If you found yourself marooned on a desert island, what would be the five music recordings you would want to have with you? This was asked of the faculty and staff of the Music Department. Each individual approached the question in his or her own way. Some chose individual tracks, while others chose entire albums. While, responders largely stayed within their particular specialties, the results contain many unexpected examples of what the faculty listen to “after hours.” We hope you will find the results posted below to be both enlightening and inspirational. If you would like to explore these recordings, whenever possible we have included call numbers for compact discs in the Music Library collection or links to streaming-audio databases to which the library subscribes.
Now that the faculty and staff have weighed in, we would like to hear from you, the students, faculty, and staff of the entire Rowan community. Tell us your five most essential recordings of all time, and we will add your choices to the list. Send your selections to musiclibrary@rowan.edu with the subject line, "Desert Island Recordings," along with your status at Rowan (e.g. student, faculty, etc.) and whether you would like us to use your name on the website.
Music Department Faculty and Staff Choices for Five All-Time Favorite Recordings
Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, trumpet, chair of Brass Division
Johannes Brahms
Symphonies nos. 1-4
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor
Recorded: 1954-1958
EMI Classics
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Samuel Barber
Adagio for Strings, op. 11
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Recorded: 1982
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca
Metropolitan Opera, Giuseppe Sinopoli, conductor
Cast: Hildegard Behrens, Placido Domingo, Cornell MacNeill
Taped: 1985
Deutsche Grammophon Video
Rowan Music Library DVD M 1500 .P977 T6 M4 2006
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Night Moves
1976
Capitol Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 173
Mnozil Brass
Seven (DVD)
2008
Mnozil Brass
Sandra Carney, voice
Johann Sebastian Bach
Mass in B minor, BWV 232
International Bach Festival, Vienna, 1950, Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Soloists: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano; Kathleen Ferrier, alto; Walther Ludwig, tenor, Alfred Poell, baritone, Paul Schöffler, bass
Recorded: 1950
Archipel Records
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
100 Best Opera Classics
various performers
EMI Classics
Rowan Music Library CDC 2470
Luciano Pavarotti
‘O Sole Mio: Favourite Neapolitan Songs
Recorded: 1977-1979
Decca Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2510
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem, D minor, K. 626
Vienna Singverein, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Soloists: Anna Tomowa-Sintow, soprano; Agnes Baltsa, alto; Werner Krenn, tenor; José Van Dam, bass
Recorded: 1975
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2466
George Frideric Handel
Messiah
Philadelphia Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Eugene Ormandy, conductor
Soloists: Eileen Farrell, soprano; Martha Lipton, contralto; Davis Cunningham, tenor; William Warfield baritone
Recorded: 1958-1959
CBS Masterworks
Rowan Music Library CDC 2468
Lenuta Ciulei, violin, viola
Anton Bruckner
Symphony no. 4, E-flat major, “Romantic”
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Sergiu Celibidache, conductor
Recorded: 1988
EMI Classics
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Richard Wagner
Parsifal:
Prelude to Act I; Good Friday Music
Dresden Staatskapelle, Giuseppe Sinopoli, conductor
Transformation Scene
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2459
Antonín Dvořák
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, op. 104
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor
Recorded: 1977
EMI Classics
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 35
David Oistrakh, violin; Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra; Kiril Kondrashin, conductor
Brilliant Classics
Rowan Music Library CDC 2476
John Corigliano
Symphony no. 1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Erato Records
Recorded: 1990
Rowan Music Library CDC 1046
James Cowen, Music Library
Victor Wooten
Show of Hands
1996
Vanguard Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 489
Stevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life
Recorded: 1975-1976
Motown
Rowan Music Library CDP 166
Extreme
Pornograffitti
1990
A&M Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 170
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention
Roxy & Elsewhere
Recorded: 1973
Zappa Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 175
Tower of Power
Live and in Living Color
1976
Warner Bros.
Rick Dammers, Chairperson of the Department of Music / Instrumental Music Education
Gustav Mahler
Symphony no. 1, D major
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt, conductor
Recorded: 1990
EMI Classics
Rowan Music Library CDC 2478
John Adams
Nixon in China
Orchestra of St. Luke’s , Edo de Waart, conductor
Cast: Sanford Sylvan, James Maddalena, Thomas Hammons, Mari Opatz, John Duykers
Recorded: 1987
Rowan Music Library CDC 2017
Duke Ellington and his orchestra
Ellington at Newport, 1956
Columbia Records
Recorded: 1956
Rowan Music Library CDJ 497
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
1990
Warner Bros.
Rowan Music Library CDJ 487
David Maslanka
A Child’s Garden of Dreams
Northwestern University Wind Ensemble
College Band Directors National Association, 1985
Not available. A different recording available under: CDC 2460
Denis DiBlasio, Director of Jazz Studies
Jimmy Scott
“Every Time We Say Goodbye” from the album All the Way
1992
Sire Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 485
Roy Harris
Symphony no. 9
Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar, conductor
Recorded: 1999
Naxos Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Jerry Bergonzi, Andy LaVerne, Mark Johnson, Danny Gottlieb
“True Colors” from the album True Colors
1988
Pony Canyon
Miles Davis
“On Green Dolphin Street” from the album In Stockholm 1960
Dragon Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 486
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
“Lush Life” from the album John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Recorded: 1963
Impulse! Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 480
Vincent DuBeau, Conducting, Concert Band
Vincent Persichetti
Symphony for Band (Symphony no. 6)
Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor
Recorded: 1959
Mercury Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 1040
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
No specific performance cited. Recordings are available in the Music Library under: CDC 2030, CDC 861, and CDC 1013
Dave Brubeck Quartet
“Blue Rondo à la Turk” from the album Time Out
Recorded: 1959
Rowan Music Library CDJ 62
Christopher Theofanidis
Rainbow Body
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, conductor
Recorded: 2002
Rowan Music Library CDC 2461
Pink Floyd
The Dark Side of the Moon
Recorded: 1972-1973
Capitol Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 168
Eve Friedman, Music History
Ludwig van Beethoven
Complete symphonies
No specific performance cited, but many recordings are available in the Music Library
Johann Sebastian Bach
Matthäus-Passion (St. Matthew Passion)
Orchestra of the 18th Century, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Boys’Choir of St. Bavo Cathedral Haarlem, Frans Brüggen, conductor
Soloists: Peter Kooy (Bass), Nico Van der Meel (Tenor), Kristinn Sigmundsson (Bass), Maria Cristina Kiehr (Soprano), Mona Julsrud (Soprano), Claudia Schubert (Alto), Wilke te Brummelstroete (Alto), Ian Bostridge (Tenor), Toby Spence (Tenor), Harry Van der Kamp (Bass)
Recorded: 1996
Philips
Rowan Music Library CDC 2457
Marin Marais
Pièces de viole du second livre, 1701
Jordi Savall, Philippe Pierlot, viola da gamba ; Rolf Lislevand, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, theorbo, guitar; Pierre Hantaï, harpsichord.
Recorded: 2003
Alia Vox
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations
Glenn Gould, piano
Recorded: 1981
Sony Classical
Rowan Music Library
Rowan Music Library CDC 2509
Claudio Monteverdi
Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi (Ottavo Libro de’magridgali)
Concerto italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini, director
Recorded: 1997, 1998, 2005
Naïve
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Howie Gordon, Video Recording
Billy Cobham
Spectrum
Recorded: 1973
Atlantic Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 483
Black Sheep
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
1991
Mercury Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 174
Herbie Hancock
Man-Child
1975
Columbia Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 482
John Scofield
Hand Jive
Recorded: 1993
Blue Note Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 481
Frank Zappa
Apostrophe (‘)
1974
Zappa Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 169
Lili Levinowitz, General/Vocal Music Education
Johann Sebastian Bach
Motet: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225
Bachchor Stockholm, Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor
1984
Teldec Records
Celtic Woman
“The Blessing” from the album A New Journey
2007
Manhattan Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 171
Rosemary Clooney
Hey There
Recording: 1954
Rowan Music Library CDP 131 v.1
“Singing Everyday African” from the album Music Together, Fiddle
2000
Music Together
James Taylor
“The Water is Wide” from the album New Moon Shine
Recorded: 1991
Columbia Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 177
Robert Lipartito, Music Librarian
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, BWV 1001-1006
Nathan Milstein, violin
Recorded: 1973
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2474
Osvaldo Golijov
Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears): opera in 3 images
Dawn Upshaw, Jessica Rivera, sopranos; Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus; Robert Spano, conductor
Recorded: 2005
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2479
Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)
Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; Fritz Wunderlich, tenor; Philharmonia Orchestra; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Otto Klemperer, conductor
Recorded: 1964-1966
EMI Records
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Dmitriĭ Shostakovich
Symphony no. 13, op. 113, B-flat minor “Babi Yar”
Marius Rintzler, bass; Concertgebouw Orchestra & Chorus; Bernard Haitink, conductor
Recorded: 1984
Decca Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2458
Art Tatum
The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces
Recorded: 1953-1955
Pablo Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library Jazz
Joseph Mayes, Guitar
The Beatles
“A Day in the Life” from the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recorded: 1966-1967
Parlophone/EMI
Rowan Music Library CDP 163
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125, “Choral”
No specific performance cited, but recordings are available in the Music Library under:
CDC 1054, CDC 2464, CDC 972, and CDC 32
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita no. 2, BWV 1004: Chaconne
Andrés Segovia, guitar
Recorded: 1954
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library CDC 2452
John Cage
4’33”
No specific performance cited, but available in the Music Library under:
Rowan Music Library CDC 832
Johann Kaspar Mertz
Elegy in A minor
Gabriel Bianco, guitar
Recorded: 2009
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Jim Miller, Jazz Studies
Miles Davis Quintet
“Gingerbread Boy” from the album Miles Smiles
Recorded: 1966
Columbia Records
John Coltrane
“Bye Bye Blackbird” from the album Bye Bye Blackbird
Recorded: 1962
Pablo/Fantasy Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library Jazz
John Abercrombie
“Lungs” from the album Timeless
Recorded: 1974
ECM Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 492
Paul Hindemith
Mathis der Maler (symphony)
San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt, conductor
Recorded: 1987
London Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 277
Igor Stravinsky
L’Oiseau de feu (The Firebird) suite (1919 version)
London Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski, conductor
Recorded: 1967
Decca Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2480
John Pastin, Dean of the College of Performing Arts
Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Roy Hargrove
“Naima” from the album Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall: Celebrating Miles Davis & John Coltrane
Recorded: 2001
Verve Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 490
Gustav Mahler
Symphony no. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”
Cheryl Studer, soprano; Waltraud Meier, alto; Arnold Schoenberg Chor; Vienna Philharmonic; Claudio Abbado, conductor
Recorded: 1992
Deutsche Grammophon
Leonard Bernstein
“Make our Garden Grow” from Candide
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Leonard Bernstein
Recorded: 1989
Deutsche Grammophon
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Dave Grusin
Two for the Road: The Music of Henry Mancini
1997
GRP Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 493
Chick Corea
My Spanish Heart
Recorded: 1976
Polydor Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 484
Tim Powell, Saxophone
John Coltrane
Coltrane’s Sound
Recorded: 1960
Atlantic Jazz
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library Jazz
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Allegresse
Recorded: 2000
Enja Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 496
Igor Stravinsky
Symphony of Psalms; Symphony in C; Symphony in Three Movements
Berliner Philharmoniker; Rundfunkchor Berlin; Simon Rattle, conductor
Recorded: 2007
EMI Records
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Chick Corea
Three Quartets
Recorded: 1981
Stretch Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 488
Björk
Vespertine Live
Recorded: 2001
One Little Indian Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 172
Rie Suzuki, Clarinet
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations
Glenn Gould, piano
Recorded: 1981
Sony Classical
Rowan Music Library CDC 2509
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125, “Choral”
Concertgebouw Orchestra & Chorus, Amsterdam; Bernard Haitink, conductor
Soloists: Janet Price, soprano; Birgit Finnilä, contralto; Horst Laubenthal, tenor; Marius Rintzler, bass
Recorded: 1980
Philips Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2464
Johannes Brahms
Symphony no. 4 in E minor, op. 98
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Sir Georg Solti, conductor
Recorded: 1978
Decca Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2465
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Serenade in Bb major for 13 instruments, K. 361, “Gran Partita”
Marlboro Alumni Ensemble; Marcel Moyse, conductor
Recorded: 1980
Boston Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2454
Radiohead
“Pyramid Song” from the album Amnesiac”
2001
EMI Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 176
Christopher Thomas, Director of Choral Activities
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lord, Thou Hast Been our Refuge (Motet)
The Elora Festival Singers; Thomas Fitches, organ; Noel Edison, conductor
Recorded: 2000
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Johann Sebastian Bach
Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Recorded: 1985
Archiv Produktion
Rowan Music Library CDC 2475
Herbert Howells
Requiem
Conspirare; Craig Hella Johnson, conductor
Recorded: 2005
Harmonia Mundi Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2453
Frank Martin
Mass for double chorus, a cappella
Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland Singers
Recorded: 1994
American Choral Classics
Rowan Music Library CDC 2477
Kurt Elling
“Not While I’m Around” from the album Flirting with Twilight
Recorded: 2001
Blue Note Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library Jazz
Adeline Tomasone, Flute
Roumanian Flutes
Zamfir, panpipes
1975
Arion Records
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute; Lily Laskine, harp
Sakura: Japanese Melodies for Flute and Harp
1976
CBS Masterworks
Rowan Music Library CDC 2463
Manuel de Falla
El Amor Brujo
Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano; Philadelphia Orchestra; Leopold Stokowski, conductor
Sony Records
Recorded: 1960
Rowan Music Library CDC 2472
Giacomo Puccini
La Bohème
Cast: Mirella Freni, Elizabeth Harwood, sopranos; Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Nicolai Ghiaurov, bass
Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin; Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Recorded: 1972
London Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2471
Richard Strauss
Four Last Songs & 15 Lieder
Barbara Hendricks, soprano; Philadelphia Orchestra; Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor and piano
Recorded: 1994-1995
EMI Records
Available to listen on Classical Music Library
Dean Witten, Percussion
Chick Corea, Gary Burton
Crystal Silence
Recorded: 1972
ECM Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 491
Chick Corea
Three Quartets
Recorded: 1981
Stretch Records
Rowan Music Library CDJ 488
Frank Sinatra
In the Wee Small Hours
Recorded: 1954-1955
Capitol Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 119
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
Recorded: 1958
Capitol Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 120
Ludwig van Beethoven
Complete Symphonies
Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Recorded: 1976-1977
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library: CDC 1182 (Symphony no. 6)
CDC 1054 (Symphony no. 9)
Bruce Yurko, Composition, Wind Ensemble Director
Witold Lutosławski
Concerto for Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Seiji Ozawa, conductor
1971
EMI Records
Not available in Music Library, but other performances of this work may be found in Naxos Music Library and Classical Music Library.
Sergey Prokofiev
Symphony no. 5 in Bb major, op. 100
Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Recorded: 1968
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library CDC 2469
Alban Berg
Suite from the opera Lulu
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; James Levine, conductor
Recorded: 1993
Sony Classical
Rowan Music Library CDC 2462
Benjamin Britten
War Requiem
Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano; Peter Pears, tenor; Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, baritone; the Bach Choir; London Symphony Orchestra Chorus; Highgate School Choir; Simon Preston, organ; Melos Ensemble; London Symphony Orchestra; Benjamin Britten, conductor
Recorded: 1963
Decca Records
Rowan Music Library CDC 2467
William Schuman
Symphony no. 3
New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Recorded: 1985
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library CDC 1533
Mark Zelesky, Music Library
David Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
1972
Virgin Records
Rowan Music Library CDP 167
Steve Reich
Different Trains
Kronos Quartet
Recorded: 1988
Elektra/Nonesuch Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Michael Torke
Telephone Book
Present Music
Recorded: 1987
Ecstatic Records
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Christian Lauba
Neuf études pour saxophones
Joël Versavaud ; Radek Knop, saxophones
2000
Éditions Maguelone
Rowan Music Library CDC 2473
Erik Satie
Embryons desséchés
Klára Körmendi, piano
Recorded: 1989
Naxos
Available to listen on Naxos Music Library
Veda Zuponcic, Piano
Aleksandr Scriabin
Piano Sonata no. 3 in F# minor, op. 23
Vladimir Horowitz, piano
Recorded: 1956
RCA
Maurice Ravel
Piano Trio in A minor
Beaux Arts Trio
Recorded: 1966
Decca
Rowan Music Library CDC 2481
Johannes Brahms
Quintet for clarinet and strings in B minor, op. 115
David Shifrin, clarinet; Emerson String Quartet
Recorded: 1996
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library CDC 2455
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30
Vladimir Horowitz, piano; RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra; Fritz Reiner, conductor
Recorded: 1951
Rowan Music Library CDC 1077
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra; Stanisław Wisłocki, conductor
Recorded: 1959
Deutsche Grammophon
Rowan Music Library CDC 2482