Not Quite Sibelius

Leevi Madetoja Symphonies 1 and 3 and Okon Fuoko Suite. Performers: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Storgards. Early 20th century works, influenced by fellow countryman Sibelius rather than more radical figures. Maybe without that touch of genius but the third symphony is particularly striking, the suite of incidental music for a play somewhat disposable.

Staying True To Oneself

Karl Amadeus Hartmann Symphonies No 1 to 6. Performers : Bamberger Symphoniker conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. Two cd set. Mid-twentieth century symphonies influenced but not dominated by the times and place in which they were written.

Lucky Children To Hear Such Music

Charles Mingus : Let My Children Hear Music Reportedly Mingus's favourite recording. A unified suite with big band forces hanging together as a coherent while. Ideal as an example to anyone who doubts the validity of jazz as an art music.

Here Comes The Kitchen Sink

Schnittke, Symphony No 1. Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam. Ake Lannerholm trombone, Carl-Axel Dominique jazz piano, Ben Kallenberg jazz violin. A real kitchen sink symphony with performance art, jazz improvisation, collage, quotations ( of the most famous kind ) and yes, tubular bells. And four and a half minutes of applause at the end of this live recording.

Aha, It's Aho

Kalevi Aho Symphony No 15. Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk. Concerto for double bass and orchestra. Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jaako Kuusisto, soloist Eero Munter. Minea. Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska. Continuing the Scandinavian tradition with a touch of minimalism and a whiff of jazz. Recording handles the balance problems of a double bass concerto well, though some juggling with the volume switch necessary.

Shadows Of War

BBC music magazine cover disc for a WW1 themed edition. Ivor Gurney : A Gloucestershire Rhapsody, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Parry and War Elegy, BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Lloyd-Jones. Frank Bridge : Oration ( Concerto Elegiaco for cello and orchestra ), BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Richard Hickox. Stephen Isserlis cello. The Gurney works, the Rhapsody is a recorded premiere, are noticeably works in progress never fully realised because of circumstances. But worth hearing. Whereas Oration is one of Bridge's major works and a class above really.

A Society To Be Commended

Attracted to buy the recent edition of BBC Music by the cover disc and not disappointed. Mendelssohn piano quartet in B minor, Schumann piano quartet in E flat and Schumann Marchenbilder. Performers under the auspices of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Juho Pohjonen piano, Erin Keefe violin, Paul Neubauer viola, Narek Hakhnazaryan cello. Life affirming music, beautifully played and recorded.