Xiayin Wang - Xiayin Wang Plays the Piano Music of Earl Wild - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The three works on this disc offer a fascinating insight into the varying attitudes of 20th century American composes to the musical traditions of both Europe and their homeland. Accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Peter Oundjian, Xiayin Wang plays concertos by the American composers George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber.

In July 1884, MacDowell and his wife, Marian, spent their honeymoon in England, and were both captivated by performances of Shakespeare plays at London's Lyceum Theatre. The young composer started immediately on sketches based on six characters, but completed only two, Hamlet and Ophelia, which were published the following year. MacDowell recycled some of the music from his sketch for Benedick, from Much Ado about Nothing, as the second movement of his Second Piano Concerto. Having lived in Germany from 1885 to 1888, the couple returned to America and Edward reactivated his career as a concert pianist. The Second Concerto was the perfect vehicle to display his virtuosity, and he gave the first performance in New York in 1889. Composed during the same period as the Second Concerto, the Romanze for Cello and Orchestra was written at Wiesbaden in 1887, and MacDowell dedicated it to the virtuoso Bohemian cellist and composer David Popper. The Suite in A minor was the first work MacDowell composed after the couple's move to Boston, and reflects his lifelong love of nature. Set in five movements, it received it's first performance in 1895 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Emil Paur.

Brothers Born is Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage) and Michael Wyzik (Storm the Ohio). The project is a big departure from the metal of Stroetzels Killswitch Engage or the indie-americana of Wyziks bands, occupying a musical middle-ground of sorts. Wyzik and Stroetzel play nearly every note on Knife Wounds, with the exception of some background vocals and drums on two tracks. The duo recorded the record in Stroetzels Easthampton, MA studios.