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Brilliant Classics

Koechlin: Complete Music for Saxophone / Brutti

$21.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
KOECHLIN, CHARLES
Artist
Brutti
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Jan 29, 2013
Catalog #
BRI9266
UPC
5029365926621

About

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

Tracklist 76 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 I. Andante quasi adagio 02:33
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Andante quasi adagio
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  3. 2 II. Andante con moto 02:04
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  4. 3 III. Andante con moto 02:43
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  5. 4 IV. Andante con moto 01:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Andante con moto
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  6. 5 V. Allegro moderato 01:47
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  7. 6 I. Andante 04:08
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  8. 7 II. Andante con moto 01:10
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  9. 8 III. Presque adagio 02:40
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Presque adagio
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  10. 9 IV. Finale: Allegro bien rythme, mais pas trop vite 02:14
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro bien rythme, mais pas trop vite
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  11. 10 12 Monodies, Op. 213: No. 9. — 01:54
    Track
    10
    Title
    12 Monodies, Op. 213: No. 9. —
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
  12. 11 11 Monodies, Op. 216: No. 10. Le Repos de Tityre 03:28
    Track
    11
    Title
    11 Monodies, Op. 216: No. 10. Le Repos de Tityre
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
  13. 12 No. 1 in G Minor 01:16
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 1 in G Minor
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  14. 13 No. 2 in E-Flat Major 00:58
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 2 in E-Flat Major
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  15. 14 No. 3 in F Minor: Andante sostenuto 02:04
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 3 in F Minor: Andante sostenuto
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini
  16. 15 No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Allant 00:45
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Allant
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  17. 16 No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor: Andantino 01:44
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor: Andantino
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini
  18. 17 No. 6 in A Major: Allegro moderato 00:39
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 6 in A Major: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  19. 18 No. 7 in A Minor 01:12
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 7 in A Minor
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca
  20. 19 No. 8 in E Major: Allegretto 00:50
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 8 in E Major: Allegretto
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  21. 20 No. 9 in E-Flat Minor: Andantino presque adagio 02:11
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 9 in E-Flat Minor: Andantino presque adagio
    Duration
    02:11
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Massimo Valentini
  22. 21 No. 10 in D Major: Allegro moderato 01:32
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 10 in D Major: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  23. 22 No. 11 in F Major: Tranquillo 01:23
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 11 in F Major: Tranquillo
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  24. 23 No. 12 in D Minor: Andante con moto 01:28
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 12 in D Minor: Andante con moto
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca
  25. 24 No. 13 in G Major: Allegretto con moto 00:56
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 13 in G Major: Allegretto con moto
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  26. 25 No. 14 in G-Flat Major: Allegretto 01:05
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 14 in G-Flat Major: Allegretto
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  27. 26 No. 15 in B Major: Andante con moto 02:06
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 15 in B Major: Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini
  28. 27 No. 16 in B-Flat Major: Allegretto con moto 01:17
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 16 in B-Flat Major: Allegretto con moto
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  29. 28 No. 17 in B Minor: Andante espressivo 02:30
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 17 in B Minor: Andante espressivo
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca
  30. 29 No. 18 in A flat minor: Presque adagio 01:43
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 18 in A flat minor: Presque adagio
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca
  31. 30 No. 19 in C Minor: Moderato tranquillo 02:05
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 19 in C Minor: Moderato tranquillo
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  32. 31 No. 20 in E Minor: Moderato 02:23
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 20 in E Minor: Moderato
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Francesco Ciocca
  33. 32 No. 21 in B-Flat Minor: Andante 01:43
    Track
    32
    Title
    No. 21 in B-Flat Minor: Andante
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  34. 33 No. 22 in D-Flat Major: Dolce 01:08
    Track
    33
    Title
    No. 22 in D-Flat Major: Dolce
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  35. 34 No. 23 in D-Flat Minor: Andante molto tranquillo 03:00
    Track
    34
    Title
    No. 23 in D-Flat Minor: Andante molto tranquillo
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Davide Bartelucci, Massimo Valentini
  36. 35 No. 24 in C Major: Allegretto moderato 01:24
    Track
    35
    Title
    No. 24 in C Major: Allegretto moderato
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti, Davide Bartelucci
  37. Disc 2
  38. 1 No. 1. Pour les traits rapides 01:30
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. Pour les traits rapides
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  39. 2 No. 2. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite 03:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  40. 3 No. 3. Pour les arpeges 02:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Pour les arpeges
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  41. 4 No. 4. Pour la douceur des attaques 02:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 4. Pour la douceur des attaques
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  42. 5 No. 5. Pour le charme du son dans un mouvement vif 02:12
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 5. Pour le charme du son dans un mouvement vif
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  43. 6 No. 6. Pour le style soutenu et doux en sons lies 02:44
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 6. Pour le style soutenu et doux en sons lies
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  44. 7 No. 7. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite 03:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 7. Pour les sons lies et le charme de la sonorite
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  45. 8 No. 8. Pour les notes en staccato et le melange de legato et staccato 03:30
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 8. Pour les notes en staccato et le melange de legato et staccato
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  46. 9 No. 9. Pour la longeur de la respiration et l'egalite du son 02:24
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 9. Pour la longeur de la respiration et l'egalite du son
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  47. 10 No. 10. Pour la qualite du son dans un style soutenu et pour les nuances 03:00
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 10. Pour la qualite du son dans un style soutenu et pour les nuances
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  48. 11 No. 11. Pour la solidite du rythme 00:55
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 11. Pour la solidite du rythme
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  49. 12 No. 12. Pour l'egalite du son et pour les nuances 05:20
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 12. Pour l'egalite du son et pour les nuances
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  50. 13 No. 13. Pour la legerete du son 01:53
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 13. Pour la legerete du son
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  51. 14 No. 14. Pour une sonorite soutenue et expressive, pour la douceur du grave et de l'aigue 02:07
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 14. Pour une sonorite soutenue et expressive, pour la douceur du grave et de l'aigue
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  52. 15 No. 15. Pour les accents qui doivent donner le rythme de la phrase 02:43
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 15. Pour les accents qui doivent donner le rythme de la phrase
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  53. 16 III. Andante presque adagio 03:11
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Andante presque adagio
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  54. 17 V. Adagio 04:15
    Track
    17
    Title
    V. Adagio
    Duration
    04:15
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  55. 18 VII. Andante tres doux 03:26
    Track
    18
    Title
    VII. Andante tres doux
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  56. 19 X. Andante calme et doux 03:33
    Track
    19
    Title
    X. Andante calme et doux
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  57. 20 XII. Adagio 03:45
    Track
    20
    Title
    XII. Adagio
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  58. 21 XIV. Andante con moto 02:51
    Track
    21
    Title
    XIV. Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  59. 22 XV. Tres doux presque adagio 03:17
    Track
    22
    Title
    XV. Tres doux presque adagio
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    Duo Disecheis
  60. Disc 3
  61. 1 Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op. 164 03:45
    Track
    1
    Title
    Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op. 164
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    Mario Caroli, David Brutti, Filippo Farinelli
  62. 2 I. Monodie 01:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. Monodie
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  63. 3 II. Pastorale 04:11
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Pastorale
    Duration
    04:11
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  64. 4 III. Intermezzo 01:51
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. Intermezzo
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  65. 5 IV. Fugue 01:49
    Track
    5
    Title
    IV. Fugue
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  66. 6 V. Serenite 03:56
    Track
    6
    Title
    V. Serenite
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  67. 7 VI. Fugue 01:36
    Track
    7
    Title
    VI. Fugue
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  68. 8 La vie s'ouvre devant toi 05:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    La vie s'ouvre devant toi
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  69. 9 Va librement 02:57
    Track
    9
    Title
    Va librement
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  70. 10 15 Preludes, Op. 209: No. 5: Andante tres calme expressif interieurement (version for wind septet) 01:16
    Track
    10
    Title
    15 Preludes, Op. 209: No. 5: Andante tres calme expressif interieurement (version for wind septet)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Ensemble
    members Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  71. 11 I. Andante quasi adagio 03:04
    Track
    11
    Title
    I. Andante quasi adagio
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  72. 12 II. Andante con moto 02:10
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  73. 13 III. Andante assez allant 02:57
    Track
    13
    Title
    III. Andante assez allant
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  74. 14 IV. Andante con moto 01:52
    Track
    14
    Title
    IV. Andante con moto
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  75. 15 V. Allegro moderato 01:57
    Track
    15
    Title
    V. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  76. 16 I. Andante tres calme 04:43
    Track
    16
    Title
    I. Andante tres calme
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  77. 17 II. Andante con moto 01:08
    Track
    17
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  78. 18 III. Presque adagio 02:48
    Track
    18
    Title
    III. Presque adagio
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli
  79. 19 IV. Final 02:39
    Track
    19
    Title
    IV. Final
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Charles Koechlin
    Performer
    David Brutti
    Ensemble
    Orchestra Citta Aperta
    Conductor
    Filippo Farinelli