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 Tim posted on Friday, 16 June, 2006 - 06:25 pm
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Sony are re-issuing 'the four lute suites' on 19 June - just the four suites I think (not the other bits from the original double LP) on a Great Performances CD.
Re-mastered hopefully. Catalogue number 82876787382 |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Sunday, 18 June, 2006 - 06:37 pm
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Digitally remastered/remixed (ADD) versions were released in 1997 on the two 'Bach Lute Music' CDs (SBK 62972 and 62973).
I think these are still available and are mid-price. (Quite often found in the sale bins!) They also include the Prelude in A min, Fugue in A min and other bits and pieces. |
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| Tim posted on Monday, 19 June, 2006 - 11:00 pm
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| It seems such an odd choice to re-issue - I knows those two single discs have a bit of dross like the guitar-organ duets but why Sony want to re-issue again stuff that's been on the racks loads of times when there's stuff they've never put on CD, well it baffles me. |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Tuesday, 20 June, 2006 - 12:33 pm
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| The Bach lute suites are a popular choice. I have Sharon Isbin's version. Really good. |
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| Tim posted on Tuesday, 20 June, 2006 - 10:04 pm
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| I've got Isbin's CD of them too. Prefer them to JW (assuming I'm allowed to say that here!) |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Wednesday, 21 June, 2006 - 12:03 am
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I think I prefer them too. That's probably allowed, if you are open-minded.
JW and Julian Bream gave classical guitar mass appeal and a lot of the younger players were either inspired by them or got the breaks because JW/JB had made the guitar an acceptable part of the classical world.
Unfortunately, some younger classical guitarists say that JW is passé. That's like a rock guitarist saying that Hendrix, Richards or Harrison is passé. Others say that JW is all good technique and no soul. Testicles! I'd rather hear an excellent emotionless player than a passionate one with crap technique.
Classical music is first and foremost about being able to play the damn instruments. Besides, JW leads the field in avoiding string squeak. Others argue that the squeaks are part of the ambience. OK, maybe in a live concert but not in a CD when you sit waiting for the squeak to occur!
Sorry. Ranted on a bit. |
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| Tim posted on Thursday, 22 June, 2006 - 12:16 am
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Hmm, glad that's allowed. That's good news about being open-minded - better to be thought that than some sad old geezer who thinks Ms Isbin looks beter than JW on her CD covers...
It's bizarre that people think JW is a bit passé - just because he hasn't had a new CD for a few years. When you look back at his discography you realsie just how much new and worthwhile stuff he's presented in recent years. Too many young CGists seem to want to re-discover the old and justifiably forgotten like Regondi, Legnani and Mertz. People might criticise JW for being emotionless but at least he chooses emotional music (like Barrios) not emotionless twaddle. |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Thursday, 22 June, 2006 - 11:36 am
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Actually, while SI looks good (particularly on her new Rodrigo CD), she can look a little bit scary or forbidding. Anyway, all part of the trend to encourage CD sales with picture of good-looking women on the cover (whether they have anything to do with the recording or not).
The guitarist who seems to have gone for the 'tottie' market is Leona Boyd. Almost the guitar equivalent of Linda Brava.
And I agree totally about Barrios. It's thanks to JW that I have even heard of him! |
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| Tim posted on Thursday, 22 June, 2006 - 07:14 pm
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Liona Boyd (b1949) is a bit old for the 'tottie' market, even for men of a certain age...
Xuefei Yang is in a different league altogether - if you don't know her playing (or anything else about her) check out her website. And her Smallman came via JW, so we're definitely allowed to mention her on this site. |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Thursday, 22 June, 2006 - 09:26 pm
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I meant ages ago. Her web site was full of glamorous pictures.
Don't know about Xuefei Yang but the name is a good start! |
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| Tim posted on Friday, 23 June, 2006 - 12:20 am
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| Xuefei Yang is worth a listen - it's a pity that her latest CD doesn't seem to have had a European release even though it's on EMI Classics. You'll have to pick one up on your travels Bill! There's some videos on her site as well, and the tale of how JW was so impressed that he left a Smallman in Hong Kong for her. |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Friday, 23 June, 2006 - 09:02 pm
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Saw the web site. Now I have to try the music. Amazon UK has 'Si Ji'. Amazon US has that and 'Romance de Amor'. If the Domeniconi tracks on 'Si Ji' are half as good as 'Koyunbaba', I'll buy it!
I'll be in Berlin next week, Florida in July and (perhaps) Australia in October. I'll keep my eyes open. |
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| Tim posted on Sunday, 25 June, 2006 - 12:26 am
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Berlin, eh! For the football....?
I've listened to the samples of 'Si Ji' and it sounds an interesting experience, one I ought to listen to more fully. |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Friday, 30 June, 2006 - 07:59 pm
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Berlin was definitely not for the football. Not my scene. The only record shop I got to was closing just as I got in! I was there for a conference of the European Standards Committee on protective clothing for sports and motor cycling. Yeah, thought you would be fascinated.
If you want a Sky/JW connection, I brought back a box of Mozart balls.
I will look for Xuefei Yang in the States but I'm not sure that I like the sound of "an interesting experience". |
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| Tim posted on Monday, 03 July, 2006 - 12:22 am
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I think it should be OK as interesting experiences go.
Motor cycle gear - leather, leather and more leather... Is that why the conference was in Berlin? |
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| Bill Darlington posted on Monday, 03 July, 2006 - 10:05 pm
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Motor cycle gear didn't come up! I was there to present proposals on martial arts protective equipment. The only leather I wear is on my feet or holding up my trousers.
Story recently read about a little boy asking his Dad why he wore a belt.
Dad: "To keep my trousers up."
Boy: "So why don't you buy them the right size?" |
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| Tim posted on Wednesday, 05 July, 2006 - 05:09 pm
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| Oh the innocence of youth, not yet a victim to fashion!! |
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| Tim posted on Sunday, 09 July, 2006 - 12:34 pm
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| Xuefei's 'romance de amor' is listed for UK release on 7 August |
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| Richard posted on Saturday, 15 July, 2006 - 08:16 pm
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Back to the original topic.
It seems it's just a re-issue of the 1997 remasters (see Bill's comments above).
Strangely (perhaps), it's not due for release in the USA until 1st August:
http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp?merchId=11104 8&skuId=111066
Incidentally, as seen on that site...
To save me the trouble of posting to the Barrios thread, I note that The Great Paraguayan has also recently been re-issued in the USA in the Great Performances series. Note that "The Great Paraguayan" (oh, the joys of copy&paste!) was originally the non-US title of that CD; the original US title was From the Jungles of Paraguay.
\goes into cynical mode:
Is this Sony USA hoping the American public won't notice, and will buy again the same CD they've already bought?
(How the hell do I makes these fit the site's current design?) |
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| Tim posted on Friday, 04 August, 2006 - 05:06 pm
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| I also note some CDs are still available in the US - that sonymusicstore.com still lists Fragment of a Dream and Leyenda and several others long gone from the UK catalogues. They won't ship outside the US. |
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| Tim posted on Saturday, 26 August, 2006 - 09:45 pm
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BBC Music Mag Sept edition has an "In Brief" review of the Lute Suites re-issue.
The complete review (I said it was 'in brief') goes:
"For anyone who finds the sound of a solo lute for a long stretch too ascetic, this is an ideal disc. John Williams has so full a tone that it sounds almost like a harpsichord, playing with warmth and insight."
4/5 performance, 4/5 sound |
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