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Assorted items => Commercial recordings (vintage, new and forthcoming) => Topic started by: Dundonnell on January 24, 2018, 08:03:26 pm



Title: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 24, 2018, 08:03:26 pm
With Dutton having issued no new releases for almost a year now I have been looking at Toccata. With a relatively few exceptions Toccata have chosen to record music by composers most totally unknown to me. I am not really in a position to buy too many on a whim but there are three which include symphonies by British composers and which have been well-received by critics elsewhere:

Steve Elcock's Symphony No.3

David Hackbridge Johnson's Symphonies Nos. 9 and 14

Rodney Newton's Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4


I had never heard of these three composers. Frankly, I would prefer to see Toccata exploring the unrecorded compositions of some of the British composers with whom I am more familiar but this is not Toccata's choice. Does this make commercial sense? I wonder.

Never mind. I shall buy these three cds and find out for myself how "good" these three are :)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: britishcomposer on January 24, 2018, 09:31:50 pm
Colin, you have most likely heard of Rodney Newton before because you have the Dutton CD with his orchestration of the Moeran Overture! ;)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: britishcomposer on January 24, 2018, 10:47:48 pm
BTW, have you seen this:

William WORDSWORTH
Orchestral Music, Volume One
Symphony No. 4 in E flat, Op. 54
Divertimento in D, Op. 58
Variations on a Scottish Theme, Op. 72
Symphony No. 8, Op. 117
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
John Gibbons, conductor
TOCC 0480

Still in the pipeline though...


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 25, 2018, 12:24:28 am
BTW, have you seen this:

William WORDSWORTH
Orchestral Music, Volume One
Symphony No. 4 in E flat, Op. 54
Divertimento in D, Op. 58
Variations on a Scottish Theme, Op. 72
Symphony No. 8, Op. 117
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
John Gibbons, conductor
TOCC 0480

Still in the pipeline though...

WOW!!!!!

I immediately retract my comment on Toccata not recording music by composers of whom I had heard ;D :)  Hats off to Martin Anderson of Toccata!!!

Surely though rather a sad indictment of British orchestras that it should be an orchestra from a smallish town in Latvia that should be giving us what clearly appears to be the first in a very long overdue survey of the music of William Wordsworth (a composer much admired by Vaughan Williams but much too indifferent to self-publicisation to push his own music).

Best news I have heard for quite some time :) :)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Hattoff on January 25, 2018, 06:51:30 am
I Think you will like the Steve Elcock. I was most impressed by the sample and bought the whole thing. I have not heard the others.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on January 25, 2018, 04:33:59 pm
Given that for me personally No.8 is the most compelling among Wordsworth's Symphonies I'm enthusiastic for Toccata's prospective recording.  Is their intention to issue more Wordsworth over time from that starting point, or don't we know yet?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 25, 2018, 08:48:39 pm
It appears to be the first in a series, Greg. In which case, beginning with Symphonies Nos. 4 and 8 is smart because these two are not already on cd. The other two unrecorded symphonies are Nos. 6 and 7. Indeed the choral No.6 has never been performed.

I have written to Toccata. I shall report back.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Christo on January 26, 2018, 06:46:35 pm
BTW, have you seen this:

William WORDSWORTH
Orchestral Music, Volume One
Symphony No. 4 in E flat, Op. 54
Divertimento in D, Op. 58
Variations on a Scottish Theme, Op. 72
Symphony No. 8, Op. 117
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
John Gibbons, conductor
TOCC 0480

Still in the pipeline though...
That’s fantastic news!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 27, 2018, 02:09:53 am
I Think you will like the Steve Elcock. I was most impressed by the sample and bought the whole thing. I have not heard the others.

The cd of symphonies by Rodney Newton has not actually been released yet. It is due to be released on February 5th.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 27, 2018, 02:13:32 am
Incidentally, I did not even know about the existence of William Wordsworth's Variations on a Scottish Theme, op.72. It was not on my list of Wordsworth's orchestral compositions.

Research online uncovered that the work was written in 1962 and given its first public performance in 1966 by the (amateur) Perth Symphony Orchestra. That is Perth, Scotland, the town in which I have lived since 1970!!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Neil McGowan on January 27, 2018, 09:05:46 pm

Steve Elcock's Symphony No.3

David Hackbridge Johnson's Symphonies Nos. 9 and 14

Rodney Newton's Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4


I had never heard of these three composers.

David Hackbridge Johnson is not only a prominent conductor, violinist, and pianist - he's also a Consultant Editor on a project to make an Urtext edition of all of Elgar's works publicly available (now that they are no longer in copyright). He's an inspiring teacher. He is also something of an authority on Erik Chisholm - if any of these accomplishments might endear him to you?  He has suffered a lot of ill-health in recent years.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: calyptorhynchus on January 28, 2018, 08:17:25 pm
Toccata seem to have forgotten a couple of projects they started on, namely the David Matthews String Quartets (3 disks issued out of 4) and the Harold Truscott Piano works (only one disk issued so far). I hope they remember to keep going with them.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on January 29, 2018, 03:46:57 am
Toccata seem to have forgotten a couple of projects they started on, namely the David Matthews String Quartets (3 disks issued out of 4) and the Harold Truscott Piano works (only one disk issued so far). I hope they remember to keep going with them.

Yes, one hopes they've not taken up by contagion any of CPO's annoying habits (grateful as we can otherwise be to both labels).


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on January 29, 2018, 12:26:25 pm
Another Toccata project which I can only conclude has now been completely forgotten, more's the pity, is their supposed series of the chamber music of Ferdinand Thieriot: only Volume One issued, and that in February 2010!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Toby Esterhase on January 29, 2018, 04:52:55 pm
Another Toccata project which I can only conclude has now been completely forgotten, more's the pity, is their supposed series of the chamber music of Ferdinand Thieriot: only Volume One issued, and that in February 2010!
Shebalin's series


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 29, 2018, 05:30:15 pm
Recording and releasing particular works by "obscure" composer by small record companies must be one of the most mystery-enshrouded activities within the world of classical music

Who decides on what to record? Who decides on the performers? Who puts up the money?

In some cases it seems to come down to the personal tastes of the company's owner. BIS in Sweden was an obvious case in point, certainly in years gone by. Robert von Bahr-as I understand it- owned the company so what got recorded and equally what did not get recorded came down to him. von Bahr appears to have had little interest in, for example, the music of Hilding Rosenberg.

Some companies rely heavily on a trusted repertoire adviser. CPO have Burkhard Schmilgun. Dutton have Lewis Foreman. Lyrita have a board of trustees of the Itter Trust, presumably advised to some extent by Paul Conway  but with Antony Smith heavily involved. Martin Anderson runs Toccata.

CPO seem financially sound. Certainly their particular modus operandi enable them to issue several cds every month. But they also appear to have a substantial backlog of recordings which means that it can take years, sometimes many years, before a particular recording is released to the public. The reasons why some of these recordings take longer than others to reach the public domain are seldom clear and usually completely inexplicable!

Other companies- one guesses- operate on a "shoestring" budget. They must seek external support/funding from wherever it can be obtained. It is very well known how generous the Havergal Brian Society have been in funding Dutton's recordings and, at least, helping Naxos.
The recent Hyperion cd of Erik Chisholm's Violin Concerto was paid for by the Chisholm Trust.
I suppose however that sources of funding may dry up or be diverted elsewhere so that the continuation of funding ceases. Thus projects stall.

Ultimately, I don't know. I am guessing.I know no more than other people. It would be nice to know more and I shall try to find out a little more soon. Perhaps Gareth can tell us how the CPO Holbrooke recordings were funded and when CPO will release the latest??


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on January 29, 2018, 08:22:02 pm
I'm not sure that I can, suffice it to say that all the works recorded were broadcast first on Deutschland Radio Kultur, so perhaps the radio station paid a lion's share of costs. Certainly, the Holbrooke family has no sort of "Trust" or "Holbrooke Society" to fund recordings of Joseph's works.
As to a release date for Volume 3 of CPO's Holbrooke disks I am hoping that it will be some time this year. I will make enquiry.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on January 29, 2018, 09:54:43 pm
This is exactly what I was referring to when I spoke about CPO's modus operandi. It is a well-tried formula which works through the structure of radio within the Federal Republic.

There does appear to be a growing relationship between record companies and BBC3. A number of recent labels carry the BBC3 logo denoting that the content of the disc has been broadcast previously.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Gauk on February 09, 2018, 04:09:42 pm
Many thanks to the contributors to this thread. I have put together a nice Spotify playlist out of it all.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on February 15, 2018, 04:19:53 am
It is not often that four British symphonies completely unknown to me and by three composers, two of whom were equally unknown to me, arrive by post in a largie box :)

Steve Elcock's Symphony No.3 is described on the back of the cd as being in "the Nordic-British tradition of Sibelius, Nielsen, Simpson, Brian and similar fugures".

David Hackbridge Johnson's Symphony No.9 (he has apparently written fourteen!!) is described as being written in "a language inherited in part from Brian, Copland, Janacek, Rubbra, Sibelius, Simpson, Tippett...."

Rodney Newton's Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4 are written in the tradition of "Vaughan Williams and Arnold".

Well.......if these descriptions turn out to match what I hear then I shall be a very happy chap indeed :) :)

Watch this space!!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on February 20, 2018, 08:55:44 am
All three of these discs merits attention. The Rodney Newton symphonies, particularly the 1st, are heavily influenced by the music of Vaughan Williams without quite attaining the same heights of inspiration. The Hackbridge Johnson symphony is, I think, over-extended and discursive but is a powerful piece. It was actually the short orchestral Motet which gripped me the most. Paul Mann likens it to the Samuel Barber Essays for orchestra and the immense power conveyed in a short orchestral work is certainly valid. The Elcock I need to listen to again; it is the least immediate of the three.

I note that all 3 discs are labelled Volume One so it appears that Martin Anderson has the funding to record more! There are always the Derek Bourgeois symphonies


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Toby Esterhase on February 21, 2018, 12:17:40 am
Dear Hibbard
Where have they announced it?
Best


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on February 21, 2018, 01:30:01 am
There are always the Derek Bourgeois symphonies

THIS!!!!!  Of course we don't need all of them right now because I do live in reality but I enjoy everything I have heard of his and some of it is deeply moving and substantial.  It definitely needs better representation.  With that said, I am currently enjoying David Hackbridge Johnson's Symphony No. 9 very much and look forward to listening to Steve Elcock and Rodney Newton afterwords.  These are wonderful works so Dundonnell, you need to update your list of unrecorded English symphonies to include the rest of the output of these previously unknown to me composers.  I do agree with the association of Robert Simpson, Nielson, Sibelius, Tippet, Havergal Brian, Prokofiev in what I have heard so far and those are all great symphonists. 

By the way, I might be wrong about this but I believe it is Rodney Newton who has written 14 symphonies and not David Hackbridge Johnson as you say.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Expi on February 22, 2018, 08:12:28 am
I am hoping we see Volume 1 of the Zolotareyev symphony cycle this year !!   ???

and why not a Micky Mouse symphonies cycle !!! seems every composers name snapped open must have his own symphonies cycle. My goodness ...


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Gauk on February 22, 2018, 06:18:54 pm
I recall Andre Previn saying that his ambition was to hear every piece of music ever written. A worthy aim, even if he didn't do much to realise it. Unless one explores, one doesn't know what interesting things are hidden in the shadows. This is particularly the case with composers like Erland von Koch and André Gedalge who were self-effacing and very loath to push their music forward during their lifetime. Success often goes to the people with the sharpest elbows.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest224 on February 23, 2018, 11:55:48 am
I am hoping we see Volume 1 of the Zolotareyev symphony cycle this year !!   ???

David - is this just a random hope or have you heard something?  Sorry to ask, but you do quite often put up postings like this... Any more news on the recording of Ilyinsky's Noure et Anitra; the disc of Lemba music, etc?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Toby Esterhase on February 23, 2018, 11:12:12 pm
Yes,  I did hear something... that was a remark from Martin Anderson owner of Toccata.. hoping we see the Siberian Symphony bringing us the Zolotarev symphony cycle this year. 
Dear Mr Hibbard
Siberian Symphony should complete also Shebalin's  cycle stopped from years
Best


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest145 on February 26, 2018, 10:24:01 pm
Quote
I recall Andre Previn saying that his ambition was to hear every piece of music ever written. A worthy aim, even if he didn't do much to realise it. Unless one explores, one doesn't know what interesting things are hidden in the shadows.

On a somewhat related topic:

A number of years ago, Martin Anderson mentioned that a conductor friend of his had smugly declared that he planned to record every sinfonietta ever written (obviously believing there weren't all that many). I did some quick research and sent him a list of over 400 composers who had written sinfoniettas (and I'm sure the number is actually substantially higher). Martin was pleased to present the list to his friend and set him straight. Obviously the project never materialized.  ;)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on February 28, 2018, 02:06:13 pm
I don't understand the mention of a second Lemba disk on Toccata. I can't find the composer listed at all on the Toccata website. Have I misunderstood, or am I missing something?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: calyptorhynchus on February 28, 2018, 08:14:42 pm
"I recall Andre Previn saying that his ambition was to hear every piece of music ever written. A worthy aim, even if he didn't do much to realise it."

How do you know he didn't do much to realise it? and he is still alive, so he could still be listening.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Gauk on March 12, 2018, 06:54:24 pm
"I recall Andre Previn saying that his ambition was to hear every piece of music ever written. A worthy aim, even if he didn't do much to realise it."

How do you know he didn't do much to realise it? and he is still alive, so he could still be listening.

How often did he ever perform works off the standard repertoire? Not very often that I ever heard.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on March 12, 2018, 10:02:14 pm
"I recall Andre Previn saying that his ambition was to hear every piece of music ever written. A worthy aim, even if he didn't do much to realise it."

How do you know he didn't do much to realise it? and he is still alive, so he could still be listening.

How often did he ever perform works off the standard repertoire? Not very often that I ever heard.

Does anyone?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Gauk on March 13, 2018, 09:16:07 am
No, but not everyone has expressed such an ambition.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on March 17, 2018, 03:53:39 am
I thought that I should add that the more I listen to the Rodney Newton disc the more impressed I am. The Symphony No.4 certainly repays careful study and "Distant Nebulae" is a really beautiful short piece.

I would certainly recommend the disc to others.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Gauk on March 18, 2018, 10:36:28 pm
The Steve Elcock also has considerable merits!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on March 20, 2018, 06:16:23 pm
I am now listening to a slightly earlier Toccata release - music by Robin Walker played by the New Russia SO conducted by Alexander Walker (no relation)- the orchestra now being used by Naxos to record Havergal Brian.

Extraordinary music! The longest piece is the Symphonic Poem "The Stone Maker" but all four works on the disc sound as if they are being hewn out of mighty stone cliffs Granitic, indeed  Powerful brass chords grinding through the fabric of the music in grim procession. I would not imagine it would be to everyone's taste. There is a wierd clash between the modernism which Walker seems to be trying to abandon (he talks about Birtwistle and David Lumsdaine), the influence of Sibelius and an impressive modal tonality.

I might have thought some of it slightly too "modern" for my tastes but there is a strange hypnotic fascination, almost as if it was minimalist without actually being minimalist.

Anyone tempted might be well-advised to sample first. It is not "easy" music but I must admit to finding it powerfully impressive
.....and it is superbly played by this exceptional Russian orchestra and their brilliant British conductor!!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on March 20, 2018, 08:12:24 pm
Quote
Nothing on the release of the additional Lemba CD of orchestral works.   

I'm sorry to keep on about this, but WHAT 2nd Lemba CD? - And WHAT FIRST Lemba CD, come to that?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest145 on March 20, 2018, 09:11:00 pm
Quote
Quote
Nothing on the release of the additional Lemba CD of orchestral works.

I'm sorry to keep on about this, but WHAT 2nd Lemba CD? - And WHAT FIRST Lemba CD, come to that?

Yes, please do explain -- I'm completely unaware of these releases. Who issued them? What is on them? Who are the performers? There is nothing in Amazon, nothing on Lemba's page at the Estonian Music Information Center, and no entries on Discogs newer than the 2005 Chandos release. I enjoy Lemba's music and am very interested in any new releases.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on March 21, 2018, 12:21:42 am
Thank you for that clarification. IMHO Lemba's music is extremely good. I would love to hear (and see) more of it. I am trying to interest Hyperion in his piano concerti.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on March 21, 2018, 01:25:13 am
The clarification regarding Artur Lemba is certainly welcome. As I understand it Toccata Classics has not released and has no plans to release any Lemba.

So.......if we can return (at least sort of ;D ) to the topic of this thread :):

I see from Toccata's website that a further disc of music by David Hackbridge Johnson is in preparation. The Liepaja Symphony Orchestra under Paul Mann recorded Two Elegies for strings and harp and two tone poems "Ziggurats" and "Aspens" last year and the composer implies that the disc will also include a new symphony to be recorded this year.

Toccata has a good history of getting new recordings onto disc very quickly so it should not be long before the William Wordsworth Symphonies Nos. 4 and 8 are with us :)

,,,,,and (properly back on topic ;D) I am very much interested in the new disc of music by the splendid Arnold Rosner: Five Ko-ans for orchestra, "Unravelling Dances" and "The Parable of the Law" for baritone and orchestra. Rosner's rich modality and the grandeur of his music has an especial appeal to my ears. This is a disc I shall certainly purchase very soon. Has anyone already bought it?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on March 23, 2018, 01:50:28 am
The Arnold Rosner orchestral music vol 2 is excellent.  You'll love it.  Exciting music, modal, RVW references a plenty.  5 Koans reminds me somewhat of John Foulds 3 mantras.  The music is very rich, with a quasi religioso feel.  I'm a fan of toccata.  I like very many of their releases of people I've never heard of and this one doesn't disappoint. 


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on March 23, 2018, 02:57:07 am
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the feedback and it certainly encourages me to buy the cd asap


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on March 28, 2018, 05:36:57 pm
The Steve Elcock also has considerable merits!

It does but I continue to find the Symphony No.3 quite a hard nut to crack and I do think that Martin Anderson's assertion that "it has to be some of the best orchestral music written by a British composer in the past half-century" rather hyperbolic. The Festive Overture however is delightful- Waltonian exuberance at its best


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Vandermolen on April 04, 2018, 08:01:36 am
The Steve Elcock also has considerable merits!

It does but I continue to find the Symphony No.3 quite a hard nut to crack and I do think that Martin Anderson's assertion that "it has to be some of the best orchestral music written by a British composer in the past half-century" rather hyperbolic. The Festive Overture however is delightful- Waltonian exuberance at its best
I agree with Colin here and was disappointed by the symphony. Robin Walker's music on a new Toccata release, which I have ordered, sounds more promising from the samples I have heard.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on May 03, 2018, 09:40:56 pm
The William Wordsworth cd is due for release on 1st June.

https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-one/ (https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-one/)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on May 04, 2018, 01:20:17 am
Toccata has emerged as one of my favorite record labels.  I love their mission, quality, and support their releases.  There are very few of their releases I regret owning.  Whatever their approach, it works for me.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest251 on May 05, 2018, 05:09:53 pm
Quote
The William Wordsworth cd is due for release on 1st June.

and can be listened to in full on their website  ;D ;D


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on May 06, 2018, 02:45:35 pm
Quote
The William Wordsworth cd is due for release on 1st June.

and can be listened to in full on their website  ;D ;D

Which is incredibly generous of the company! Is it wise from a strictly commercial point of view? I don't know. Clearly Toccata think so.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 06, 2018, 11:09:17 pm
Quote
The William Wordsworth cd is due for release on 1st June.

and can be listened to in full on their website  ;D ;D

Which is incredibly generous of the company! Is it wise from a strictly commercial point of view? I don't know. Clearly Toccata think so.

Given that virtually the entire Toccata catalogue seems to be posted on YouTube (with or without their authorization I do not know) commercial considerations would be moot, don't you think?


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on May 07, 2018, 11:49:22 am
There is nothing like having the actual cd on your shelves and you get the booklet notes. Toccata deserve my money to encourage their enterprise.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 07, 2018, 04:46:22 pm
There is nothing like having the actual cd on your shelves and you get the booklet notes. Toccata deserve my money to encourage their enterprise.

I agree.  YouTube is no substitute for owning the CD's of music I'm drawn to, and (as you say) the labels need our support to continue their work.
Nonetheless, it's certainly most useful to hear things in advance for the sake of buying decisions, and I don't believe I've ever (a single time) searched
for a Toccata release on YouTube and not found it, so have to believe they're at least complicit in the arrangement.  In the long run, I purchase more
when not wary of making mistakes.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on May 07, 2018, 10:24:10 pm
There are, in fact, a great many Toccata recordings NOT on Youtube. The Cotter Nixon disks, most of the Charles O'Brien releases, Ferdinand Thieriot. Etc.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 08, 2018, 02:21:08 am
There are, in fact, a great many Toccata recordings NOT on Youtube. The Cotter Nixon disks, most of the Charles O'Brien releases, Ferdinand Thieriot. Etc.

You may be right, of course (I've not systematically gone through the Toccata catalogue and checked for every CD on YouTube, - just those that interest me), -  but I DO see both Volume 1 & Volume 2 of the Cotter Nixon Orchestral Works there.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on May 08, 2018, 08:27:39 am
Well I can't find them, I'm afraid. Are you using the US site perhaps? Would be glad for a link.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on May 08, 2018, 12:51:56 pm
So there are videos put up on You Tube in the USA which cannot be watched in the UK? Interesting. I suspected something of the kind.

Folk who post cd recordings of music on You Tube when those cds are still commercially available are helping to kill small record labels imho.There may be an argument that people go out and buy the cd after hearing it in its entirety on YT but how many more will just download the music for free thus depriving the company of income?

Of course I have downloaded enormous (ridiculous in fact!) amounts of music but in most cases from radio broadcasts or from LPs long out of circulation. In those (few) cases when I downloaded a cd it was of music I honestly would never have bought and even then I felt very guilty

Anyway....the download button on You Tube seems to have been removed from music videos. There are free YT download programmes but they inevitably have "nasty" stuff embedded and end up messing with my pc


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on May 08, 2018, 03:07:49 pm
Well I can't find them, I'm afraid. Are you using the US site perhaps? Would be glad for a link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKurfspqHA


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on May 08, 2018, 04:37:23 pm
Clicking on the video link you uploaded produces the message: This video is not available.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 08, 2018, 04:37:48 pm
So there are videos put up on You Tube in the USA which cannot be watched in the UK? Interesting. I suspected something of the kind.

Folk who post cd recordings of music on You Tube when those cds are still commercially available are helping to kill small record labels imho.There may be an argument that people go out and buy the cd after hearing it in its entirety on YT but how many more will just download the music for free thus depriving the company of income?

The thing is though (as I've just begun to observe), that all the Toccata releases I see on YouTube indicate "provided to YouTube by Naxos of America" (Toccata's distributor here).  They're not being posted by individuals.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on May 08, 2018, 05:31:43 pm
I wonder if Martin Anderson is aware of this.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 09, 2018, 06:01:04 pm
How could he not be?  Toccata owns the recordings.  Would Naxos post these to YouTube without his express authorization or instruction?

I presume this a deliberate marketing tool by Toccata/Naxos, - and with me a successful one.  I've purchased perhaps two to three dozen Toccata CD's after first listening to the music on YouTube, most of which I would be unlikely to take a chance on without such allowance. 


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Grandenorm on May 09, 2018, 09:42:47 pm
I know of one company who signed up with a distributor who then, against the express wishes of the recording company, made their recordings available to Spotify, from which the returns are microscopic. That is why I asked.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: guest128 on May 09, 2018, 11:34:31 pm
Interesting...  Would never have guessed that might occur.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on May 10, 2018, 12:34:59 am
I know of one company who signed up with a distributor who then, against the express wishes of the recording company, made their recordings available to Spotify, from which the returns are microscopic. That is why I asked.

Well, it's much more complicated than that.  Who owns the rights to the distribution?  The distribution company.  If you make a recording and work with a distribution company, you have very little control on how they distribute.  That is just an unrealistic expectation.  Most of the time, Naxos recordings are self funded and they get a cut in exchange for their presence and brand - their name recognition and distribution model is what you pay for.  I doubt you can tell them here is the recording I paid for and I only want it sold in three of the 50 ways you can sell it.  They can and do deviate from this but it is very rare (such as them commissioning Maxwell Davies' Naxos quartets). 


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on May 28, 2018, 01:48:13 pm
https://www.mdt.co.uk/johnson-david-hackbridge-orchestral-music-orchestra-paul-mann-toccata-classics.html (https://www.mdt.co.uk/johnson-david-hackbridge-orchestral-music-orchestra-paul-mann-toccata-classics.html)

Heavens above! Hackbridge Johnson's Symphonies Nos. 10 and 13 :) And this time Martin Anderson has got the RSNO to record these symphonies. (Where does the money come from- hiring the RSNO will not come cheap!)

Anyway.......with the Richard Rodney Bennett 2nd in July and the Wordsworth 4th and 8th in June 'tis a summer for unrecorded British symphonies ;D

(oh, and btw the Thomas Wilson Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4 are due for release from Linn in September and the Fifth Symphony is being recorded soon).

.......and  ;D the Franz Reizenstein Cello Concerto will be coming from CPO in June :)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Vandermolen on June 01, 2018, 01:03:20 pm
Well, I thought that the Robin Walker CD was great and had a nice email exchange with him (as I did with the late Arnold Rosner). The Walker works reminded me of Jon Leifs the Icelandic composer. Totally agree with Colin on this one (as with much else besides). My new Toccata discovery is 'Sinfonia Pascale' (Symphony 3) by Philip Spratley. A powerful, tonal work, the Brucknerian ending of which had me on the edge of my seat. I have played it over and over again. Stylistically it also reminded me a bit of that fine Finnish composer Einar Englund.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Toby Esterhase on June 11, 2018, 11:07:34 pm
Toccata has told me that Shebalin's volume II will be soon released at last.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on June 11, 2018, 11:57:14 pm
Well, I thought that the Robin Walker CD was great and had a nice email exchange with him (as I did with the late Arnold Rosner). The Walker works reminded me of Jon Leifs the Icelandic composer. Totally agree with Colin on this one (as with much else besides). My new Toccata discovery is 'Sinfonia Pascale' (Symphony 3) by Philip Spratley. A powerful, tonal work, the Brucknerian ending of which had me on the edge of my seat. I have played it over and over again. Stylistically it also reminded me a bit of that fine Finnish composer Einar Englund.

I am so glad that you liked the Robin Walker, Jeffrey :)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Vandermolen on June 12, 2018, 08:19:47 pm
Well, I thought that the Robin Walker CD was great and had a nice email exchange with him (as I did with the late Arnold Rosner). The Walker works reminded me of Jon Leifs the Icelandic composer. Totally agree with Colin on this one (as with much else besides). My new Toccata discovery is 'Sinfonia Pascale' (Symphony 3) by Philip Spratley. A powerful, tonal work, the Brucknerian ending of which had me on the edge of my seat. I have played it over and over again. Stylistically it also reminded me a bit of that fine Finnish composer Einar Englund.

I am so glad that you liked the Robin Walker, Jeffrey :)
Thanks Colin.   :)


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on June 23, 2018, 10:49:52 pm
The new Wordsworth disc fully lives up to expectations :) As I listened to the Divertimento I wondered whether the Latvian orchestra might be somewhat feeling their way in music which would of course be totally unfamiliar to them but they seem to get inside the idiom.

The revelation is the Symphony No.8 "Pax Hominibus". Less in thrall to Sibelius than the earlier symphonies this last of Wordsworth's eight is almost Rubbra esque in the way it proceeds with a measured pace and certainty to its enigmatic conclusion. And how imaginative of Toccata to give us the second movement twice with its alternative endings.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: BrianA on June 24, 2018, 11:23:25 pm
And how imaginative of Toccata to give us the second movement twice with its alternative endings.

As opposed to bonus tracks that can't be played, perhaps??? ;D


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on June 25, 2018, 09:58:49 am
Indeed!!


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on July 02, 2018, 03:54:50 pm
I have just listened to the new Toccata cd with the David Hackbridge Johnson Symphonies Nos. 10 and 13.

Maybe it is my mood but quite honestly I cannot make anything of them at all. Too dense and intractable for me. I just do not understand what the composer is trying to say :(


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Neil McGowan on July 02, 2018, 05:20:09 pm
But it's to your credit that you gave DHJ's symphonies a hearing. I hope they may grow on you?  It's true, his sound world is not a simple one.


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on July 02, 2018, 06:52:55 pm
Oh I shall certainly try


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on July 03, 2018, 04:02:45 pm
I have just listened to the new Toccata cd with the David Hackbridge Johnson Symphonies Nos. 10 and 13.

Maybe it is my mood but quite honestly I cannot make anything of them at all. Too dense and intractable for me. I just do not understand what the composer is trying to say :(

I guess its not yet available in the US for me to tell you if you should give it another chance. 


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: Dundonnell on July 03, 2018, 11:49:48 pm
Well I bought the cd-as I would for any new British symphonies-so I shall certainly be listening to the music again

We shall see......


Title: Re: "Recent" Toccata Releases
Post by: relm1 on July 07, 2018, 02:47:09 pm
I listened to the David Hackbridge Johnson volume 2 yesterday and quite enjoyed it.  I probably liked vol. 1 more but thought Symphony No. 10 was well constructed and has a beautiful ending epilogue.  I liked the bold heroism of No. 13 where I could see traces of German music such as Bruckner but by way of England like Havergal Brian.  Enjoyable symphonies.