BEETHOVEN - INSPIRED BY SONGS

"The work . . . comes mostly from Scotland, from Herr Thomson, who tends to ask for a song without words: that is, he sends the tune he wants arranged for voice (or voices) and piano trio . . . . [T]he melodies are such charmers, have such unassuming strength and grace, that their arrival is like that of good company: wholesome stimulants of a composer's wit and skill, his heart too. Beethoven wrote 140 such arrangements, and here are 29 of them, each one a delight. . . . The performances are excellent: good singing and playing by all concerned, and though we may not have expected to find Josef MacProtschka among them he is welcome none the less. . . . The record is the most genial of musical companions, and none but the grumpy heart will want to miss it." -- Gramophone