Coming next week I'll share my real favorite "new" to the library book about film music.  But for now, here are a selection of five favorite "new" to my library discs. 

First up is an older score that I managed to find on a browsing day.  Howard Shore's one score for Tim Burton, Ed Wood, is that delicious combination of old-fashioned movie music from Universal horror scoring days coupled with Shore's own innate scoring style.  The inclusion of theremin sounds here makes this one of Shore's earliest accessible scores for music fans that could not grasp his musical sensibility.  It shows Burton's fascination with musical and film worlds that he would later parody in Mars Attacks! featuring a score by Elfman that takes a page from classic 1950s sci-fi films.

Ironically, the more recent Monsters vs. Aliens does the same thing and that score by new comer Henry Jackman  is also a fun listen of contemporary film scoring with lots of classic monster and sci-fi music gestures.  It is a richly-orchestrated score that is a wonderful introduction to this genre of music for new listeners plus includes plenty of fun songs that younger listeners will enjoy.

Two limited edition, and now unavailable, releases were sent for review this week and those of you who were able to get them know how great they were.  Barry's Until September is a beautiful romantic, one-trick theme score much like his equally popular Somewhere in Time.  Though monothematic to the extreme, the richly-orchestrated Barry sound is hard not to like here in Intrada's beautiful pressing.  The other score was a limited edition release by La La Land that I completely missed hearing about until it was sold out.  It was Rosenthal's 1977 score for The Island of Dr. Moreau.  I remember this film fondly as the favorite sci-fi flick of my pre-teen movie going experience and the score does not disappoint.  We can all hope that this might reappear soon.  For now you can only hear excerpts on the label's website.

And now for something completely different.  Claudio Abbado is not necessarily known for his period instrument

performances and so Archiv's release of the complete Mozart Violin Concerti will be a revelation for those

looking for a near perfect overview of these amazing works.  Giuliano Carmignola, not necessarily a Classical

music household name, manages to perform these works with a nod to period style and musical sensibility that one

often finds missing in contemporary performances of these works. Mozart's violin concerti tend to value a different

sensibility than the showier concerti favored and learned by popular performers with higher profiles in the music

world.  It takes someone with the depth of musical ability and sense of nuance that Carmignola has that makes

listening to these 5 pieces, and a Sinfonia Concertante among the most satisfying musical experiences one will

have this year.  He does for these pieces what Perahia and Uchida achieved in their traversals of the piano

concerti.  The two-disc set is a must have for Mozarteans and will be a disc returned to often.

It's been a busy couple of days, and a quiet one musically.  But today it's Mozart's birthday.  I remember we used to wonder where Mozart would be if he were alive today.  Sadly, I think he would find it equally as difficult to get his music heard.  There are many people writing music who will never get a chance to have their music heard.  It will be up to rediscovery of future generations to decide the amazing wonder of their music.

Mozart's music seems to have that quality that speaks to many generations and people though.  Even his operas tend to be popular among those who generally do not like opera.  There are some great entry points to begin enjoying Mozart's music.  I always loved the minor-key pieces.  I know many appreciate the genius of the latter symphonies, but I just really like the "little" G-minor symphony (#25).  I had this on an LP that was coupled with the "Prague" symphony (#38).  I had the honor of being able to play first bassoon in the minor-keyed piece as well, cementing my joy of the music even more. 

The piano concerti are really the masterpieces of Mozart's oeuvre.  You really cannot go wrong with any of them.  They are filled with wonderful beauty in their slow movements, playful energy in the outer movements, and a wealth of wonderful melodies.  My favorites are the central ones of Mozart's output from no. 12 to 18.  Murray Perahia and Mitsuko Uchida are favorite performances.

The various overtures are also worth exploring.  I've been fortunate enough to have played some of these as well.  "Don Giovanni" is a personal favorite. 

For those looking for something with choral writing beyond compare, there is always the various versions of Mozart's final piece, "Requiem."  Again the minor key feel just makes this work continually fascinating.  I was fortunate enough to play the bassoon part in this as well.  It is a poignantly special memory as it was a special concert in the beautiful chapel at Gustavus Adolphus college in St. Peter.  There is nothing like hearing this amazing piece in an acoustically wonderful location.  The chapel was later damaged in a tornado storm and has since been rebuilt but I will always hold this time fondly.

Anyone have other favorite moments of Mozart?