OTHMAR SCHOECK (1886-1957): Chorus and Orchestra: Trommelschläge, Op. 26, Der Postillon, Op. 18 (w/Martin Homrich [tenor]), Dithyrambe, Op. 22 (w/Frank Zimpel [organ]), Wegelied, Op. 24, Für ein Gesangfest im Frühling, Op. 54, Kantate, Op. 49 for Male Choir, Baritone, Trumpet, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Piano and Percussion (Ralf Lukas [bass-baritone], Steffen Schleiermacher [piano]), Vision, Op. 63 for Male Choir, Trumpet, 3 Trombones and Percussion, Rückblick for Mixed Choir and Organ (Zimpel), Female Choir and Piano: Spruch, Op. 69/1, Einkehr, Op. 69/2, A Cappella Male Choir: Die Drei, WoO 39, Zimmerspruch, WoO 43, Maschinenschlacht, Op. 67a, Gestutzte Eiche, Op. 67b.

Description: These are such remarkable and striking works that even collectors who don't normally buy choral music will likely be interested. A glance above will show unusual scoring while each work is quite unlike all the others, from the Schubertian Der Postillon of 1909 to the violent and extremely difficult Trommelschläge (an angry anti-war piece from 1915 which sets a German translation of Whitman's "Beat! Beat! Drums!", employing triple woodwind, 8 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, organ and a percussion section including 8 snare drums. The chorus must speak and scream as well as sing!), to the almost jingoistic military swagger of Wegelied (1913), the monumental Dithyrambe (1911) which may make one think of the finale of Beethoven's Ninth, and the 15-minute Kantate of 1933, a satire of populism and blathering politicians which did not come out by chance in the year Hitler assumed power and right-wing forces in Switzerland gained strength. German-English texts. Central German Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra; Mario Venzago, Howard Arman.