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77.0. "More disk reviews" by WR1FOR::POLLAKMI () Thu Jan 24 1985 13:33

EMI CDS 7470418
	Mahler, Symphony number 2
	London Philharmonic Orchestra
	  "       "         Choir
	Edith Mathis, Dorris Soffel soloist
	(and ***** if didn't forget to write down the conductor)

 If you are a Mahler fan then you will like this disk. It is a two disk
set that will run somewhere around 46 minutes per disk, so you had best
be prepared to spend the eveing listing to only this.
 The music flows well: the highs and lows sound nice and I did not notice 
any background noise (although I didn't strain to listen for it).

Philips 410-038-2
	Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor
	     Prelude, Largo and Fugue in C
	     Prelude and Fugue in E flat

 I bought this disk to listen to the Toccata & Fugue in D minor and stayed to
listen to the rest. Looking at my notes I find I left out the organist. If
your really interest drop me a line.
 The organ notes came off well with out overpowering you. If you want the
music to blast you away then you'll have to up your volume. This is a disk
for those of us who like to listen to the music rather than blow away the
neighbors. The organist played without seeming to be slow or stumbling over
the notes.

London 410-110-2
	Gershwin Porgy and Bess
	Grofe' Grand Canyon Suite
	Antal Dorati
	Detroit Symphony

 A lovely little disk with two different composers that sound good together.
I had originally purchased the disk for the Grand Canyon Suite that I 
remembered from childhood and had not heard for several years.
 This disk has very good percussion. It was sharp without being tinny or over
powering. I found that I liked the two work very much. If your interested in
a couple of excellent minor american works then this disk is a must.

Windham WD-1012
	George Winston  Autumn
	WD-1019
	George Winston  Winter into Spring

 My wife originally got Mr. Winston's "December" in vinyl and when we saw these
two disk in CD we got them.
 I find Mr. Winston's music easy to listen to. It is the kind of music to
listen to on a quiet evening, in front of a fire place (if you possess one,
which I don't). He plays what I quess is classed jazz, but it flows so well
you don't notice. I can listen to his piano solo's without getting bored like I
usually do with solo instrumentals.
 The backround has some hiss, but when I listen with headphones it is only
noticable during quiet passages and even then it is low level.

Telarc CD 80041
	Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture
	            Capriccio Italien
	            Cossack Dance from Mazeppa
	Erich Kunzel
	Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

 I didn't realize it till I was listening to the 1812 overture and got to 
the cannon's that I realized what I had. A check with the disk case confirmed
that this was indeed the infamous 1812 Overture with digitally recorded
cannons and a warning on the label to beware of same.
 Unfortunately the cannons are so over powering that it is hard to listen
to the rest of the music. Other versions of the the 1812 Overture that I have
heard on vinyl are better simply because the cannons act as punctuations for
the musical passege instead of being the sole reason for the passage.
 I suppose one could listen to the other two cuts and find enjoyment in the
disk, but you either have to play them by themselves or make a trip to the
volume control, which is something I loath doing. I set my volume and then
sit back and let the music take me. With the 1812 I found I had to run to the
volume control to keep from having my woofers in my lap. Hardly the best way
to listen to music. Also the cannons sounded like a whoosh rather than a
cannon report.

Erato
	Vivaldi Conceto in
			C major RV537
			E minor RV484
			F major RV539
			D major RV564
			D major RV93

 Has anyone else had experience with the Erato label? I have noticed it more
and more now, and wonder if it is a new comer on the scene or just that the
record store has started stocking it.
 The music was nice. Vivaldi is aways easy to listen to. I think it was the
concerto in D major rv564 that I didn't like, but that is a personnal call
since I remembered it as being played on guitar by John Williams (has anyone
seen any CD labels with him?) and he is very good. Otherwise this is a
reasonable disk and I found nothing wrong with it.

Those are the Vivaldi MANDOLIN concertos on Erato.  Very nice.  Erato
is a French label, and has been around for some time.  Easy to pick
out in the record bins due to the large green "E" logo in the upper
left corner.  (I know, it looks like a sigma, but it is really a
stylized "E".)

DG has an 1812 on vinyl with von Karajan.  Don't know if it is on
CD yet.  Very interesting because of the use of a russian choir
at the beginning.  You don't usually hear the words to the hymn that
forms the initial segment.  Spooky.

Back to Erato:  I too have noticed more and more of them in the
stores.  They have lots of good classical stuff.  It may be that
they have just stepped up their American distribution.  Seem to
be of high quality.

	If by John Williams you mean the one of Star Wars fame; then I have 
seen some discs with him and the Boston Pops. I don't know what label they 
were though. I saw them  at Lechmere's in Framingham.

	/s/	Bob

No, I think he's talking about the John williams who's a classical guitarist.
Incidentally, Williams (the guitarist) plays some lead guitar for Pete
Townshend (!) on the SECRET POLICEMAN'S OTHER BALL album (and in the film).

--- jerry

Williams (the guitarist) also plays for the rock group "Sky".  They
have several albums out.

re .2
	John Williams and the Boston Pops are on Phillips (Polygram).

NO I do NOT mean John Williams the conductor. I mean John Williams the 
guitarist. He plays classical guitar and I was wondering if anyone had
seen a disk with him on it.

My list (Oct. 1984) lists the following under Williams, John.

	Echoes of Spain					CBS   MK36679
	Plays Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos
		Williams, Barenboim, Eng. Chamb.	CBS   MK33208
	Portrait of John Williams			CBS   38DC68

[John Williams (composer/conductor) is listed as just "Williams"]

	..Paul

	I have the CBS Masterworks album MK-36679, Echoes of Spain, on CD.
This CD has 9 tracks, all by Albeniz, viz. Granada, Asturias, Sevilla,
Majorca, Cordoba, Torre, Bermeja, Cadiz, Zambra Granadina, and Tango.  All
pieces are performed by John Williams without accompaniment.
	I'm no golden ears, but when I listen to this digital recording which
was digitally mastered (how much mixing can you do for a solo guitarist?), it
sounds like he's there in my living room playing the guitar.  The CD wins
because the rests are SILENT.  I have a CBS Masterworks 3 record set
of John Williams on vinyl, and the rice crispies accompaniment which vinyl
provides at no extra charge drives me up the wall, so this is really much
nicer.
	I bought the CD before the CD plant opened in Terre Haute, so mine is
made in Japan by Sony.  I have no idea how the American CBS CD's are in
comparison.
	Other John Williams CD's I have seen in catalogs are:
		
		CBS MK37848 - Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez & Fantasia
		para un gentilhombre (digital),
		
		CBS MK33208 - Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez; Villa-Lobos
		Guitar Concerto (analog)

The other night I was at Tweeter listening to the new JBL Ti 240's
and happend to listen to their copy of Bullish by Herb Alpert.
It was excellent.  So were the speakers for that matter.

The only thing I didn't like about it was the disc seems to have some
sort of a sub-sonic signal throughtout the disc that causes the woofer
to do a little dance.  Turning on the subsonic filter quickly took care
of the problem.  Since I have a copy of the album I am assuming that
the subsonic problem only occurs on the CD version.

Steve