Prokofiev began writing vocalises for voice and piano for his beloved singer Nina Koshetz in New York in 1920. He finished these five Songs without words during a tour in California. In Paris in 1925, Joseph Szigeti, Paweł Kochański and Cecilia Hansen asked him to arrange the melodies for violin. Kochański helped to rearrange the violin part; the piano part remained unchanged. They were published by Edition russe de Musique in Berlin in 1925. They have been part of the important violin repertoire ever since. A Barcarolle marks the beginning, followed by a Lullaby, a Mysterious Musing, a Scherzando (Seguidilla) and a Nocturne.

The new edition contains many small corrections, which are explained in the notes, and appears with a generous set of notes.

Sergei Prokofiev: Five Melodies for violin and piano op. 35a, edited by Fabian Czolbe, with an additional violin part marked by T. A. Irnberger, HN1539, € 13.00, G. Henle, Munich

In contrast to related areas such as basso continuo, there is hardly any literature on the subject of score playing. This is certainly due to the complexity of the subject matter, which also includes specialist areas such as sight-reading, instrumentation, harmony and stylistics. The didactics are correspondingly difficult to present clearly.

The now out-of-print two volumes are a successful attempt in this respect School of score playing by Günter Fork (published in 1980), which, however, could not prove their worth in the classroom due to their size. The four booklets are still relevant Score playing by Heinrich Creuzburg (published in 1956), in which, however, piano arrangements are proposed that are completely impractical. As far as this aspect is concerned, Alfred Stenger's Score playing, made easy from 2004 is an interesting approach, although the «made easy» is deceptive, because playing scores is not easy!

Comprehensive access, concrete assistance

Now Paul Suits presents a new, cleverly structured book in English and faces up to this fact: «There are artistic fields in which inspiration outweighs perspiration. In score reading the reverse is true [...]» The instructions are concise and the author's many years of teaching experience are evident throughout.

Suits teaches how to read the transposing instruments by learning the so-called «old clefs»: if you replace a marked clef with another one, the reference tone shifts, resulting in a transposition. If you also correct certain transposition signs, a transposing part can be read directly. This is preceded by a useful reading exercise to help learners familiarize themselves with the reference system of each new clef. Excellently selected literature examples are then used to guide you through all clefs and transpositions occurring in the orchestra.

Suits recommends figured bass and absolute chord symbols for grasping harmonic relationships. The chapters «Arranging the Score at the Piano» and «Dealing with unplayable Pieces» are particularly valuable. The methods and examples suggested are practical: reducing an orchestral movement to its harmonic framework and subsequently adding playable parts on the one hand, and regular reading and inner listening without an instrument on the other. Suits understands «score playing» comprehensively and uses the title Score Reading with intention: «In working with my students, techniques of playing, singing, imagining, and analyzing the score are all employed, often alternating in rapid succession.»

This book, full of helpful suggestions, is highly recommended to anyone who wants to tackle the difficult discipline of score reading!

Paul Suits: Score Reading: Time-honored Principles and New Approaches, 124 p., € 37.00, Tredition, Hamburg 2025, ISBN 978-3-384-57748-1

There are movies that you see. And there are movies that you hear. Anka Schmid's latest work Melody clearly belongs to the second category. «A soundtrack with a picture», you could also call it. First screened in the Sounds category at the Zurich Film Festival on September 28, 2025, and in regular cinemas from March 2026, it is much more than a music documentary: it is a poetic mosaic about how singing can become a lifeline, ritual, resistance, consolation and a sense of belonging.

The protagonists are as diverse as their voices. There is the Black woman Joanna Kora, who transforms her experiences from the Black Lives Matter movement into song and, as a music teacher and lead singer in the Go and Sing choir, inspires hope and enthusiasm with every note. The Appenzell dairymaid who protects not only her cows, but also herself, night after night with the Alpine blessing. The hip-hopper from Ticino, torn between anger at the lack of support for alternative youth culture and her deep roots in her homeland. The Kurd, whose voice was not taken away by seven years in prison and who now sings songs to his young daughter in Switzerland so that she, as a Kurd without a country, does not remain without culture. And the last death singer on a Greek island who, after the loss of her husband, finds support and purpose in life through song alone - and asks the anxious question: Who will sing her lament when she herself is no more?

Singing is more than sound

Schmid tells these stories without pathos, carried by the music and the faces of the singers. The camera captures the radiance, the tiredness, the passion. But the real centerpiece is the soundtrack. Sound engineer Reto Stamm largely dispenses with electronic distortion, conveying the voices pure, undistorted, in all their physicality. You can hear pauses in breathing, friction, imperfections - and that is precisely what makes the film so real.

At the end, when young women from the women's strike fill the square singing and drumming, the circle closes: singing is more than just sound. It overcomes boundaries, brings strangers closer together than any argument. Schmid's film shows that we can meet in the joy of singing, regardless of origin, language or skin color. A documentary that not only stays in the ear, but also in the heart.

Melody. Anka Schmid, Written and directed by. Frenetic-Films. In cinemas from March 5, 2026.

Trailer

The selection of these 17 Swiss folk songs is representative: the most popular from all four language regions are included. Some of them are «art songs» that have become commonplace due to their popularity. The Basel composer and recorder player Raphael Benjamin Meyer presents arrangements in his own publishing house Basilisk, which can be played by any instrument in a trio or as a duo with a piano accompaniment, which results from the lower two voices.

Very helpful is the offer to download individual parts for transposing instruments or with a different clef free of charge via QR code from the publisher's website basilisk-edition.ch to download. In a performance with a string trio, for example, the second part is in viola clef and in the «correct» octave so that it does not overlap the first.

The movement is skillfully done; it is more in the direction of «art music», but sounds extremely good and will give young musicians in particular a lot of pleasure in their first chamber music experience. As is usual in most song collections, there are no tempo markings, only once is it called «Swing». The level of difficulty is low, experience in reading music is an advantage. The lyrics are given with all verses for all songs, which also enables vocal renditions. However, the songs must be transposed for a comfortable singing pitch.

Popular songs with and without author

As familiar as these folk songs may be to the older generation, they will be lost to children and young people if there is less and less singing in elementary school. Today, music schools are taking on the task of preserving our musical tradition. Songs like Luegid vo Bärg and Tal, Le ranz des vaches, Guggisberglied, Le vieux chalet, Aprite le porte, Dorma bain and From Lozärn towards Weggis and many more are brought to the younger generation of musicians or brought to mind thanks to these arrangements.

Less popular songs with well-known authorship such as Weischus dü (Eugen Meyer, *1934), You ask me who I am (Heidi Stucki, 1915-2012) and Anneli where did you go yesterday? (Gottfried Bohnenblust, 1883-1960) have found their way into this collection.

Swiss Trios, for recorders, strings or other instruments arranged by Raphael Benjamin Meyer, score and parts (online), RM 21, Fr.23.50, Basilisk Edition, Basel

Clara Schumann rightly enjoys the reputation of an outstanding musician of the 19th century. Her fame outshone even that of her husband Robert. As a virtuoso, composer and teacher, she shaped an entire era. Her not overly large compositional oeuvre has been increasingly performed in recent years. Zurich Opera House is currently staging an entire ballet evening based on the life of this exceptional artist. Around thirty composers dedicated piano works to her, although she only included very few of them in her repertoire.

The Swiss pianist Kathrin Schmidlin continues with her double CD released by Claves Dedicated to Clara Schumann for works by ten composers and one female composer, most of whom have never been heard in the concert hall. She was advised in her choice of works by Walter Labhart. Schmidlin studied in Zurich, Nuremberg and Basel with Karl-Andreas Kolly, Wolfgang Manz and Tobias Schabenberger. Her previous CDs have been dedicated to works by female composers and have received very positive reviews.

From Bargiel to Smetana

This recording offers an extraordinarily interesting cross-section of piano music from the Romantic era. Among the composers are Alexander Dreyschock and Stephen Heller, famous piano virtuosos, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Vinzenz Lachner, respected conductors, Woldemar Bargiel, Clara Schumann's stepbrother, and Johann Peter Emilius Hartmann, important university teachers, and Eduard Bernsdorf, one of the most important music writers.

A great familiarity with the piano can be heard in all her works. Of course, the same applies to Johannes Brahms, who wrote a work that has also been arranged for various instrumentations by numerous other composers. Gavotte by Christoph Willibald Gluck, and for Robert Schumann, whose so-called Ghost variations, written shortly before his death, are a very peculiar piece that does not necessarily reveal itself on first hearing. Elisabeth von Herzogenberg's Allegro appassionato was dedicated to Clara Schumann by her husband after her death. Bedřich Smetana's 4 sketches prove that his piano music has been unjustly forgotten. In addition, the pieces by Bargiel and Bernsdorf, the latter as a premiere recording, are particularly worth listening to.

Kathrin Schmidlin plays with passion and great technical skill. The virtuoso pieces are particularly inspiring. Unfortunately, the piano sound is very direct, as if recorded from too close, even pedal noises can be heard. In addition to its artistic quality, this committed recording can also be recommended for its repertoire value.

Dedicated to Clara Schumann. Works by Bargiel, Lachner, Dreyschock, Heller, R. Schumann, E. von Herzogenberg, Brahms, Hartmann, Mendelssohn, Bernsdorf, Smetana. Kathrin Schmidlin, piano. Claves Records 3122/23

To avoid the danger that the inevitably lengthy introductory explanations could ruin the pleasure of listening: Antitopèia offers an incredibly dynamic and atmospheric blend of global influences and local performance, bringing us its experimental boldness with a lot of warmth.

At its core, the band The Sea Around Us consists of the Zurich drummer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Mario Marchisella and the Italian-South African clarinettist, bassist and synth specialist João Orecchia, who currently lives in Marseille. The two met in Johannesburg in 2008, when Marchisella was staying there as part of a Pro Helvetia residency with his life and work partner Marianne Halter - the two are involved in video and other art installations. They quickly recognized a «kindred spirit», which subsequently led to all kinds of other projects in South Africa and Switzerland.

Now the creative exchange has finally found expression in an album. The work began with a week-long meeting in Marchisella's Zurich studio. The daily, hour-long «jams» were all recorded and then - back at home - combed through separately for promising passages.

At a second meeting, they supplemented selected original recordings with additional instrumental parts and electronic arrangements. Now they felt the need for more ingredients. The vocal artist Saadet Türköz, the word performance artist Gilles Furtwängler and the violinist/electronic artist Magda Drozd each spent half a day in the studio and responded to the sound material presented to them with their own contributions.

Not least thanks to a South African-influenced bass carpet pad, resolute drums and atmospheric synth stabs, these pieces are almost carnal in their sensual richness.

The Sea Around Us: Antitopèia. Mario Marchisella, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Bass; João Orecchia, Bass Clarinet, Synthesizer, Bass. Guests: Magda Drozd, Violin, Electronics (1, 2, 3), Saadet Türköz, Lyrics & Voice (2, 4), Gilles Furtwängler, Lyrics & Voice (1, 6). Digital and vinyl. Audioscope/Irascible

There is a special breed of complete musicians among organists: almost universally educated, equally skilled in interpretation, improvisation and composition (whereby the latter is often somewhat neglected), well versed in literature and theology, active in the direct confrontation with the social and liturgical network of the church service; in addition, there is knowledge of organ building and teaching. Craftsmanship and spiritual superstructure truly go hand in hand.

Daniel Glaus combines all of this in his work. Born in Bern in 1957, he worked as organist at the Stadtkirche Biel from 1985 to 2006 and from 2007 as organist at Bern Minster, where he was responsible for church music and evening music. This was associated with a professorship for organ and composition at the HKB. He taught composition and instrumentation at the ZHdK. He retired from these positions at the end of 2022. But Glaus was never just a church musician: his encounters with his teacher Klaus Huber and later especially with Luigi Nono also led him to think beyond the purely musical in his works. History is just as present in his music as the immediate present.

This is reflected in his works with string quartet, which mark his development. The first quartet, composed in 1980 during his studies at the Bern Conservatory, is already fully formed and reflects his early exploration of classical forms (fugue, scherzo, chorale), but also of the twelve-tone technique in an independent way. The third title Naezach from 2001 is a quartet version of the first movement of the third of four orchestral Sephiroth Symphonies and refers to Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah. The fourth, which was premiered at the Bern Music Festival in 2023, unfolds an even greater richness of sound. Spectral sounds are embedded in expansive sound fields, often raw, even untamed, but then again beautiful as in a Gregorian, even alpine blessing-like chant.

The dramatic confrontation with beautiful sound, in a way that is as fascinating as it is self-critical, appears again and again in Daniel Glaus' work: It is a sign of resistance, of listening. The music does not make itself completely submissive, it always challenges. This remains the case even in the poetic cantata Chammawet Ahawah for soprano, harp and string quartet. A polyglot love song, based on the Old Testament Song of Songs, but as intimate as it is at times impetuous. Glaus has the best interpreters at his disposal for all of this: Christina Daletska and Consuelo Giulianelli in the cantata and the phenomenal Arditti Quartet on the entire CD.

Daniel Glaus: Works for and with string quartet. Arditti Quartet; Christina Daletska, soprano; Consuelo Giulianelli, harp. Neos 12508

Sound recordings, received July–December 2025

• Bach: Goldberg Variations. Miłosz Sroczyński, piano. Genuin GEN 26957
• From Keys to Strings. The winner of the ARD Music Competition 2023, Tjasha Gafner, harp. Arrangements by the interpreter of works for piano or lute/lute-piano by Haydn, Mozart and J.S. Bach. Genuin GEN 25929
• Bach Cantatas No. 52. Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083; Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. www.bachstiftung.ch
• Bach and Brahms. Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata BWV 27; Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem. Live recording. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. www.bachstiftung.ch
• Mozart String Quintets. Oleg Kaskiv, violin; Alexander Grytsayenko, violin; Eli Karanfilova, viola; Pablo de Naverán, cello; Valentyna Pryshlyak, viola. Claves Records 3127-29
• Second Breath. David Rey, trombone. Works by Beethoven, Bernstein, Schubert, Mangelsdorf, Brahms, Crespo, Elgar, Rabe, Rocha. david-rey.com
• Late Romantic Swiss Flute Sounds. Othmar Schoeck and Joseph Lauber. Tommaso Maria Maggiolini, flute; Nicolas Mottini, piano. Aulicus classics ALC 0141
• The Sea Around Us: Antitopèia. Mario Marchisella, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Bass; João Orecchia, Bass Clarinet, Synthesizer, Bass. Digital and vinyl. Audioscope/Irascible
  >>> Review by Hanspeter Künzler
• Jonas Kocher: Archipelago. Jonas Kocher, Accordion Bugari Bayan 2RC. Bruit Editions BR17
• Arno Babadjanian: Complete Works for piano. Sona Igityan, piano. Claves 3131
• Christoph Gallio's Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone – Yet Dish, Gertrude Stein. Sonia Loenne, voice; Christoph Gallio, soprano & alto saxophone; Vito Cadonau, double bass; Flo Hufschmid, drums & percussion. Hat Hut Records
  >>> Review by Hanspeter Künzler
• Romerican avant-garde. Works by John Cage, Gemus Georgescu, Jacob Druckman, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, George Enescu. Dinu Mihailescu, piano. Claves 3133
• Hindemith: Ludus tonalis. Jacob Katsnelson, piano. Claves 3106
• Hans Huber: Romances and Ballads, Hadlaub. Andrea Wiesli plays the historic Blüthner grand piano in the large refectory of the Kleines Klingethal Museum. Solo Musica SM485
• Shostakovich: Piano Trios, Piano Quintet. Oliver Schnyder Trio; Julia Fischer, violin; Nils Mönkemeyer, viola. Prospero classicasl PROSP0035
• Joseph Haydn: String Quartets Op. 33 Nos. 3, 4 & . Quatuor Terpsycordes Claves 3112
• Ravel: Piano Works (Pavane pour une infante défunte; Gaspard de la nuit, Jeux d’eaux, Miroirs). Tanja Hotz, piano. Claves 3136
• Beethoven, Schubert, Voříšek. Ursina Maria Braun, cello; Florian Birsak, fortepiano. Audite 97.829
• Bach, Gubaidulina. Ursina Maria Braun, cello. Audite 97.830 
• Erik Hug: Music for piano and strings. Claire Pasquier, Erik Hug, piano; kesb90quartet. strings; self-published erikh@bluewin.ch
• Frank Martin: Concerto for 7 Wind Instruments, Etudes, Polyptyque. Bartlomiej Niziol, violin; Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn; Philippe Bach, conductor. Swiss Photogram SF0018
• Dieter Ammann: Ember, music for orchestra (glut, Core, Turn, Boost). Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; Jonathan Nott, conductor. World premiere recording. Swiss Phonogram, SF0020
  >>> Review by Daniel Lienhard
• Dry soul: 99+. Walter Faehndrich, concept, viola, voice; Christy Doran, electric guitar; Remo Schnyder, saxophone; Benedikt Vonder Mühll, double bass. Leo Records LR 949
• Marielle Merck: Kaleidoscope. Marielle Merck, guitar. Fredboard Records / LC 102804
• Brahms. Piano Concerto No. 2 & Three Intermezzi, Op. 117. Francesco Piemontesi, Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Manfred Honeck. Pentatone
• Bohemian. Kety Fusco, harp, and electronics. A Tree in a Field
• Christoph Stiefel: To the Source. Christoph Stiefel, piano. Nwog 067 (LP and digital only)
• The Art of Now. Nicholas Bamberger, piano solo.
• Daniel Schnyder: Cello Concerto, Concerto populaire. Christoph Croisé, cello; Daniel Schnyder, saxophone; Beyond Modern Orchestra. Avie Records AV 2804
• Christoph Croisé: Lullabies. Christoph Croisé, cello; Ana Bakradze, piano. Avie Records
• Lea Gasser Quintet: Circles. Lea Gasser (accordion, composition) / Samuel Urscheler (saxophone, flute, duduk) / Mirko Maio (piano, Rhodes) / Emilio Giovanoli (double bass) / Romain Ballarini (drums), Neuklang
• Roland Bühlmann: H59 – Sound Images, based on 59 paintings by Antonius Kurz, Roland Bühlmann: electric, nylon, and bass guitars, Aeon Sustainer, Korg MS-20, Logic software synthesizer, kalimba, and various objects as percussion, kinor.net
• Sofia Gubaidulina: Figures of Time. Basel Sinfonietta; Titus Engel, conductor; Alice Di Piazza, piano; NDR Big Band. Naxos 12335380
  >>> Review by Torsten Möller
• Liminal. Works by Raff, Grainger, Gershwin, Kapustin. Eleonora Em, piano. Self-published: liminalinmusic.ch Vinyl/CD
• Beyond Scope. Robert Morgenthaler, trombone; Christopher Dell, vibraphone; Fridolin Blumer, bass; Heinz Geisser, drums & percussion. Ezz-thetics, Hat Hut Records
• Where do your dreams fly? Catherine Tang, piano. Whitelabrecs
• René Wohlhauser: In a meandering frenzy. Works for various ensemble combinations. Wohlhauser Edition 12. Ensemble Polysono; Duo Elia Seiffert – René Wohlhauser. Neos 12545
• Serenade. Piano Works by Amy Beach, Agathe Backer Grondahl, Rebecca Clarke. Benjamin Engeli, piano. Prospero PROSP 0121
• Christian Chamorel performs Mozart. Sonatas in C minor, K. 457, B flat major, K. 333, and D major, K. 576, Fantasy in C minor, K. 475. Prospero PROSP 0121
• Jürg Frey: Voices. Exaudi Vocal Ensemble; conducted by James Weeks. Neu Records
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Niculin Janett Quartet featuring Rich Perry: Toxicology Report. Niculin Janett (alto sax), Rich Perry (tenor sax), Jay Anderson (bass), Philipp Leibundgut (drums), Dimitri Howald (guitar on „Il Cumün in Silenzi“ & „Carnival for Two“). Unit Records UTR 5191 
• Walton, Benjamin, Howells. Mathis Rochat, viola; Abigél Králik, violin; BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Howard Griffiths, conductor. Evil Penguin EPRC 0072
• Bach Cantatas No. 51. Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg (We sing joyfully of victory), BWV 149. Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden (Behold, I will send forth many fishermen), BWV 88; Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens (Bring honor to the Lord's name), BWV 148. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• Haydn2032, VOL. 18: The Schoolmaster. Symphonies No. 56, No. 29, and No. 55; Franciszek Lessel, Symphony No. 5 in G minor, Presto finale. Basel Chamber Orchestra; Giovanni Antonini, conductor. Alpha Classics ALPHA 1092
• Stage music: Le Colibri, La Reine des Neiges. Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Music and direction Christophe Sturzenegger. Klarthe 2025
  >>> Review by Daniel Lienhard
• Backface: The Light (Hard rock/OW). Pirmin Ming (lead vocals); Andreas Imfeld (bass, backing vocals); Benno Ming (guitar, backing vocals); Adrian Müller (guitar); Hannes Ming (drums)
• Daniel Glaus: Works for and with String Quartet. Arditti Quartet; Christina Daletska, soprano; Consuelo Giulianelli, harp. NEOS 12531
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Kim Bo: Gone. Poplon Records
• Dominic Landolt: guitar & FX, Experimental Guitar Music, solo debut, Red Brick Records
• Vivaldi & Müller. Le Quattro Stagioni, Op. 8, Prelude, and 3 Intermezzi from Antonio Vivaldi's «Four Seasons» for violin and ensemble by Fabian Müller. Sonata in D minor for two violins and B.c. «La Follia,» Op. 1, No. 12, by Antonio Vivaldi. Silvan Dezini, solo violone. Ostinato Ensemble. Claves Records 3132
• Marcela Arroyo & Quique Sinesi: Reflections. Featuring Markus Stockhausen. Marcela Arroyo, vocals, guitar; Quique Sinesi, 7-string guitar, 10-string guitar; Markus Stockhausen, trumpet, flugelhorn. O-Tone-Music OT 075-2
• Adolf Reichel: Sonatas and Miniatures. Bernhard Röthlisberger, clarinet; Benjamin Engeli, piano. World premiere recording. Swiss photogram.

Sound carrier, received January-June 2025

• Ernest Chausson: Symphony in B flat, Viviane, Orchestral & Vocal Works. Basel Symphony Orchestra; conductor Ivor Bolton
• The Virgil Moorefield Pocket Orchestra: a wish for the displaced. double LP, virgilmoorefield.com
• Ils Fränzlis da Tschlin: Tschlin – Vienna return. Zytglogge, EAN 7611698047210
• Violeta Garcia: In/Out. Bongo Joe BJR109
  >>> Review by Gianluigi Bocelli
• Bach Cantatas No. 50. Tear apart, shatter, smash the tomb, BWV 205; A dispute arose, BWV 19; The Lord thinks of us, BWV 196. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
  >>> Review by Pierre-Alain Chamot
• Perceptions Trio: The Wicked Crew. Charley Rose, saxophone and effects; Silvan Joray, guitar and effects; Paulo Almeida, drums. perceptionstrio.com
• Consort Mirabile: Fortuna - Old and New Version of an Italian Song. Works by Senfl, Agricola and others Prospero classical PROSP0104
• Hei cho. Dialect songs on poems by Josef Reinhart. Solo Musica SM 464
  >>> Review by Christoph Geissbühler
• Ruedi Häusermann: First approach. Ruedi Häusermann: Composition, Clarinets, Flutes, Hohner-Mignon; Sara Hubrich: Violin; Josa Gerhard: Viola; Liese Mészár: Viola; Christoph Hampe: Violoncello; Marco Käppeli: Percussion, Asa-Chan, Glockenspiel; Claude Meier: Double Bass, Acoustic Bass Guitar. Rabbit Hill Records RHR 008
• Violeta Garcia : In/Out. Bongo Joe BJR109
  >>> Critique de Gianluigi Bocelli
• Tchaka. Boys' Choir of St. Ursus Cathedral Solothurn. Conductor Tobias Stückelberger. Rondeau Production ROP6263
• Richard Flury: Chamber Music, Volume TwoString Quartet No. 2 and No. 3 Colla Parte Quartet. Toccata Classics TOCC 0717
  >>> Review by Daniel Lienhard
• Bach Cantatas No. 48. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62; Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52; Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Missae breves BWV 233-236. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• Pēteris Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2 (Vakara gaismā/In the evening light). Camerata Bern; Antje Weithaas, violin and conductor. CAvi-music (only available digitally)
  >>> Review by Georg Rudiger
• Duo Praxedis: Baba Bussi. Works by Johann Strauss. Praxedis Hug-Rütti, harp; Praxedis Geneviève Hug, piano. Ars Production 38 680
• Gilbert Paefgen Trio: The man on the trampoline. Claude Meier: bass; Fabian Müller, piano; Gilbert Paeffgen, drums, dulcimer. Rabbit Hill Records
• Beyond Bach, Forgotten treasures of the German Baroque. Astrid Knöchlein, oboe, recorder; Attilio Cremonesi, harpsichord; Daniel Rosin, cello; Thomas Goetschel, viola da gamba; Rosario Conte, theorbo. Ars Production ARS 38670
• Offense. Works by M. Haydn, Mozart, Kendall. Musikkollegium Winterthur; Roberto Gonzales-Monjas. Claves Records 3113
• Debussy, Nielsen, Say, Barber. Ensemble Astera (Coline Richard, flute; Yann Thenet, hautbois; Moritz Roelcke, clarinet; Gabriel Potier, cor; Jeremy Bager, basson). Claves Records 3139
• Lyubomir Pipkov (1904-1974): Ludus Rithmicus. Complete Works for Piano. Vesko Stambolov, piano. Claves Records 3117-19 (3 CDs)
• Ola Onabulé, Nicolas Meier: Proof of Life. Ola Onabulé, Vocals and Keyboard; Nicolas Meier, Guitar and Glissentar; Jakub Cywinski, Acoustic Bass; Chris Nickolls, Drums; Will Fry, Percussion. Rugged Ram Records RRAMCD016
• Dedicated to Clara Schumann. Works by Bargiel, Lachner, Dreyschock, Heller, R. Schumann, E. von Herzogenberg, Brahms, Hartmann, Mendelssohn, Bernsdorf, Smetana. Kathrin Schmidlin, piano. Claves Records 50-3122/23
  >>> Review by Daniel Lienhard
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 K 491, "Haffner" Symphony K 385. Hans-Jürg Strub, piano; Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen; Christian Erny, direction. Ars Production
• Nicole Johänntgen: Labyrinth II. Nicole Johänntgen, saxophone, voice; Jon Hansen, tuba; David Stauffacher, percussion/drums. nicolejohaenntgen.com
• Johann Carl Eschmann: Light and shadow - piano works. Anna Reichert, piano. Prospero Classical PROSP0102
• Planet Earth - As within so without. Lisa Maria Schachtschneider, piano. Works by Liszt, Hasse Hodges, Ravel, Bakke, Beach, von Castelberg, Debussy, Wolf Baudissin, Skrjybin, Stravinsky/Agosti. Ars Production ARS 38377
• Ramón Oliveras:A Certain Darkness Is Needed to See the Stars. Ronin Rhythm Records 042
• Kokon: No problem. Paula Haeni, bass clarinet; Anatole Buccella, guitar; Julia Rüffert, trombone/composition. cocoonjazz.ch
• Lea Maria Fries: Cleo. Label: Heavenly Sweetness
• Beethoven - Schubert - Voříšek. Works for Cello and Fortepiano. Ursina Maria Braun, cello; Florian Birsak, fortepiano. audite 97.829
• Pino Zortea, Tim Hüllstrung: Lukas and Wale on the trail of jazz. Radio play for children aged 5 and over. Zytglogge 
• Marguerite Roesgen-Champion: Sonatine pour flûte, harpe et basson. Trio Lusinea (Isable Goller, harp; Annina Rusch, flute; Valeria Curti, bassoon). Triolusinea.com
• Schubert: Quintet in C, D 956, arr. for five saxophones by Maja Lisac Barroso. Maria Lisac Barroso and the Quatuor Habanera. Prospero PROSP0109
• Kapelle Nogler: Art forwarding. Clarigna Küng (violin, yodel), Florian Walser (clarinets, house organ), Johannes Gürth (viola, violin) and Peter Kosak (double bass). Zytglogge
• Marice Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess. Ravel 150 Years Tribute. Uriel Pascucci, piano. urielpascucci.com
• Human Intelligence Live. Pilgrim Quintet (Christoph Irniger, Tenor Sax, Compositions; Stefan Aeby, Piano; Dave Gisler, Guitar; Raffaele Bossard, Bass; Michael Stulz, Drums). Intakt Records 434
• Voice fire: Pura. (New interpretation of the essence of the Appenzeller Silvesterchlausen) Ziska von Crayen, vocals, harmonies, electronic music. tuningfire.ch
• Maia & Cate - Luck Grows. Maia Wackernagel and Catherine Tang, pianoforte and sythesizer. Mons Records
• Root Area: In Pursuit Of Happiness. Christoph Grab and Nicole Johänntgen, saxophones; Marcel Thomi, Hammond organ; Elmar Frey; drums. Lamento Records
• Pierre Boulez: Eclats-Multiples. Collegium Novum Zurich, Ensemble Contrechamps, Michael Wendeberg, conductor. Bastille musique CD 34
• Christoph Irniger's Pilgrim: Human Intelligence Live. Christoph Irniger, Stefan Aeby, Dave Gisler, Raffaele Bossard, Michael Stulz. Intakt Records
• Anna Kalk Quartet: Different Times. Anna Kalk (guitar), Paul Butscher (trumpet), Loic Baïllod (double bass), Xavier Kaeser (drums). Neuklang NCD 4294
• Deep Sun: Storyteller. Symphonic Metal. Debora Lavagnolo, voice; Tom Hiebaum, keyboard; Angelo Salerno, bass; Tobias Brutschi, drums; Erik Dummermuth, guitar. powerblastrecords.com
  >>> Review by Torsten Möller
• Robert Oboussier: Entrada for trumpet and string orchestra, Introitus for string orchestra, Sonatinafor 2 violins and piano, Fantasy for piano, Pavane et Gaillarde for flute and piano, Sonata Brevis for violin and piano, 25 Abbreviationen for piano, 10 of the 25 Abbreviationen arr. for plucked string orchestra. World Premiere Recordings. Musiques Suisses, Naxos NXMS7008
• A garden of black flowers. Works by Cipriano de Rore, Pierre Vermont, Luca Marenzio and others. Astrophil & Stella (Johanna Bartz, conductor & Renaissance transverse flute; Giovanna Baviera, viola da gamba & mezzo-soprano; Anna Danilevskaia, viola da gamba; Claire Piganiol, harp). Albus Fair Edition
• Nikola Pešić: Skies. Piano music (classical basics with contemporary, jazz and neoclassical influences). Vinyl, CD and music book. nikolapesic.com
• Gapvis. Roland Bühlmann: electric, nylon and bass guitar, Aeon Sustainer, Korg MS-20, Logic software synthesizer, grass, kalimba and various objects as percussion. rolandbuehlmann.bandcamp.com
• Omega. Yves Theiler Trio with Bardia Charaf. Yves Theiler (p, comp), Luca Sisera (b), Lukas Mantel (dr), Bardia Charaf (ts). Xjazz Music. yvestheilertrio.com
• Be still my heart. Songs by Robert Grund and Wilhelm Grosz. Christian Immler, bass-baritone; Helmut Deutsch, piano. Alpha classics ALPHA1117
  >>> Review by Torsten Möller
• György Kurtág: Complete Flute Music. Markus Brönnimann, flute, and friends. Tacet 281CD
• Bridges Between Individual Trees. Katherine Young, Weston Olencki, Patrick Stadler. Sideband Records 13
• Luis Aellig: Close Your Eyes. Luis Aellig, voc & guitars; Saïd Boulahcen, keys, piano & backing voc; Marco Clerc, bass; Matthias Stamm, drums. luisaellig.ch
• plastic_data: data-bloom. Collective for Electronic Music and Intermedia Art. polymer5000.bandcamp.com
• Laura & Luzius Schuler: Mandà in Lunga. Laura Schuler: violin and vocals; Luzius Schuler: organ. Ronin Rhythm Records 045
• Nuance. Pop album from the 80s, only now released. Andreas Nager (vocals, guitars, programming), Marc Nager (drums, percussion, sound effects), Thomas Lothenbach (piano, keyboards) Dino Meier (bass). Producer: Ajay Mathur. Ajay Mathur Music and Yakketeeyak Music.
• Schoeck vs. Bauer Or What Futures are you Longing For? Othmar Schoeck: Nachhall; Michael Emanuel Bauer: Afterimages; remixes by Gunnar Geisse. Robert Koller, bass-baritone; Stefan Kägi, piano. aDevantgarde records, online only
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Black Sea Dahu: Everything. Mouthwatering Records
  >>> Review by Hanspeter Künzler

 

Sound carrier, received July-December 2024

• Wolfgang Muthspiel: Etudes/Quietudes. Wolfgang Muthspiel, acoustic guitar solo. Clap Your Hands Records CYH 00012
• Errer Avelune. Emma Thomazeau, harpe et récitante ; Baptiste Baudimant, electronique et trombone. All compositions by Thomazeau & Baudimant. Claves 3100
• A tres voces. Triologie String Trio (Elodie Théry, cello; Meredith Kuliew, viola; Nevena Tochev, violin). Prospero PROSP0101
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Bach Cantatas No. 47. Cantata for St. Michael's Day, BWV 130; Cantata for a wedding celebration, BWV 202; Cantata for the 13th Sunday after Trinity, BWV 77. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• "Dear friend ...". Sonatas by Brahms, Röntgen and von Herzogenberg. Isabel Gehweiler, cello; Fiona Hengartner, piano. Claves 3098
• Schnittke, Ravel, Prokofiev. (Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Cello; Schnittke: Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 (1978); Prokofiev: Symphony-Concerto in E Minor op. 125) Constantin Macherel, cello; Anna Orlik, violin; Frederic Bager, piano; London Mozart Players; Jonathan Bloxham, conductor. Claves 3097
  >>> Review by Pierre-Alain Chamot
• Melodies In My Head: Joy Anger Doubt. melodiesinmyhead.com
  >>> Review by Hanspeter Künzler
• "I hang, between times". Duo Blickwechsel: Maria Laschinger, mezzo-soprano; Olivia Zaugg, piano. Works by Rebecca Clarke, Lili Boulanger, Ethel Smyth, Francesca Gaza. Ars Production ARS 38 658
• Duo Praxedis. Spirituals and Gospels. Praxedis Hug-Rütti, harp; Praxedis Geneviève Hug, piano. Ars Production ARS 38 668
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Trios 1 & 2, Romances opp. 21 & 38. Andrey Baranov, violin; Christoph Croisé, cello; Alexander Panfilov, piano. Arrangements for piano trio by Alexander Panfilov and Louis Eaton. Avie Records AV2691
• Nocturne. Works by Hahn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Loher, de Falla, Villa-Lobos, Saint-Saëns, Fauré. Aurélie Noll, harp; Maria Cristina Kiehr, voice; Yolena Orea Sanchesz, violoncello; and others Solo Musica SM427
• Frank Martin et ses contemporains. Chœurs a cappella, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, conductor: Florian Helgath. Claves CD 3115
• Being. Works by Mozart, Syrse, Haydn, J.-C. Bach. Musikkollegium Winterthur; conductor Roberto Gonzales -Monjas. Claves CD 3099
• Spanda.Création sonore et immersive pour ensemble vocal etélectronique. Jérémie Zwahlen, conception, musique et texte ; Félix Bergeron, conception, création électronique et réalization. Claves CD 3083
• Hanging Live Trio: Balkan Dreams. Didine Stauffer, Tabla, Dombak, Frame Drum; Hagay Sofer, Handpans (Hang andAsachan); Tassilo Dellers, Sax, Flute, Bassclarinet, Oriental Banjo; Dellers Tor Music Productions, dr.dellers.com
• Songs of Travel. Works by Vaughan Williams, Bloch, Mahler, Schubert. Alexandre Beuchat, baritone; Marija Bokor, piano. Prospero Classics PROSP0078
• Arpeggione. A forgotten instrument. Works by Schubert, Romberg, Spohr. Martin Zeller, arpeggione; Giorgio Paronuzzi, fortepiano; Victor Castillo luna, guitar. Prospero Classics PROSP0079
• Alpine Folk. Julian von Flüe Trio. Julian von Flüe, accordion; Marc Scheidegger, guitar; Matthias Abächeli, bass. phono-schop.ch, Lum4217
• Winter Tales. Tomas Sauter, compositions, western, classical and baritone guitars; Daniel Schläppi, bass. Catwalk Jazz CW250023-2
• Chiara Dubey: Chandani. Chiara Dubey, singer, songwriter, violinist. Livana Music
• Black Sea Dahu feat. Amour sur Mars: Live in Zürich and Bern. Janine Cathrein and band. Mouthwatering Records
• Echoes of Home. Tatiana Nova, vocals, effects, percussion; Julia Perminova, piano, synthesizer. (Focusyear graduates), original jazz compositions.
• A. Mozart, J. Ch. Bach: Opus V. Inés Moreno Uncilla, harpsichord; Minué Ensemble. ARS production
• Brun - Brunner - Bach: Adaptations of the cello suites by J. S. Bach. Kristina Brunner: Schwyzerörgeli, cello; Albin Brun: soprano and tenor sax, Schwyzerörgeli. albinbrun.ch
• We are Ava: Radix. Kim Lemmenmeier, Vocals, Keys; Nicola Holenstein, Keys, Bass; Andy Schwendener, Drums. Muve Records (music distribution)
• Ludwig*'s DNA. (Hybrid of classical chamber music for cello & keyboard instrument and electronic music). Works by Beethoven, Schwarz and Ťupa. Schwarz Jan-Filip Ťupa and Coco Schwarz. Paraxenos Records
• Mo & Kapelle: The stones in my path. Marc Ottiker, vocals and guitar, with band
• This is Pan: Taller in Your Dream. Matthias Kohler, saxophone, and band. ANUK Label ANUK0058
• Klaus Estermann: Bird Bear. Singer-songwriter from Frauenfeld
• Florian Weiss' Woodism: Inner Garden. Linus Amstad, alto saxophone; Florian Weiss, trombone, vocals; Valentin v. Fischer, double bass; Philipp Leibundgut, drums, glockenspiel. Nwog-Records
• Cadrage. Musique en route. Tom Tafel; Ronny Spiegel; Ariel Rossi;Stefanie Hess. Turbo Music
• Susurration: Hate Is My Love Language. Band around singer/songwriter Jessy Bäsecke-Beltrametti. Susurration Music
• TrioColores: En Couleur. (Luca Staffelbach, Fabian Ziegler, Matthias Kessler, mallet, percussion). Works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Maurice Ravel, Darius Milhaud, Claude Debussy, Germaine Tailleferre. Solo Musica
• Diamond Dean and the Furious Four: Scooby-Do Proto Punk. Monobuster Records
• Mnevis: Lightning Sulfur Calm. Red Brick Records
• Dear Misses: Cool Down Under. Fabian Schelbert (voc, git), Jonas Marty (voc, git), Cornel Betschart (dr), Remo Betschart (b) and Belinda Villforth (voc, perc). Monobuster Records / Irascible
• Chopin Etudes. Etudes op. 10 and op. 25. Anastasia Zorina, piano. Tyx-Art classics TXA24186
• Julie Campiche Qurtet & Capella Jenensis: Transitions. Nwog Records nqog 63
  >>> Review by Michael Gasser
• Maria Mater Meretrix. Works from Hildegard von Bingen to Gustav Holst. Anna Prohaska, soprano; Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin; Camerata Bern. Alpha Records ALPHA 739
• Šuma Čovjek: Ringišpil. Ivica Petrušić and Hafid Derbal, singers (French, Croatian, Arabic); Manuel Wülser, piano. sumacovjek.com
• Mass pour double chœur. Œuvres a cappella de Frank Martin, Willy Burkhard et Cyrill Schürch. Schweizer Jugendchor / Chœur Suisse des Jeunes / Coro Giovanile Svizzero; conductor : Nicolas Fink
  >>> Review by Pierre-Alain Chamot
• Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Spin. Nik Bärtsch, Piano, Keyboard; Kaspar Rast, Drums; Jeremias Keller, Bass; Sha, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone. Ronin Rhythm Records
• In the Land of Saints & Sinners. Music Composed by Diego Baldenweg with Nora Baldenweg & Lionel Baldenweg. Galaxy Symphonic Orchestra, Conducted by Dirk Brossé; Feat. Pfuri Baldenweg. Caldera Records C 6058
  >>> Review by Andreas Zurbriggen
• Longing - Robert Schumann. Ensemble Polhymnia; Christophe Sturzenegger, piano; Franck Marcon, direction. Klarthe Records
• Ani Blue: Seventeen Years. Anja Aerschmann Bechtiger. aniblue.ch
• Klaus-Werner Pusch Quintet and Klaus-Werner Pusch-Kirk Lightsey Ensemble: My Destination. Werner Pusch (tp, flh), Wilson de Oliveira (ts), Peter Kosch (p), Jochen Schaal (b), Thomas Zahn (dr) and Kirk Lightsey. New edition for KWP's 75th birthday. Unisono Records UNIREC8431
• Cat shelter: We are here! Lorenzo Bonati (voc), Patrick Lerjen (git, voc), Simon Rupp (git), Fabian Baer (bass), Thomas Blanchat (drums). TAN Records
• Kneubühler: Love of machines. kneubuehler.bandcamp.com/album/machine-love
• Exile. Works by Alfred Schnittke, Andrzey Panufnik, Ivan Wyschnegradsky and others. Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin; Thomas Kaufmann, cello; Camerata Bern. Alpha Classics ALPHA1110
• Swiss Love. The sorrow and lust of love. Franziska Heinzen, soprano; Benjamin Mead, piano. New Year's piece of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich 2025. Solo Musica SM 477
  >>> Review by Christoph Geissbühler

 

Sound carrier, received January-June 2024

• Swiss Dreams. Works by Stalder, Dupuy, Schnyder von Wartensee, Hans Huber, Templeton Strong, Suter, Paul Huber. Swiss Orchestra; conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer; Michael Barenboim, violin; Christph Pfändler, dulcimer. Prospero Records PROSP0090 (2 CDs)
  >>> Review by Christoph Geissbühler
• Joachim Raff: Samson, Music drama in three sections, libretto by the composer, first recording. Magnus Vigilius, Olena Tokar, Robin Adams, Christian Immler, Michael Weinius, Berner Symphonieorchester, Chor der Bühnen Bern, musical director Philippe Bach. 3 CDs, Swiss Fonogram
  >>> Review by Georg Rudiger
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Suites a violoncello solo senza basso. Petr Skalka, violoncelo. Claves Records 50-3101/02 (2 CDs)
• Tchaikovsky Symphonies 5 &6. Orchestra della Svizzera italiana; Markus Poschner, conductor. Clves Records 50-3104/05 (2 CDs)
• Simone Keller: Hidden Heartache. Intakt CD 419 /Simone Keller and others: Facets 21 - Hidden Heartache, Cultural Foundation of the Canton of Thurgau, 320 p. with music booklet, Fr. 32.00, Jungle Books, St. Gallen 2024, ISBN 978-3-033-10349-8
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Jens Gebel Quartet: Tunesday. Jens Gebel, bass; Michael Arlt, guitar; Domenic Landolf, bass clarinet, saxophones; Daniel Schay, pandero. Timezone Records TZ 2492
• Franz Schmidt: Organ works Vol. 1, Royal fanfares (Variations and fugue on his own theme in D major, Chaconne in C sharp minor, Four little chorale preludes). Andreas Jetter at the Behmann organ St. Martin Dornbirn. Ambiente Audio ACD 2047
• Maurizio Cazzati (1616-1678): Motets. Ayako Ono, soprano; Christoph Rudolf, Christoph Riedo, violins; Marc Meisel, organ. Brilliant Classics 96663
• Eastbound. Robert Schumann: Pictures from the East, Evening Song; Antonín Dvořák: Andante and Serenade for string orchestra; Franz Schreker: Scherzo for string orchestra. Festival Strings Lucerne; conductor Daniel Dodds. Sony classical 19658863312
• Barry Guy Plays. Luca Lombardi, Hubert Stuppner, Iannis Xenakis, Bernard Rands, John Anthony Celona, and Barry Guy. Barry Guy, double bass. Maya Recordings MLP 2401
  >>> Review by Thomas Meyer
• Bloch, Bruch, Dohnány. (Ernest Bloch: Schelomo; Max Bruch: Kol Nidrei; Ernö Dohnány: Konzertstück) Tim Posner, cello; Berner Symphonieorchester; conductor Katharina Müllner. Claves 50-3079
• Tallis, Bird, Gibbons. Friederike Chylek, Harpischord & Organ. Oehms classics OC 1727
• Mozart. Flute Quartet No.1 in D major K.285; Flute Concert No. 2 in D major K. 314, Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major K. 299. Helena Macherel, flute; Tjasha Gafner, harp; London Mozart Players; Simon Blendis, leader. Claves 50-3082
• La contenance angloise. (Œuvres de Fonteyns, Dufay, Power, Binchois, Chirbury, Cesaris and others) La Chapelle des Ducs de Savoie. Christophe Carré, contreténor ; Lionel Bourguignon, ténor ; Benjamin Ingrao, ténor ; Vincent Arlettaz, basse, flûte à bec ; Aliénor Wolteche, vièle à archet ; Michal Gondko, luth. Revue Musicale de Suisse Romande RMSR 20232
• Daniel Studer: Extended II for Stings & Piano. Harald Kimming, violin; Frantz Loriot, viola; Alfred Zimmerlin, violoncello; Daniel Studer, double bass; Philipp Zoubek, piano. Ezz-thetics 1044
• Reverberation. Othmar Schoeck: Orchestral songs (Nachhall, Three Songs op. 4 and Eight Songs op. 17, arr. G. Contratto). Olena Tokar, soprano; Stephan Genz, baritone; Bern Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Graziella Contratto. Swiss Fonogram SF0015
• Patric Pleasure: Rocket Radio, 70's retro radio show with 11 singers, 40 studio musicians, 20 voice-over artists, double LP, vinyl, Kawaii agency KWA001
• Hilke: Piano feroce. Acoustic/singer-songwriter. Red Brick Records
• L'Amour sorcier. Duo Singer & Fischer (Sébastien Singer, violoncelle; André Fischer, guitar). Œuvres d'Albéniz, Granados, Debussy, De Falla (L'Amour sorcier, transcrit par André Fischer). Stradivarius STR 37290
• Viola Concertos. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Cello concerto, arr. for viola by Mathias Rochat, first recording, Johann Gottlieb Graun: Concertante for violin and viola in C minor Graun WV A:XIII:3. concerto for viola, strings & b.c. E flat major. Mathis Rochat, viola; Stephen Waarts, violin; Camerata Schweiz; Howard Griffiths, conductor. CPO 555 613-2
• El cant de la Sibil.la / Draumkvedet (The great old mystery songs of Spain and Norway). Arianna Savall, Petter Udland Johansen, Hirundo Maris, Ensemble Vocal de Saint-Maurice, Conductor Charles Barbier, P. U. Johansen. Carpe Diem Records CD 16333
  >>> Critique de Thierry Dagon
• Nikolaus Matthes: St. Mark Passion. Baroque new setting of the text by Picander. Maya Boog, soprano; Annekathrin Laabs, alto; Daniel Johannsen and Georg Poplutz, tenor; Matthias Helm, bass; Gli Aspetti choir and orchestra; conducted by Nikolaus Matthes. Resonando RN-10018 (3 CDs + accompanying book)
• Roma Songs & Cantata "We children of the country road" by Roger Moreno-Rathgeb. Project choir Roma Songs & Balkan Band Sebass. World premiere, live recording
• Four-stroke engine: Ändler. Nayan Stalder (dulcimer, composition), Kaspar Eggimann (accordion), Raphael Heggendorn (violoncello), Laurin Moor (double bass), viertaktmotor.ch
• Bach Cantatas No. 46. Der Himmel lacht, die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31; Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85; Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 178. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• Tony Majdalani: Moment in Time. Tony Majdalani, sound and rhythm instruments, voice; Tamar McLeod, voice. Ship of Fools NAR 202316
• Pilgrims in Trance it. John Wolf Brennan, keyboard instruments; Tony Majdalani, rhythm instruments, voice ; Marco Jencarelli, plucked instruments. Ship of Fools NAR 2023165
• Franz Xaver Mozart : The Two Piano Concertos. Andriy Dragan, Piano; Musikkollegium Winterthur; Bogdan Bozovic, Concertmaster and Leader. Claves 50-3070
• Ella Ronen: The Girl With No Skin. Irascible Records/BB*Island
  >>> Review by Hanspeter Künzler
• FriendShip (Pago Libre & Soons): Riffs ahead! Chamber rock folk jazz sextet. Sonja Morgenegg, voice; Florian Mayer, violin; Arkady Shilkloper, horn, alphorn, flugelhorn; John Wolf Brennan, piano, melodica; Rätus Flisch, bass; Tony Majdalani, voice, percussion, handpan. Leo Records CD LR 942
• John Thomas: Complete Duos for Harp and Piano, Volume four (Harp Concerto No. 1: Andantino, March of the Welsh Fusiliers, Transcriptions of Music by Arditi, Bellini, Meyerbeer and Rossini. Duo Praxedis: Praxedis Hug-Rütti, harp; Praxedis Geneviève Hug, piano. Toccata Classics TOCC 0582
• Frank Martin: Piano Quintet & String Quintet, Pavane Couleurs du temps. Fabrizio Chiovetta, piano; Quatuor Terpsycordes ; François Grin, cello. Claves 50-3081
  >>> Critique de Thierry Dagon
• Forgotten songs, forgotten love. Works by Willy Heinz Müller (great-grandfather of the singer), Dohnányi, Ries, Hildach, Gotze. Mélanie Adami, soprano; Äneas Humm, baritone; Judith Polgar, piano. Prospero
  >>> Review by Christoph Geissbühler
• Pierre Wissmer: The Violin Concertos. Oleg Kaskiv, violon, Sinfonia Varsovia, dir. Aleksandar Markovic. Claves 50-3080 
• Miho Fuki, Vol.3. Antonio Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto e arie per basso .Miho Fuki, baroque bassoon; Dominik Wörner, bass; Ensemble F. Ars Production ARS 38 374
• Nature. Ringing slate stones from the Alps. Simon Berz. Badabum Records
• DeLaSar: In-To
• Manrico Padovani: Niccolo Paganini: Concertos 1 & 2, Joseph Weigel: Variations. Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra | Boris Perrenoud ; Seoul Güri Philharmonic Orchestra | Boris Perrenoud ; Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana | Howard Griffiths; ARS Production
• Cuando el fuego abrasa. Chamber music works by Joseph Lauber, Christoph Blum, Francisco Col, Manuel de Falla. Ensemble Bayona: Maria Florea, violin; Simone Roggen, violin; maria Moros, viola; Eros Jaca, violoncello; Camille Sublet, piano. Eudora
• Travis Reuter: Quintet Music. Travis Reuter, g, comp; Mark Shim, ts; Peter Schlamb, vb; Harish Raghavan, b; Tyshawn Sorey, dr.
• Six Hands Open As One. Izumi Kimura, piano; Barry Guy, bass; Gerry Hemingway, drums, percussion voice. FSR Records
• Indantitâ # Revisited. Compositions by Florian Favre; Joseph Bovet and Pierre Kaelin, arr. by Florian Favre. Florian Favre piano & prepared piano; Claire Huguenin vocals; Amine Mraihi oud; Baiju Bhatt violin; Lucie Göckel cello; Raphael Rossé euphonium; Louis Matute guitar. Traumton Records
• Mélodies d'ailleurs. French songs of the fin de siécle by Claude Debussy, Ernest Chausson, Cécile Chaminade, Reynaldo Hahn; Ophelia sings by Wolfgang Rihm. Viviane Hasler, soprano; Maren Gamper, piano. Carpe Diem Records
• Tobias Jensen: What Needs to Be Said. Singer/songwriter. Muve Records

 

Sound carrier, received July-December 2023

• A Swiss Romantic. Fritz Stüssi: Vergehen und Auferstehen, an oratorio; Psalm 28; Wo du hingehst, two motets etc. Soloists, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Zürcher Kammerphilharmonie, conductor Florian Helgath. Claves 50-3085
  >>> Review by Verena Naegele
• Bach Cantatas No. 44. Would God not be with us this time, BWV 14; Take what is yours and go, BWV 144; Everything only according to God's will, BWV 72. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• Samuel Ducommun: Musique de chambre (Quatuor pour flûtes, Sonatine pour violon et piano, Quatre pièces brèves pour violoncelle et piano,Divertimento pour flûte, violon, alto, violoncelle et piano). Claves 50-3071
• Rosetta. Live at Jazz Festival Schaffhausen (2003). Compositions by Pierre-François Massy. Claves digital only
• Rotraut Jäger Sonambique : Dynamite. Rotraut Jäger, flutes, compositons ; Andreas Ebenkofler, piano ; Abdourakhmane Fall, electric bass; Omar Diadju Seydi, drums. Red Planet Flute, redplanetflute.com
• Torelli, Perti, Pollarolo, Colonna: Concertos and Cantatas. Nuria Rial, soprano; Basel Chamber Orchestra; Julia Schröder, violin & direction. German Harmonia Mundi (Sony) 19658813432
• Benedetto Marcello: Sinfonias & Cantatas. Nuria Rial, soprano; La Floridianan ; Nicoleta Paraschivescu, direction. German Harmonia Mundi (Sony) 19658710682
  >>> Review by Verena Naegele
• Esther Sévérac: Work Witch! Composed and performed by Esther Sévérac, pedal harp, analog & digital effects. Hout Records HR 047
• Richard Flury: Four Song-Cycles (20 women's songs on texts by Hermann Ferdinand Schell, 7 songs on poems by Josef Reinhart, 10 night songs, 8 love songs). Stephanie Bühlmann, soprano; Margaret Singer, piano. Toccata classics TOCC 0685
• Is sound the meaning? Works by Wyttenbach, Demenga, Holliger, Ligeti, Kurtág, Moser, Veress. Alexander Foster, violoncello; Heinz Holliger, recitation. Prospero PROSP0070 
• Lee Schornoz: Requiem Londinium. Pro Stata Records, PSR018
• Blaer: Pure. Maja Nydegger: piano, composition; Nils Fischer, bass clarinet; Claudio von Arx: tenor sax; Simon Iten: double bass, FX; Philippe Ducommun: drums. Ronin Rhythm Records 037
• Silvan Joray: Updraft feat. Nadav Erlich, double bass & Jeff Ballard, drums. Ubuntu Music UBU0144
• Slavonic Journey. Music for flute and piano from the Czech Republic (Martinů, Feld, Schulhoff, Mucha, Janáček, Kreisler). Sarah Rumer, flute; Ulrich Koella, piano. Prospero Records PROSP0049
  >>> Review by Walter Labhart
• Swiss Treasures. Chamber Music for Wind Quintet (Mieg, Paul Huber, Juon, Derungs). Art'Ventus Quintet (Paula Soares, flute; Tiago Coimbra, oboe; Horácio Ferreira, clarinet; Nuno Vaz, horn; Raquel Saraiva, bassoon). Prospero Records PROSP0081
  >>> Review by Daniel Lienhard
• Chet. David Enhco, trompette; Marc Perrenoud, piano. Nome Records 021
• Simplicity. Masterpieces for children (Nodar Gabunia: From a Pupil's Diary; further works by Bartók, Kurtág, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Schumann). Giorgi Iuldashevi, piano. Gramola 99291
  >>> Review by Torsten Möller
• Together. Sarah Chaksad Large Ensemble. Clap Your Hands Records CYH
  >>> Review by Michael Gasser
• Clara Barry sings Bartók. Emil Spányi, piano; Mátyás Szandai, bass. Claves 50-3088
  >>> Critique de Thierry Dagon
• Home. Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich: Songs (including Songs to Meieli). Raphael Höhn, tenor; Shin Hwang, fortepiano. World premiere recording.Claves 50-3089
• Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach: Works for Keyboard solo. Jermaine Sprosse, fortepiano. Prospero Records PROSP0074
• Haydn 2032: No. 14 - L'Impériale (Symphonies No. 53 L'Impériale, No. 54, No. 33, Sinfonia in D major Hob. I A: 7). Basel Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Giovanni Antonini. Alpha-classics ALPHA 694
• J.S. Bach: Cello Suites. Pablo de Naverán. 3 CDs, Claves 50-3062-64
• J.S. Bach: Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord. Thomas Goetschel, viola da gamba; Yvonne Ritter, harpsichord. Tyxart TYXA 23181
• Echo of Bach. Works by Clara Jaz (composition pseudonym of the performer), Paul von Westhoff, Bach, Eugène Ysaÿe. Agata-Maria Raatz, violin. Solo Musica, sm439
• Franz Liszt: Sonata in B minor and Études d'exécution transcendante. Francesco Piemontesi, piano. Pentatone Music
• Color Gradient. Duo Arto : Lionel Andrey, clarinet ; Flore Merlin, piano. Works by Widor, Debussy, Poulenc, Bernstein, Daniel Schnyder, Templeton, Touchard. 7 Mountain Records
• Christoph Stiefel: Full Tree. Christoph Stiefel, piano; Bastian Stein, trumpet and flugelhorn; Domenic Landolf, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet; Raffaele Bossard, bass; Dejan Terzic, drums. Nwog-Records nwog056
• The Next Movement: Never Coming Down. Funk, Soul, R&B. J.J. Flueck: Vocals, Drums, Keys, Percussion, Fender Rhodes; Pascal Kaeser, Bass; Sam Siegenthaler. Guitar. SoulVision Productions SVLP-011
• Phanee de Pool: Algorythms. Arrangements et piano : Etienne Champollion ; Direction d'orchestre : Louis Théveniau ; Avec les voix de Henri Dès et Paul Éluard. Escales Productions
  >>> Critique de Thierry Dagon
• Werckmeister: Maruschka. Band around singer/songwriter David Howald. Label Erdgleich, werckmeister-music.at/ 
• Elias Bernet Band: Christmas Boogie Celebration. Elias Bernet: piano, hammond organ, vocals; Markus Fritzsche: double bass, backing vocals; Bernhard Egger: drums. eliasbernet.ch
• Improspections. Marcol Savoy, drums; Alfio Origlio, piano. Cjazz / Out of My Head Records
  >>> Review by Michael Gasser
• Bandit Voyage: What is it. Cheptel Records CHPTL-065
• Ajay Mathur: Blow my cover. ajaymathur.com/
• Pierre Omer's Swing Revue: Tropical Breakdown. Voodoo Rhythm Records
• Ulrich Zeitler: novembrig for five voices and five instruments based on the cycle of poems by Elsbeth Maag. Ensemble fünf&fünf. Solo Musica SM 446
• Beda Findling: Glad Day. Written, recordes and produced by Beda Mächler. Red Brick Records RBC073CAS
• Duo Minerva (Johanna Gossner, clarinet; Damian Keller, accordion): Hymne àl'amour. Arrangements of works by Kreisler/Sieczynski, Gershwin, Chausson, Lehar and others), Ars Production ARS 38 639
• Albin Brun & Kristina Brunner: Innerland. Kristina Brunner, Cello, Schwyzerörgeli; Albin Brun, Schwyzerörgeli, soprano sax. Self-distribution albinbrun.ch/audio-shop
  >>> Review by Michael Gasser
• Unheard. Beethoven Trilogy 3. See Siang Wong, piano; Camerata Switzerland; Howard Griffiths, direction. RCA Red Seal, Sony Music 19439943162
• Richard Strauss: 1883. Cello Sonata TrV 115 (op. 6); Edvard Grief: Cello Sonata op. 36; Gabriel Fauré: Elégie op. 24; Christoph Croisé, cello; Oxana Shevchenko, piano. Avie AV 2632
• Bach Cantatas No. 45. Whoever loves me will keep my word, BWV 74; Verily, verily, I say unto you, BWV 86; Jesus, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. bachfoundation.ch
• American and English Orchestral Music. (Charles Ives: Three Places in New England; Ethel Smyth: Suite for Strings, Serenade etc.) Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, direction Joshua Weilerstein. Claves 50-3091/92
• British Music for Viola & Piano. Works by Clarke, Britten, Bowen. Izabel Markova, viola; Irene Puccia, piano; Alla Belova, piano. Claves 50-3073
• La Contemplazione. Eloy Orzaiz, fortepiano, plays works by Hummel and Schubert. LBS Classical LBS182023
  >>> Review by Torsten Möller
• Swiss Dreams. Works by Stalder, Dupuy, Schnyder von Wartensee, Hans Huber, Templeton Strong, Suter, Paul Huber. Swiss Orchestra; conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer; Michael Barenboim, violin; Christph Pfändler, dulcimer. Prospero Records PROSP0090 (2 CDs)
• Luzia von Wyl Ensembel: FrankmontLuzia von Wyl, compositions and piano; Gary Versace, accordion; Amin Mokdad, flute; Nocola Katz, clarinet; Marcel Lüscher, bass clarinet; Maurus Conte, bassoon; Vincent Millioud, violin; Karolina Öhman, cello; Christoph Utzinger, double bass; Fabian Ziegler, marimba and thundersheet; Lionel Friedli, drums. LU-Label, LU01 lulabel.ch Scores also available!
  >>> Review by Michael Gasser
• Wobble:contact: Kind of Empty. Lukas Wäger, drums; David Bircher, synths; Janis Asendorf, vocals & guitar; Yann Schütz, bass.
• Mahler 2 / Scarazzini 3. Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2; Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini: Symphony No. 3, orchestral works Torso, Epitaph, Spiriti. Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Simon Gaudenz. Odradek Records
• Ralph Zurmühle: Studio Live Session. Ralph Zurmühle, piano. Vinyl, Little Big Beat littlebigbeat.com
• Oxeon: Somewhere far. Colorful & Intimate Jazz. Lea Gasser: accordion, fx, composition; Sylvie Klijn: voice, fx, composition. ANUK0053

 

Sound carrier, received January-June 2023

• Clair Obscur. Œuvres du 16e et du 17e siècle. Duo Aeoline (Charlotte Schneider, flûtes; Guy-Bapriste Jaccottet, orgue). Claves 50-3065
• Arubator. Aruba Trio (Tobias Lang, trombone; Joël Kuster, guitar; Peter Fleischlin, percussion). Works by Luzia von Syl, Stephan Hodel, Mathias Landtwing, Jorge Fernando, Fränggi Gehrig, Markus Flückiger). Aruba Records
• René Wohlhauser: From the depths of time. Ensemble Polysono; Elia Seiffert; René Wohlhauser; Duo Simolka-Wohlhauser. Neos Music NEOS 12227
• Folk Flow. Viviane Chassot, accordion. (Irish and Breton traditionals, works by Squiban, Einaudi, Chopin, Satie, Granados, Silvestrov and others) Prospero PROSP
• Julian von Flüe Trio: Dur d'Altstadt. Julian von Flüe, accordion; Marc Scheidegger, guitar; Matthias Abächerli, double bass. LuMusic LUM2386
• Beethoven flute & piano. Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major op. 24 "Spring", Serenade in D major op. 41, Romance in F major op. 50. Qiling Chen, flute; Yoshiko Iwai, piano. Prospero Music PROSP0063
• 20th Century Foxtrots 5, Switzerland. Foxtrots by Moeschinger, Berr, Lang, Beck, Marescotti, R. Flury, Burkhard, Mieg, Jaques-Dalcroze, Honegger, Roesgen-Champion, Gerber, Zbinden, U. J. Flury. Gran Piano/Naxos GP922
  >>> Review by Walter Labhart
• Tomas Sauter: Treasure Hunt. Tomas Sauter, composition, guitar; Domenic Landolf, tenorsax; Luzius Schuler, rhodes; Daniel Schläppi, bass; Kevin Chesham, drums. Catwalk Jazz CW230021-2
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major "Eroica". Orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. www.bachstiftung.ch
• Hely: Plode. Lucca Fries, piano; Jonas Ruther, drums. Ronin Rhythm Records RON031
• Deller's quintet: live @ Felseneck. Tassilo Dellers, saxophone; Marco von Orelli, trumpet; Adrian Schäublin, piano; Florian Abt, double bass; Felix Handschin, drums. fontastix.ch
• Mon amie la lune. Songs by Grieg, Debussy, Kirchner, Maurice. Kathrin Hottiger, soprano" Edward Rushton, piano. Prospero PROSP0054
• Biber: The Rosary Sonatas. Les Passions de l'âme; Meret Lüthi, violin & direction. Prospero PROSP 0065 (2 CDs)
• Close Encounters. Works for bassoon and string quartet by Edouard du Puy, Wynton Marsalis, Helena Winkelman, Marcelo Nisinman, Camille Saint-Saëns, Astor Piazzolla. Rui Lopez, bassoon; Gringolts Quartet, Ruslan Lutsyk, double bass. Prospero PROSP0057
• Johann Gottlieb Janitsch: Chamber Music. The Friday Academy. Directed by Katharina Suske. Prospero PROSP0069
• Fantasy. Georg Philipp Telemann: 12 Fantasias. Matthias Arter, oboe solo. Pre-Art-Music PAM 005
• Tie three: meandering. Hannah Adriana Müller, vocals, violin, composition; Johanna Pärli, double bass, composition; Sonja Ott, trumpet, flugelhorn, composition. Anuk Label ANUK0051
• Massimiliano Neri: Sonate da sonarsi con varij stromenti. Concerto Scirocco; Giulia Genini, direction; feat. Voces Suaves. Outthere Music Arcana A544
• Camille Saint-Saëns: Poèmes Symphoniques. Basel Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Ivor Bolton. Prospero PROSP0060
• Become. Works by Mozart, Beethoven, Tarrodi. Musikkollegium Winterthur: Conductor Roberto Gonzales-Monjas. Claves 50 3076
• Dieter Ammann: Core - Turn - Boost (2000-2010), Unbalanced Instability for violin and chamber orchestra (2013). Basel Sinfonietta, Baldur Brönnimann, Principal Conductor, Simone Zgraggen, Violin, Naxos 8.551474
• Già. Gilbert Paeffgen, compositions and arragements, hammered dulcimer. Stridea 024
• Shih-Wei Hunag plays Beethoven & Mussorgsky (Piano Sonata No. 21 "Waldstein", Pictures at an Exhibition). Shih-Wei Huang, piano. www.shihweihuang.com
• Haydn: Stabat Mater. Brigitte Christensen, soprano; Kristina Hammarström, alto; Steve Davislim, tenor; Christian Immler, bass. Zürcher Sing-Akademie; Basel Chamber Orchestra; conductor René Jacobs. Pentatone PTC 5186 953
• Bach Cantatas No. 42. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2; Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185; Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. www.bachstiftung.ch
• Bach Cantatas No. 43. Break your bread for the hungry, BWV39; What shall I make of you, Ephraim, BWV 89; Why do you grieve my heart, BWV 138. Choir and orchestra of the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen; conductor, Rudolf Lutz. www.bachstiftung.ch
• Christoph Croisé: Voyage Exotique. Christoph Croisé, compositions & cello; Chamber Orchestra of the Niederlenzer Musiktage; Annette Jakovcic, cello; Damien Bachmann, clarinet; Oxana Shevchenko, piano. Avie AV 2598
• Pleasurable rest. Bach cantatas BWV 54, 35, 170, Jan Börner, countertenor; Capricornus Consort Basel. Resonando RN 10017
• Bach: St. John Passion. Werner Güra, Evangeliste; Gli Angeli Genève; Stephan Macleod. Claves Repertoire 50-3068/69
• Breath Versus Beats. Simon Berz, Toshinori Kondo, Bill Lastwell, Everest Records ER 109 Vinyl
• Leopold van der Pals. String Quartets Vol. 1 (String Quartets Nos. 1-3) Van Der Pals Quartet (Gordan Trajkovic, 1st violin; Fredrik Burstedt, 2nd violin; Markus Falkbring, viola; Tobias van der Pals, cello) cpo 8992781
• Harmonious Journey. Works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Adam Mital (including Post-auto-Fantasy). Adam Mital, cello. Genuin classics GEN 23815
• Nebula. Piano Prince (Coco Schwarz). Paraxenos Records
• Break. District Five (Vojko Huter, guitar; Paul Amereller, drums; Tapiwa Svosve, alto saxophone; Xaver Rüegg, bass). A Tree in a Field Records TREE087
• Patterns Of Self And Other. Maja Wackernagel, piano. Xjazz Music
• Bachs, Benda and Brönnimann. Music for Flute by Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Franz Benda, Markus Brönnimann. Markus Brönnimann, flute; Jean Halsdorf, cello; Léon Berben, harpsichord; Ensemble Pyramide.
  Toccata Classics TOCN0022
• Tetrapylon. Works for bass quartet by Studer-Frey-Schlegel-Weber. Peter K. Frey, double bass; Jan Schlegel, electric bass; Daniel Studer, double bass; Christian Weber, double bass. Leo Records, CD LR 938
• Alexander Boldachev: Pop meets Classical Vol.1. works by Bach, Marley, Beethoven, Scorpions, Debussy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rossini, Darf Punk, Daquin, Nirvana. Alexander Boldachev, harp. Indesens Calliope Records IC001
• Luca Sisera and Roofer: Clazz. Luca Sisera, Jazzquintett Roofer, Kammerphilharmonie Graubünden. nWog Records nwog052
• Secret Nights. Works by Reineke, Chaminade, Saint-Saëns, Boulanger, Schoeck, Schulhoff, Beach, Safaia. Sonja Leutwyler, mezzo-soprano; Astrid Leutwyler, violin; Benjamin Engeli, piano; Benjamin Nyffenegger, cello. Solo Musica SM385
• RAMS: till last call. (Punk Rock) Vinyl: Sound and dress
• Crome: Oneiroi. (Jazz and string quartet) Sam Urscheler, saxophone, composition; Arthur Traelnes and Anne-Sophie Ollivier, violin; Daniel Minten, viola; Pauline Boulanger, violoncello.
• Adina Friis: Luumu - Elephant Love Song. Turbo Music
• Asbestos: Cyanide. Robyn Trachsel, Vocals, Guitar; Judith Breitinger, Vocals, Bass; Jonas Häne, Drums. LP / digital, A Tree In A Field Records / Czar Of Crickets Productions

Grieg's Suite From Holberg's time is one of the main pillars of the repertoire for string orchestra. However, for the racy rhythm in the first movement, the beautiful cantilenas in the multiple divided parts of the middle movements and the virtuoso rigaudon in the solos to come into their own, performers of a high standard are required. For me, this suite is a piece for professional, at best semi-professional chamber orchestras. And a wonderful introduction to music for ambitious young string players!

All the more reason for me to welcome the publication of this new edition by Henle, which offers all the comforts that are indispensable today: Bar numbers in the score and in all parts, large-format paper in thick quality, parts set 3/3/2/2/1, clear music notation and a pagination suitable for performance. If you are traveling digitally, you can also purchase the score and parts in the Henle app.

First for piano, then for string orchestra

Edvard Grieg composed the suite in 1884 to mark the 200th birthday of the Norwegian polymath and poet Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754), whom he also referred to as the "Molière of the North". The version for string orchestra was preceded by the version for two-handed piano (also available from Henle, HN 432). It is less well known today than the arrangement for string orchestra completed by the composer in February 1885. It seems that Edvard Grieg already had the string sound in mind when composing the piano work. The fourth movement "Air" is one of the most beautiful string pieces, music for the desert island!

The editor Ernst-Günter Heinemann cites the first editions of the score and parts published by Peters in Leipzig (1886) with the composer's handwritten entries as essential sources. Grieg himself conducted the premiere in Bergen on March 13, 1885 (from handwritten parts). The autograph, which subsequently served as an engraver's model for the publisher, is unfortunately lost. Bowings and occasional fingerings, which are entered in the parts, were probably already there and correspond entirely to the author's ideas. They have been included in this Henle edition. But - don't worry - there are only a few of them, and they are all good!

Grieg cannot deny himself

If the Holberg Suite even if it is "Romantic" Baroque, which has little in common with today's knowledge of historically informed musical practice, it is nevertheless a valuable contemporary document of the reception of Baroque music in Grieg's time. The work allows us to take note with a smile of how its Romantic creator always remains recognizable through the Baroque idiom, despite his remark in a letter to Julius Röntgen in 1884: "It is actually a good exercise, as an exception, to hide one's own personality."

Edvard Grieg: From Holberg's time. Suite in the old style op. 40, version for string orchestra, edited by Ernst-Günter Heinemann; score, HN 3320, € 22.00; set of parts, HN 3322, € 45.00; study score, HN 7012, € 10.00; G. Henle, Munich

 

 

Cellists may sometimes look a little enviously at the violin literature. Of course, the cello literature includes Robert Schumann's profound Concerto in A minor. But does it also contain a "jewel of the heart", as Joseph Joachim described Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Violin Concerto in E minor in 1906?

At least the Cello Concerto No. 1 in D minor op. 193 (1874) by Joachim Raff partially closes this supposed gap. Mendelssohn's Opus 64 was clearly the inspiration for it. The passionate entry of the solo instrument after two bars of orchestral introduction at the beginning, the brilliant cadenza at the end of the first movement, the flowing transition into the second movement, which is also in 6/8 meter, the lively rondo theme of the third movement: these are all elements in which the great model is audibly reflected. In the 3rd movement, Raff adds Paganini's perennial favorite Moto perpetuo op. 11.

The contemporary reviews were predominantly positive. However, in the 20th century, the proximity of this opus to Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto was sometimes criticized as unoriginal. Wrongly so! Raff's first cello concerto, dedicated to Friedrich Grützmacher, is a profound tribute and convincing homage to his great role model and offers the performers a rich palette of musical expression such as passionate cantilenas and brilliant passagework, which will not fail to have an effect on the audience.

The concerto has now been published by Breitkopf und Härtel in a new critical edition edited by Jonas Kreienbühl and Andrea Wiesli.

Joachim Raff: Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra No. 1 in D minor, edited by Jonas Kreienbühl and Andrea Wiesli, score, PB 5715, € 65.00, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden

 

Who hasn't seen them, the pretty, often colorfully painted house organs that stood in the ridge chamber of many a Toggenburg farmhouse in the late 18th and early 19th centuries? The meticulously researched and comprehensively documented book by musician, musicologist and organ builder Markus Meier is therefore naturally dedicated to the history and context of house organ building there.

This can develop over a period of around 75 years and leads to an almost standardized and perfected type of instrument, especially in the instruments of the Looser family (a list of almost 100 instruments can be found in the appendix). Meier also sheds light on the ecclesiastical organ building in the region and makes revealing cross-references that lead back to the organ building tradition in Vorarlberg and the Lake Constance region.

Organs and denominations

With his book, Meier succeeds in placing his topic, which at first glance may seem rather "local", in a context of social, confessional and religious-political conditions that extends far beyond Toggenburg (the "most important area of tension in the confessionally divided Confederation", according to the author).

In the post-Reformation period, its churches were initially often used equally by both denominations, but remained under the control of the Prince-Abbot of St. Gallen, which meant that the Reformed ban on organs could be circumvented to a certain extent "with Catholic blessing". At the same time as the organ returned to the church, the house organ also played an important role in everyday domestic family devotions in the spirit of pietism (a link between the house organ culture and the Zwinglian organ ban is therefore demonstrably false). The emergence of the fortepiano eventually displaced the house organs; however, in some places these were transferred to churches - at least as temporary solutions.

Conclusion

A book warmly recommended to all those interested in organs, which documents an important chapter in the ecclesiastical and secular organ history of our country against its confessional background in accordance with the latest state of research. It is to be hoped that in view of the manifold activities surrounding the Toggenburg house organ culture, a publication on the surviving, still largely unpublished music materials and the repertoire played could also follow!

Markus Meier: Geächtet, geliebt und geduldet - Die Orgel im nachreformatorischen Toggenburg, 400 p., Fr. 48.00, Chronos, Zurich 2025, ISBN 978-3-0340-1796-1 (E-Book free of charge)

If music were a sport, this adventurous, fast-paced and not least verbally challenging album would break records. It contains no less than 69 tracks - with a punky total duration of 36 minutes and 24 seconds. The shortest contribution lasts 7 seconds, the longest an almost elephantine 1'41".

Well, the Baden composer and saxophonist Christoph Gallio has never taken the path of least resistance, which has led to many uplifting, surprising experiences in the works of the Day & Taxi ensemble, which has existed in various formations since 1988. Nothing changes here, and yet everything is different. For over thirty years, Gallio has been particularly interested in the works of Pennsylvania-born author and art collector Gertrude Stein (1874-1946), whose circle in Paris later included Picasso, Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and Matisse. Her literary work is characterized above all by the musical, often repetitive structure of her sentences, the meaning of which can rarely be encapsulated by the usual means of linguistic cognition. Exactly: "A rose is a rose is a rose."

Shortest poetry, shortest composition

With Yet Dish is a long, posthumously published series of short poems. There is not enough space here to explain Stein's theories on words and their meaning - or our idea of their meaning. Suffice it to say that these mini-poems certainly trigger completely different associations and trains of thought in every ear. For example XLII: "A jell (sic) cake/A jelly cake/A jelly cake." Or XLV: "Copying Copying it in."

From the first to the last note, Gallio has tailored a highly concentrated short composition to each one, independent in its construction and tonal quality (i.e. inspired by the words and at the same time lending them a new dimension), which feels the words to the teeth and makes the contours sound. He is helped in this by the French-Bernese singer Sonia Loenne, who quietly reminds us of Dagmar Krause, the double bassist Vito Cadonau and the drummer Flo Hufschmid. The overall effect of the crystal-clear, polished miniatures is a kaleidoscopic shimmer in which the words spread like honey in tea.

Christoph Gallio's Stone Is A Rose Is A Stone Is A Stone - Yet Dish, Gertrude Stein. Sonia Loenne, voice; Christoph Gallio, soprano & alto saxophone; Vito Cadonau, double bass; Flo Hufschmid, drums & percussion. Hat Hut Records

 

 

The anthology Artificial intelligence of sounds offers a solid overview of the current discussions on artificial intelligence in the music industry. The topics range from technical backgrounds to questions of copyright protection, production and mediation to reflections on developments in art criticism. Most of the articles are easy to read. Highlights include Ludger Brümmer, who makes the statistical principle of Markov chains, which are important for AI, comprehensible, and Michael Schmidt with an overview of physical and digital tools for composition with the help of AI.

Dorte Lena Eilers provides entertaining anecdotes on the historical reactions of the arts pages to early attempts to compose and perform AI-inspired works. The critics' guild caught ChatGPT cold, she writes. The derision she pours on the Linz-based Ars Electronica and the Karlsruhe Center for Art and Media Technology, which "don't have the future under control", could also be directed at the texts in this book.

Although the blurb asks to what extent the "neat separation between work, arrangement, interpretation and performance still fits in with AI-supported musical practice", the topic is dealt with in a conventional feuilleton style that neatly separates these areas. The entire collection of texts thus seems somewhat nostalgic. It should be helpful for the generations that were socialized before the digital revolution. Digital and presumably soon AI natives will use YouTube and ChatGPT to gather their information on AI developments in the music industry. With all the associated risks. And this is probably the main strength of the book: You can trust the information practically without reservation.

Artificial Intelligence of Sounds - Ethics and Aesthetics of Digital Music Culture, edited by Michael Schmidt, 124 p., € 22.00, Edition text + kritik, Munich 2025 , ISBN 978-3-689-30030-2

 

Keyboard instruments
Piano - Piano pedagogy - Early keyboard instruments - Organ

String instruments
Violin - Viola - Violoncello - Double bass

Wind instruments
flute - recorder - oboe/English horn/bassoon - clarinet - saxophone - horn - trumpet/trombone

Plucked and percussion instruments, accordion
harp - guitar - ukulele - electric bass - drums - accordion

Vocal music and school music
Solo singing - Vocal ensemble - Choir - School music - Songbooks

Instrumental ensemble
Chamber music - Orchestra

 

Piano

July–December 2025

• Claude Debussy/Maurice Ravel: Nocturnes, arranged for two pianos, edited by Peter Jost, HN1396, €33.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Marcel Tusch: Umbrian Arrangements, 14 original piano sheets, self-published, musikfaktur.de
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas with Fingerings, Volume 1, edited by Jonathan Del Mar, fingerings by Marc-André Hamelin, BA 11871, €42.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Robert Schumann: Symphonic Studies Op. 13, edited by Michael Beiche, fingerings and performance notes by Tobias Koch, UT 50451, €26.95, Wiener Urtext Edition, Schott/Universal Edition, Mainz/Vienna
• Vladimir Horowitz: Theme and Variations on Mendelssohn's Wedding March, ED 23772, €22.00, Schott, Mainz
• Linda Gysin: Mosaics I/II, 16 moderately difficult pieces for piano, GH 11821, $23.95, Hug Musikverlage, Manching
• Thomas Fortmann: Three Mazurkas, MS-2631, Fr. 24.00, Müller & Schade/Kunzelmann, Adliswil
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly

January-June 2025

• Fazil Say: Paganini Jazz, The Virtuoso Piano Transcription Series 1, ED 20135, € 16.50, Schott, Mainz
• Marion Suter: 30 original compositions for piano or accordion (22 piano solos and 8 arrangements), self-published www.marionsuter.ch (partly recorded on CD: Pianist Marion Suter Vol. 2)
  >>> Review by Yolanda Schibli Zimmermann
• Franz Liszt: Second Petrarch Sonnetedited by Peter Jost, fingering by Francesco Piemontesi, HN 1650, € 7.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Liszt: Les Jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Esteedited by Peter Jost, fingering by Cédric Tiberghien, HN 1641, € 10.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Johannes Brahms: Waltz op. 39 for piano four hands, edited by Jakob Hauschild, fingering by Andreas Groethuysen, HN 1638, € 13.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata A minor op. post. 143 D 784, edited by Dominik Rahmer, HN 1560, € 11.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Schubert / Franz Liszt: The Miller and the Bach from "Die schöne Müllerin", arrangement for piano, edited by Andrea Lindmayr Brandl, fingering by Evgeny Kissin, HN 1052, € 8.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Jean Sibelius: Lyric pieces for piano op. 74, edited by Kari Kipeläinen, EB 9529, € 17.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Jean Sibelius: Finnish Folk Songs for piano JS 81, edited by Anna Pulkkis, EB 9531, € 17.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Frédéric Chopin: Waltz in A minor with facsimile, edited by Jeffrey Kallberg, HN 1303, € 10.00, G. Henle, Munich
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly

July-December 2024

• Antonín Dvořák: Suite in A major op. 98 for piano, edited by Iacopo Cicidini, BA 10421, € 14.95, Bärenreiter, Prague
• Fanny Hensel: Easter Sonata for piano, score and facsimile, edited by Marie Rolf, BA 11853, € 36.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Bedřich Smetana: Easy piano pieces and dancesedited by Joaroslav Šindler, BA 11578, € 16.50, Bärenreiter, Prague
• Franz Schubert: Fantasy in F minor D 940 for piano four hands, edited by Walburga Litschauer, BA 11862, € 16.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Bella Italia, 20 unforgotten titles (Schlager, Italo Pop, Canzone) for piano, D 644, Dux, Manching
• Franz Schubert / Franz Liszt: Serenade ("Leise flehen meine Lieder", arrangement for piano, edited by Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl, HN 1022, € 8.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5, edited by Peter Jost, HN 1637, € 9.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 7edited by Peter Jost, HN 1537, € 10.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Ferruccio Busoni: Sonatina seconda, edited by Christian Schaper and Ullrich Scheideler, HN 1647, € 17.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Martin Reiter: Jazz Ahead 2, for piano with online audio; Textbook, UE 37122, € 22.50; Performance book, UE 37123, € 19.95; Universal Edition, Vienna
• Lio Hans: Oriental dances from the opera "Maria von Magdala" for piano, UE 38013, € 16.95, Universal Edition, Vienna
• Franz Schubert: Allegro in A minor D 947 "Lebensstürme" for piano four hands, edited by Walburga Litschauer, BA 10886, € 21.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Frédéric Chopin: Sonata in B minor op. 58 for piano, edited by Paul Badura-Skoda and Britta Schilling-Wang, BA 11828, € 15.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Maurice Ravel: Sérénade grotesque, edited by Andreas Pernpeintner, HN 1590, € 8.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Franz Schubert/Franz Liszt: The Wandering from "Die schöne Müllerin", arranged for piano, edited by Andra Lindmayr-Brandl, HN 1051, € 8.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 D major KV 537 (Coronation Concerto), piano reduction by Heiko Stralendorff, edited by Andreas Friesenhagen; piano reduction, HN 1578, € 24.00; study score, HN 9578, € 13.00; G. Henle, Munich
• Pierre-André Bovey: Douze Préludes pour piano, Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire BCU, Lausanne, ISBN 978-2-88888-54-4
• Constantin Regamey: Pieèces de jeunesse pour piano, Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire BCU, Lausanne, ISBN 978-83-7099-253-8

January-June 2024

• Franz Schubert/Franz Liszt: Sojourn from "Swan Song" D 957, arrangement for piano, edited by Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl, HN 599, € 8.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata in B minor op. 58, edited by Norbert Müllemann, HN 871, € 16.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Arnold Schönberg: Piano Pieces op. 33a and 33b, edited by Norbert Müllemann, HN 1165, € 14.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 D minor op. 30, edited by Dominik Rahmer, piano reduction by Johannes Umbreit, HN 1452, € 29.00, G. Henle, Munich
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly
• Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Moments musicaux op. 16, edited by Dominik Rahmer, HN 1492, € 15.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Sergei Rachmaninov: Rapsodie sur un thème de Paganini op. 43 edited by Norbert Gertsch, piano reduction by Heiko Stralendorff, HN 1506, € 26.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Chinese piano music, works of the 20th century, edited by Jingxian Xie, HN 1453, € 30.00, G.Henle, Munich
• Antoine Reicha : Variations sur l'air " Charmante Gabrielle " op. 85, pour piano, ed. par Michael Bulley, € 12.00, Editions Symétrie, Lyon ISMN 978-2-36485-212-9
• Johanna Senfter: 6 waltzes for piano four hands, first edition by Dieter Michael Backes, ED 21499, Schott, Mainz
• Alexander Rosenblatt: Toccata-Boogie for piano, ED 23780, Schott, Mainz
• Vladimir Horowitz: Carmen Paraphrases for piano solo after motifs by Georges Bizet, ED 23634, Schott, Mainz
• Camille Saint-Saens: Six Etudes pour piano, Premier livre op. 52, edited by Catherine Massip, BA 11854, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Camille Saint-Saens: Six Etudes pour piano, Deuxième livre op. 111, edited by Catherine Massip, BA 11855, Bärenreiter, Kassel
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly
• Maurice Ravel: Concertofor piano and orchestra, edited by Douglas Woodfull-Harris; score, BA 9048; piano reduction, BA 9048-90, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Josef Suk: Easy piano pieces and dancesedited by Jonas Hajek, BA 11575, € 14.95, Bärenreiter, Prague
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly
• Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7 op. 83, edited by Claudia Heine, HN 1620, € 17.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Sergei Prokofiev: Visions fugitives op. 22, edited by Norbert Gertsch HN 1158, € 20.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Arnold Schönberg: Complete Piano Works, edited by Marte Auer (op. 25), Ulrich Krämer (op. 23), Norbert Müllemann (op. 19, 33a, Klavierstück 1894), Ullrich Scheideler (op. 11, 33b), HN 1178, € 45.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Bach goes World14 Popular Arrangements for Piano solo by Jean Kleeb, BA 10653, € 16.95, Bärenreiter Kassel
• Sally Greenway: Piano Music for Discoverers, Volume , self-published, sallygreenaway.com.au

July-December 2023

• Christmas carols from all over the world, Piano accompaniment, VHR 13519, Holzschuh, Manching
• Christmas carols from all over the world, for piano, VHR 13508, with audio stream, Holzschuh, Manching
• Guido Klaus: Boundless Christmas for piano, the most beautiful Christmas carols from Germany and Europe, very easy to challenging, D 646, Dux, Manching
• Franz Schubert: Piano Sonatas IIThe middle sonatas, D 664, D784, D840, D 845, D850, edited by Walburga Litschauer, BA 9643, € 31.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Nicola Campogrande: Preludi da viaggio, for piano, ED 9428, € 16.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata op. 81a "Les Adieux", edited by Peter Hauschild, revised by Jochen Reutter, UT 50439, € 9.95, Wiener Urtext (Schott/Universal Edition)
• Robert Schumann: Carnaval op. 9, edited by Michael Bleiche, UT 50206, € 14.95, Wiener Urtext (Schott/Universal Edition)
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Volume 1op. 2-22, Perahia Edition, edited by Norbert Gertsch and Murray Perahia, fingerings by Murray Perahia, HN 832, € 42.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Piano Album, All-time Favorites from Bach to GershwinHN 1750, € 7.50, G. Henle, Munich
• Leoš Janáček: On an overgrown path, Kleine Klavierstücke, edited by Jirí Zahrádka, HN 1505/UE 37007, € 18.00, G. Henle, Munich/Universal Edition, Vienna
• Jakub Metelka: The secret garden, Modern Nocturnes for piano, BA 11574, € 15.95, Bärenreiter, Prague
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete Bagatelles for pianowith Bagatelle WoO 59 "Für Elise", edited by Mario Aschauer, BA 9649, € 23.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel

January-June 2023

• Mike Cornick: A Piano Sketchbook. Six piano solos including jazz and Latin-styled pieces, UE 21843, € 14.50, Universal Edition, Vienna
• The new Busoni. Exercises and studies for piano, edited by Franzpeter Goebels; Volume I: Exercises, EB 698; Volume II: Exercises and Studies, EB 6949; € 33.90 each, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Gabriel Fauré: Trois Romances sans paroles op. 17, edited by Jean-Pierre Bartoli, BA 11852, € 12.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Hans Pfitzner: Six Studies for piano op. 51, JO44-01, Schott, Mainz
• Rodion Shchedrin: Variation on a theme by Anton Diabelli, ED 23536, Schott, Mainz 
• Christian Jost: Diabelli Variation "Rock it, Rudi! ", ED 23535, Schott, Mainz
• Toshio Hosokawa: Loss, Diabelli variation, SJ 1211, Schott, Mainz
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly
• Vladimir Horowitz: Fragment douloureux, The Horowitz Edition, ED 23085, Schott, Mainz
  >>> Review by Karl-Andreas Kolly
• Sergei Rachmaninov: Morceaux de Fantaisie op. 3, edited by Dominik Rahmer, HN1491, G. Henle, Munich
• Alexander Scriabin: Twelve Etudes op. 8, edited by Valentina Rubcova, HN 1486, G. Henle, Munich
• Bach/Gounod: Méditation (Ave Maria), version for piano solo, edited by Gérard Condé, HN 1301, G. Henle, Munich
• Swiss Female Composers Festival: Piano Collection, 10 piano pieces edited by Katharina Nohl, Universal Edition 2023
• Frédéric Chopin: Berceuse pour le piano op. 57, edited by Britta Schilling-Wang, BA 11830, € 7.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel

 

Piano pedagogy

July–December 2025

• Jakub Metelka: Puppet theater, 20 Piano Miniatures, BA11579, $15.95, Bärenreiter, Prague
• key signature book, 48 original piano pieces in all keys, edited by Sigrid Naumann, EB 9444, €36.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Mélanie Hélène Bonis: Album for toddlers, for piano, SE 1068, $14.50. Schott, Mainz

January-June 2025

• Cécile Chaminade: Album des enfants, Selections from Opus 123 & 126, for piano, edited by Monika Twelsiek, SE 1066, € 14.50, Schott, Mainz
• Ji-Youn Song: My piano - all the way - at the beginning, Character pieces and exercises with new playing techniques, BA 10879, € 16.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel
  >>> Review by Stefan Furter

July-December 2024

• Simone Nardelli: Piano exercise book, D 1217, Dux, Manching
• Karin Gross: Avanti Musicanti, 41 easy piano pieces, with audio download, VHR 3419, Holzschuh, Manching

January-June 2024

• 9 Compositrices de 3 Siècles, ed. par Nils Franke, commentary French/English, UT 52014, € 17.50, Wiener Urtext Edition (Schott/Universal Edition)
• Grieg Favorites, arr. for Piano Duet by Mike Cornick, UE 21 847, € 19.95, Universal Edition, Vienna

July-December 2023

• Kerstin Strecke: Little Moods, 15 easy pieces for piano, EB 9442, € 14.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Alexandra Fink: Playing fun with Tatze the cat. Over 40 playing ideas for music lessons, MN 956, € 16.90, Edition Nepomuk (Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden)
• Easy concert pieces for piano four hands, edited by Mona and Rica Bard, ED 23575, € 19.50, Schott, Mainz
• Amy Beach: Childrens's Album & Children's Carnival, edited by Melanie Spanswick, SE 1061, € 14.00, Schott, Mainz
• Narcisa Freixas: Elementary Piano Pieces, edited by Melanie Spanswick, SE 1060, € 12.60, Schott, Mainz
• The children's songbook for piano, 113 old and new children's songs easily arranged for piano or keyboard by Sebastian Müller, Schott, Mainz
• Learning piano the two ways - Volume 1, author and composer Maximilian Ebert, Fuchsbau-Verlag Regensburg
• 9 female composers from 3 centuries, 25 easy piano pieces with practice tips, selected and annotated by Nils Franke, UT 52013, € 17.50, Wiener Urtext (Schott/Universal Edition)

January-June 2023

• Arthur Brühlmeier and Yves-Bernard Mottier: Musical Kaleidoscope. 34 pieces for piano, self-published, Oberrohrdorf 2022
• Eike Wernhard: When the music hen lays an egg ..., Piano school for children, BA 8754, € 24.95, Bärenreiter, Kassel
• Guido Klaus: Keyboard researcher - sight-reading training right from the start, VHR 3418, € 15.80, Holzschuh, Manching
  >>> Review by Stefan Furter

 

Old keyboard instruments

January-June 2025

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor BWV 1052, edited by Matan Entin and Norbert Müllemann; score, HN 3340, € 25.00; string part, HN 3342, € 50.00; G. Henle, Munich

July-December 2024

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971, edited by Ullrich Scheideler, HN 526, € 10.00, G. Henle, Munich
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Harpsichord concerto No. 4 in A major BWV 1055, edited by Maren Minuth and Norbert Müllemann; piano reduction by Johannes Umbreit, HN 1383, € 17.00; study score HN 7383, € 11.00; G. Henle, Munich
  >>> Review by Dominik Sackmann
• Josef Myslivecek: Six easy sonatas for clavier, edited by Vojtech Spurny, BA 11568, € 18.95, Bärenreiter, Prague

January-June 2024

• Johann Jacob Froberger: Suites for harpsichord, edited by Pieter Dirksen, HN 1091, € 31.00, G. Henle, Munich
  >>> Review by Dominik Sackmann

January-June 2023

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No. 3 in D major BWV 1054, edited by Maren Minuth and Norbert Müllemann; piano reduction by Johannes Umbreit, HN 1382; study score HN 7382; G. Henle, Munich
  >>> Review by Dominik Sackmann
• Dieterich Buxtehude: Organ Works Volume II, Free organ and keyboard works (manualiter) BuxWV 162-176, 225, EB 9306, € 33.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden

Organ

July–December 2025

• Dieterich Buxtehude: Complete Organ Works Volume III/1, edited by Harald Vogel, choral arrangements A–L, BuxWV 177–178, 180–202, 210, 218, EB 9470, €40.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Dieterich Buxtehude: Complete Organ Works Volume III/2, edited by Harald Vogel, choral arrangements M–W, BuxWV 76, 179, 203–209, 211–217, 219–224, EB 9471, €40.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden

January-June 2025

• Antonio Bertali / Dieterich Buxtehude: Sonata for organ and viola da gamba, BuxWV Anh. 5, edited by Harald Vogel, EB 9497, € 12.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden

January-June 2024

• Where heaven and earth meet, hymn arrangements for organ for "Rise up plus", ed. Reformierter Kirchenmusikverband Schweiz, Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel, ISBN 978-3-7245-2713-8
• Early Tudor Organ Music, Vol. 1 and 2, ed. by John Caldwell, (Early English Church Music Vol. 65/66), EECM65/EECM66, 246/210. p., £ 100/85, Stainer & Bell, London 2024
  >>> Review by Tobias Willi

January-June 2023

• Organ music by female composers, 22 organ pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries, edited by Barbara Heller and Lucia Schnellbacher, ED 9741, Schott, Mainz
• Heinrich Scheidemann: Choral fantasies for organ, edited by Peter Dirksen, EB 8938, € 34.90 Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Dieterich Buxtehude: Organ Works Volume II, Free organ and keyboard works (manualiter) BuxWV 162-176, 225, EB 9306, € 33.90, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden
• Norbert von Hannenheim: Organ Works, Series VI, Volume 1, edited by Moritz Ernst, BB 3648, Boosey& Hawkes/Bote & Bock, Berlin
• Anton Bruckner: Symphony VII in E major, arranged for organ by Eberhard Klotz; Volume 1: Movement I + II; Volume 2: Movement III + IV; EM 1787, Edition Merseburger, Kassel 
• Johann Paul Schiffelholz: Concerto in D minor op. I/1 (1727) for organ, completed and arranged by Klaus Beckmann, EM 2837, Edition Merseburger, Kassel