Classical Music Forum banner

Orchestral Transcriptions / Orchestrations

37K views 107 replies 30 participants last post by  Enthalpy 
#1 ·
Greetings my fellow forum members.

I would like to created a thread in which we can talk about anything that has to do with orchestrations, symphonic transcriptions and orchestral arrangements.
It's hard and painful to track down albums that have symphonic transcrisptions, thus a thread where people post their precious knownledge will be helpful to all of us.

We can talk about rarities and curiosities, about orchestrations that you have heard and suprised you, about orchestral transcriptions that turn out to be satisfying, about rare CDs that feature majestic symphonic transcriptions, et cetera...

Allow me to start with a rare, an "unprocurable" gem.
http://www.lyrita.co.uk/cgi-bin/lyrita_build.pl?filename=SRCD0216.txt
 
#36 ·
Zero? Why? Give us some hope.... I believe both Bach-Leibowitz transcriptions were published.
And who is Mr. Wilkinson? Actually if they digitally re-master the thingie, I trust it will sound OK.

Bro, what do you think about Goedicke, Leonidas Leonardi and the others? What are the chances to see a new CD by Chandos with them in it?
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Leonardi.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Goedicke.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Hubay.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Abert-JJ.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Vactor.htm
 
#40 ·
Yes I know, prior to the SACD release, there was a remastered CD. I remember me wanting to grab it from amazon.fr.
But isn't this is little bit funny/ironic. If those analogue recordings (ADD remastered) sound better than the contemporary 24bit/96Khz recordings, then why did we have to switch to digital recordings in the first place?:p

Apropos of Rene Leibowitz, do you any other OTs of his? Cumulatively, I know the following :
-Franck / Leibowitz : Panis Angelicus
-Mussorgsky / Leibowitz : Night on the Bald Mountain
-J.S. Bach / Leibowitz : Toccata & Fugue BWV 565 for double orchestra
-J.S. Bach / Leibowitz : Passacaglia BWV 582 for double orchestra

All the above works have been orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski as well.


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN 9445
http://www.classicalcdreview.com/muss.html
Chandos' sound is their very best, wonderfully capturing this multitude of colorful sounds with a fine sense of space and presence. A fabulous CD!


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN 9349
 
#41 · (Edited)
Some very sympathetic, charming, sweet, evocative orchestral transcriptions!:cool::rolleyes:

-Debussy/Stokowski : Engulfed Cathedral


-Buxtehude/Stokowski : Sarabande and Courante


-Handel/Stokowski : Dead March from Saul


-Mozart/Stokowski : Turkish March


-Stostakovich/Stokowski : United Nations March


-Rachmaninoff/ Edmund Rubbra : Prelude In G Minor Op. 23 No 5


-J.S. Bach / William R. Smith : Fantasia & Fugue in G Minor BWV 542

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Smith-WR.htm

-J.S. Bach / Sir Edward Elgar : Fantasia % Fugue BWV 537
 
#43 ·
I think this guy here has gone too far in orchestrating too many works.

Have a look!
http://www.mola-inc.org/Stokowskicatalog.htm

But as the reviewer points out, the OTs are more meant for fun and exuberance. Some of them are true indulgences, whereas others are worth the occasional hearing.
Only a few OTs can become very successful and gain acclaim (Mussorgsky-Ravel, Bach-Webern, Mussorgsky/Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms-Schoenberg, et al). The rest are not taken seriously by many people. But as Henry Fogel writes
Why have we become such purists? What went wrong in our musical world that it is practically forbidden (I'm not sure by whom, but believe me, it is nonetheless forbidden) to perform Bach orchestral transcriptions--not to mention a Pavane and Gigue by William Byrd--in a concert hall today.

Listening to this recording caused me to realize what the purists have inflicted on the rest of us. First of all, organ recitals are rare things. In fact, even good organs are rare things. The transcription offers us a way of hearing great organ music that we might not ever encounter in a live performance. But the transcription is more than that. It is an alternative version, decked out in different colors. (Some of Stokowski's transcriptions of music other than Bach's are not of organ or even keyboard music.) Just as a play or movie derived from a book is a perfectly valid other way of experiencing the book, so a transcription is a perfectly valid way, in and of itself, of experiencing music that is based on an original that sounds different....................
http://www.artsjournal.com/ontherecord/2009/08/whither_the_transcription.html
Thus, I believe we are "allowed" to listen to OTs. It's not a bad thing to do.;) I mean, how dare "they" to forbid us not listening to OTs!!! :mad:

This collection of Henry Wood orchestrations is just plain fun. Perhaps the best of them overall is the Granados Spanish Dance No. 4, which features imaginative writing for the harp and some beautifully judged scoring for the woodwind section. To be frank, Wood is not a great orchestrator; he's more of an "arranger". This becomes immediately apparent in considering Pictures at an Exhibition..........
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=11282

http://www.lyrita.co.uk/cgi-bin/lyrita_build.pl?filename=SRCD0216.txt
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Aug07/Henry_Wood_SRCD216.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Sept07/Wood_SRCD216.htm
 
#45 ·
Rachmaninoff / Lucien Cailliet : 3 Preludes [Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp]

Instrumentation : 3,3,4,3 - 4,3,3,1 - timp, perc, - hp - str.

Weber-Johnstone


Clarke / Sir Henry Wood : Trumpet Voluntary


Chopin / Leopold Stokowski : Funeral March


Bach-Stokowski : Andante Sostenuto


Handel-Stokowski


Mussorgsky "The Great Gate of Kiev" - Douglas Gamley's orchestration

Douglas Gamley conducts his own orchestration of the finale from "Pictures at an Exhibition," with the New Symphony Orchestra, the Men's Chorus of the Ambrosian Singers, and the organ of Kingsway Hall, London. :eek::cool:
 
#46 ·
I was lucky enough to find my Bachbusters this morning, looking through a mess I'd created...as I approaced the end of this magnificent recording, I found myself hearing what is my favorite performance of the Bach Tocatta and Fugue in d minor and thinking of how weird it is that my fav is not on a traditional instrument at all...this led me to expore many organ possibilities, only leaving me at the conclusion that an orchestral piece would be best...so I began to score all the different instruments and techniques I would use in recreating such a masterpiece...Leopold just never did it for me and, if anything, made it far less attractive...I like all the Rene talk in here...good call...but, still...so many possibilities exist for this piece of music that has reached the conciousness of so many people in so many places...I dream of creating an orchestral version that has the humanity and dynamic and precision of the Dorsey recordings. Gratzie signore.
 
#64 ·
You mention Fabien Sevitzky, of course his real name was Fabien Koussevitzky but to avoid confusion with his uncle Serge the great conductor of the Boston Symphony he altered it.He too was a double bass player and later became a distinguished conductor in the USA. He always included a work by an American composer in all his concerts.
 
#48 · (Edited)
By the way, I have found that Rene Leibowitz has the following transcriptions hitherto.

-J.S. Bach / Rene Leibowitz : Toccata and Fugue In D Minor BWV 565 (for double orchestra) [Boelke - Bomart / Mobart Music Publishers]
Orchestra I: 2,1,2,2 - 2,2,1,1 - str.
Orchestra II: 2,2,2,2 - 2,2,1,1 - str.

-J.S. Bach / Rene Leibowitz : Passacaglia and Fugue BWV 582 (for double orchestra)
-Franck / Rene Leibowitz : Panis Angelicus
-Mussorgsky / Rene Leibowitz : Night on Bald Mountain

-Mozart / Rene Leibowitz : Fantasia for double string orchestra (originally for mechanical organ) [Boelke-Bomart Inc. ]
-Schoenberg / Rene Leibowitz : Three Songs Op. 48 (for low voice and orchestra) [Boelke-Bomart Inc. ]
Instrumentation : 1,1, 2+1, 1, - 1,1,1,0 - hp - pf.

-Schubert / Rene Leibowitz : Fantasia in C Major (originally for violin and piano) [Boelke-Bomart Inc.]
Instrumentation : 2,2,2,2 - 2,2,3,1 - pf - str

-Schubert / Rene Leibowitz : Fantasia in F Minor (originally for piano 4-hands) [Boelke-Bomart Inc.]
Instrumentation : 2,2,2,2 - 2,2,3,1 - timp - str

Marc Antonio Cesti / Leopold Stokowski : Tu Mancavi a Torentarmi
 
#50 ·
Debussy "Night in Granada" (orch. Stokowski) - Geoffrey Simon conducts


Tchaikovsky "At the Ball" (orch. Stokowski) - Marjana Lipovsek, mezzo-soprano


As far as I am concerned, Leonidas Leonardi has the following Orchestral Transcriptions :
-J.S. Bach / Leonidas Leonardi: Overture from Cantata XXVI, Ach wie fluchtig, ach wie nichtig BWV 26 [Elkan-Vogel Inc. ]
-J.S. Bach / Leonidas Leonardi: Prelude and Fugue In E Minor "Cathedral", BWV 533 [Elkan-Vogel Inc. ]
-J.S. Bach / Leonidas Leonardi: Toccata & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565 [Elkan-Vogel Inc. , c1936]
-J.S. Bach / Leonidas Leonardi : Chaconne for 9 solo instruments and orchestra [Elkan-Vogel Inc.]

-Dietrich Buxtehude / Leonidas Leonardi : Prelude BuxWV 142 In E minor [Fleisher Collection, 1935]
-Scheidt Samuel / Leonidas Leonardi : Cantiones sacrae, Vater unser im Himmelreich [Fleisher Collection]
-Rachmaninoff / Leonidas Leonardi : "Do Not Sing, My Beauty" in A Minor, Op.4 No4 [Breitkopf & Haertel, c1923]
-Rachmaninoff / Leonidas Leonardi : "Christ is Risen" in F Minor, Op. 26 No6 [Breitkopf & Haertel, c1923]
-Rachmaninoff / Leonidas Leonardi : "I Have Grown Fond of Sorrow" in G Minor, Op.8 No4 [Breitkopf & Haertel, c1923]
-Rachmaninoff / Leonidas Leonardi : "The Island" in G Major, Op. 14, No2 [Breitkopf & Haertel, c1923]
-Rachmaninoff / Leonidas Leonardi : "How Painful for Me" in G Minor, Op.21 No12 [Breitkopf & Haertel, c1923]
-Johann Nicholas Hanff / Leonidas Leonardi : Two chorale-preludes, for strings (Auf meinen liben Gott -- Ein' feste Burg) [Fleisher Collection, 1935]
-J.K. Vogler / Leonidas Leonardi : Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod [Fleisher Collection]
-Johann Gottfried Walther / Leonidas Leonardi : Lobe den Herren, den machtigen Konig der Ehren [Fleisher Collection]
-Frescobaldi Girolamo / Leonidas Leonardi : Concerto in G Minor for Orchestra [Elkan-Vogel Inc.]
http://www.lucksmusic.com/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=11743
http://www.lucksmusic.net/cat-symph/showdetailMain.asp?CatalogNo=08431

As far as I am concerned, Fabien Sevitzky has the following Orchestral Transcriptions :
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Sevitzky.htm

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Aria (for string orchestra)
Instrumentation : str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Chorale Prelude, "Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen" [Carl Fischer Inc.]
Instrumentation : str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Chorale Prelude, "Sleepers Awake"
Instrumentation : 2, 2+1, 2+1, 2+1 - 4,3,3,1 - timp,perc, - hp -str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : The Giant Fugue (Chorale Prelude : Wir All Glauben An Einen Gott)
Instrumentation : 2, 2+1, 2+1,2 - 4,3,3,1 - timp - str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (for string orchestra)
Instrumentation : str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Instrumentation : 2, 2+1[Eb cl], 1, 1 - 0, 0, 0, 0 - hp - str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor
Instrumentation : 2+1, 2+1, 2+1, 2+1 - 4, 3, 3, 2 -timp, perc -hp - str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Prelude (from the Well-Tempered Clavichord) [Franco Colombo Publications]
Instrumentation : 2,3,3,2 - 4,3,3,1 -perc - str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Instrumentation : 3[1.2.pic], 3[1.2.Eh], 3[1.2.bcl], 3[1.2.cbn], - 4,3,3,1 - tmp, perc, cel - hp - str.

-J.S. Bach / Fabien Sevitzky : Ye Are Not the Flesh (for chamber orchestra)
Instrumentation : str.

-W. Pogojeff / Fabien Sevitzky: Prelude [Fleisher Collection, 1929]
-Kreisler Fritz / Fabien Sevitzky: Prelude & Allegro in E Minor (In the style of Pugnani) [Fleisher Collection]
-Sgambati Giovanni / Fabien Sevitzky : Vecchio Minuetto [Boston Birchard, c1934]
-Handel / Fabien Sevitzky : Allegro, Sarabande & Gigue [ G. Ricordi, c1941]
-Handel / Fabien Sevitzky : Concerto for strings
-McCollin Frances / Fabien Sevitzky : All glory, laud and honor [Fleisher Collection]
-Fabien Sevitzky : Russian folk song for string orchestra [Fleisher Collection]
-Rimsky-Korsakov / Fabien Sevitzky : Flight of the Bumble-Bee (for string orchestra) [Carl Fischer, c1932]
-Glinka Mikhail / Favien Sevitzky : Kamarinskaja, fantasia on two Russian folk-songs [Carl Fischer, c1935]
-Galliard Johann Ernst / Fabien Sevitzky : Sonata for chamber orchestra [G. Ricordi, ©1941]
-Haydn Joseph / Fabien Sevitzky : Largo from Quartet Op. 76, No 5
-Wagner Richard / Fabien Sevitzky : The Ring of Nibelungen (Symphonic Suite) [Franco Colombo Publications]
-Borodin / Fabien Sevitzky : Chorus from "Prince Igor" (for string orchestra) [Carl Fischer Inc.]
-Brahms / Fabien Sevitzky : An eine Aeolsharfe, Op. 19 No 5 (for voice and strings)
-Brahms / Fabien Sevitzky : Sapphische Ode, Op. 94 No 4 (for voice and strings)
-Brahms / Fabien Sevitzky : Vergebliches Standchen Op. 84 No 4
-Brahms / Fabien Sevitzky : Von Ewiger Liebe Op. 43 No 1 (for voice and full orchestra)
 
#51 ·
Bach-Stokowski : "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott"

In September 1972, Leopold Stokowski, then 90 years old, journeyed to Prague where he conducted the Czech Philharmonic in two concerts that featured several of his own Bach transcriptions. From these we hear his version of "We all believe in one God," originally a Chorale Prelude for organ that is also known as the 'Giant Fugue'. Stokowski continued conducting and making records for a further five years and died at the age of 95.

Handel "Water Music" - Leopold Stokowski's orchestration

Stokowski's colourful edition of 8 movements from Handel's "Water Music" was recorded by the BBC Philharmonic under Matthias Bamert. We hear 5 numbers (Allegro; Bourree; Hornpipe; Andante; and a final Allegro). The superb oboe solo in the 'Andante' is played by Christopher Blake. (From a 'Chandos' CD.)

Stokowski's own Purcell "Suite" - Stokowski conducts

For a 1954 TV programme, Stokowski conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra in his own "Suite" of music by Purcell:
(a) Trumpet Tune 'The Cebell'
(b) Echo Pastorale 'The Fairy Queen'
(c) Hornpipe 'The Fairy Queen'
(d) When I am Laid in Earth 'Dido and Aeneas'
(e) Largo and Allegro 'The Fairy Queen'.

Bach / Lucien Cailliet : Little Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578

Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra.
 
#52 · (Edited)
Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exhibition" - 'The Old Castle' (orch. Lawrence Leonard)


Brahms-Sargent "Academic Festival Overture" - Andrew Davis conducts


Tchaikovsky "Barcarolle" - Morton Gould conducts

Tchaikovsky's "Barcarolle" from 'The Seasons' (also known as "June" from 'The Months') originally for piano solo, is here arranged and conducted by Morton Gould on an old RCA Camden stereo LP.

Corelli "Adagio" for Strings - Golschmann conducts

The "Adagio" from Corelli's Violin Sonata, Op.5 No. 5, is here given a sumptuous full string orchestra treatment by Amadeo de Filippi. It comes from a 1945 78rpm recording made by Vladimir Golschmann and the St. Louis Symphony.


Finlandia, op. 26, No. 7, Composed by Jean Sibelius
Arranged by Henry Sopkin
Saratoga Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mr. Scott Krijnen


Toccata, Composed by Girolamo Frescobaldi
Transcribed for orchestra by Hans Kindler
Saratoga Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mr. Scott Krijnen

Smetana: "From My Life" (Polka) - George Szell's orchestration

"From My Life" (Smetana's String Quartet in E minor) was orchestrated by George Szell in the 1940s. The 2nd movement heard here depicts Smetana's "merriment of youth and love of dance music." Geoffrey Simon and the London Symphony on Chandos.

"The Stars and Stripes" Ballet Suite, the music of John Philip Sousa arranged by Hershy Kay. The National Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Henry Lewis. Decca Phase Four LP from 1976.



Ouvertüre "1812", op. 49 (Finale)
Cathedral Choir and Children's Choir of St. Ambrose
Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Guns of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery
Russian Church Bells
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Igor Buketoff

Igor Buketoff (1915-2001) created an arrangement of 1812 Overture sometime around 1960, in which he incorporated choral forces to sing the words to these tunes. So, we hear the opening sung a cappella (instead of being played by the strings, per Tchaikovsky's score), and the addition of the choir in the finale.
 
#53 ·
J.S. Bach / Lucien Cailliet : Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565

2011 New World Youth Symphony Orchestra end of the year concert at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sorry, the recording started a few seconds in. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arranged by Lucien Cailliet. Conductor: Mrs. Susan Kitterman
http://www.lucksmusic.com/catdetailview_symph.asp?CatalogNo=12141

"The Volga Boat Song" - Sir Henry Wood conducts (orch. Henry Wood)

Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms in London, conducts his Symphony Orchestra in his own arrangement of this traditional Russian folksong. From a 78rpm disc made in 1930.

"Right Away!" Polka - Sargent conducts (orch. Walter Goehr)

Eduard Strauss's "Right Away!" Polka, in an orchestration by Walter Goehr, is heard here in a 78rpm recording made in 1944 by Dr. (later Sir) Malcolm Sargent and the Liverpool Philharmonic.
 
#54 ·
Frescobaldi / Hans Kindler : Toccata "In the Style of Frescobaldi"


In 1925, the cellist Gaspar Cassado published what purported to be a cello-and-piano arrangement of a 'Toccata' by Frescobaldi. However, as Cassado's Wikipedia biography points out, he was the author of "several musical hoaxes" and this was one of them. It was in fact his own composition. He had simply taken his cue from Fritz Kreisler, who had played works supposedly by Vivaldi, Tartini and others that he himself had written in their style. Another famous cellist, Hans Kindler, took up conducting and made an orchestral version of this piece. He was unaware that it was by Cassado, who never owned up to his hoaxes (unlike Kreisler) so Frescobaldi's name appeared on his score. The splendid recording Kindler made of this music dates from 1940 and is heard here on a Biddulph CD (WHL 063)

Mussorgsky "Night on Bald Mountain" - Sir Adrian Boult conducts


Sir Adrian Boult made only one recording of any of Mussorgsky's music: this 1960 performance of "Night on Bald Mountain" for Reader's Digest. Its producer, Charles Gerhardt, 'tarted up' the Rimsky-Korsakov score with a few ideas of his own, notably in the percussion (added side-drums, cymbal crashes and gong strokes) as well as deleting the recurring brass 'fanfare' motifs familiar in the Rimsky edition. Sir Adrian seems to have enjoyed letting his hair down, what little of it there was!. (Chesky CD 53.)

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 - Hans Kindler conducts


Hans Kindler conducts his own orchestration of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 "Carnival in Pest" in a recording he made with the National Symphony Orchestra in 1945. Dutch-born Kindler had begun his musical career as a cellist but later took up conducting and founded the NSO in 1931. This is the only recording yet made of his own arrangement of the Liszt piano piece. (From Biddulph CD WHL 063)
 
#55 ·


Bach's Fugue in G minor (the "Little" or "Shorter" Fugue for organ) was orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski and is here played by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Jose Serebrier, his one-time Assistant Conductor. (From a 'Naxos' CD).


Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" is one of his best known numbers. It is played here by the 24 members of The London Cello Sound, plus rhythm section, under the direction of Geoffrey Simon. (Cala CACD0109).


The "Nocturne" from Borodin's String Quartet No. 2 in D is played here in an unfamiliar but evocative orchestration by Nikolai Tcherepnin. The Philharmonia Orchestra is conducted on this 1959 'Russian Concert Favourites' LP by Anatole Fistoulari (SXLP 30119).


This bravura toe-tapping showpiece was discovered after Louis Gottschalk's death in 1869 in versions for piano solo and for piano duo. It is heard here in Hershy Kay's exhilarating orchestration in which Reid Nibley is accompanied by the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel. (Vanguard Classics CD 08 4051 71).


Cyril Scott's famous piano piece "Lotus Land" is heard here in an orchestral version played by the New York Philharmonic under Andre Kostelanetz. It comes from a 1950s Columbia LP entitled 'Grand Tour' (CL 981).
 
#57 · (Edited)
Mussorgsky-Stokowski "A Night on Bare Mountain" - Jose Serebrier conducts

Leopold Stokowski's version of "A Night on Bare Mountain" was featured in Walt Disney's 'Fantasia.' It is played here by the National Youth Orchestra of Spain under Jose Serebrier, former Associate Conductor to Stokowski. It comes from a concert that was filmed in Chester Cathedral in 2007 and released on Naxos DVD 2.110230.

Bach: Toccata in F major (orch. Esser) - Albert Coates conducts

Bach's Toccata in F major for organ (BWV 540) was orchestrated in 1859 by Heinrich Esser (1818-1872). For a performance at the Three Choirs Festival in 1908, Sir Edward Elgar supplied a new concert ending to the piece. This recording was made in 1932 by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Albert Coates. (From 'Biddulph' CD BID 83069/70.)

Sibelius "Berceuse" from 'The Tempest' - Charles Gerhardt conducts

This miniature masterpiece comes from Sibelius's Incidental Music to a 1926 production of Shakespeare's ''The Tempest' and is played by the National Philharmonic under the direction of the record producer / conductor / arranger Charles Gerhardt (from a 'Menuet' CD entitled "Romantic Favorites").

Vivaldi: Concerto Grosso in D minor - Stokowski's Symphonic Transcription

Vivaldi's Concerto Grosso in D minor, originally for strings and harpsichord, was transcribed by Leopold Stokowski for a huge symphony orchestra. The instrumentation required is as follows: 2 flutes; piccolo; 2 oboes; cor anglais; 2 clarinets; bass clarinet; 2 bassoons; contra-bassoon; 5 horns; 4 trumpets; 4 trombones; 2 tubas; tam-tam; harp; timpani; and strings. In this spectacular recording (purists beware!) the BBC Philharmonic is conducted by Matthias Bamert, a one-time assistant conductor to Stokowski. There are three movements: (i) Allegro; (ii) Largo (featuring a superb duet for flute and oboe); and (iii) Allegro. (From a 'Chandos' CD

Mussorgsky-Wood "The Great Gate of Kiev" - Leonard Slatkin conducts

In the 1991 BBC Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall, Leonard Slatkin devised a version of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" in which each 'picture' and 'promenade' was by arranged by a different orchestrator (Ravel, Stokowski, Ashkenazy, Tushmalov, Leonidas Leonardi, Gortchakov, etc.). The sequence concluded with Ravel's version of "The Great Gate of Kiev" but as an encore, Slatkin and the Philharmonia Orchestra played it again in the arrangement by Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Proms.

Purcell-Stokowski "Dido's Lament" - Andrew Davis conducts

Leopold Stokowski's string orchestra version of "Dido's Lament" ("When I am Laid in Earth" from Henry Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas') was played at the Last Night of the 1995 Proms by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Davis in London's Royal Albert Hall.

Chopin "Grande Valse Brillante" - Britten's orchestration

Benjamin Britten spent the early years of World War II in America and to make ends meet accepted a number of commissions. One of these was a new version of "Les Sylphides" for the Ballet Theatre in New York. Britten's sequence of orchestrated Chopin piano pieces (Preludes, Nocturnes, Mazurkas, etc.) concludes with the "Grande Valse Brillante" heard here. It comes from an early 1950s LP by the Ballet Theatre Orchestra under Joseph Levine in what seems to be the only recording yet made of Britten's scoring
 
#58 ·
"Greensleeves" - Rene Leibowitz conducts


"Greensleeves" is best-known in Vaughan Williams's version but here it is beautifully arranged for strings and harp by Rene Leibowitz. He conducts the New Symphony Orchestra of London on a Readers Digest "Concert Favourites" LP.

Bach "Italian Concerto" - Orchestral Version

Bach's "Italian Concerto" in F major (BWV 971) is usually played on the harpsichord or piano. However, in 1936, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt recorded a delightful orchestral version with the Berlin Philharmonic. Those old 78s (heard here) seem to be the only recording of the work in full orchestral form, as opposed to a smaller arrangement for chamber group. This particular version was made by the conductor himself. (From Biddulph BID 83069/70)

Sousa "The Stars and Stripes Forever" - Stokowski conducts

John Philip Sousa's military band march "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is here given the full symphonic treatment by Leopold Stokowski in his own brilliant orchestration. He was already in his 90s when he made this recording with the National Philharmonic, a specially assembled orchestra of top-flight London musicians, and it comes from the 'EMI Classics' CD "Stokowski Showcase."

Bach-Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue in C minor - Elgar conducts

The "Fantasia" from this 1926 recording has already been uploaded here on its own. A comment underneath that upload asks "Where is the Fugue?" so the transcription is now presented here in its entirety. Sir Edward Elgar conducts the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra on this historic recording. (From a 'Biddulph' CD).

Pierne "March of the Little Fauns" - Ormandy conducts

This jaunty little piece comes from Gabriel Pierne's ballet "Cydalise and the Satyr" (1923) and is played by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy.
 
#62 ·

This Gavotte comes from the Sonata No. 6 in E major for Solo Violin. It was transcribed for full string orchestra by Sir Henry Wood and recorded in the 1950s by George Weldon and the London Symphony Orchestra on a Columbia LP (33SX1045).


For the 1895 revival of "Swan Lake," composer/conductor Riccardo Drigo interpolated several new dances into the score. These were his own orchestrations of several charming Tchaikovsky piano pieces. The "Valse-Bluette" is one of them and it is played here by the Chicago Symphony under Morton Gould.


This is one of 24 works for Violin and Piano in Cesar Cui's "Kaleidoscope" collection. It is heard here in the sumptuous arrangement by Carmen Dragon, who conducts the Capitol Symphony Orchestra on this 1950s "Full Dimensional Stereo Sound" LP.


Many musicians have arranged the music for the ballet "Les Sylphides" and in 1962 Sir Malcolm Sargent followed in their footsteps by making his own orchestrations of the various Chopin piano pieces which make up the score. After conducting his own version at Covent Garden that year he immediately made this recording. From it we hear the final two numbers: the Waltz in C sharp minor and the 'Grande Valse Brillante' in E flat major


Leopold Stokowski conducts the National Philharmonic in Saint-Saens's "Danse Macabre." The recording was made in 1975 with a specially constituted recording orchestra of top London players and freelance session musicians. Several months earlier, Stokowski had celebrated his 93rd birthday. The violin solo was played by Sydney Sax.(From an EMI Classics CD.)

Paganini "Moto Perpetuo" (arr. Stock) - Martinon conducts - YouTube
Paganini's "Moto Perpetuo" for Violin was orchestrated by Frederick Stock, conductor of the Chicago Symphony from 1905 to 1942. They play it here under Jean Martinon, their music director from 1963 to 1968, in a recording made in 1966. Note Stock's clever quotations from Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony in this brilliant arrangement.

Revueltas "Sensemaya" (First Recording) - Stokowski conducts - YouTube
Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) was a Mexican composer whose most famous piece is "Sensemaya", a tone-pone depicting the ritual killing of a tropical snake. This vivid miniature tone-poem received its first recording in 1947 with Leopold Stokowski conducting his Symphony Orchestra. (An RCA 78rpm disc).

Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exhibition" - Mikhail Tushmalov's orchestration (1891) - YouTube
This was the first orchestration of "Pictures at an Exhibition" and was made by Mikhail Tushmalov, a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. It was not absolutely complete, since it omitted all but the first of the 'Promenades' as well as several of the 'Pictures'. The ones that remain are 'The Old Castle', 'Ballet of the Chicks', 'Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle', 'Market Place in Limoges', 'The Catacombs', 'Baba Yaga' and 'The Great Gate of Kiev'.This version was given its first performance in 1891 with Rimsky-Korsakov conducting. Its only recording to date has been by the Munich Philharmonic under Marc Andrae on the BASF label.

Rachmaninov "Vocalise" - Norman Luboff Choir; Stokowski conducting - YouTube
In this haunting version of Rachmaninov's "Vocalise," the wordless female chorus of the Norman Luboff Choir is accompanied by the New Symphony Orchestra of London under Leopold Stokowski. The orchestral accompaniment was arranged by Walter Stott (he was called Wally Stott in the 1950s 'Goon Show' days on the radio) but after a visit to Scandinavia for a delicate operation in the 1970s he became Angela Morley. (From an RCA / BMG recording made in 1960).

Bach "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott" - Stokowski's wind band arrangement - YouTube
Stokowski made several Bach arrangements for wind band, including the Chorale-Prelude "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott." It is played here by the United States Marine Band and comes from a concert given in Cincinnati in 1998, Timothy W. Foley conducting.

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (arr. Sidney Torch) - Barry Wordsworth conducts - YouTube
This well-known piano piece here receives what is probably its most over-the-top orchestral arrangement. Sidney Torch (1908-1990) was a British pianist, conductor, arranger and composer of light music. He was particularly associated with the BBC Concert Orchestra and it is they who play this dazzling version of Liszt's famous Rhapsody under Barry Wordsworth's baton. (From a Carlton Classics CD made in 1995.)

Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor - Camarata's orchestration - YouTube
This version of Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor starts off with the organ, played by Leslie Pearson, but when the orchestra comes in the arrangement owes quite a lot to Stokowski's transcription. It was made and conducted by Tutti Camarata (1913-2005) who began his musical career as a jazz trumpeter in New York. After World War II he became a composer and record producer. During the 1960s and '70s he arranged and conducted a number of Decca/London popular classical LPs in 'Phase 4 Stereo' with the Kingsway Symphony Orchestra, so called because it was an 'ad hoc' band of top London musicians which recorded in the famous Kingsway Hall.

Pablo Casals (arr. Stokowski) "O Vos Omnes" - Philip Jones Brass Ensemble - YouTube
O Vos Omnes," part of the Roman Catholic Liturgy for Holy Week, was set for mixed choir by Pablo Casals in 1932. Leopold Stokowski arranged it for brass and it received its only recording (so far) by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble on an Argo LP in 1979.

Liszt (arr. Gamley): Etude de Concert No. 3 - Abbey Simon, piano - YouTube
In this version of Liszt's Concert Study in D flat, Douglas Gamley supplied an orchestral accompaniment to the piano original. The solo part is played by Abbey Simon, with Gamley himself conducting the Sinfonia of London on a 1958 stereo Columbia LP entitled "Philharmonic Pops."

Handel (arr. Stokowski) "Pastoral Symphony" ('Messiah') - Serebrier conducts - YouTube
Leopold Stokowski eloquently arranged the "Pastoral Symphony" (or "Shepherds Christmas Music") from Handel's 'Messiah' for woodwinds and strings. It is beautifully played by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jose Serebrier, on a Naxos CD devoted to Stokowski Transcriptions.

Bach-Stokowski: Toccata and Fugue in D minor - Sir Andrew Davis conducts - YouTube
Leopold Stokowski's orchestral transcription of Bach's Toccata and Fugue for organ is probably the most famous of all Bach arrangements. It was splendidly played at the First Night of the 2000 Proms in London's Royal Albert Hall by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. For this performance, Sir Andrew Davis followed in Stokowski's footsteps by conducting without a baton. As will be seen, he clearly enjoyed the experience.

Stokowski "Traditional Slavic Christmas Music" - Serebrier conducts - YouTube
In his own notes to this recording, Jose Serebrier writes: "Stokowski's own 'Traditional Slavic Christmas Music' is based on Ippolitov-Ivanov's 'In a Manger' which in turn is based on a traditional Christmas hymn. Stokowski's orchestration, which he first performed in 1933, interpolates string and brass choirs (no woodwinds in this score) and has a certain magic, and not suprisingly, an organ-like quality." (From a Naxos CD).

Bach (arr. Vaughan Williams) "Giant" Fugue - Leonard Slatkin conducts - YouTube
Ralph Vaughan Williams arranged Bach's "Giant" Fugue (otherwise known as the Chorale Prelude "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott") for strings. A former pupil of his, Arnold Foster, Music Master of Westminster School, simplified the string writing so as to make it easier for his students to play and received a co-credit on the score. Leonard Slatkin conducts the BBC Philharmonic in this splendid 1999 Chandos recording.

Mussorgsky "A Night on the Bare Mountain" (Choral Version) - Rozhdestvensky conducts - YouTube
This version of "A Night on the Bare Mountain" comes from Mussorgsky's unfinished opera "The Fair at Sorochyntsi" (or "Sorochintsy Fair"). In the opera, it was intended as a dream sequence which incorporated parts for a solo baritone (sung here by David Wilson Johnson) and chorus (the BBC Singers and BBC Symphony Chorus). This performance comes from a Proms concert given in the Royal Albert Hall in 1981. It is sung in English, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky. Rimsky-Korsakov based his own purely orchestral edition of "Night on Bald Mountain" on this version of Mussorgsky's music. (A BBC Radio Classics CD.)

Mussorgsky "Night on the Bare Mountain" - Original Version - YouTube
The familiar version of "Night on the Bare Mountain" is the work of Rimsky-Korsakov, who not only shortened Mussorgsky's original score but also re-orchestrated it, added passages of his own, changed the harmonies, and largely re-composed the whole work. Mussorgsky's own orchestral composition was never played in his lifetime, though he also made a choral version for interpolation in his opera "Sorochintsy Fair" (recently uploaded). We hear now the first recording of Mussorgsky's original score in a performance by the London Philharmonic conducted by David Lloyd-Jones on a 1971 Philips LP. The sleeve notes state that the title on the manuscript is "St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain" and that there are four sections to the music: (i) Assembly of the Witches; (ii) Satan's Journey; (iii) Black Mass; (iv) Sabbath.

Handel "Love in Bath" - Beecham conducts - YouTube
In 1945, Sir Thomas Beecham introduced a 45-minute 'Balletic Entertainment' he'd devised which was set in 18th century Bath. The score features his own delightful arrangements of assorted arias, choruses and dances in Handel's operas. We hear two numbers - a Hornpipe, which ends with a flourish of 'Rule Britannia', and the ballet's Finale in which Handel's famous 'Largo' makes an appearance. This Seraphim LP dates from 1959.

Carl Stix "Playful Game" - Kostelanetz conducts - YouTube
The notes to this 1970 Columbia LP states: "Carl Stix is one of the mystery men of music. He appears in no extant music encyclopedias in any accessible language. He was probably German. The rest is silence - except for a few delightful works such as the 'Spielerei' recorded here in all it pizzicato charm, as arranged by Eugene Ormandy." Googling reveals that this seems to have been the only piece by Stix ever published (it was his Opus 140!) though another composition, the Intermezzo from his 'Dream Visions', was recorded twice on old 78rpm discs by the Florentine Quartet. His 'Spielerei' (also known as 'Child's Play') now makes its You Tube debut!

Fibich "Poeme" ('My Moonlight Madonna') - Kostelanetz conducts - YouTube
Fibich's "Poeme" provided the melody for the popular 1930s song "My Moonlight Madonna." Andre Kostelanetz conducts his own orchestral version of the original on this old Columbia LP (with apologies for the ticks and scratches!)

Mussorgsky-Stokowski "A Night on Bare Mountain" - YouTube
Leopold Stokowski recorded his own version of "A Night on Bare Mountain" several times. This recording (on a Cala CD) dates from 1953 and is played by a specially-selected orchestra of New York musicians, including many from the New York Philharmonic. Stokowski based his orchestration on Rimsky-Korsakov's edition of the score and used it in Walt Disney's "Fantasia" (1940). In addition to Mussorgsky's own original orchestral and choral versions, this piece has also been edited or arranged by Rene Leibowitz (and recorded by him) as well as Charles Gerhardt (his version was recorded by Sir Adrian Boult) and several others, including Gottfried von Einem and Henry Sopkin.

Rossini-Respighi "La Boutique Fantasque" - Sargent conducts - YouTube
Respighi selected and orchestrated an assortment of Rossini piano pieces for Diaghilev's production of the ballet "La Boutique Fantasque" ("The Magic Toy Shop") in 1919. Sir Malcolm Sargent arranged and edited his own Concert Suite from the complete ballet score and we hear four numbers from the recording he made with the Royal Philharmonic on an LP first issued in 1962.

Percy Grainger "Country Gardens" - Carmen Dragon conducts - YouTube
This delightful arrangement by Carmen Dragon of one of Percy Grainger's most popular pieces comes from a stereo LP entitled "Invitation to the Dance" issued in 1959. The orchestra is the Capitol Symphony.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top