Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Washington. D.C.-based pianist Haskell Small as a collaborator and co-performer.
Our various narrator/piano work includes everything from R-rated Erik Satie (!) to the many performances of the original version of Poulenc’s setting of Babar the Elephant, leading finally to the happy recording of Fairy Tales Set to Music.
After having written liner notes for many of Haskell's projects, he asked me to do so for his long-planned recording of the Bach Partitas.
I did so—the notes are here—and in one of my Other Lives as host for the Baroque program on SiriusXM, I have been made well aware of the issues about original instrument recordings, particularly in the piano vs. harpsichord camps.
My own belief is that Bach transcends any such issues, and happily both Haskell and the label MSR Classics provided us with copies of the CD for any new supporters for Millennium.
Following an excellent recommendation by one of those good friends to our work, we are also going to try out a “Refer a Friend” trial, wherein if you get a friend to also support us, we are happy to send you a CD as well.
In other housekeeping: we have had many long-time subscribers helped out if they are in difficult financial situations by those of you who have set up grants as part of our Gift subscription program. If you find yourself in a place where you want to be subsidized for listening, please let us know.
As we are also receiving so many wonderful grants as well in our ongoing Preservation program, we are also finding here and there some of those shows from decades ago may be mis-labelled or with the wrong play lists; always let us know if you suspect something is not right… many of you have done just that, and it has helped make everything organized and all tidied up.
And again, as always, thank you for the wonderful support that makes this all possible.
RAD
Refer a Friend, Receive Your Gift
P.S. This new album is already getting excellent reviews...
Audiophile Edition: "Gorgeous renditions of this music, sans any idealistic encrustations."