RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Trouble in Jerusalem (2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It is always very exciting to hear classical music composed by artists outside of Western cultures and to hear what non-Western influences, folk melodies, and instruments they might use. However, good music is good music anywhere, just as unexciting music is unexciting music. This album, unfortunately, is not so exciting and does not live up to its potential. Played by the German Youth Orchestra (BJO) along with composer Rabih Abou-Khalil on the oud and two other soloists, the music seems to neither move nor be adequately programmatic. The album was composed as a modern soundtrack to a 1922 classic film called Nathan the Wise, which would suggest that the music would tell the story of the film in a clear manner, perhaps with a more distinct sense of motifs than one hears here. The CD opens with Jerusalem, which begins with an odd-sounding unison that precedes the oud, but the piece does not move. The string lines, which lack vibrato, could be more lush and sweeping (a characteristic one naturally might expect of string music from the Middle East). Though the oud's line is interspersed with orchestral passages, the music still feels dull and hovering. This sense of stagnation continues through various pieces on the album, even in the ending called "A Prayer for Tolerance." "Lament" is more interesting to listen to, as a brass solo as well as violin and cello solos showcase some of the best musicians in the orchestra. "Gerusalemme Liberata" has more musical drama when the brass enters and there is more texture in the strings. However, it feels random and lacking in motion, with fragments repeated. Perhaps the most interesting movement is "Once Upon a Dervish," where the use of percussion enlivens the piece. Abou-Khalil makes better use of orchestral colors here, which leads one to ask why he did not choose to do this in the previous movements. Once again, the solo violin plays nicely, and the strings have texture. Yet overall, the music does not come alive due to the combination of the music itself (with a heavy use of unisons, even taking cultural differences into account) and an orchestra that is not experienced enough to give the music more shape. This is by no means a criticism of younger musicians or youth orchestras, for there are plenty who are professional-caliber at a young age. Trouble in Jerusalem just does not make for an inviting musical experience. by V. Vasan  
Tracklist 1 :
1    Jerusalem    8:50
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2    Lament    10:24
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3    Gerusalemme Liberata    12:08
Rabih Abou-Khalil
4    Once Upon A Dervish    12:07
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5    Saladin And Nathan The Wise    7:29
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6    A Prayer For Tolerance    2:19
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits :
Cello, Soloist – Sophie Notte
Conductor [Orchestra] – Frank Strobel
Frame Drum [Frame Drums] – Jarrod Cagwin
Orchestra – The German Youth Orchestra (BJO)
Oud – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Tuba, Serpent – Michel Godard
Viola, Soloist – Sarina Zickgraf
Violin, Soloist – Tobias Feldmann

ALFRED SCHNITTKE - Film Music Edition (2009) 4CD / FLAC (tracks), lossless

Alfred Schnittke as a composer of film music - that is a fact well known to anyone who has ever been concerned with Alfred Schnittke. However, only very few people are familiar with his actual work in the film music genre. This is all the more surprising since on the one hand, Alfred Schnittke wrote more than 60 film scores during the years between 1961 and 1984, and on the other hand, his poly-stylistic techniques found a nearly perfect equivalent in film. Since Alfred Schnittke suffered from the artistic regimentations like many contemporary composers in the USSR, and his works could often only be performed under difficult circumstances, his work for the film to a large extent contributed to his livelihood. web

Film Music Vol. I

Tracklist 1:

1. Thema - Titelmusik / Title music (2:44)

2. Agitato I - Schlitten / Sledge (3:15)

3. Agitato II - Reise / Trip (4:42)

4. Walzer (Abschied) / Waltz (Farewell) (3:23)

5. Thema und Marsch / Theme and march (2:26)

6. Epilog / Finale (2:08)

Tracks 1–6: Die Geschichte eines Unbekannten Schauspielers / The Story of an Unknown Actor

7. Spaaziergänge der Wawilowa durch die Stadt / Wawilowa’s City Walk (4:24)

8. Hochzeit / Wedding (01:37)

9. Attacke / Attack (3:21)

10. Spiel / Game (4:12)

11. Einzung in die Stadt / Entering the city (2:43)

12. Liebe / Love (3:30)

13. Keller / Cellar (6:15)

14. Regen / Rain (7:40)

15. Traum / Dream (6:25)

16. Wanderung der Verdammten / Trek of the Damned (4:28)

17. Einsicht / Conclusion (2:51)

Tracks 7–17: Die Kommisarin / The Commissar

Film Music Vol. II

Tracklist 2:

1. Titelmusik / Title music (1:41)

2. Intermezzo (1:38)

3. Akrobaten / Acrobats (1:19)

4. Im Krankenhaus / In the hospital (2:35)

5. Walzer / Waltz (1:44)

Tracks 1–5: Clowns und Kinder / Clowns and Children

6. Die Baustelle / The building site (3:43)

7. Kutsche / Carriage (2:37)

8. Fabrik / Factory (3:27)

9. Wowka / Vovka (1:22)

Tracks 6–9: Der Walzer / The Waltz

10. Der Musioker und das Carillon / The musician and the carillon (1:50)

11. Prozession / Procession (1:23)

12. Die Gesichter - Die Flüge - Pyramide / Faces - Flights - Pyramids (13:26)

13. Der Musiker - Das Erwachen / The musician - The awakening (4:07)

Tracks 10–13: Die Glasharmonika / The Glass Harmonica

14. Sotnikows Tod / Sotnikov’s Death (6:56)

15. Auf dem Schlitten / On the sled (4:33)

16. Reue / Remorse (2:46)

Tracks 14–16: Der Aufstieg / The Ascent

Film Music Vol. III

Tracklist 3:

1. In der Fledermaushöhle / In the bat cave (4:48)

2. Absturz der Kutsche - Das Meer / Crash of the carriage - The sea (5:30)

3. Liebeserklärung - Orlandos Thema / Pledge of love - Orlando’s theme (5:22)

4. Katz-und-Maus-Spiel / Cat and mouse game (2:46)

5. Maitanz - Spelunke - Jagd / Mayday dance - Dive bar - Hunt (8:05)

6. Pest / Plague (5:54)

7. Menuett / Minuet (2:05)

8. Tanz - Walzer - Orlandos Tod / Dance - Waltz - Orlando’s death (4:48)

9. Zerstörung des Schlosses / Destruction of the castle (2:32)

10. Finale (3:05)

Tracks 1–10: Dea Märchen der Wanderungen / The Fairytale of the Wanderings

11. Titelmusik / Title music (3:33)

12. Bedrohung und Rettung / Menace and rescue (7:00)

13. Nacht / Night (4:29)

14. Legende / Legend (0:58)

15. Kampf / Fight (4:51)

16. Epilog / Epilogue (3:12)

Tracks 11–16: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Film Music Vol. IV

Listeners familiar only with Alfred Schnittke's frequently spiky concert music may be taken off guard by the fluency with which he created film scores in a completely accessible vernacular aesthetic. Given the catholicity of languages he incorporated in his polystylism, though, it's not surprising that when required to, he could isolate an idiom and write music of a more conventional stylistic unity. While he does draw on a number of influences, including jazz, Baroque, and folk song, these are used in the way a traditional film composer might employ them, not in Schnittke's usual astonishing juxtapositions. What may be surprising is the genuinely memorable lyricism of this music -- these scores don't sound like they were casually knocked off, but are lovingly and carefully constructed, the product of an exceptionally fertile imagination. The scores for the Russian films by director Elem Klimow -- Sport, Sport, Sport (1970) and The Adventures of a Dentist (1965) -- have an easy lyricism and driving rhythmic energy that would make them attractive to fans of more traditional film soundtracks. Both pieces are notable for their inventive orchestrations, strong dramatic impulse, and seamless incorporation of elements of pop and European folk traditions. The two multi-movement suites are arranged by Frank Strobel who conducts the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin in stylish and lively performances. The sound of Capriccio's SACD is exceptionally vivid and well-defined. The recording should be of strong interest to Schnittke fans, not only because if the compositional versatility it demonstrates, but because the music itself is so engaging and enjoyable. by Stephen Eddins  

Tracklist 4:

1.  Titelmusik - Interview / Title music - Interview (1:42)

2.  Griechenland - Das Bad / Greece - The bath (Adagio - Presto) (6:28)

3.  Zukunft / Future (Menuett) (1:40)

4.  Das Lied des Kaufmanns Kalaschnikow / Merchant Kalaschnikow’s song (Allegro) (5:18)

5.  Schlachtenbummler / Away fans (Menuett - Fuge - Allegro) (4:48)

6.  Der moderne Sport: Training - Sieger - Finale / Modern sports: training - winner - finale (Allegro molto - Andante) (5:25)

Tracks 1–6: Sport, Sport, Sport

7.  Maschas Lied / Mascha’s song (Tempo di Valse) (3:18)

8.  Gloria (Maestoso) (3:20)

9.  Der Park / The park (Tempo di Valse) (2:12)

10.  Pantomime (Allegretto) (3:47)

11.  Charleston (1:57)

12.  Frühling / Spring (2:56)

13.  Walzer / Waltz (Moderato) (2:03)

14.  Verzweiflung / Despair (Andante) (2:24)

15.  Finale (3:39)

Tracks 7–15: Die Abenteuer eines Zahnarztes / The Adventures of a Dentist