Koechlin: Complete Music for Saxophone / Brutti

$21.99
Label
Brilliant Classics
Release Date
January 29, 2013
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      KOECHLIN, CHARLES
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Atem Saxophone Quartet, Duo Disecheis, Orchestra Citta Aperta
    • PERFORMER
      Brutti
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 29, 2013
    • UPC
      5029365926621
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BRI9266
    • LABEL
      Brilliant Classics
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      3
    • GENRE
      Chamber Music & Recitals
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Andante quasi adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    2. II. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    3. III. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    4. IV. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    5. V. Allegro moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    6. I. Andante

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    7. II. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    8. III. Presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    9. IV. Finale: Allegro bien rythme, mais pas trop vite

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    10. 12 Monodies, Op. 213: No. 9. —

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti

    11. 11 Monodies, Op. 216: No. 10. Le Repos de Tityre

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti

    12. No. 1 in G Minor

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    13. No. 2 in E-Flat Major

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    14. No. 3 in F Minor: Andante sostenuto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini

    15. No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Allant

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    16. No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor: Andantino

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini

    17. No. 6 in A Major: Allegro moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    18. No. 7 in A Minor

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca

    19. No. 8 in E Major: Allegretto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    20. No. 9 in E-Flat Minor: Andantino presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Massimo Valentini

    21. No. 10 in D Major: Allegro moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    22. No. 11 in F Major: Tranquillo

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    23. No. 12 in D Minor: Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca

    24. No. 13 in G Major: Allegretto con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    25. No. 14 in G-Flat Major: Allegretto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    26. No. 15 in B Major: Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini

    27. No. 16 in B-Flat Major: Allegretto con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    28. No. 17 in B Minor: Andante espressivo

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca

    29. No. 18 in A flat minor: Presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca

    30. No. 19 in C Minor: Moderato tranquillo

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    31. No. 20 in E Minor: Moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca

    32. No. 21 in B-Flat Minor: Andante

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    33. No. 22 in D-Flat Major: Dolce

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    34. No. 23 in D-Flat Minor: Andante molto tranquillo

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini

    35. No. 24 in C Major: Allegretto moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci

    36. No. 1. Pour les traits rapides

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    37. No. 2. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    38. No. 3. Pour les arpeges

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    39. No. 4. Pour la douceur des attaques

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    40. No. 5. Pour le charme du son dans un mouvement vif

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    41. No. 6. Pour le style soutenu et doux en sons lies

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    42. No. 7. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    43. No. 8. Pour les notes en staccato et le melange de legato et staccato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    44. No. 9. Pour la longeur de la respiration et l'egalite du son

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    45. No. 10. Pour la qualite du son dans un style soutenu et pour les nuances

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    46. No. 11. Pour la solidite du rythme

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    47. No. 12. Pour l'egalite du son et pour les nuances

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    48. No. 13. Pour la legerete du son

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    49. No. 14. Pour une sonorite soutenue et expressive, pour la douceur du grave et de l'aigue

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    50. No. 15. Pour les accents qui doivent donner le rythme de la phrase

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    51. III. Andante presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    52. V. Adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    53. VII. Andante tres doux

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    54. X. Andante calme et doux

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    55. XII. Adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    56. XIV. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    57. XV. Tres doux presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Duo Disecheis

    58. Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op. 164

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Performer: Mario Caroli, David Brutti, Filippo Farinelli

    59. I. Monodie

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    60. II. Pastorale

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    61. III. Intermezzo

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    62. IV. Fugue

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    63. V. Serenite

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    64. VI. Fugue

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    65. La vie s'ouvre devant toi

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    66. Va librement

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    67. 15 Preludes, Op. 209: No. 5: Andante tres calme expressif interieurement (version for wind septet)

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: members Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    68. I. Andante quasi adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    69. II. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    70. III. Andante assez allant

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    71. IV. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    72. V. Allegro moderato

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    73. I. Andante tres calme

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    74. II. Andante con moto

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    75. III. Presque adagio

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli

    76. IV. Final

      Composer: Charles Koechlin

      Ensemble: Orchestra Citta Aperta

      Performer: David Brutti

      Conductor: Filippo Farinelli


As an old man Charles Koechlin wrote: "One of the most dreadful diseases of our day is the desire to be modern", but he was no starchy conservative. Far from it, in fact - Koechlin counted among his friends virtually all the leading French musicians of his day, old and young, adventurous and less so, and acknowledged and even assimilated all the trends. He was a big fan of the burgeoning Hollywood film industry - witness the many works or movements named after popular actresses - and became president of the Popular Music Federation in France.

He also wrote a fair bit for Adolphe Sax's recently-invented instrument, praising it in his academic writing as "a timbre that no other can replace". All such solo works in his corpus are brought together on this new bargain-priced triple CD from Brilliant Classics, one of a wave of recent releases featuring this most underrated of French composers' music.

In fact, although this set has much to recommend it musically, it is not quite the bargain it might have been. For one thing, there is a fair amount of 'recycling', from the piano and chamber orchestra versions of the two saxophone sonatinas to the Sept Pièces, originally intended for horn. More importantly, though, the array of recording dates and venues has thrown up some inconsistencies in sound quality. There is actually quite severe distortion towards the end of the Wind Septet, where the microphones just cannot cope with a combination of volume and high pitches. There is similar loss at the end of op.165bis, and a small amount in the flute during Epitaphe. Timpani's engineers, on their virtually simultaneous recording of the Septet (1C1193), show Brilliant how it should be done.

On the whole, however, considering that this release can be found on the internet, by the alert shopper, for around the same price as a single Naxos disc, these audio issues, once noted, may be worth disregarding for access to Koechlin's marvellous music, certainly until new recordings come along. After all, the aforementioned distortion only affects a few minutes' worth of music, and sound quality of the first two CDs is uniformly impressive. Capturing well both saxophone and piano is no simple task.

In any case, it is hard to imagine anyone not liking Koechlin's music, whether for saxophone or any other instruments: all of the late-period pieces heard here are immensely melodic and idiomatic, uncomplicated on the surface yet expressive of a considered intelligence that writes for listeners and performers as well as self. In this way he can be compared with Saint-Saëns, to whom he came to bear a physical likeness in later years - though with a much more impressive beard.

There are many highlights, such as the 24 Duos, which combine SATB instruments in various pairings. These should be required study for all saxophonists, yet they are far superior to mere didactics. Ditto the 15 Etudes, which are a collection of beautiful cameos rather than studies in the more academic sense. The 7 Pieces are even more strikingly memorable, like Koechlin's most popular Epitaphe: nostalgic, sometimes haunting works that are however "full of the visionary hope that leads to optimism, energy and joy as vital antidotes to the problems of everyday life", as annotator Robert Orledge aptly sums up the composer's music. It is worth noting that, unlike some, nowhere in any of these works does Koechlin make use of the platitudes and clichés of the jazz instrument.

As the CD cover implies, star of the show on these three discs is saxophonist David Brutti, who appears as soloist, as one half of the Duo Disecheis, a quarter of the Atem Saxophone Quartet and even in the ensemble of the Orchestra Città Aperta. His tonal colourings are lustrous and luxurious, his phrasing natural and gratifying. Running a close second is Filippo Farinelli, pianist or conductor on numerous tracks. The booklet notes are in English only, but informative and well written, supplemented by detailed biographies of all performers.

Of Koechlin - whose Alsace-originating name is pronounced as if spelt Kéclin (rhyming with French 'né' and nasal 'vin') - British critic Wilfrid Mellers wrote that he counts "among the very select number of contemporary composers who really matter". For 1942 this was a particularly prescient remark, and it is high time he was allowed to take his rightful place in the pantheon alongside Fauré, Debussy, Ravel and Saint-Saëns.

– Byzantion, MusicWeb International