PROPIANO (USA) -
PPR224536: BRAHMS and MOSZKOWSKI PIANO MUSIC

Brahms (transc. Moszkowski): 10 Hungarian Dances Book 1;
Moszkowski: 20 Little Studies for Piano, Op.91

Esther Budiardjo piano

Total time: 56.00

(GB pounds 14.50)

Listen to an extract

ProPiano Records present a world premiere recording of the Moszkowski studies plus his stunning transcription of book one of Brahms' Hungarian Dances. A fitting follow up to Esther Budiardo's highly successful Godowsky recording.

Bryce Morrison in August 2003 Gramophone: "Superb performances which reveal the wit and charm of these Moszkowski Showpieces. This delightful record gives us world premiere recordings of both Moszkowski's Etudes Op.91 and his arrangement for solo piano of Brahms' Hungarian Dances Book 1...given judicious extra sparkle by Moszkowski. Previously heard to no less superior effect on a ProPiano disc of Godowsky's Java Suite, Budiardjo is clearly a pianist to watch, and her warm-toned Kawai instrument has been excellently recorded."

Barry Brenesal in September/October 2003 Fanfare: "On the basis of this recording I would suggest that she is a fine technician, and a colorist with few peers. Her command of dynamics and pedal is remarkable...This is indeed playing of a very high order...The piano sound is among the most lifelike and attractive I've heard on compact discs in years...Strongly recommended on her account and here's hoping we hear a lot more from her soon."

ATOLL (New Zealand) -
ACD402: BEETHOVEN STRING QUARTETS

Beethoven: Rasumovsky String Quartets Op.59/2 and Op.59/3

New Zealand String Quartet

Total time: 73.52

(GB pounds 14.50)

The New Zealand String Quartet follow their critically-aclaimed disc of the Debussy and Ravel quartets with these stunning accounts of the second and third Rasumovskys.

"What is most striking about the New Zealand String Quartet is the sheer rightness of the playing and the superbly natural tempos...the overall sound is marvellously focussed, never harsh or strident...and it is undeniably exciting" - John Button, Dominion Post, Wellington.

ATOLL (New Zealand) -
ACD802: MUSICA SACRA

Domenico Scarlatti: Stabat Mater a10;
Josef Rheinberger: Cantus Missae, Op.109;
Charles Stanford: Magnificat in B flat, Op. 164
Charles Wood: Nunc Dimittis in B flat

Musica Sacra directed by Indra Hughes

Total time: 62.03

(GB pounds 14.50)

Here is a superb follow-up CD to Musica Sacra's excellent 2001 Christmas release.

ATOLL (New Zealand) -
A9701: ALDA IN OPERA and SONG

Opera Arias and Ensembles from La Wally, Gugliemo Tell, Mefistofele, Gianni Schicchi, Otello, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, La boheme, Il Trovatore & I Lombadi; Songs and Ballads by Rahey, Penn, Novello, Berlin, Darewski, Brahe & Trad.

Frances Alda soprano with Enrico Caruso, Giovanni Martinelli, Mischa Elman, New York Metropolitan Opera (recordings made between 1910 and 1928)

Total time: 68.25

(GB pounds 14.50)

New Zealand's first opera star, soprano Frances Alda, joined the Metropolian Opera in New York in 1908 and the association lasted for over two decades. Her career at the Met was complemented by lengthy recital tours and frequent visits to the recording studio.

ATOLL (New Zealand) -
ACD299: POINTS IN A CHANGING CIRCLE

Music of New Zealand Composers

Douglas Lilburn: Quartet for brass; Ross Harris: Echo for trumpet & tape loop;
John Rimmer: Sonata a 5 for brass quintet; Seaswell for trumpet & electronics;
John Elmsly: Tryptich for trumpet & electronics; Geastauqua for brass quintet & electronics

Grant Cooper trumpet, Concord Brass

Total time: 63.10

(GB pounds 14.50)

On a disc with the somewhat enigmatic title Points in a Changing Circle American-based New Zealander Grant Cooper and his group Concord Brass perform an attractive group of works for various combinations, both acoustic and electronic. Lilburn's rather lightweight, although beautifully crafted "Quartet for Brass Instruments" leads the way into a disc whose enterprise and sense of adventure makes for rewarding listening.

TALL POPPIES (Australia) -
TP161: FANTASIES

Cage: Dream; Heinrich Praeger: Preludes No.1, 2, 3, 10, 11 & 12;
Carl Vine: Miniature I; Miniature II; Gordon Kerry: Etude;
Penderecki: Cadenza; Myriam Marbe: Prologo & Aria;
Britten: Elegy; Telemann: Fantasia No.7; Piazzolla: Tango Studies

Esther van Stralen viola

Total time: 66.02

(GB pounds 14.50)

Esther van Stralen is the Dutch-born Principal Violist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Her wide-ranging repertoire interests have driven the selection of music in this recording, which ranges from stylistically rendered earlier works performed on a baroque viola, to a huge variety of contemporary music. Included are works written for her (Kerry) to standard repertoire works (Penderecki and Britten) to previously unheard Australian works (Vine). The Piazzolla tangos are van Stralen's arrangements of violin works and the Marbe is part of a larger viola concerto. Van Stralen's superb performances bring each of these works to life, most in world- premiere recordings.

MORRISON TRUST RECORDS (New Zealand) -
MMT2040: AQUARIUS

Music by John Ritchie

John Ritchie: Concertino for Clarinet & Strings; Suite No.1 for Strings;
Aquarius - Suite No.2 for Strings; Papanui Road

Marina Sturm clarinet, NZSO Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong and Marc Taddei

Total time: 52.08

(GB pounds 14.50)

In commemoration of the composer's 80th birthday, Trust Records presents a programme of John Ritchie's delightfully attractive works for both string orchestra and full orchestra.

Ian Dando in 20 December 2003 New Zealand Listener (Best of 2003): "Conservative, yes, but there's gut honesty to the unpretentious geniality of these orchestral works - Clarinet Concertino and Suites one and two for strings. The odd twists and turns to Ritchie's melodic lines, harmony and key changes keep predictability at bay. His popular streetscape Papanui Road Overture turns up like a bad (or good) penny, depending on your taste. All non-elitist fare from someone who doesn't give a stuff about modernism."

MORRISON TRUST RECORDS (New Zealand) -
MMT2041: DEIDRE IRONS

Piano Recital

Schumann: Papillons Op.2; Mozart: Piano Sonata K283;
Gershwin: Three Preludes; Ravel: Sonatina;
Chopin: Nocturnes Op.27/1 & 2, Scherzo op.31

Deidre Irons piano

Total time: 67.30

(GB pounds 14.50)

A studio recording of music by Mozart, Schumann, Ravel, Chopin and Gershwin, made prior to Diedre Irons' warmly-received New Zealand-wide concert tour in 2002.

RATTLE (New Zealand) -
RATD008: RHYTHM SPIKE

Music by John Psathas

John Psathas: Spike; Calenture; Motet; Drum Dances;
Waiting for the Aeroplane; Abhisheka; Stream 3.3

New Zealand String Quartet; Dan Poynton piano, Michael Houstoun piano, Diedre Irons piano, Stephen Gosling piano & drums, Brian Resnick piano & percussion, Neil Becker guitar, David Arend bass, John Psathas samples & sequencing

Total time: 70.54

(GB pounds 14.50)

Winner of the Classical Album of the Year at New Zealand's 2000 New Music Awards, Rhythm Spike realizes John Psathas personal artistic vision. John Psathas is New Zealand's most internationally performed composer. His works draw equally on classical, jazz and rock traditions and are played by artists from Michael Brecker to Evelyn Glennie through to the BBC Scottish Orchestra. Performed in venues ranging from Windsor Castle to Kalamazoo, from Jakarta to Bermuda, Japan to Alaska, Hong Kong to Tel Aviv, John Psathas is a new and distinctive voice.

RATTLE (New Zealand) -
RATD006: YOU HIT HIM HE CRY OUT

Contemporary Piano Recital

John Psathas: Waiting for the Aeroplane;
Jack Body: Five Melodies; Philip Dadson: Sister's Dance;
Gillian Whitehead: Lullaby for Matthew; Douglas Lilburn: Sonatina No.2;
Dan Poynton: Nga Iwi E; Red Mesa: Annea Lockwood

Dan Poynton piano

Total time: 68.13

(GB pounds 14.50)

A critically acclaimed solo piano album featuring the music of leading contemporary New Zealand composers. Classical Album of the Year at the 1998 New Zealand Music Awards, this is a unique artist performing with passion and subtlety. For all their exotic sounds, these seven pieces are played on or in the piano, and together comprise an emotional debut album.

RATTLE (New Zealand) -
RATD009: PULSE

Music by Jack Body - Transcriptions and Sources

Jack Body: Melodies for Orchestra; Campur Sari; African Strings;
Three Transcriptions; Pulse; Horos Serra; Singgalang;
Indian Street Band; Long-ge; Ramandriana; Ratschenitsa; Chedo;
Samy faly; Baining Fire Dance

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Young; Budi Putra gamelan;
New Zealand String Quartet; Norio Sato & Kei Koh guitars

Total time: 117.57

(2 discs - GB pounds 14.50)

Jack Body is a composer who has travelled to remote locations to experience his musical sources first hand. Obsessively recording, collecting, and transcribing, he has set out in an instinctive and overt way to recreate his experiences in a new musical context. Well known for his incorporation of 'world' influences within contemporary forms, composer Jack Body has now released a truly unique album, featuring both his transcriptions, plus a bonus disc featuring the original sources. This was Classical Album of the Year at the 2002 New Zealand Music Awards.

Ian Dando in 6 March 2004 New Zealand Listener: "This release focuses solely on Jack Body's cross-cultural phase from 1983 to the present. He travels frequently to remote places to absorb, notate and record rare indigenous musics, then transform them for the manicured formality of the Western concert hall. Body's train of thought is lucid and direct. These are instantly appealing pieces from a highly inventive musical mind."

RATTLE (New Zealand) -
RATD004: TE KU TE WHE

Takapau Horanui; Raukatauri; Tumatakokiri;
Hau; Koau; Porotiti; Tangi Koauau; Purerehua;
Poiawhiowhio; Wai; Ororuarangi; Te Po; Homai O Ringa;
Tangimokemoke a Raureka; Ta Ao Takapau Tuwhara

Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns traditional Maori instruments

Total time: 44.29

(GB pounds 14.50)

Te Ku Te Whe - the definitive recording of Pre-European Maori instrumental music by Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns. Purerehua, Koauaua, Nose flute, and bull-roarer are among the many musical taonga (treasures) enjoying a renaissance, thanks to these artists. A quiet, understated landmark in New Zealand's musical history. These artists make highly innovative use of traditional Maori instruments, many of which are unknown even in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The album has a rich and sensual musicality which spans both its traditional ethnic source and the modern context of the performers.

WYNCHMORE (New Zealand) -
07425: LA SERENATA

Songs and Ariettas by Tosti, Schubert, Bellini, de Curtis, Mario, di Capua,
Rossini, de Crescenza, Cardilo, Bononcini, Handel and Verdi

Gregory Mutch tenor and Wallace Woodley piano & organ

Total time: 62.41

(GB pounds 14.50)

New Zealand tenor, Gregory Mutch, presents an attractive programme of lyric songs and arias.

2L LINDBERG LYD (Norway) -
2L11 : MAJORSTUEN

Trad.: majorstu-x; busk; trippar; vemod; bjørn, ulv og gaupe;
rett vest; slør; zzz ...; fra elise; ja!; tøger; sorgens ø;
salt i såret; havella; frenetisk

Majorstuen - Synnøve S. Bjørset fiddle / viola, Jorun Marie R. Kvernberg fiddle,
Ragnhild Furebotten fiddle, Gjermund Larsen fiddle / cello,
Andreas Ljones fiddle / viola, Tove Hagen fiddle / cello

Total time: 48.54

(GB pounds 14.50)

Listen to an extract

In between the worlds of folklore and classical, where pulsating energetic monody meets the polyphonic, polytonal and rhythmically intricate melody, we encounter the Norwegian group Majorstuen. This young and creative ensemble succeeds in utilising all of the artistic ingredients of the Norwegian musical heritage, thus producing breathtaking new perspectives - from melancholic inspired fiddle-tunes, good-natured folk dance parodies to astonishingly pointed and vital new compositions.

"Norwegian fiddlers rule the world, and this CD is solid proof. This is vital stuff, brilliant performances, beautifully recorded and altogether essential listening for anyone with a love of the Nordic fiddle sound. These recordings were all made live, recorded in a church near Oslo, so the ambiance of the performances and the aural space are really wonderful!" - Cliff Furnald, cdRoots, December 2002