October 29, 1923 was a date steeped in history. In the middle of a year of political and economic crises, the age of public radio in Germany was ushered in with the first broadcast of the "Berliner Funkstunde" (Berlin Radio Hour) from the attic of an office building on Potsdamer Platz. - Radio offered entirely new possibilities for the production and reception of music. The two compositions on this CD not only benefited from these developments but also played an active role in shaping them. Eduard KÃ¼nneke's five-movement Concerto grosso "TÃ¤nzerische Suite" op. 26 for jazz band and large orchestra was the sixth commission the composer received from the Berliner Funk-Stunde. It's five movements corresponded to modern dances: the Overture is a Foxtrot, the Andante a Blues, the Intermezzo a Tango, the valse mÃ©lancolique a Boston Waltz and the Finale a Foxtrot again. The premiere took place under KÃ¼nneke's baton on September 8, 1929 in Hall 5 at the Berlin Funkausstellung. The Berlin Funk Orchestra played together with Dajos BÃ©la's renowned jazz band. The suite was celebrated as a milestone in contemporary radio music and soon became part of the regular concert programme. Even the critics were enthusiastic: "KÃ¼nneke skilfully combines the character of the old suite with modern means. Modern dances are stylised vividly with exciting rhythms and rich tone colours, and with delightful use of prominent solo instruments such as the violin, the saxophone, etc. It all sounds very good on the radio: this is pleasing, imaginative, symphonic jazz at the best level. " Hanns Eisler's cantata "Tempo der Zeit" (Tempo of the Times) op. 16 for soloists, narrator, choir, winds and percussion was written in 1929 as a commission for the Donaueschingen Festival (known as "Deutsche Kammermusik Baden-Baden" from 1927 to 1929). The premiere took place in Baden-Baden on July 28 as part of the concert "Original Music for Radio", with the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra conducted by Hermann Scherchen. The libretto was written by the popular lyricist Robert Gilbert ("Ein Freund, ein guter Freund") under the pseudonym of David Weber. With it's pure wind ensemble and percussion, "Tempo der Zeit" captures the typical Songspiel sound of the time. The fact that Eisler used the "modern" medium of radio, of all things, to get his fundamental criticism of blind enthusiasm for technology across to the people is an ironical aspect of the work's composition and reception history. This CD is part of the special programme focus on the topic "The Wild Sound of the Twenties"

Tracklist:

Overture: Tempo des F oxtrot [06:52
Blues: Andante [05:15]
Intermezzo: Vivace [04:02]
Finale: Foxtrot [06:48]
Meine Damen und Herren! (Referee) [00:25]
Hallo! Hallo! Hallo! (Chorus) [01:27]
Sie hÃ¶ren jetzt den Gesang an den Fortschritt der Technik
(Referee) [00:15]
Aria: Wenn die stampfenden Maschinen (Bass) [02:24]
Das ist alles sehr schÃ¶n (Re feree) [00:25]
Recitative and Chorale: Und wenn die Luftschiffe - Ah! Liebe
Kameraden! (Alto, Chorus) [02:37]
Interlude [01:16]
Ja, das Tempo der Zeit kostet Geld (Alto, Bass, Chorus) [08:06]
Sie alle sind Mithelfer am Tempo der Zeit (Referee) [00:28]
Finale: Hallo! Hallo! Hallo! (Chorus) [01:09

UPC: 4035719003505
Label: Br Klassiks
Release Date: 11.3.23
Format: CD

Eisler / Kunneke / Munich Radio Orchestra - 1929 - Tempo Tanz Und Technik (CD)