Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of classical music with William Primrose's "J.S. Bach, Paganini & Others: Works." This exquisite collection, released in 1996 under Biddulph Recordings, showcases the unparalleled artistry of William Primrose, a virtuoso violist whose contributions to chamber music are legendary. Spanning a generous 2 hours and 21 minutes, this album is a treasure trove of 51 meticulously crafted tracks that blend the masterful compositions of J.S. Bach, Niccolò Paganini, and other esteemed composers.
Primrose's collaboration with notable musicians such as Harry Isaacs, Sidonie Goossens, Vernon de Tar, and Marian Anderson (contralto) elevates this album to a transcendent experience. The recordings, made between 1939-42, capture Primrose at the zenith of his career, a period marked by his collaborations with Heifetz and Feuermann and the founding of the Primrose String Quartet. The album features a diverse range of works, from Bach's intricate Cello Suites, masterfully arranged for viola solo by Primrose himself, to Paganini's virtuosic 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, also arranged for viola solo and accompanied by piano.
The album also includes enchanting pieces such as "Ave Maria" and "Londonderry Air," arranged for viola and harp, as well as deeply moving vocal works like "Élégie" and "In the Silence of the Secret Night," featuring the hauntingly beautiful voice of Marian Anderson. The inclusion of pieces like "The Rosary" and "8 Humoresques" further showcases the versatility and depth of Primrose's musical prowess.
"J.S. Bach, Paganini & Others: Works" is not just a compilation of classical pieces; it is a testament to William Primrose's enduring legacy as a pioneer of viola playing. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a rich and rewarding listening experience that highlights the timeless beauty of these compositions and the extraordinary skill of the artists involved.
Tracks
24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, MS 25 (Excerpts Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): No. 13 in B-Flat Major "The Devil's Laughter"Niccolò Paganini, William Primrose
24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, MS 25 (Excerpts Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): No. 5 in A MinorNiccolò Paganini, William Primrose
24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, MS 25 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola & Piano): No. 17 in E-Flat MajorNiccolò Paganini, William Primrose, Harry Isaacs
Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7, MS 48: III. Rondo "La campanella" (Arr. for Viola & Piano)Niccolò Paganini, William Primrose, Harry Isaacs
Ave Maria, Op. 52 No. 6, D. 839 (Arr. A. Wilhelmj for Viola & Harp)Franz Schubert, William Primrose, Sidonie Goossens
6 Romances, Op. 6, TH 93: No. 6, None but the Lonely Heart (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola & Piano)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, William Primrose, Harry Isaacs
Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen: No. 1, Liebesfreud (Arr. for Viola & Piano)Fritz Kreisler, William Primrose, Harry Isaacs
Londonderry Air (Arr. P. Hughes for Viola & Harp)Traditional, William Primrose, Sidonie Goossens
Komm, süßer Tod, BWV 478 (Arr. V. de Tar for Viola & Organ)Johann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose, Vernon de Tar
Am Tage Aller Seelen, D. 343 (Arr. V. de Tar for Viola & Organ)Franz Schubert, William Primrose, Vernon de Tar
2 Gesänge, Op. 91: No. 2, Geistliches WiegenliedJohannes Brahms, Marian Anderson, William Primrose, Franz Rupp
2 Gesänge, Op. 91: No. 1, Gestillte SehnsuchtJohannes Brahms, Marian Anderson, William Primrose, Franz Rupp
Élégie (Sung in English) [Arr. for Voice, Viola & Piano]Jules Massenet, Marian Anderson, William Primrose, Franz Rupp
6 Romances, Op. 4: No. 3, In the Silence of the Secret Night (Arr. for Voice, Viola & Piano)Sergei Rachmaninoff, Marian Anderson, William Primrose, Franz Rupp
8 Humoresques, Op. 101, B. 187: No. 7, Poco lento e grazioso (Arr. E. de Luca for Viola & Orchestra)Antonín Dvořák, William Primrose, Victor Symphony Orchestra, Charles O'Connell
The Rosary (Arr. for Viola & Orchestra)Ethelbert Nevin, William Primrose, Victor Symphony Orchestra, Charles O'Connell
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): II. AllemandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): III. CouranteJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): IV. SarabandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): V. Menuett IJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VI. Menuett IIJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VII. GigueJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): II. AllemandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): III. CouranteJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): IV. SarabandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): V. Menuett IJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VI. Menuett IIJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VII. GigueJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): II. AllemandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): III. CouranteJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): IV. SarabandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): V. Bourrée IJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VI. Bourrée IIJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VII. GigueJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): II. AllemandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): III. CouranteJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): IV. SarabandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): V. Bourrée IJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VI. Bourrée IIJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VII. GigueJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): I. PréludeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): II. AllemandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): III. CouranteJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): IV. SarabandeJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): V. Gavotte IJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. W. Primrose for Viola Solo): VI. Gavotte IIJohann Sebastian Bach, William Primrose
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