Musical Form In Development
Decca BOROWSKY presents another Bach Piano Concerto, arranged by Busoni. This is the delightful concerto in F minor, short but incisive. LY a154. There is also a new orchestral arrangement of the I) minor Toccata and Fugue of Bach, by Alois Melichar.
ONE of Beethoven's earlier String Quartets, Op. 18, No. 5 in A major, is played by the Stross String Quartet, their first appearance in England. The first movement is strikingly original and shows the genius of Beethoven getting under way. The other three. movements are all lovely essays in this kind of composition.
THERE are three records this month which help us incidentally to understand a little of the development of musical form, style and thought during the last 200 years; for the first is from Bach, 18th century Classicism, a record of Riceroare (K. 903), by the Boyd Neel String Orchestra; Webern's Trio, Op. 21, is atonal music of the 20th century, recorded by the Kathleen Washbourn String Trio; and Jean Francaix's String Trio is diatonic music brought up to date, with a flavour of modern musical wit. This latter piece is played by the Philharmonic String Trio: F 7053/4.
THE orchestra of the Berlin Opera House presents the Maritana Overture and two short pieces by Karmann. Czartles and Grotesque.
C. G. M.