Surely Bach’s French Suites, which he composed during his years at Cöthen (1717–1723), are among the finest inducements to practise that any teacher has ever made to a pupil. In this case Bach wrote them for his young wife, Anna Magdalena. The over-riding impression left by these suites is one of endearing tunefulness. Clavier-Übung II is a later collection of didactic keyboard pieces. It comprises two greatly contrasted works: the Italian Concerto and the Overture in the French Style. These performances admirably demonstrate the thoughtful and persuasive approach that András Schiff adopts when performing Bach. Recorded live at the Bachfest 2010, Protestant Reformed Church of Leipzig, 11 June 2010.

The nine-time GRAMMY Award-winning Emerson String Quartet has firmly established its authority in interpreting Beethoven’s string quartets since its first Beethoven Cycle performed in 1980 through its complete recording of his quartets on Deutsche Grammophon which won a 1998 GRAMMY Award.

This double-disc set assembles Jon Anderson's own tapes from the New Life Band Song of Seven tour of 1980 on their Sheffield stop (December 3 for those who document such things). The nonet band includes Morris Pert, Ronnie Leahy, Lee Davidson, Jo Partridge, and Barry DeSouza…

Guitarist Earl Slick never had a Plan B. Still doesn't. In fact, he doesn't believe in backup plans. "If you have a backup plan," said the guitarist who for decades worked alongside rock royalty including David Bowie and John Lennon among others, "then eventually you become the backup plan." Which explains – and fuels – Slick's new album, Fistful of Devils. Harnessing his musical roots as a child of the 60s when blue-based rock pushed its way to the front of the line and incorporating his decades as one of the most sought-after touring musicians in the business, Fistful is Slick as he's been from the start: an artist who fully mines the depths of the blues and guitar by drawing on a toolkit assembled from blues to glam to punk to rockabilly.

Awakening is the title of tenor Robert Pohlers' solo debut album on GENUIN. Together with his pianist Friedrich Praetorius, he brings to life a unique compilation of lieder by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Songs of Nature, Life, and Love, sung mainly from the new edition of the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig. Why this is only now available is because the beautiful lieder are predominantly of private origin, and many of them were not originally intended for publication at all. With their intimate character, they are sonorous heart-to-heart messages, brought to us by the gentle voice of the former member of the Thomanerchor Robert Pohlers and the clear piano playing of Friedrich Praetorius.

Canadian composer Clifford Crawley (1929-2016) is known for his command of a wide range of styles and the way he used them for both serious and playful purposes. He often said that he wrote for performers and audiences, hoping to move them, to reach them not just intellectually but as feelingful and imaginative people. To this end, he often draws on familiar elements, such as well-known dance idioms, that he inflects in highly original ways. Most of the works on this recording demonstrate Cliff’s genius in writing miniature forms, making impactful statements in short movements.

For a time it seemed as though Hypnos had begun to move away from the dark, cold, and at times clinical drone soundscapes that established them so quickly in the genre. That was until an Oöphoi recording made it onto the Hypnos release list. Oöphoi's first CD with Hypnos is excellent. It's quite reminiscent of some of Hypnos' previous releases, particularly M. Griffin and A Produce's Altara. There are also traces of Sunyata, a re-release of a tape-only release that Robert Rich had put out in the mid-'80s. Oöphoi's Athlit is a dark and foreboding release with melancholy drones that permeate the foreground and sparkling, almost scalpel-like pad sweeps that seemingly bring the recording out of the speakers and into three-dimensionality. This work is both contemplative and imaginative…

Six months after Limp Bizkit released The Unquestionable Truth, Pt. 1 to near universal apathy – which is what can happen when you release an album without any promotion – the band rushed out the compilation Greatest Hitz, a generous 17-track stroll through the past…

In 2003 Collectables doubled up two mid-'50s Mitch Miller albums on one CD. It's So Peaceful in the Country was released in 1956 and features Miller teaming up with fellow smoothie Percy Faith on a selection of standards like "Darn That Dream" and "Moonlight Becomes You," as well as some that never quite reached standardhood, like "I'll Be Around" and "Love Among the Young." All the songs are bathed in strings and have pretty standard elevator-lite arrangements – very pretty and very boring. The second album collected here, 1956's European Holiday, is of more interest as it features vocals, less treacly arrangements, and a fun theme: a European holiday, believe it or not. The first side of the album has Jerry Vale, Jill Corey, and the Michael Stewart Chorus on vocals, and while none of them will give Ella or Carmen any pause, they still are fun and tuneful vocalists…

Songs from Tsongas: The 35th Anniversary Concert captures prog rock legends Yes performing a wide mix of 22 songs spanning their whole career, including "Sweet Dreams," "Mind Drive," Pts 1-3," and "Owner of a Lonely Heart," live at Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts on May 15, 2004…

Using custom re-fretted guitars, Mak Grgic revolutionizes the standard repertoire with Renaissance & Baroque historical tunings, and premiering newly commissioned works that explore notes that have, quite simply, never been heard on the guitar before. Mak Grgic has been described as imaginative, gifted, and expressive (NY Times) and a guitarist to keep an eye on (Washington Post). His wide-ranging repertoire includes avant-garde, film, and popular musical styles while still retaining great classics for the instrument. As Young Artist in Residence at The Da Camera Society of Los Angeles, Grgic co-founded DC8, Da Cameras contemporary music ensemble that was called an inspiring addition to the contemporary music landscape in Los Angeles (LA Times). Grgic received a Bachelors Degree from the University for music and Performing Arts of Vienna, and his Doctoral Degree at the USC Thornton School of music. He is on the faculty of MSMU in Los Angeles, holds Artistic Directorships of Zagreb Guitar Festival, the interdisciplinary arts festival Bilijke I Svirke in Croatia, and serves as Artistic Advisor of Hong Kong International Guitar Festival.