Graham Rickson 🇮🇪

Classical CDs: Voice flutes, flugelhorns and froth Corelli/Handel: Sonatas Michaela Koudelková (recorders), Monika Knoblochová (harpsichord), Libor Mašek (cello), Jan Krejča (theorbo) (Supraphon)

I liked this, especially for Pappano’s 9th: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

As with Handel’s Messiah, I have never heard Gerontius. Any good?

The latest #ClassicalCDs from @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @grahamrickson.bsky.social - Voice flutes, flugelhorns and froth in Baroque sonatas, English orchestral music and an emotionally-charged vocal recital www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Many years ago I was hired to provide music for a BBC radio play which starred Patricia Routledge. My composing/improvising career floundered soon after, but working alongside Routledge was fun.

Composer Francis Poulenc with his doggie

Singer Cliff Richard

What links Francis Poulenc and Cliff Richard? Find out here: www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @londonsymphony.bsky.social #MichaelaKoudelková #recorder #holst #poulenc #cliffrichard #vaughanwilliams #dobrinkatabakova #ecm

I had a blow on one of these once - Selmer double with ascending third valve. Very confusing.

And French composers used to treat the horn as another woodwind instrument

Optimism and hope for the future!

I remember the old Penguin Guide being full of guff like "a reading of great distinction".

Have only seen the Ken Russell 'Monitor' film. Lovely. Delius crops up in David Mitchell's epic novel 'Cloud Atlas'.

Yes! Is puppetry animation? Presumably not. The elaborate lift-off routines were devised to conceal the fact that the puppets couldn't walk convincingly.

Am teaching some Y5/6 classes about film music, and couldn't resist showing them a clip of the Thunderbird 1 launch sequence. They were bemused but 'liked the beats'.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOJ7fZPt0qI

YouTube video by Società Filarmonica Pisana - Scuola di Musica UFO S.H.A.D.O. - Main Theme - Barry Gray

The best Barry Gray theme is UFO. Here's an amateur Italian wind band playing it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wST1... Gray's final years were spent playing piano in a Guernsey hotel bar, which is cool.

Also the scherzo from the Scottish Symphony. Ouch.

I've taken part in a performance, with a teenage prodigy! The audience loved it. Given how short the piece is, we should have encored it.

I teach in UK primary schools. Boomwhackers, chime bars and ukuleles are what I see most days!

I had a go on an Ableton earlier this month at a training event. Great fun, but the price would put most UK state schools off investing in a class set.

I couldn't get my head round that work, despite repeated trying, then took part in a performance a few years ago and ended up loving it.

Also wonderful.

My favourite of the seven. Not a wasted note.

So much to choose from! Currently I’m listening regularly to the 5th and 6th quartets and the 13th Symphony.

Once on Twitter somebody was like “I have a music PhD but apparently I’m not qualified to teach elementary music??”

And like. Yeah no, you’re not qualified. The preps+teaching+admin+coordinating concerts would have you sobbing by 1pm on the first day

I teach music in 7 different primary schools over the week, with children aged from 4 to 11. Keeping on top of it takes a lot of thought. As a music teacher you're 'on' all the time, so it can be very tiring. A great job though - I'd never go back to regular class teaching.

Yes - it sounds just like Strauss. Great piece.

I’d love to play the Schoenberg arrangement of the G minor piano quartet. Looks like the horns have loads to do in that.

But Brahms 4 has to be one of the best horn pieces out there, surely…

The bonus dvd documentary is good. A fabulous box set

Classical CDs: Shrouds, silhouettes and superstition Kabalevsky: Cello Concerto No. 2, Schumann: Cello Concerto Theodor Lyngstad (cello), Copenhagen Phil/Eva Ollikainen (OUR Recordings)

The best of classical reviewing - new #ClassicalCDs from @grahamrickson.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @bernardhughes.bsky.social - Shrouds, silhouettes and superstition in cello concertos, choral collections and a stunning tribute to a contemporary giant www.theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

It's Saturday! CD reviews ahoy: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social #satie #tippett #AbelSelaocoe #arvopart

Classical CDs: Hens, Hamburg and handmaids Désiré-Émile Inghelbrecht: The Complete Erato Recordings (Erato)

Loved this album. I even wrote about it: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...