Epic classical works from a variety of composers with a strong focus in 20th century classical literature. 

Favorite Classical Pieces

Sergei Prokofiev: Diabolical Suggestion from Four Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 4, No. 4 (transcribed for orchestra by Ryan M. Hare)
Performed by the Washington Idaho Symphony, Jeremy Briggs Roberts, conductor.

Sergei Prokofiev’s early fame as a composer was obtained via his compositions for solo piano, which dominate his early opus numbers. The Four Pieces, Op. 4 were composed in 1908, when Prokofiev was seventeen years old; Prokofiev was a musical prodigy, and, despite his young years, anyone familiar with any of Prokofiev’s later piano music will nonetheless recognize the style of these early pieces as being clearly his. They are audacious, well-crafted, and boldly imaginative, and to me they have suggested the possibility of a second life as orchestral music from my earliest acquaintance with them. I have long been an admirer of Prokofiev’s skill as an orchestrator, from his earliest ballets through all seven of his symphonies. His musical personality seems to me just as evident in his orchestrations as in his melodic and harmonic idioms. 

In undertaking this project, I studied his orchestral scores extensively, particularly his earlier compositions that seemed to have the most in common with the language of the early piano music, such his early ballets The Steel Step, The Buffoon, and The Prodigal Son as well as the Second, Third, and Fourth Symphonies. My goal, to the extent possible, was to orchestrate the pieces as Prokofiev might have, knowing that while I am not Prokofiev, his use of the orchestra has greatly influenced many of the instrumentation choices I make in my own original orchestral music. His orchestral sound world was very much in my ear through the whole process.

Sergei Prokofiev: Diabolical Suggestion from Four Pieces, Op. 4, No. 4 (transcribed by Ryan M. Hare)

Hugh Wolff conducts the New England Conservatory Philharmonia in Shostakovich: Symphony no 1 in F minor. Recorded live at NEC's Jordan Hall February 9, 2012.
For more information: http://necmusic.edu/concerts

Shostakovich: Symphony no 1 in F minor, Op. 10 -  Allegro

Extracts taken from LSO Live's recording of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances & Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Valery Gergiev. Recorded live at the Barbican, 7 - 9 May 2009.

 Buy this recording direct from LSO Live here: http://bit.ly/ArCJKA or download a 'Mastered for iTunes' high quality version on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/z86p4B

Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements - iii. Con moto - Piu presto - Meno mosso (Con moto)

Ann Marie Yasinitsky, flute; Keri E. McCarthy, oboe; Shannon Scott, clarinet; Jennifer Scriggins Brummett, horn; Ryan M. Hare, bassoon
Jeffrey Savage, piano
Live performance: March 21, 2008.

The Belgian composer Joseph Jongen was especially well known as an organist and composer of organ music. He was something of a child prodigy, having started his music studies at the Liège Conservatoire at age 7. He briefly studied composition with Richard Strauss; he also spent time in Paris around the turn of the century and came under the influence of Vincent D’Indy and Gabriel Fauré. His style is something of a hybrid; one can hear equally French and German Romantic traits. The Rhapsodie for piano and wind quintet was composed in 1922, and in this work the additional influence of Debussy is apparent. Apropos its title, the Rhapsodie is a freely structured stream of musical ideas; however a taut, somewhat Straussian concept of motivic transformation lends coherence to the whole.

Joseph Jongen: Rhapsodie for Wind Quintet and Piano

The Solstice Wind Quintet is the resident faculty wind quintet at Washington State University. Every year, Solstice tours throughout the Northwest receiving enthusiastic acclaim for vibrant performances of standard and modern repertoire as well as exciting new works composed especially for the ensemble. Founded in 1978, the group regularly performs on prestigious chamber music series, at universities, art museums and public schools. In the fall of 2005 Solstice performed a live concert for National Public Radio's "St. Paul Sunday" which was broadcast on Northwest Public Radio. The Quintet's CD titled "Solstice Live" was featured recently on NPR in their spring fundraiser campaign. Individual members of the quintet have extensive professional experience in symphony, opera, and ballet orchestras including the Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, San Jose, Dallas and Syracuse Symphonies to name just a few.

Joseph Jongen: Rhapsodie for Wind Quintet and Piano

Solstice Wind Quintet

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