George Rochberg(1918-2005): a Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

Rochberg was a noted American serialist during the 1950s but renounced serialism after the death of his son in 1964. His music from the 70s onwards is written in a modern romantic idiom. This conversion and the composer's denunciation of serialism brought down upon Rochberg's head a venomous reaction from some critics (in much the same way as did Penderecki's evolution of a new style around the same time). We owe Naxos a debt for making available Rochberg's magnificent Symphony No.5 and the Violin Concerto in its revised and full-length version(Isaac Stern recorded a mutilated version in 1977).

GEORGE ROCHBERG: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRALAND CHORAL MUSIC

1948:      Night Music for orchestra with cello solo: 12 minutes
1948-49/
1977/2003:Symphony No.1: 50 minutes     +  (Naxos cd)
1953:      Chamber Symphony for Nine Instruments: 18 minutes
1954:      "Cantio Sacra" for small orchestra: 12 minutes
                "David the Psalmist" for tenor and orchestra: 25 minutes
1955-56:Symphony No.2: 30 minutes     +  (New World and Naxos cds)
1958:      Cheltenham Concerto for small orchestra: 15 minutes
1960:      Time-Span I for orchestra (withdrawn)
1964:        "Apocalyptica" for wind ensemble, piano and percussion: 20 minutes
1964-65:"Zodiac"(A Circle of 12 Pieces) for orchestra: 14 minutes
1965:      Music for "The Alchemist" for soprano and eleven players: 20 minutes
                Time-Span II for orchestra(revision of Time-Span I): 10 minutes
               "Black Sounds" for wind, brass, piano and percussion(revision of "Apocalyptica": 14 minutes   +  (Naxos cd)
1965-69:Music for the Magic Theater for small orchestra   +  (New World cd)
1966-69:Symphony No.3 for soloists, double chorus, chamber chorus and orchestra: 40 minutes     *
1967:      Passions According to the 20th Century for singers, jazz quintet, brass ensemble, percussion, piano and tape: 60 minutes
1968:      Tableaux for soprano, two actors' voices, small men's chorus and 12 players: 30 minutes
                Fanfares for Massed Trumpets, Horns and Trombones: 6 minutes
1970:      Sacred Song of Reconciliation("Mizmor L'plyus") for baritone and orchestra: 10 minutes
1973:     "Imago Mundi" for orchestra: 23 minutes       +  (Naxos cd)
1973-74:"Phaedra"- A Monodrama for mezzo-soprano and orchestra: 35 minutes
1974/2001:Violin Concerto: 36 minutes    *      +  (Naxos cd; shortened version-Sony cd)
1975:      Transcendental Variations for string orchestra: 17 minutes   + (Naxos cd)
1976:      Symphony No.4: 45 minutes    *
1983:      Oboe Concerto: 18 minutes    + (New World cd)
1984-85:Symphony No.5: 25 minutes   +  (Naxos cd)
1986-87:Symphony No.6: 35 minutes    *
1987:      Suite No.2 from the Opera "The Confidence Man" for solo voices, chorus and orchestra
1987-88:Suite No.1 from the Opera "The Confidence Man":
1996:      Clarinet Concerto: 26 minutes           +   (Bravo cd)

[Greg K]

For what it's worth, Rochberg's Clarinet Concerto has been issued on a Bravo CD.

[Dundonnell]

For what it's worth, Rochberg's Clarinet Concerto has been issued on a Bravo CD.

Unfortunately, that Bravo cd seems now to be unavailable.

[alberto]

The Violin Concerto was recorded also by I.Stern, Previn and Pittsburgh (CBS Lp, turned Sony Cd).

[Alan Howe]

The Violin Concerto was recorded also by I.Stern, Previn and Pittsburgh (CBS Lp, turned Sony Cd).

But this was the mutilated version insisted upon by Isaac Stern. The full work is on Naxos.