A new semester is starting, and my university students have new required recordings.
There are a number of criteria that go into these selections, but I mentioned one in particular back in the spring:
So far my two-semester tally, selecting recordings for four different instruments, is six white men and two white women. I’d like to improve on that in the future, though I do think that, ultimately, what comes through the earphones is more central to this project than the colors or genders represented on the CD covers.
I think I did manage to pick out two this semester that add a little diversity, and certainly without compromising one bit on quality: my oboe students are getting a fine recording by Brazilian oboist Alex Klein, and the saxophonists will be enjoying a new release by African-American saxophonist (and one of my teachers) Otis Murphy. On the other hand, I did end up with all men this time around.
One other victory this semester is that all these recordings are available for download on iTunes. I still like having the CD myself, but iTunes is a convenient and, more importantly, economical option for my students.
Here are the selections:
Oboe: Alex Klein, Oboe Concertos of the Classical Era
Repertoire: Krommer Concertos, Hummel Introduction, Theme, and Variations
Clarinet: David Shifrin, Brahms/Schumann Soirée
Repertoire: Brahms Sonatas, Schumann Fantasiestücke
Bassoon: Frank Morelli, Baroque Fireworks
Repertoire: Zelenka Trio Sonata, Vivaldi Sonatas in B-flat major and A minor, Telemann Sonata and Quartet
Saxophone: Otis Murphy, Fantasy
Find it on: iTunes
Repertoire: Maslanka Sonata, Bozza Aria, Tomasi Ballade, transcriptions of Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and Narita.
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