Baroque performing tradition and offers a much cleaner, unfettered realization.(Stringendo)

Haydn's C major Concerto now in a new, up-to-date edition.