Bears in the Arts

Kurt Rodarmer

Our only knowledge about the delectable Mr. Rodarmer comes from his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations (BWV 988), which he has transcribed and performed on 2 to 4 custom-built guitars. The sound is extraordinary, as is his skill, and the performance is one we can easily reccommend. Not only that, but there are a few more photographs of Kurt inside the cover.
3 December 1999

John Butt

John Butt (1960- ) was born in Solihull, England, and was a music scholar at Solihull School. He went to Cambridge University in 1979 and held the office of organ scholar at King's College. He has taught at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), Magdalene College (Cambridge), and most recently at the University of California at Berkeley (USA). We know him from his excellent recording of the Bach Trio Sonatas (BWV 525-530) on Harmonia Mundi.
3 December 1999

Scott Ross

Scott Ross (1951-1989) was born in Pittsburg, USA. An outstanding harpsichordist and organist, he has recorded a remarkable amount of music, including the complete works of Rameau and Couperin, as well as making the first complete recording of all 555 sonatas (on 34 compact discs!) by Domenico Scarlatti. From 1973 to 1985 he taught harsichord at Laval University in Quebec City.

We probably bought our first recording on the strength of the cover photo, but subsequent ones were chosen for the performances. At top is the photo used on the cover of his recording of sonatas by Soler, an unusual composer who evidently evokes a butch, leather-bear sensibility. Below, Scott in a more unguarded moment.
25 May 1999

Colin Tilney

We know rather little from our perusal of liner notes about Tilney except that he moved from London to Toronto in 1979 to teach at the Royal Conservatory of Music. However, Jeff has admired his harpsichord playing since buying his first Tilney LP (on DG Archive) in 1975. Tilney's latest performances, just as lively and sparkling as they were 20 years ago, are recorded on Dorian. It goes without saying that Colin Tilney's beard is one of the finest specimens on harpsichord performers today.
25 May 1999

Ronn McFarlane

Ronn McFarlane (1953- ) was born in West Virginia (USA) and raised in Maryland. He began as a guitarist, studying at the Peabody Conservatory, then switched his attention to the lute in 1978, studying since then with most of the well-known lutenists. He teaches at Peabody (Baltimore, MD), and plays with the Baltimore Consort. (Despite our proximity, we haven't met him yet.) His solo performances and those of the Baltimore Consort are recorded on Dorian, recordings we can heartily recommend.

In McFarlane's case, it's a sure bet we bought his first solo recording (Lute Music of John Dowland) on the strength of the cover photo at top. (Why is he wearing a leather jacket and lying on the floor with his lute?) But, as we mentioned before, we've bought additional recordings because he's a fine performer.
25 May 1999

John Holloway

The photograph is from the booklet accompanying Holloway's excellent recording of The Mystery Sonatas of Heinrich Biber (1644-1704). The notes tell us little about Holloway, except that he specializes in Baroque violin, has been concert master of the London Classical Players since it was formed, and was appointed Music Director of Ars Musica, the baroque orchestra based in Michigan (USA), in 1990.
25 May 1999

Richard Karwoski

This photograph comes from the jacket of Karwoski's book Watercolor Bright and Beautiful (Watson-Guptill, New York, 1988). It's a beautiful book--honest, we only saw the artist's picture after we bought the book. The only personal data we're given is that Karwoski was born in Brooklyn, New York, studied at the Pratt Institute, and has been professor at New York City Technical College, teaching painting, drawing, design, and printmaking since 1969.
25 May 1999