Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
Violin Concerto No. 1 [38:30]
Violin Concerto No. 2 [30:58]
Lydia Mordkovitch (violin)
Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
rec. City Hall, Glasgow, October 1989
CHANDOS CHAN10864X [69:40]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Shostakovich_VCs_CHAN10864.htm

Aaron COPLAND (1900-1990)
Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) [4:03]
El Salón México (1932-36) [11:14]
Suite from the ballet Billy the Kid (1938) [20:14]
Suite from Appalachian Spring – ballet for Martha (1943-44) [24:23]
Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo (1942) [18:53]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/John Wilson
rec. MediaCity UK, Salford, 30 June-1 July 2015
CHANDOS CHSA5164 SACD [79:27]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Copland_ballets_CHSA5164_JF.htm

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
String Sextet No. 1 in B flat Op. 18 (1860) [38:05]
String Sextet No. 2 in G Op. 36 (1864) [40:20]
The Lindsays (Peter Cropper (violin); Ronald Birks (violin); Robin Ireland (viola); Bernard Gregor-Smith (cello)); Louise Williams (viola); Paul Watkins (cello)
rec. Trinity Church, Wentworth, Yorkshire, 27-30 March 2004. DDD
Text included.
ALTO ALC1272 [78:28]


http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Brahms_sextets_ALC1272.htm

The Best of Plácido Domingo
rec. 1968-2015
SONY CLASSICAL 88875 123122 [4 CDs: 310:36]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Domingo_best_88875123122.htm

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
String Quartet No 1 in C minor, Op, 51 No 1 (1873) [34:00]
String Quartet No 2 in A minor, Op, 51 No 2 (1873) [35:27]
New Orford String Quartet
rec. May 2013, Multi-Media Room, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
BRIDGE 9464 [69:39]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Brahms_quartets_9464.htm

Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado - The Last Concert
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61 (excerpts)
(Overture 1826: Incidental music, Op. 61 1842/43) [40.11]
Deborah York (soprano); Stella Doufexis (mezzo)
Damen des Chores des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Symphonie fantastique (1830, revised 1831/32), Op. 14 [55.46]
Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado
rec. live 18-19, 21 May 2013, Philharmonie, Berlin
Set includes 2 CDs; 1 Pure Audio Blu-ray Disc
Full details at end of review
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER RECORDINGS BPHR160081

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Mendelssohn_Abbado_BPHR160081_GPJ.htm

Bottesini: Gran duo concertante - Concertgebouw Kamerorkest - Live Concert - HD


Bottesini: Gran duo concertante voor viool en contrabas
Vesko Eschkenazy, viool
Dominic Seldis, contrabas
Concertgebouw Kamerorkest

Opgenomen 14 april 2013 - Concertgebouw Amsterdam

Bottesini "Duet for Clarinet&Double bass" Corrado Giuffredi, Enrico Fagone, Federico Nicoletta

Giovanni Bottesini Concerto for Double Bass No 2 in B Minor



BOTTESINI, Concerto in B (1.mov) | Božo Paradžik & Budapesti Vonósok

Live 24th July 2015, Haydn Festival in Fertöd (H)
Eszterházy Castle, Marionett Theater

Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889), Concerto N°2 in B minor
1st movement: Allegro moderato
Orchestration: Jiří Hudec, Sr. 1975 / rev. Božo Paradžik 2015

Božo Paradžik, solo double bass
Budapest String Chamber Orchestra (with winds)
Budapesti Vonósok Kamarazenekar
Artistic leader: János Pilz (concertmaster)

S. Rachmaninoff, Vocalise, Gary Karr


Sergej Koussevitzky Double-Bass Concerto with Orchestra, Gary Karr

Gary Karr Plays Bach
Gary Karr (倍低音提琴 Amati 1611)
Harmon Lewis (管風琴)
King’s Record KICC1227 [1985] Stereo 46:17

低頻是不同類型音樂的基礎, 亦是最考驗器材及喇叭能耐, 測試音色平衡度的絕佳試金石。低頻又被細分為超低頻 (20Hz- 50Hz) 、低頻 (50Hz – 90Hz) 及中低頻 (100Hz – 180Hz), 而由於房間增益效應 (Room Gain Effect), 若用家未能妥善擺放好喇叭, 與房間取得良好的共耦 (Coupling), 擾人的駐波及房間諧震就會干擾清淅度, 肥臃難分的低頻會令音樂重播缺乏彈跳力, 削弱中頻的通透度, 高頻段暗淡無光 ; 相反, 若中低頻量感太少, 豐潤澎湃的舞台感就會無影無縱, 最明顯副作用就是中高頻 (1000Hz – 3000Hz) 及高頻 (3000Hz – 5500Hz), 變得光輝拮耳, 缺乏適量的泛音及諧波, 難以長時間聆聽!

Gary Karr 是Double Bass (倍低音提琴, 又稱 “牛筋”) 之王, 使用一支500多年歷史的意大利古董Amati四弦名琴 (現存Amati唯一一支依然流傳的牛筋, 前任主人是指揮 Serge Koussevitzky) , King’s Records錄音師選擇在日本松戶市聖德學園川並紀念學堂, 以一支Neumann U47古董膽咪作拾音主咪、2支Schoeps CMC-55U、 3支Neumann U87作管風琴拾音, 以over-dubbing手法混音, 加入荷蘭Flentrop的巨型管風琴, 由美籍管風琴手Harmon Lewis彈奏多達13首由Gary Karr改編自巴赫康塔塔 (Cantata)的音樂, 以純模擬 (analogue) 6軌錄音及混音, 今次以24bit 96kHz做數碼製版。

雖然是多重錄音, 但閣下系統能否精確重現牛筋向下伸延的最低頻基音 (Fundamental tone) 20Hz – 50Hz? 一般系統只能重播到第6-8次倍音諧波 (120Hz – 300Hz), 但發燒友 “以為” 自己聽到的是正斗超低頻, 但其實只是倍音諧波, 若加上全屋起諧震 (Resonance) 的駐波 (Standing Wave), 靚聲? Come on, 別開玩笑了!!

Gary Karr支牛筋是否健在? 要知道牛筋的基頻是40Hz – 300Hz, 低音肥臃的糸統根本重播不出清淅的低音線條感 (bass line) 及變化多端的強弱音動態! 若管風琴量感過多, 更掩蓋了牛筋的結像body和細膩的變化, 變了肉醬意粉般撈埋一碟!

第5軌 Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring, Karr支牛筋與Lewis彈奏的管風琴聲應有良好的分隔度, 管風琴聲應是從後面慢慢滲出來; Air on G String (T6) 你應該聽到管風琴強弱分明, 但層次分明的低迴變化, 牛筋主奏依然清浙可辨, 高低把位的運弓及換弓, 都應該一清二楚, 絕無濕炒河粉!! Wachet Auf BWV645 (T7) 播得好, 那強烈的空間包圍感和宏偉的舞台感, 讓我更能感受上帝的榮耀; Sheep may safely graze (T8) 的牛筋拉奏時陰陽變化, 向下伸延的基頻(35Hz-50Hz)毫不含糊, 你套系統播得出嗎?

若成功, 恭喜你! 若不成, 同志仍需努力啊!!!


Gary Karr [plays Bach] Gavotte from Partita No.3 BWV.1006



最後修改時間: 2016-03-21 20:47:23

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony No. 1 in D major (1888, rev. 1896) [53:25]
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
rec. live, 26-27 June 2014, Herkulessaal, Munich, Germany
BR KLASSIK 900143 [53:25]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Mahler_sy1_900143.htm

Americas
Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Adiós Nonino [6:25]
Le Grand Tango [13:03]
Histoire du Tango - Café 1930 [8:30]
Michelangelo 70 [3:07]
Oblivion [4:28]
Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 [19:04]
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 [11:18]
Anne Gastinel (cello)
Sandrine Piau (soprano)
Cellos of the National Orchestra of France
rec. 2014, Studio 106, Maison de la Radio, Paris
NAÏVE V5378 [65:55]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Americas_Gastinel_V5378.htm

Leoš JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
Orchestral Works - Vol. 3
Glagolitic Mass, JWIII/9 (1926/27) [39:26]
Adagio for Orchestra, JWVI/5 (1890) [5:47]
Zdrávas Maria (Ave Maria) JWII/14 (1904) [4:13]
Otče náš (Our Father) JWIV/29 (1901/1906) [14:36]
Sara Jakubiak (soprano); Susan Bickley (mezzo); Stuart Skelton (tenor); Gábor Bretz (bass)
David Stewart (violin); Johannes Wik (harp); Thomas Trotter, Karstein Askeland (organ)
Bergen Philharmonic Choir; Choir of Collegiûm Mûsicûm; Edvard Grieg Kor; Bergen Cathedral Choir
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner
rec. Grieghallen (Glagolitic Mass, Adagio) and Bergen Cathedral (Otče náš, Zdrávas Maria,
organ part of the Glagolitic Mass), Bergen, Norway; 17–20 August 2015. DDD/DSD
Texts and English translations included
CHANDOS CHSA5165 SACD [63:22]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Janacek_Glagolitic_CHSA5165.htm

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)
The Rite of Spring (1911-1913) (revised 1947 version) [34:45]
MusicAeterna/Teodor Currentzis
rec. 7-9 October 2013, Stolberger Strasse, Cologne, Germany. DDD
SONY CLASSICAL 88875061412 [34:45]


http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Stravinsky_rite_88875061412.htm

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op.43 (1902)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
rec. 1972
4.0 DTS HD MA 24/192khz surround sound/2.0 DTS HD MA 24/192khz Stereo
HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS BD-A no catalogue number [44:57]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Sibelius_sy2_HDTT.htm

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonatas Nos 24 and 26-32
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
rec. 1925–1936
APR 6018 [76:02 + 71:26]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Beethoven_Kempff_6018.htm

Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in C, Hob. VIIb:1 [25:11]
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D, Hob. VIIb:2 [25:03]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Romance No. 1 in G, op. 40 (arr. cello and orchestra, Müller-Schott) [6:04]
Romance No. 2 in F, op. 50 (arr. cello and orchestra, Müller-Schott) [7:56]
Daniel Müller-Schott (cello)
Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti
rec. 2001, Nimbus Concert Hall, Monmouthshire, UK.
Reviewed as lossless download from eclassical
No booklet supplied
ORFEO C080031A [64:14]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Mar/Haydn_CCs_C080031A.htm