Is nothing sacred? The Cambridge Buskers bring their madcap humour to the greats of classical music – everything from the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and the ‘1812 Overture’ to Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ and the ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’! And not forgetting Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies in under four minutes…
This 4CD set brings together the pair’s most famous albums, released internationally on DG CD for the first time. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head in amazement but most of all you’ll enjoy classical music like you’ve never heard it before.
Featuring music from The Four Seasons • The Barber of Seville • Nutcracker Suite • Land of Hope & Glory • Carmen • Eine kleine Nachtmusik • William Tell Overture • The Magic Flute • Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto • New World Symphony • Rigoletto • Brandenburg Concertos • Handel’s Water Music • Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony • The Entertainer • La traviata • Peer Gynt Suite • Swan Lake • and much, much more!
CD 1
SOAP OPERA
On this record we tried to reproduce the spontaneity and fun of live pavement work. It was not recorded on a street corner or subway station as we found that the digital computer and balance console blocked the sidewalk and people kept throwing coins to the producer. Instead, it was made in Hornsey Town Hall in North London over two days in late April 1982. There was no audience but both of the Hall cleaning ladies liked what they heard and asked for a free copy.
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: The Barber of Seville: Largo al factotum
GIUSEPPE VERDI: Rigoletto: La donna è mobile
GEORGES BIZET: Carmen: Gypsy Song
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: Semiramide: Overture
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro: Dove sono i bei momenti
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Die Zauberflöte: Monostatos’s Aria
KURT WEILL: The Threepenny Opera: Happy Life Song
ARTHUR SULLIVAN: HMS Pinafore: Little Buttercup
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: Il barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa
RICHARD WAGNER: Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries
GIUSEPPE VERDI: Rigoletto: Quartet (Act III)
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: L’italiana in Algeri: Overture
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Don Giovanni: Deh vieni alla finestra (Serenade)
GIUSEPPE VERDI: La traviata: Sempre libera
PIETRO MASCAGNI: Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo
FRANZ VON SUPPÉ:Dichter und Bauer (Poet and Peasant): Overture
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro: Non più andrai
JACQUES OFFENBACH: Orpheus in the Underworld: Can Can
Michael Copley, flute, sopranino recorder, crumhorn
Dag Ingram, accordion
THE CAMBRIDGE BUSKERS HANDEL BACH
with their Academy of Original Instruments-in-the-Streets
Baroque. The Americans pronounce the word to rhyme with ‘joke’, the British, like the German Barock with ‘shock’. This recording exposes the listener to magnificent examples both of the baroke joke and the barock shock.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Brandenburg Suite
Concerto No. 2
Concerto No. 3
Grand Finale – Medley (Concertos Nos 1–6)
Dr. A. Everett Paul-Arbenz,page-turner [20] (musicologically necessitated by the separation of the two chords in the Bach Sonderausgabe)
Evelyn Nallen, recorder II [21]
ANTONIO VIVALDI: The Four Seasons: Spring
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Harp Concerto in B flat major
TOMASO ALBINONI/REMO GIAZOTTO: Adagio
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Water Music Suite
Overture
Air
Menuet
Finale
‘Original’ rowing sounds courtesy Phonogram GmbH
DOMENICO SCARLATTI:Sonata in D major, Kk491
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Concerto in F major ‘a due cori’
CD 2
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Messiah: Hallelujah!
HENRY PURCELL: Abdelazar, or the Moor’s Revenge
LOUIS-CLAUDE DAQUIN: Le Coucou (The Cuckoo)
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Harpsichord Concerto in F minor/Polonaise (Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor)
JEAN-JOSEPH MOURET: Fanfares: Rondeau
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Solomon: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
JOHANN PACHELBEL: Can(n)on/Kanon(e)
Cannon (‘authentic’ period weapon) from the recording of ‘Tosca’ on DG
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Toccata (without Fugue) in D minor
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: French Suite No. 5 in G major: Gavotte
ARCANGELO CORELLI: Christmas Concerto: Pastorale (Largo)
MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER: Te Deum
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Flute Sonata No. 2 in E flat major: Siciliano
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Music for the Royal Fireworks
Overture
Menuet
Fireworks taped during the Alster Cherry Blossom Festival (Kirschblütenfest) of the Japan-Haus Verein, Hamburg
Michael Copley, flute, sopranino recorder soprano recorder, alto recorder , soprano crumhorn, bass crumhorn
Dag Ingram, accordion
THE EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF THE CAMBRIDGE BUSKERS
The Cambridge Buskers, on this record, have also now reached their own particular apotheosis. To illustrate this with a story from that well-known musical anecdotist Ben Trovato: ‘After the Amadeus String Quartet had played at some civic function in Liverpool, the Lord Mayor, a burly ex-docker, made a speech of thanks. “We wish them more and more success,” he said, “so that in time, maybe, Mr. Brainin will be able to enlarge his little band.” He would have said nothing of the sort about the Cambridge Buskers. They number only 50% of the Amadeus’ strength but their repertoire already surpasses that of most big symphony orchestras.
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture
Cannons courtesy of Phonogram International B.V., used by kind permission of Daniel Barenboim from his Chicago Symphony recording
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: Il barbiere di Siviglia: Overture
FRANZ SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 ‘Unfinished’
GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 4
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Symphony No. 41 ‘Jupiter’
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY : The Nutcracker Suite
March
Chinese Dance
FRANZ VON SUPPÉ: Light Cavalry: Overture
FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto
Attrib. LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Tuning Up
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies
EDWARD ELGAR: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 ‘Land of Hope & Glory
Steven Paul, cymbals
FRANZ SCHUBERT: The Trout
EDVARD GRIEG: Peer Gynt Suite
Morning
Anitra’s Dance
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Birds from the Polydor International Sound Effects Archive, Werk II, Hanover, Germany
ROMAN HOFFSTETTER: ‘Haydn’ Serenade
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto in B flat minor
JOHANNES BRAHMS: Academic Festival Overture
Michael Copley, flutes & recorders
Dag Ingram, accordion
CD 3
ANOTHER SERIOUS ALBUM
You will notice that most of the composers are long since dead. We think they would have liked Michael and Dag’s lighthearted treatment of their music but we aren’t taking any chances.
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA: The Stars and Stripes Forever
KURT WEILL: The Threepenny Opera: Tango Ballade
JOHANN PACHELBEL: Canon
TRADITIONAL: Belfast Reel
ANTONIO VIVALDI: Recorder Concerto Finale
TRADITIONAL: Cod Piece (Pavan and Frog Galliard)
ALEXANDER BORODIN: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances
JOHN LENNON/PAUL McCARTNEY: Here, There & Everywhere
GEORGES BIZET: Carmen Entr’acte
TRADITIONAL: Good Beer Jig
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
ERIK SATIE: Gymnopédie No. 1
NOEL GAY: The Lambeth Walk
TRADITIONAL: Two Rumanian Folk Tunes
MAURICE RAVEL: Boléro
Michael Copley, recorders (Garklein Flötlein, sopranino, descant, treble, tenor and bass), piccolo, fluge, alto flute, crumhorn
Dan Ingram, accordion, grand piano, electric piano
Sheila Bromberg, harp
Barry Guy, double bass
Lennie Clark, drums
Robert Howes, percussion
NOT LIVE FROM NEW YORK
Since it is not live, your glassware will remain intact… What may get fractured is your funny-bone, tickled by these affectionate caricatures of classical characters. If you find classical music too serious, beware! This recording may be hazardous to your opinions, although the Surgeon General has not determined that humour is harmful to your health.
FRANZ SCHUBERT: Marche Militaire
JOHANNES BRAHMS: Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Die Zauberflöte: The Birdcatcher’s Song
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake: The Dying Swan/Dance of the Young Swans
ANTONIO VIVALDI: The Four Seasons (Winter): Largo
ARAM KHACHATURIAN: Gayaneh: Sabre Dance
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Water Music: Gigue (Country Dance)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Don Giovanni: Champagne Aria
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: La scala di seta: Overture
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043: Largo
WILLIAM BOYCE: Symphony No. 7 in B flat major: Gigue
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD VON GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits:
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: Terpsichore: Courante
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Music for the Royal Fireworks: La Réjouissance
VITTORIO MONTI: Czárdás
GEORGES BIZET: L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2: Farandole
Michael Copley, sopranino and soprano recorders, flute
Dag Ingram, accordion and swan
CD 4
EINE KLEINE STRAßEN-MUSIK (A LITTLE STREET MUSIC)
When you think about it, it really is nice to know that they’ve made the streets safe for good music again.
JOHANN STRAUSS I: Radetzky March
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker Suite: Dance of the Reed Pipes
LÉO DELIBES: Sylvia: Pizzicati
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: erenade in G major, KV525 ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’: Rondo (Allegro)
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: La Cenerentola: Overture
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9: Finale (Ode to Joy)
TRADITIONAL: Moscow Nights
AMILCARE PONCHIELLI: La Gioconda: Dance of the Hours
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV 348: Hornpipe
JOHN W. BRATTON: Teddy Bears’ Picnic
GABRIEL FAURÉ: Pelléas et Mélisande: Sicilienne
TRADITIONAL: Loch Lomond
JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH: Quintet in D major: Andantino
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major,
KV 495: Rondo (Allegro vivace)
RAY DAVIES: Boss Cat
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: Il barbiere di Siviglia: Overture
Michael Copley, Garklein Flötlein, sopranino recorder, soprano recorder, tenor recorder, flute, alto flute, piccolo, ocarina
Dag Ingram, accordion
ZWISCHEN PINTE UND PODIUM (BETWEEN PUB AND PODIUM)
The Buskers met at Cambridge University and subsequently built a career playing in underground stations and performing in concert halls – surely proof of the importance of going to college!
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Piano Sonata in A major, KV331: Turkish March (Rondo alla Turca)
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: La gazza ladra: Overture
TRADITIONAL: Hornpipe: What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?
JOHANNES BRAHMS: Hungarian Dance No. 5
SCOTT JOPLIN: The Entertainer
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 2: Badinerie
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Two-Part Invention No. 8
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI: William Tell: Overture
TRADITIONAL: In dulci jubilo
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: Bourrée
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV550: Molto allegro
TRADITIONAL: Dark Eyes
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN: Waltz in D flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 ‘Minute Waltz’
JEREMIAH CLARKE: Trumpet Voluntary
MARVIN HATLEY: Dance of the Cuckoos (Laurel and Hardy Theme)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
LUIGI BOCCHERINI: String Quintet Op. 13 No. 5: Minuet
GRIGORAŞ DINICU: Hora Staccato
Michael Copley, flute, piccolo, Garklein Flötlein, sopranino recorder, soprano recorder, tonette, ocarina
Dag Ingram, accordion
KING’S PARADE
TRADITIONAL
King’s Parade
Piper’s Dance
Michael Copley, flutes
Dag Ingram, accordion
All tracks arranged by Michael Copley and Dag Ingram except CD1 [21] arr. Michael S. Murray, and CD4 [17, 19, 25, 32, 33] arr. S. Everett Paul.
Recordings: Hornsey Town Hall, UK, April 1982 (CD1: 1–18); Henry Wood Hall, London, UK, December 1983 (CD1: 19–30, CD2: 1–14), April 1983 (CD2: 15–34); Polydor Studios, London, UK, January 1981 (CD3: 1–15); Polydor Studios, Hamburg, Germany, April & July 1979 (CD3: 16–31), October 1977 (CD4: 1–16), December 1976 (17–34), 1978 (35–36)
Remastering: Lennart Jeschke (CD1, CD2); Emil Berliner Studios, Langenhagen, Germany (CD3, CD4)