NEWS

Competition Winner

Congratulations go to Mrs Sharon Duckworth of Bolton, Lancashire, on winning our February competition to win ten Cambridge University Press Music Handbooks. The author of Rap Music and the Poetics of Identity, is Adam Krims; the earliest work covered by the Cambridge Music Handbooks is John Dowland's Lachrimae of 1604; the ISBN for The Historical Performance of Music is 0521627389 and two music journals published by CUP are, amongst others, Early Music History and The British Journal of Music Education.

Christopher Rutter

It is with great sadness that we report the death at the age of nineteen of Christopher Rutter, son of English composer John, who was tragically killed in a road accident in early March. A chorister at Clare College, Cambridge, Chris was studying for his BA degree in computer sciences. MusicTeachers.co.uk would like to extend their deepest sympathies to Dr Rutter and his family at this distressing time.

Assistance needed

Education researcher Vicky Ward has written to MT.co.uk asking if any instrumental tutors would be interested in letting her know what literature they read. This need not be limited to educational journals alone, but can also include academic texts, psychology, etc. She can be contacted via email at: [email protected].

Aaron Slade, who is currently preparing a dissertation about the National Curriculum at KS1 and 2, requires readers' reactions to the scheme and its use in helping to create an effective teaching and learning environment. He can be contacted via email at: [email protected].

Recording Companies

Universal Classics have announced record sales for their new super-low-price range, the most successful catalogue series of the last six months, with over 100,000 sales since the launch on October 16th 2000. The Eloquence series, with titles available at only £4.99 each, presently contains over 230 CDs and continues to grow with ten new titles every month. Delving into the recording archives of Universal Classics, Eloquence accesses the treasures and traditions of three unrivalled labels, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips Classics.

Recent releases in the series include Berg's violin and Schoenberg's piano concertos (Brendel, Zeitlin, BRSO, Kubelik), Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht and Pelleas und Melisande (Philharmonia, Sinopoli) and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8 (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Haitink).

Relative newcomer to the recording world, Black Box Music have announced an innovative new system which integrates the audio CD with the power of the Internet, by providing access to exclusive downloads for purchasers of their recordings and links through to relevant sites. Video-quality content will also be available to customers in the latter part of 2001.

"The reason we have used this approach – with the CD acting as a conduit to increased content and interactivity – is to offer each of our customers added enjoyment and more value for their money", says Managing and Creative Director Chris Cracker. " At a time when a lot of other recording companies have been taking a punitive line with services like Napster, Black Box was keen to demonstrate that with the consent of the composers and rights' holders there were more innovative ways to promote niche music. To that end we used Napster in a creative and productive way and it proved to be an excellent way of driving sales through our own site. Giving people something for their trouble has made them more inclined to come back and investigate more." For more details. visit Black Box's website at www.blackboxmusic.com

Alexander Baillie – one of Britain's most distinguished cellists – has recently recorded a solo CD. Proceeds are to provide financial aid to young British musicians. Available postage-free from 'Tom Acton Trust' 63 Hill Road, Chelmsford, Essex,CM2 6HW.

Publishers

Publishers Josef Weinberger have announced the discovery of an early version of Mendelssohn's 3rd Capriccio for solo piano, Adagio and Presto Agitato in b-flat minor, dating from 1833. It has been edited by Stephen Hough and is prefaced by an extended article on the origins of the work. The original Adagio introduction of the piece has been published previously. More details may be found at their website, www.josef-weinberger.co.uk.

Events

Pioneer GB Limited have 45 pairs of tickets to give away to a London Philharmonic Orchestra International Series performance at the Royal Festival Hall, London on Wednesday 2nd May with Kurt Masur and violinist Hilary Hahn. The programme consists of Brahms' Violin Concerto in D and Dvorák's Symphony No 9 in E minor (From the New World). To enter the Free Prize Draw, simply surf to www.pioneer.co.uk and click the "competition" button. Find out more at the site.

Organist Jonathan Scott, featured in January's issue of MusicTeachers.co.uk's Online Journal, will be performing a 'requests' recital at his Manchester Church of St Cross, Clayton on 21 April at 7.30 pm. Admission is £3.50 (concessionary rates at £2.50). Further information is available from Jonathan at [email protected]. The church's address is Ashton New Road, Clayton, Manchester 11.