![]() Our local Classic FM radio on ABC just finished a wonderful program running over the last two weeks and culminating today with the announcement of the top 8 choices from us, faithful listeners... We had to choose from a list of 800 pieces, some famous, some obscure, some light, some very dark and deep indeed, like the Quartet for the end of time by Messiaen (#24) or Faure's Requiem(#3!). I challenged myself in casting a vote, and my five choices made it to the final list. Here it is: at #71: Boieldieu Concerto for harp and orchestra at #16 : Saint-Saens Danse Macabre at #11 : Debussy Suite bergamasque at # 7 : Berlioz Symphonie fantastique at # 5 : Eric Satie Gymnopedies The top 3 were: Faure Requiem Saint-Saens "Organ" Symphonie Bizet Carmen Here is the link to the complete list and listening extracts: ![]() I bought this record in LA earlier this year on my way to the CES in Las Vegas, among others. When I got back home, I listened quickly to all my new vinyls, and some just got a quick attention span, like this one. But some time this week, I had a chance to sit down and listen to it properly and it is a gem. Not only it is in great condition, but also, it includes some of my favourite pieces from Debussy smartly rearranged by this moonlighting quartet of saxophonists whose day jobs were to record in the big orchestras of the major film studios like the 20th Century Fox Orchestra and playing their individual parts in famous scores like West Side Story, The Flinstones and This Is Your Life to name a few. And you can hear they are having fun playing together, and it becomes infectious quite quickly... If you click on the cover, you will be taken to the excellent website put together by one of their children, Ellen. Ellen has done a great job as an historian of the group, collating sheet music, mp3 of rehearsal tapes (from a resident Ampex 350, no less...) and all sort of memorabilia! |
AuthorBorn in France, well travelled, relocated to Sydney in 1997. Archives
August 2019
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