LATEST NEWS LATEST RELEASES
FUTURE RELEASES
LATEST NEWS from Brandon Music and Divine Art worldwide:
March 7: The initial response to the 'Smile' CD for Macmillan Cancer Support (see below) has been very positive and the official release date is tomorrow 8 March. Thanks to all who are helping us raise funds for this marvellous organisation. We have three new releases for April which are now available to order here, stock is expected soon so delivery can be arranged for around 19 March. See New Releases below.
February 15: March releases can be obtained here now. The three CDs which will appear in high street shops and dealers can be purchased on-line in the Divine Art stores now - please note the digital download versions will not be available until around mid-April.
We are trying to improve our international network by appointing new distributors, and we are currently in negotiation with a number of potential agents around the world. We are pleased to announce that as of 1 March 2010, we will be represented in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg by LAVIAL, and in Malta by D'Amato Bros. We hope to confirm distribution in Taiwan and Mexico soon. Dealers: see the Distributors page for details.
February 1: Another new month and more new titles.
Five new releases for January/February - two for Divine Art in the new Russian Piano Music series, which has already attracted much attention, one for Diversions, and two for Metier, featuring new music by British composers - see 'latest releases' below.
MAJOR CHARITABLE PROJECT
If there is any charitable organisation in the UK which above all commands respect and gratitude, it is Macmillan Cancer Support. The work of the Macmillan nurses is legendary as we know personally. Divine Art is honoured and delighted to be able to support Macmillan with the issue of a splendid new CD by Carol Jarvis, a brilliant young trombonist (and sufferer from Hodgkin's Lymphoma) and perfect role model for those afflicted. The CD is for obvious reasons aimed at the mass easy listening market, with new arrangements of jazz and Broadway classics, and four new pieces written specially for the album; Carol is accompanied by a fine session orchestra under the direction of Roderick Dunk (regular conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra). We hope that the quality of the music will appeal also to hardcore classical enthusiasts. The project has attracted the very generous support of many people, not least artist and TV presenter Rolf Harris, who has donated a splendid portrait of Carol for the cover. For legal reasons this CD cannot be released outside the UK, but we would urge anyone anywhere who likes fine music and wants to support a worthwhile cause, to buy the CD - available in our UK website (and UK mail order firms). "Smile" is on Diversions DDV24150 - a digital download version will also be available early 2010).
December 28: We have added a further list to our catalogs: an index of CDs of music by composers with birth or death annivesaries this year
December 18: New in stock in our gallery at Brandon Music, not strictly music-related but of interest to all art lovers, a small series of limited edition signed lithographs, and also 'Voice of the Artist' CDs - all very hard to come by and serious collectors' items. Artists include Andy Warhol, Connie Beckley, Daniel Johnston and more from the contemporary New York scene See them at our Gallery page
November 27: NEW eight most unique CDs featuring the wonderful music boxes from the Porter Music Box Museum. These are not desktop music box toys but wonderful new machines in the 'Symphonion' or Polyphon' style so popular at the end of the 19th century - sound to resonate around your home.There are five Christmas discs - ideal and perfect gifts . In the catalogue and online store now - click here
ALSO NEW: The new CD from Vermont pianist and composer Cody Michaels, "Winter Suite" is now available from us together with two of his earlier CDs. The first is almost sold out and we hope to be able to stock it early in 2010.
November 25: We now have in stock the sheet music for four of the pieces by Tommy Fortmann on our "Sax Music" CD (MSV28512); two for sax and piano, one for duo and one for sax quartet - great fun and really inventive music. Details here
November 15: Our shop in Vermont is setting up a section for CDs by the best of local musicians (and there are many fine artists in the area). We have begun with four CDs by award-winning and multi-talented composer, singer and violinist Derrik Jordan, whose new orchestral work has recently been premiered to great acclaim. Derrik is a master of many styles and his CDs vary from pop-soul music inspired by Stevie Wonder among others, World-fusion music inspired by Africa, and Latin rhythms. Details here.
John Garth Cello Concertos: as well as the highly acclaimed (and only) recording of these seminal early concertos, we now offer the score in cello/piano reduction and the solo cello part (separately). Unfortunately the owners of the new performing edition have not agreed to make the orchestral score available to purchase as yet.
You can now buy the novel Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (to which is related our CD 'Sacred Hearts, Secret Music' ) here at less than list price and with cheap shipping - and save 15% by buying the CD and book together! HERE. The CD has attracted several rave reviews and has been awarded the Gramophone Magazine "Editor's Choice" award for October 2009 in the choral category.
OUR SHOP AND MUSIC CAFE: Brandon Music, the American branch of Divine Art, is open for business in Brandon, Vermont. All of our CDs (most are usually in stock) can be browsed, sampled and purchased in-store, and we will in future also house a 'Collector's Corner' for historic record fans, with recitals of vintage recordings. Great music playing all day, so please visit! Our English tea-room is now open and we will have an art gallery - opening 1 July. Details at the Home Page
Brandon Music, 62 Country Club Road, Brandon, VT 05733 (see Brandon home page for map) tel: 1-802 465 4071
Divine Art group CD store, art gallery and gift shop stocking vintage English fine china, local artists' paintings, handstiched antique linens, prints etc, teawares and novelties. OPEN 10-6 DAILY (except Tuesday) HARMONY ENGLISH TEA-ROOM NOW OPEN 2-5pm DAILY (except Tuesday)
MOVE RECORDS OF AUSTRALIA: Until now supplied from England and priced in pounds, we are transferring the Move label to our US office so gradually during July-August these will appear with dollar prices and US shipping rates.
Pay by PayPal
As well as most major credit and debit cards, you can also use PayPal in both our British and American webstores, though not for phone orders. OUR OWN DIGITAL DOWNLOAD SHOP OPENS. As well as buying our music through iTunes etc you can now go direct to our dedicated digital store at http://divineartdigital.downloadcentric.net
MUSIC PUBLISHING:
We have also set up a new music publishing company, Brandon Music Ltd, as a joint venture with the renowned and highly regarded popular music producer and publisher Peter Knight. The company will specialise in classical/contemporary "serious" music of all genres, including original compositions, arrangements and transcriptions, and new performing editions of previously unpublished manuscripts. Our first publication is of the six Cello Concertos of John Garth (our best selling CD) in cello and piano version.
DISCOUNT ON 2-CD SETS
For the last year we have discounted many 2CD sets to the price of one CD - almost a lossmaking venture - and as planned, the prices have gone back up but only to $21.99, not to the original price of $24.99. Many of these are brand new award winning recordings and at the equivalent of $11 per CD are exceptional value.
DUNELM RECORDS:
Dunelm was set up for musicians to produce small quantities of recordings for private sale but soon attracted artists of international repute and has received glowing reviews for several releases. Dunelm became part of the Divine Art group in 2008. Some of the Dunelm titles will be re-issued on Metier or Diversions over a period of time - some are already available The few recordings made by Dunelm but not actually released are being published on Diversions.
We do not have individual catalog pages for each Dunelm CD - you can browse the catalogue list but track lists are given on the CD pages in the UK online store. Please note that an order for a Dunelm disc will be processed through our UK webstore.
WEBSITE and NEWSLETTER
Our e-newsletter is published every 2 or 3 months, with details of new releases. This will contain discount vouchers so to avoid the newsletter ending up in your spam folder, make sure that you clear mail from us and add our address to your "whitelist". To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here
FUTURE RELEASES: See below for details - we have some delights in store for you and see the Forthcoming Page.
For quick reference, you can now download our catalogues in pdf format or browse the listings.
LATEST RELEASES (last 12 months - click on catalogue number for more info)
APRIL 2010 - but available here now
The fifth in our Russian Piano Music series is devoted to the fabulous Romantic music of Anton Arensky. A fine pianist himself who made several recordings in the 1890s, his music is in our view the equal of Chopin's and will appeal to all, Played by Anthony Goldstone on dda25085. The Russian series will be resumed in the near future with several planned CDs of rare and familiar music. Goldstone also completes another series this month - his trilogy of arrangements and transcriptions of stage and celebration music. 'The Piano at the Ballet' (dda25073) has some well loved meloides presented in new and facinating arrangements. We are also delighted to present another very fine young pianist for his debut CD - Christopher Langdown. His celebrated Wigmore Hall recital of June 2009 is released on a 2-CD set at midprice (dda21218). Our fourth CD is also another sequel but on a different keyboard instrument. Our first disc of organ music by English composer John Ellis was critically praised, and Volume 2 (dda25087) contains some exquisite music and Ellis's Organ Symphony.
MARCH 2010
As mentioned above, the major project from our British branch this month is the release of Carol Jarvis's CD "Smile". This has been produced for the benefit of Macmillan Cancer Support which will receive substantial and much needed funds from sales. Almost every family in the UK has been given support by Macmillan and its devoted army of nurses, so do spread the word and help us to make a difference. "Smile" is on ddv24150 (Must be ordered from the UK for legal reasons due to charity law!). No less important musically are two tremendously good piano recordings, both of which we are very honoured to have released. On dda25084 we have the next issue in our Russian Piano Music series with pianist Anthony Goldstone, featuring Sergei Lyapunov, a composer almost forgotten in the West but whose rich romantic music is as good as it gets. And speaking of Romantic music, there is no better than Gustav Mahler. In his centenary year we bring you a superb piano transcription of the Tenth Symphony. Awesome. Christopher White on dda25079.
FEBRUARY 2010
A CD of music for piano duo, mainly jazz-inspired pieces, is provided by the astonishing 20-year old identical twins Rachel and Vanessa Fuidge - surely a pair with a bright future ahead. From pieces as popular as 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Carnival of the Animals' to some much less familiar works all of which are lively and exciting. 'A Touch of Class' is on Diversions ddv24146. Our Russian Piano Music series continues with some wonderful high Romantic music by Reinhold Glière, better know for big orchestral works, but showing a brilliance in piano writing matched by the performances by Anthony Goldstone on dda25083. Our third disc is very different in style but equal in quality, featuring music by contemporary British composer David Gorton, one of the several exceptional musicians on the staff of the Royal Academy of Music who grace our roster! The CD includes the Sonata for Solo Cello and the Trajectories String Quartet and other works, and is on msvcd92104.
JANUARY 2010
Just two piano discs, very different from each other. Volume 2 of the Russian Music Series (dda25081)has Anthony Goldstone presenting the quite amazing piano music of Vladimir Rebikov. mostly first recordings, this needs to be heard - splendid easy-to-listen-to and often humorous pieces from the 'father of Russian Modernism' . From Metier, the world premiere of three extended major works by British composer Keith Barnard are played by American pianist Jeffrey Grossman. "Cosmic Light" is on msv28516
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009:
Three CDs - all very different. The first is a most remarkable semi-dramatic contemporary work by leading British composer Christopher Fox. 'Catalogue Irraisoné' is performed by the Exaudi Vocal Ensemble on Meter msvcd92103. Two more traditonal programmes: On divine art dda21216, (2 CDs at lower-than-mid-price), Judith Lambden plays the six Partitas by J S Bach; a fine Australian pianist who is busy recording much more Bach. And we announce the start of our major Russian Piano Music series, being produced by our American branch. The first disc features music by Shostakovich and some of his contemporaries, played by the ever-awe-inspiring Murray McLachlan (dda25080)
SEPTEMBER 2009:
Our latest and long-awaited historical project is a 2CD set containing all but one of the recordings of the music of Peter Warlock on 78rpm records, which has been kindly supported by the Peter Warlock Society. Features many top artists of the period 1925-1951 during which these recordings were made, and ll expertly re-mastered by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio. (ddh27811). New releases from Metier continue with a superb 2 CD set ( mid price), by cellist Ulrich Heinen, former lead cellist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Modern works for solo cello counterbalance Bach's Cello Suites, 1 - 5 (msv28511)
AUGUST 2009:
Two lovely contemporary music CDs from Metier: top British flautist Susan Milan plays a program of modern but very approachable and lyrical pieces by Richard Rodney Bennett, Robert Saxton, Cecilia McDowall, Brian Lock and Dave Heath, with pianist Andrew Ball. "Out of the Cool" is on msv28510. A little more on the challenging side is a disc of new oboe quintet music (msv28513)from Christopher Redgate, judged the best contemporary-music oboist around. "Greatest Hits of All TIme" also features Ensemble Exposé and the Kreutzer Quartet and includes some fabulous pieces, such as the title work by Michael Finnissy. Our third CD is of much more traditional fare, a superb program of piano music entitled 'The Piano at the Carnival" (dda25076). Anthony Goldstone presents music with a Carnival theme by Schumann, Dvorák, Liszt, Khachaturian and Smith.
JULY 2009:
Our feature CD is the superb 'Sacred Hearts + Secret Music' (dda25077) by Musica Secreta. This features medieval/Renaissance works by Palestrina, da Rore and traditional plainchant and polyphonic chant, all arranged for womens' voices, is already selling like crazy, and is issued in conjunction with the latest historical novel, 'Sacred Hearts' by leading author Sarah Dunant, published by Random House, which you can also buy here.
JUNE 2009:
These four discs will not be in the shops until September but available here now. All are recordings of great merit selected from the Dunelm catalogue: First on ddv24141 we have a disc of organ music by the Manchester composer John Ellis, played by Ronald Frost at the organ of St. Ann's Church, Manchester. Then the amazingly talented Murray McLachlan adds to his ever-growing Divine Art discography with three discs devoted to the wonderful and individual piano music of John Ramsden Williamson, on ddv24143, 24144, and 24145. Two English composers worthy of much more notice.
MAY 2009:
Two discs of different style - we have a disc of exquisite modern British music by Jeffrey Lewis "Silence of the NIght" (metier msv28514) with pieces for violin, voice and chamber group, a must for all who have been reluctant to try modern compositions. And "Nuages" (diversions ddv24142) by pianist Panayiotis Demopoulos, includes fine music by Liszt, Beethoven and Demopoulos, in a cleverly 'themed' album - hence the title.
APRIL 2009:
This month sees three new releases again, including the eagerly awaited fifth CD in our Chisholm piano music series from Murray McLachlan (ddv24140); whilst this includes some real virtuoso playing, the other two new discs are both pure virtuosity, and remarkable performances: George Zacharias performs works for solo violin on 'Unaccompanied' (dda 25074) while we hear the breathtakingly agile voice of Clare Lesser in contemporary music for soprano - also mainly unaccompanied (metier msvcd 92102)
MARCH 2009:
Three new releases: these include two important world premiere CDs of new music: "Thirty-Nine Pages" - an extended work for violin and piano by Paul Whitty which explores the soundworld of Franck's Violin Sonata, performed by violinist Darragh Morgan and pianist Mary Dullea (metier msv28509) and Sax Music - music for saxophone(s) by Thomas Fortmann (metier msv28512) which hosts a fine list of top European musicians including saxophonist Marco Falaschi and the Berlioz Saxophone Quartet
Our third CD of more traditional music nevertheless contains some real rarities, and a major piece by William Mathias. "Awake O Harp", by Rachel Dent is on Diversions ddv24138.
RECORDING PLANS: (see also 'Future releases' page
The list of ongoing projects is growing again (over 50 CDs in the schedule), and here are details of some of the recordings planned for release soon. Many more are in preparation, including many from the Dunelm catalogue (see above).
The American branch is beginning discussions with some American musicians about recording projects (and welcomes proposals) and meanwhile has signed up two of the Divine Art regulars, exceptionally gifted pianists Murray McLachlan and Anthony Goldstone, to be the lynchpins of a new series of Russian Piano Music;volumes 1-5 are now available, and we are working on more CDs in this series. We are also hoping to sign up a highly regarded Vermont pianist shortly! Meanwhile, we have signed the Mexican Baroque Orchestra for a CD of concertos by Vivaldi and Facco
The said Ronald Stevenson is a legend among living composers, and has enjoyed a long association with pianist Murray McLachlan. A special project is in hand, involving the composer and the Ronald Stevenson Society, to record a double CD of Stevenson's music including the awesome Festival d'Alkan, the piano transcription on Mahler's 10th Symphony (1st movement) and other pieces. This recording is being funded by sponsorship; if you would like to make a donation to the fund, send us an email.
In that circle of English song composers from Delius, Warlock, Moeran, Butterworth, and Finzi (and more) there is now the remarkable john Jeffreys. Having released two fine discs of his songs, we are now working on a album which pays tribute to his fine compositional skill in all areas. "Idylls and Elegies" will appear next spring and features top artists such as baritone Jonathan Veira, pianist Shelley Katz, and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
One of the most ambitious Dunelm projects is the recording by Murray McLachlan of the entire piano music of prolific Scottish composer Erik Chisholm. This will stretch to 8 or 9 CDs, and we have just released volume 5(see above) at mid price. The remainder should be available before the end of 2010, and Murray is also arranging to record Chisholm's two magnificent Piano Concertos, and the two-piano works.
Another extended series is that devoted to Newcastle composer Charles Avison. Already released are four 2CD sets of his wonderful concerti, which have been greatly acclaimed by critics and buyers alike. The final release will include the op. 5 and op. 7 sonatas, again performed by The Avison Ensemble, which is due out in June.
More baroque music of the highest quality from Italian composer G A Guido, whose "Four Seasons" is very different from Vivaldi's but a magnificent work. The first recording of this masterpiece will be released on Diivne Art later this year performed by The Band of Instruments.
Prolific pianist Anthony Goldstone has also recorded a disc of favourite piano pieces associated with his teacher, Maria Curcio, who died recently. Curcio, herself a pupil of Schnabel, was extremely influential; this disc is aptly called "Inspiration - A Homage to Maria Curcio)
Goldstone is of course also one half of the duo Goldstone and Clemmow, whose list of recordings includes a vast array of fascinating premieres and discoveries; next to come is "The Jazz Age" - music (mainly from the 1920s) for duet and for two pianos, from Gershwin, Milhaud, Moyzes, Hill, Seiber and Hoagy Carmichael. Including some first recordings, this is a delight from start to finish.
One of the UK's most celebrated flute soloists, Susan Milan, has joined Divine Art and has signed an initial four-CD contract; this will see two discs with pianist partner Andrew Ball, one of 19th century "flute showcases" and the other of contemporary British music for flute and piano, which is now available. There will also be two discs of chamber trios; as well as these four discs, we are planning several more with Susan including orchestral recordings.
We seem to be attracting some phemomenal flute players, Susan Milan as mentioned, young recording debutant Odinn Baldvinsson, and Kenneth Smith who has made three CDs of romantic music and is currently preparing a major three CD set which will include some very rare items indeed. We are also very pleased to welcome to the fold Richard Craig, whose first Metier CD of contemporary flute music incldues works by Ferneyhough, Sciarrino, Barrett, Fedele, Bång, Croft, Johnson and Karski. Unfamiliar names? Yes, so was Mozart's once. Metier continues its crusade to promote the best of new music and its interpreters.
Miriam Morris is a foremost exponent of the viola da gamba, and is highly regarded in her native Australia, having made some fine discs for Move (see our Move list). Her first CD for Divine Art will feature several works by J S Bach - originally written for cello, violin or lute - transcribed by Miriam for the viol, and a fascinating new insight into the music of Bach.
The issue of our Buxtehude organ music CD by David Hamilton resulted in him being commissioned by the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh to produce a disc of well known works by J S Bach. This is being recorded in February and should be available by August 2010.
There are about 20 more recordings for the Metier label in various stages of preparation, and we are working with Metier Productions to bring these to release soon. Volumes 5 and 6 of the "Beethoven Explored" series with violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved and pianist Aaron Shorr have been recorded recorded for release next year. Meanwhile, Metier's modern music series continues with two very fine contemporary progammes - the first features music by Australian composer David Lumsdaine, performed by top British soloists and esteemed ensemble Gemini; then regular Metier artist Ian Pace presents a disc of piano music by Brian Ferneyhough, which promises to be of major insterst and also very challenging.
A recital of works for chamber ensemble with electronics by Paul Archbold is making good progress through the recording process for release next year.
The fourth volume of our Galuppi piano sonata series is underway. Meanwhile, pianist Peter Seivewright is also busy with several projects. Following the recent release of "American Piano Sonatas" a further four volumes in this series are being prepared. Peter has also recorded Bach's Goldberg Variations and a disc of the magnificent piano music of Max Reger. These should see release dates in 2009. Peter Seivewright also appears with the Scottish Baroque Soloists in recordings of four Bach Keyboard Concertos, for release in the fall of 2010.
More to come soon!
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