New and wonderful
F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 05/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A "partita" was used in the time of Bach to designate a prelude followed by a series of dance melodies. Confusingly, it was also called a "suite." So when I received the New World Records release of David Moritz Michael's (80538 2), I was not sure what to expect. What I did get was one of the most beautiful CDs in my collection and I want you to know about it. Michael was a Moravian composer (1751-1827) who lived in Bethlehem, Pa. The four pieces in this album are of four or five movements each and scored for different combinations of wind instruments and are more like early symphonies than suites. For example, Parthia 6 is arranged as Andante, Allegro assai, Andante poco adagio, Menuetto, and Rondo allegretto; while 7 is Tempo march, Andante, Menuetto, and Presto; and so on. Each one is bubbly and beautiful and a wonderful introduction to a composer up to now unknown to me. The perfect gift for the collection that seems to have everything! And do not neglect the other New World CDs of Michael's music which contain the other Parthien and some other works by this remarkable composer."