Schumann / Brahms / Schubert / Mendelssohn - Spanisches Liederspiel / Variations Serieuses - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

In 1849, a year during which political upheavals still resonated across Europe, Schumann wrote three song cycles which combined solo songs, duets and quartets. He turned again to the works of a favorite poet, Friedrich Ruckert, for Minnespiel, with it's underlying religious theme, of which three of the eight settings are heard on this recording- a charming Spring setting, a duet, and the final quartet. Both Spanish cycles imply dramatic narratives between a girl and a boy. In Spanisches Liederspiel the music in places evokes Spanish rhythms such as the bolero, while it's sequel, Spanische Liebeslieder, advances the cycle concept by employing piano duet accompaniment.

Brahms/Schumann - Brahms/Schumann [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/22/2005

Both of the song cycles recorded here combine lyricism with powerful storytelling, covering a wide range of emotions that are well suited to the beautiful sonorities and vocal nature of the French horn. Schubert's late 'Schwanengesang' conveys it's pastoral setting, messages of love, pain of separation, and haunted loss so descriptively that the music is just as effective without words. Brahms arranged his 'Zigeunerlieder' or 'Gypsy Songs' from vocal quartets, their Hungarian folk-music character lending themselves superbly to further transcription. Tim Thorpe is gaining a reputation as one of the most accomplished horn players of his generation. He has received extensive orchestral experience as principal horn with several amateur and youth orchestras including the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the European Union Youth Orchestra. As an orchestral musician, Thorpe has played principal horn with all the major London orchestras and with other UK orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia.