Top Ten G/Rounds

We couldn't resist another Top Ten post, and the first for 2012 is "Top Ten Classical Music G/Rounds" for Ground Hog Day!

10.Handel/Halvorsen Passacaglia [listen]
9. Archangelo Corelli La Folia [listen]
8. Igor Stravinsky The Rite of Spring: Spring Rounds [listen]
7. Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 Feierlich Und Gemessen, Ohne Zu Schleppen [listen]
6. Orlando Gibbons: Ground [listen]
5. Ottorino Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances II: Bergamasca [listen]
4. Johann Sebastian Bach Chaconne [listen]
3. David Diamond Rounds [listen]
2. Henry Purcell When I am laid in earth [listen]

and the #1 G/Round is from Peter Schickele and PDQ Bach:
The Art of the Ground Round, for three baritones and discontinuo, S. 1.19/lb (P.D.Q. Bach): Loving is as easy 
Please, kind sir 
Jane, my Jane 
Golly golly oh 
Nelly is a nice girl

New Release: Cypress Quartet

The San Francisco based Cypress String Quartet is about to release their Beethoven String Quartet cycle (August 25th) with volume 1 containing Opus 131 and Opus 135.
Cecily, Tom, Ethan and Jennifer recently spoke with host John Clare about the new recording.
Listen to their discussion {mp3 file}
Here's a hd video of the quartet in concert last April, celebrating 10 years of Call and Response, that also included Beethoven's Opus 135.


You can get the new Cypress cd or download here.

Of course, we also love the "Moose Quartet" by PDQ Bach, who will visit South Texas next April with Peter Schickele, seen here:

Had to share that since the finale of the Beethoven asks the question, Muss es sein? (Must it be?)