DCD 112 - Alain Organ Music

James Higdon is well-qualified to perform the music of organist/composer Jehan Alain. He's a recognized authority of the French organ repertoire, and studied with Marie-Claire Alain, the daughter of the composer and one of the stars of the organ world.

Higdon recorded Jehan Alain's complete works for organ, performing on one of the few instruments in this country that matched the original registrations Alain had in mind.

A master musician performing works he intimately understands on an instrument perfectly suited for the music. What more could anyone ask for?

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DCD Classical 'Cast Enhanced Podcast #112 - Alain Organ Music

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from Jehan Alain: Complete Works for Organ, Vol. 2 with James Higdon

Alain: Variations on a Theme of Clement Jannequin

Alain: Prelude et Fugue

Alain: Deuxieme Fantasie

Alain: Variations sur Lucis Creator

DCD 089 - Lazarof on Laurel

This program we feature works for a Laurel Records release: Chamber Music by Henri Lazarof.

Henri Lazarof has had a remarkable career, always at the forefront of modern expression in the arts. For the past four decades he's been a respected composer and teacher at UCLA. This collection of chamber music is one of four CDs Laurel has released of Lazarof's music.

Lazarof has a very distinctive musical voice that bridges tradition and the avant garde. This CD presents four works for various combinations of instruments, mostly written in the 1980's.

In this podcast we play excerpted movements from these works.

DCD Classical 'Cast #089: Lazarof on Laurel

- Ralph

This program we play:


Lazarof: Momenti for solo cello, mvts. 1-3
Jeffery Solow, cello
Laurel Records

Lazarof: Piano Trio, mvts. 3-4
Jeffery Solo, cello; Yoko Matsudo, violin; Jerome Lowenthal, piano
Laurel Records

Lazarof: Trio for Wind Instruements, mvts. 3-4
Sheridan Stokes, flute; John Winter, oboe; Gary Gray, clarinet
Laurel Records

DCD 084 - Harpsichord Music, Old and New

This episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" podcast, we feature music from harpsichordist Elaine Comparone's recital CD for Laurel Records. Although the harpsichord is primarily known as an instrument of the baroque era, it wasn't completely supplanted by the fortepiano.

In the 20th century composers returned to the harpsichord, and contributed many important works to the instrument's repertoire. American composer Vincent Persichetti is one such contributor, and Ms. Comparone is directly responsible for several of his harpsichord works. After hearing her perform in 1982, Persichetti was inspired to write his second and third harpsichord sonatas -- works he dedicated to Elaine Comparone.

In addition to recording these works on the Laurel Records CD, Comparone also includes music by Dominico Scarlatti, whose output of 550 keyboard sonatas remains unrivaled in both quantity and quality.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Vincent Persichetti: Second Harpsichord Sonata, Op. 146, Mvt. 1
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Dominico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in A minor, K. 109
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Vincent Persichetti: Fifth Harpsichord Sonata, Op. 152, Mvts. 2 & 3
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Dominico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas in C minor, K. 363 & K. 48
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records