For the Record, Op. 257: Ulysses Quartet; Feininger Trio; YuEun Kim; KayCee Galano

October 13, 2023, 11:00 AM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

The Ulysses Quartet.

Shades of Romani Folklore
Ulysses Quartet
Christina Bouey, violin
Rhiannon Banerdt, violin
Colin Brookes, viola
Grace Ho, cello

The Ulysses Quartet fuses the power of Beethoven, the raw emotion of Janácek, and the exoticism of Paul Frucht into this new album, which explores the rich and vibrant tradition of Romani music. Each composer, who lived centuries apart from one another, drew on this wellspring of inspiration in a unique way, producing music that is deeply personal yet informed by the Romani style and spirit. String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters" is one of Leoš Janácek’s most mature and powerful works. Its title refers to his tumultuous and mysterious relationship with a much younger woman and the hundreds of letters he wrote to her. BELOW: Official music video featuring the Ulysses Quartet: Janácek Intimate Letters:

Brahms & Krenek Piano Trios
Feininger Trio
Christoph Streuli, violin
David Riniker, violoncello
Adrian Oetiker, piano

This recording is the third and last of a Brahms cycle that combines the three piano trios by Brahms with the trios by Zemlinsky, Korngold and Krenek, three Viennese composers who, apart from biographical similarities such as their Jewish origins and emigration from Europe, have their roots in old Vienna and in Brahms, but whose works open a window into the 20th century as to how music would evolve. Founded in 2005, pianist Adrian Oetiker and the Berlin Philharmonic musicians Christoph Streuli and David Riniker base their interpretations on tonal warmth, expressivity and refinement. BELOW: Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8 (2nd Version 1889) - I. Allegro con brio

Bach: Complete Solo Sonatas and Partitas
KayCee Galano, violin

Violinist KayCee Galano performs all six Bach
Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. At age 10, KayCee became a student at the Preparatory Department of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) as a
long-distance learner. After meeting Professor Kurt Sassmannshaus, the Dorothy Richard Starling Chair in Classical Violin at CCM, at the Great Wall International Music Academy, she studied with him for five years via Skype from her home in Dumaguete, Philippines. KayCee eventually relocated to Cincinnati to complete her High School studies and pursue a Bachelor of Music degree at CCM. BELOW: Bach A minor Solo Sonata

Sonic Alchemy
YuEun Kim, violin
Mina Gajic, piano
Coleman Itzkoff, cello

This album features music by W.A. Mozart, Pe¯teris Vasks, and Arvo Pa¨rt. "Sonic Alchemy is inspired by the transformation and fluidity of life, represented by the seasons in nature, and in humankind in the way people connect through religion and spirituality," said pianist Mina Gajic. "I was glad to collaborate with colleagues who – like myself – walk the line between historical and modern instruments, crossing into practices and repertoires of the 21st century." BELOW: Castillo Interior (Interior Castle) by Peteris Vasks:

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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