Dance Class Vol. 1

Follow-up volumes appeared in 1993 and 1996, extending the time period to 1979 and with additional songs from the 1972-76 period, available on cassette or CD (ALL 25 volumes were issued in both formats). Each volume has twelve songs. Despite the greater capacity of compact discs, the running time of each of the volumes is no longer than the limit of vinyl records in the 1970s, from 38 to 45 minutes long.

This seems to be a golden age for piano trios: such groups are springing up everywhere, like daffodils in the springtime. The Trio Parnassus are an experienced world-class ensemble who have garnered an extensive discography, and deservedly so.The present disc is hailed as the opening salvo in a complete recorded cycle of the Beethoven piano trios and I am much impressed.

Atlanta street singer Peg Leg Howell wasn't really much of a guitarist, but his songs, many of which were made up of fragments of street vendor calls and other pre-blues material, have a sort of greasy and rough-hewed grace to them, and when combined with Eddie Anthony's careening fiddle runs, achieved a distinct sound (part string band, part hokum jug band) all too rare in early blues. His "Skin Game Blues" is a poignant and perfectly nuanced classic in the genre, while "Coal Man Blues"……

The intelligence, sensitivity, and innate musicality distinguishing violinist James Ehnes' terrific unaccompanied Bach carries over to his first volume of the composer's sonatas with harpsichord. What immediately strikes you is the ideal balance between Ehnes and harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour–not just sonically speaking, but in how they effortlessly proportion their phrases and perfectly synchronize trills, turns, and other ornaments. Beauséjour's discreet and effective registrations complement the subtle variations in Ehnes' tone, especially in slower, sustained writing (the quicker-than-usual A major sonata's Andante is a good example).

For the first time ever EMI Classics are making available, in two handsome sets, the complete recordings that Karajan made for EMI between the years 1946 to 1984. The first set of 88 CDs comprises all the orchestral and concerto recordings and the second set, of 72 CDs, the Choral and Opera recordings. Both sets can be acquired at bargain prices, presenting a rare opportunity to add these historically important recordings to your collection. The last discs in each set (88 & 72 respectively) contain all the libretti, sung texts, a selection of photographs and a series of interviews with musicians who knew and worked with Karajan.

For the first time ever EMI Classics are making available, in two handsome sets, the complete recordings that Karajan made for EMI between the years 1946 to 1984. The first set of 88 CDs comprises all the orchestral and concerto recordings and the second set, of 72 CDs, the Choral and Opera recordings. Both sets can be acquired at bargain prices, presenting a rare opportunity to add these historically important recordings to your collection. The last discs in each set (88 & 72 respectively) contain all the libretti, sung texts, a selection of photographs and a series of interviews with musicians who knew and worked with Karajan.