Born in Rochester, N.Y. Alec Wilder (1907-80) studied there at the Eastman School of Music with Edward Royce in composition and Herbert Inch in counterpoint. Wilder is perhaps best known as a writer of popular songs, and as author of the award-winning American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-50. His own "hits""While We're Young" and "I'll be Around - were made popular by such great singers as Mabel Mercer and Frank Sinatra, and Wilder worked for many years as writer and arranger for Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Judy Garland and others. Although Wilder was active in jazz during the '30s and '40s (the Big Band Era), one of his greatest contributions to the genre may be the woodwind sonorities he introduced in his Octets of 1939-40. These transparent chamber works, according to Wilder, synthesized "legitimate and jazz ideas for legit woodwinds, harpsichord, bass and drums." After 1945 Wilder concentrated increasingly on his more "legit" music, and by 1954 chamber music, such as the works recorded here, begins to overshadow pieces written for the popular market.
Allan Blank (b. 1925, New York City) received his earliest musical training on the violin. He studied at the Juilliard School (1945-47), Washington Square College (BA, 1948), the University of Minnesota (MA, 1950) and the University of Iowa. He was a violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1950) and has taught at a number of schools and universities.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Alec Wilder & Allan Blank: Music from Eastman
MP3/320 | $12.00 | |
FLAC | $12.00 | |
WAV | $12.00 | |
CD-R | $12.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
Oboe Sonata: I.
Alec Wilder
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Oboe Sonata: II.
Alec Wilder
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Oboe Sonata: III.
Alec Wilder
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Oboe Sonata: IV.
Alec Wilder
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Bassoon Sonata No. 3: I.
Alec Wilder
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Bassoon Sonata No. 3: II. Air
Alec Wilder
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Bassoon Sonata No. 3: III. Lively
Alec Wilder
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Bassoon Sonata No. 3: IV. Dolce
Alec Wilder
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Bassoon Sonata No. 3: V.
Alec Wilder
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Phyllis McGinley Song Cycle
Alec Wilder
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Duo for Bassoon and Piano: I. Poco andante
Allan Blank
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Duo for Bassoon and Piano: II. Lento
Allan Blank
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Duo for Bassoon and Piano: III. Energico
Allan Blank
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