Search - Paul Hindemith, Glenn Gould :: Hindemith: Sonatas for Brass and Piano

Another Wonderful Gould Recording!

11/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

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Along with Schoenberg, Hindemith was one of Gould's favorite composers--and one who's cultural stock was elevated because of Gould's advocation and artisitc realizations. The various sonatas for piano and brass instruments are a case in point. Beethoven dashed off a sonata for piano and French horn (his Op. 17); Brahms, of course, ripened the sonata for piano and clarinet; Saint-Saens wrote a nice sonata for piano and oboe; but who--of all people--would write a sonata for piano and tuba? Why, Hindemith, of course: he wrote at least one sonata for every instrument in the orchestra and piano. So, we have sonatas for trombone and piano, French horn and piano, et cetera. My only complaint is that on this recording the sonata for alto saxophone and piano is performed on an "alto horn." Alack, one can't have everything. As a bonus, Gould reads a little poetry on one of the tracks. In case you haven't heard his voice, it sounds exactly like a non-French Canadian. This brace of discs is well worth adding to any good collection.

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Reissued on: Complete Sonatas for Brass Ensemble

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