{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://frankhecker.com/2008/12/13/alex-ross-picks-on-emusic-again/",
  "path": "/2008/12/13/alex-ross-picks-on-emusic-again/",
  "publishedAt": "2008-12-13T13:43:12.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:77mn3ult3b72tpvtqqva6tat/site.standard.publication/3mpfmfpu4u72n",
  "tags": [
    "alexross",
    "emusic",
    "music"
  ],
  "textContent": "Continuing a [tradition from last year][traditi], here’s what you can find on eMusic from the [list of recommended 2008 recordings][list of] published by [Alex Ross][Alex Ro].  (Note that CaptWhiffle also has Alex Ross picks for 2007 and 2008 as a [user list on eMusic][user li], something I didn’t notice until I’d almost finished this post.)\n\n- “[Crystal Tears][Crystal]”: songs of Dowland, Robert Johnson, Byrd, and others; Andreas Scholl, countertenor, Julian Behr, lute and Concerto di viole ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni]).  This is 21 tracks (about half of my monthly allotment), but I like early music and the samples sound good, so this is a likely download for me.\n\n- “[Heavenly Harmonies][Heavenl]”: music of Tallis and Byrd; Stile Antico ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni02]).  Same story as for “Crystal Tears.”\n\n- [Chopin, Preludes, and pieces by Mompou][Chopin]; Alexandre Tharaud, piano ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni03]).  This is not on CaptWhiffle’s list, probably because it was released late in the year.\n\n- [Brahms and Schumann Lieder][Brahms]; Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano, and Julius Drake, piano (Wigmore Hall Live).\n\nSeveral releases on eMusic were also on Ross’s “honorable mention” list; some of these are missing from CaptWhiffle’s list:\n\n- [Beethoven’s Symphonies Nos.  2 and 7][Beethov], with Osmo Vänskä conducting the Minnesota Orchestra ([BIS][]).\n\n- [Piano works by Salonen, Stucky, and Lutosławski][Piano w], with Gloria Cheng (Telarc).\n\n- [Elliott Carter’s Quartets Nos.  1 and 5][Elliott], with the Pacifica Quartet ([Naxos][]).  [Elliott Carter’s 100th birthday][Elliott02] was yesterday, so you can download this as a belated birthday gesture if you forgot to send a card.\n\n- [Volume 4 of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas][Volume], with Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi).  29 tracks, but even the MP3 release on Amazon is \\$27.49.\n\n- “[Now][],” The NOW Ensemble (New Amsterdam).  I really like this album, and wrote about it previously in the context of the [indie classical scene][indie c] and the role of [New Amsterdam Records][New Ams] within it.  New Amsterdam is attracting a lot of interesting artists to its roster (e.g., [Corey Dargel][Corey D], [Victrola][Victrol], [Build][]); some of them I find somewhat meh, but others I really like.  Being able to cheaply explore releases from labels like New Amsterdam is one of the great things about eMusic;\n\n- “[Mothertongue][Mothert],” Nico Muhly (Bedroom Community/Brassland).  I really liked Muhly’s “[Speaks Volumes][Speaks]” (not on eMusic), but after listening to this one a few times I’m still having problems getting into it.  The [Sequenza21 review][Sequenz] captures some of my concerns.\n\n- “[Scattered Rhymes][Scatter]” (works of O’Regan, Machaut, Bryars, and Dufay), with the Orlando Consort and Paul Hillier conducting the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir ([Harmonia Mundi][Harmoni04]).\n\nRoss also posted a list of what he considers to be the [ten best performances of 2008][ten bes].  This is also interesting, and provided me at least one suggestion for future eMusic exploration.\n\n[traditi]: http://swindleeeee.com/2007/11/28/alex-ross-picks-on-emusic/\n[list of]: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex-rosss-ten-best-recordings.html\n[Alex Ro]: http://www.therestisnoise.com/\n[user li]: http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=31865036&nickname=&cs=1#/profile/ajax/lists/showlist.html?lid=31865036&nickname=&cs=1\n[Crystal]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Andreas-Scholl-Crystal-Tears-MP3-Download/11201029.html\n[Harmoni]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html\n[Heavenl]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Stile-Antico-Heavenly-Harmonies-Music-of-Thomas-Tallis-Will-MP3-Download/11179072.html\n[Harmoni02]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html\n[Chopin]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Alexandre-Tharaud-Chopin-Pr%C3%A9ludes-Op-28-MP3-Download/11144532.html\n[Harmoni03]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html\n[Brahms]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Lorraine-Hunt-Lieberson-Schumann-Frauenliebe-und-leben-Brahms-8-Songs-MP3-Download/11299059.html\n[Beethov]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Osmo-Vanska-BEETHOVEN-van-L-Symphonies-Nos-2-and-7-Minnes-MP3-Download/11284386.html\n[BIS]: http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=19746927\n[Piano w]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Gloria-Cheng-Piano-Music-of-Salonen-Stucky-and-Lutoslawski-MP3-Download/11241811.html\n[Elliott]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Pacifica-Quartet-CARTER-String-Quartets-Nos-1-and-5-MP3-Download/11135708.html\n[Naxos]: http://www.emusic.com/label/Naxos-MP3-Download/110399.html\n[Elliott02]: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/arts/music/12carter.html\n[Volume]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Paul-Lewis-Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas-Vol-4-MP3-Download/11271832.html\n[Now]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Now-Ensemble-Now-MP3-Download/11181056.html\n[indie c]: http://swindleeeee.com/2008/02/24/now-ensemble-and-more-on-indie-classical/\n[New Ams]: http://www.newamsterdamrecords.com/\n[Corey D]: http://www.automaticheartbreak.com/\n[Victrol]: http://www.myspace.com/victrolavictrola\n[Build]: http://www.myspace.com/buildbuildbuild\n[Mothert]: http://www.emusic.com/album/Nico-Muhly-Mothertongue-MP3-Download/11211078.html\n[Speaks]: http://www.amazon.com/Speaks-Volumes/dp/B00169YISO/?tag=frankhecker-20\n[Sequenz]: http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/?p=314\n[Scatter]: http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Orlando-Consort-Scattered-Rhymes-MP3-Download/11198309.html\n[Harmoni04]: http://www.emusic.com/features/hub/harmoniamundi/index.html\n[ten bes]: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex-rosss-ten-best-performanc.html",
  "title": "Alex Ross picks on eMusic again"
}