Wendy Carlos- By Request

Here is a 1975 Columbia Masterworks release from one of the founders of electronic music, Wendy Carlos, who was still recording under Walter, despite undergoing sex reassignment surgery three years prior. This would be the fourth fully recorded record this month. One more left. Featuring works by Bach, Bacharach, The Beatles, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner, not to mention some original compositions ( with piano by Phillip Ramey), this was a pretty good buy for $8.

For a sample, I went with the Fab Four and “Eleanor Rigby”.

Eleanor Rigby

Franz Andre & the Symphony Orchestra of the Belgium National Radio- Gallop In Stereo Overtures

After I had such a blast writing last month’s post, I really looked forward to sitting down to knock out these, but alas slow internet is killing that effort ( evidenced by the fact it took me an hour to work on this page). We are supposed to get a building upgrade this week so maybe next week is the time. How knows. Here is one a recently bought for $3.99. Had a decent theme with good classical songs.

I am not sure the year but this did come out on funky Telefunken Records. It features four classical pieces with a galloping beat. There were three pieces from Franz von Suppe and it was his “Light Calvary” which I was originally going to post but after looking at other selections for the month, I noticed my choices have a lot of personal favorites. So I am going to go ahead and make this month’s sub theme about, that’s right…..me. Here is one of my favorite pieces ( mainly for the end piece), Jackie Offenbach with “Orpheus in the Underworld”.

Orpheus in the Underworld

Ernesto Lecuona- Lecuona Plays Lecuona

You are in for a real treat today. I recently bought this for $4 and knew it was a gem when I first saw it. Here we have a 1955 release from RCA Victor featuring one of the greatest composers of the last century playing his songs on the piano.

Thís was the fourth record I recorded all the way this month so picking a sample was almost impossible. Well, I knew no matter what I was playing ” Andalucia” and “Sybony” so we have those. After that, it was really a toss up so I went with”Ante El Escorial” and ” En Tres Por Cuatro” or ” In Three Quater Time”. Oh yeah, really , really , really , really good record.

Andanlucia
Sybony
Ante El Escorial
En Tres Por Cuatro

Peter Schickele ( PDQ Bach)- An Evening with P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742)?

Here is a 1965 Vanguard record from the comedian of classical music Peter Schickele in which he tackles the music of his prime invention and alter ego, P.D.Q. Bach. A lot of times, records like this are a bit hard to listen to, at least in the context of doing this blog. However, this album was quite pleasant and easy to listen to. I paid $2 for this.

I am presenting not one of the “works” of Bach but one of Shickele’s own compositions which is completely composed of other people’s music. Here is the “Quodibet for Small Orchestra”. Listen close and you can find my favorite ” Brazil” buried within it.

Quodibet

Maggie Teyte- Operetta & Song: French- German – English

Here is a 1964 Record which I took a lousy picture of. Scratch that. I took lousy pictures of all the records this month. Regardless, this London Record for which I paid $ 1 for was purchased some time back.

This record features English soprano Dame Maggie Tetye ( Wolverhampton, 1888-1976). I liked a lot of this historical recording but for whatever reason, landed on “Wander Thirst”. I suppose I should have picked a French tune but more about that tomorow.

Los Indios Tabajaras- Thier Very Special Touch (Accompanied by Orchestra and Chorus)

Again, from RCA/ Victor / Dynagroove in 1967, we have the dynamic Brazilian duo of classical guitars, Los Indios Tabajaras. This time, they are accompanied by an orchestra and chorus as the title would imply. I paid $6 for this.

The orchestra is a pretty nice touch with this. I enjoyed it. Here is “Les Gitans” as a sample.

Les Gitans

Leonard Pennario- CHopin ” Concerto No 2 in F Minor Op 21″ / Liszt- “Concerto No 1 in E Flat”

Yet more Pickwick/33. This was originally a Capitol Recording of Leonard Pennario on the piano accompanied by The Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Golschmann. Not sure what year, I paid $3 for this.

Despite being peers, Liszt the flamboyant and Chopin the introvert could not be more different. If I was not so close to finishing this month, I may have expanded on this but no. Here is a sample of both. I forget what movement I used from Liszt but from Chopin, I have the third movement: Allegro Vivace.

Lizst

Chopin

The Swingle Singers- Spanish Masters

Got about 30 mins left in my today to do this so let’s see how many I can kick out, starting with this 1967 Philips release of the vocal group the Swingle Singers tackling works of classical Spanish composers. I think I paid $1 for this back in 2016.

Good record. From Enrigue Granados I believe ( correct me if I am wrong), we have “Rondalla Aragonesa”.

Rondalla Aragonesa

Charles Munch & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra- Bizet- Symphony in C Major and Tchaikovsky- Francesca Da Rimini

Here is a record that I believe is a 1977 effort from Quintessence, an arm of budget kingpin label Pickwick, lifted from a mail order recording from 1965 off the set “A Treasury of Great Music”. Maybe. That is my working theory anyway. Regardless of what this is, I paid $3 as I wanted to here some more works from Bizet other than Pearl Fishers and Carmen. So, no offense to Tchaikovsky, but his offering is largely irrelevant to this post.

With that being said, here is the fourth movement : Allego Vivace, from Bizet’s Symphony in C Major, performed by Charles Munch, for whim the back cover claims his performances are “unusually successful”. What a backhanded compliment if I ever saw one. Munch is backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on this.

4th movement

Carlos Montoya- Guitar Artistry of Carlos Montoya

We are wrapping up our loose month look at classical music with this Everest produced record from 1972 from flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya (Madrid 1903-1993). I paid $1 for this.

Pretty good little classical guitar record with solo pieces, pieces with vocals, and pieces with the group, such as this on, “Bulerias”.

Bulerias