It was between the publication of the Quatrieme Livre de Pieces de Violes in 1717 and the Cinquieme in 1725 that Marin Marais offered his public an exceptional collection of works that use both the violin and the viol.These works are very different from the earlier viol pieces, from the instruments used to the works' formal structures: they include a sonata inspired by Italian models marked a la maresienne (in Marais' own style), a piece on a three note basso ostinato that evokes the peals of bells in a Parisian church, and an astonishing monument of a piece - La Gamme - that Marais described as an example of a small opera for instruments.

When Dana Margolin started working on the fourth Porridge Radio album, there was something different in how the songwriter approached creativity.

Rrecorded live at The Phoenix Theatre in London on 25 June 1983 featuring powerful live versions of ‘Boxerbeat’, ‘Just Got Lucky’, ‘Johnny Friendly’ and ‘She’s Got Sex’ plus brilliant covers of Georgie Fame’s ‘Fully Booked’, Kansas Joe McCoy’s ‘Why Don’t You Do Right?’ and the Bobby Womack and King Curtis penned ‘Jealous Love’, first recorded by Wilson Pickett.

The music recorded on Arc I (FHR127) expresses foreboding from the brink of disaster. The music on Arc II (FHR128) was written by composers dealing with tragedy. At last, Arc III is a set of pieces born from the bright points of life. Peace, hope, love, ambition, optimism and the divine - the inspiration are myriad. These compositions spring from the million shades of happiness.Orion Weiss has performed internationally as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. This is his sixth album of solo piano music, his third for First Hand Records.

Endlessly talented sonic nonconformist Saya Gray reveals plans for her debut album SAYA, set for release on February 21, 2025 via Dirty Hit. Since her first project release, the critically-acclaimed 19 MASTERS, only a couple years ago, Saya Gray has become globally defined by the undefinable – an artist whose work is limitless, beguiling, intimate, exhilarating and truly unlike any other musician releasing songs right now. It’s easy to call something “one of one;” it’s harder to live it, breathe it, encapsulate it, and share it with the world: Saya Gray embodies that rarified space and invites everyone in. SAYA finally came after the dissolution of a troubled romantic entanglement; Gray booked a flight to Japan in the fall of 2023. And like a feel-good movie protagonist, Gray detangled herself from the outstanding psychic ties by journeying solo on a cross-country road trip.

Strap on your boots, buckaroos, for the first ever complete release of the stage musical set in the Old West composed and performed by folk icon Melanie! This stageshow was only performed live a handful of times and recorded in the studio in pieces but this 2CD set compiles all known songs intended for the production! With her signature voice and unique style, Melanie's music and lyrics will transport you back to the days of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, and the secret they took to the grave!

Francesco Cilea is best remembered for his operas L’Arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur, but his final opera Gloria is a genuine rarity. Set in medieval Siena against the backdrop of conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, Gloria is a tragic tale of love and revenge that can be seen as a variation on the story of Romeo and Juliet. Filled with beautiful melodies accompanied by rich and refined orchestral sonorities, Gloria reveals itself after years of neglect as a precious masterpiece in this acclaimed production from the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari.

ONE OK ROCK have announced plans to release their much-anticipated, new album DETOX on February 21, 2025. Featuring a number of acclaimed producers including multiple Grammy winner Rob Cavallo and Grammy nominees Dan Lancaster and Pete Nappi, DETOX marks the band’s 11th full length, studio release and arrives as the band celebrates their 20th anniversary next year.

Following 'Shadow People' (2018) and 'De Pelicula' (2021) done with Laurent Garnier , The Limiñanas are making their big comeback with their 2025 album entitled 'Faded' , whose first single is 'Prisoner of Beauty' featuring Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), supporter of the band for years. The French psychedelic - garage duo has also gathered on 'Faded' for duets artists such as Jon Spencer, Bertrand Belin, Rover, Penny, Anna Jean and Pascal Comelade.

Edwin McCain is back with Lucky, his first album of new material in 15 years. Produced by Lee Brice, Lucky features classic Edwin McCain songwriting and soulful performances, as well as guest vocal appearances by Brice, Matt Ramsey of Old Dominion, and Rebecca Lynn Howard. Called a "street corner prophet" by the USA Today, an "aching tenor" by Slate Magazine, and a "great American romantic" by the New York Times; Edwin rides a career wave created by recording two of the biggest love songs in the history of music (I'll Be and I Could Not Ask For More), producing and starring in a tv series (Flippin' Ships on Animal Planet), and touring the world singing and spinning stories.

Tate McRae's third album opens with a warning: "Nah, seriously, get your hands off my man." Right away, you know that Tatiana is in control. Beyoncé has Sasha Fierce, Gaga had Jo Calderone, Nicki Minaj has countless onstage alter egos; McRae, who has described herself as a "pretty reserved Canadian," slips into this "feisty" and "obnoxious" (her words) character to leverage dance-floor sex appeal. And Tatiana comes with an A-list army: producer Ryan Tedder, guest stars including McRae's boyfriend Kid Laroi ("I Know Love"), and hit-making songwriters like Julia Michaels and Amy Allen (who have credits on Sabrina Carpenter's biggest hits as well as that aforementioned opener, the slinky slow roll "Miss possessive"). Their aim is true on So Close to What, but sometimes McRae's own firepower is a little lackluster.

Billy Morrison's The Morrison Project is a 12-song opus that features an array of music legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Linda Perry, Steve Vai and Corey Taylor to name a few. Now get ready for the Deluxe Edition that includes never-before-heard remixes and demos - including the demo version of the #1 smash hit, "Crack Cocaine" - plus "Gods of Rock and Roll," featuring Ozzy, Steve Stevens and a 60-piece orchestra, which is destined to be an instant classic and another chart-topper. 3-Sided, 2 LP set on sapphire and golden pearl color vinyl. Limited Edition.

The band was created by Eddie Clark (who later worked with Motörhead and Fastway), inspired by the works of Clapton and Hendrix. Eddie himself from 15 years of age played in different bands in his native Twickenham (western suburb of London). In 1973, he joined the band "Zeus" Curtis Knight as a guitar leader and regarded this invitation as an incredible success - after all, with Knight in "Squires" played his idol Hendricks. Together with partners on "Zeus" (Nick Hogarth - keyboards, Chris Perry - percussion) and friend Alan Callan (synthesizer, guitar, vocals), Eddie arranged a jam session, during which four songs were recorded.

When it comes to songwriting, less is more and simplicity is strength. Just ask Paul Thorn, who’s spent three decades turning soulful grooves and small syllables into songs that pack a big wallop. Maybe he learned the power of minimalism from his years as a pro boxer, maybe it just comes naturally. But whether he’s targeting heads, hearts, hips or the occasional funny bone, he somehow manages to condense large nuggets of wisdom into tight little mantras, the kind embroiderers stitched onto pillows before internet memes existed. Thorn’s new album, “Life Is Just a Vapor, contains some beauties. “Life is a vapor, let’s live it while we can”; “tough times don’t last, but tough people do” (from “Tough Times Don’t Last”); “any mountain up ahead is just a hill” (from “Old Melodies”). They’re words of advice, comfort, support, encouragement, often meant to uplift, especially in times of struggle. “I like for people to be touched by music and get something from it, something that they can take with them throughout the day,” Thorn says. “Every song on this album, there's a message in it of some sort about how to live life.” American Blues Scene writer Don Wilcock calls Thorn “an everyman (who) addresses things we all think about, but few can articulate with the kind of candor, humor and folksy truth that immediately endear him to almost everyone lucky enough to hear his music.”

It is both regrettable and incomprehensible that Louis Spohr is virtually unknown today as a composer of oratorios, as he was extremely highly regarded as such byhis contemporaries.Among musicologists at least, he is counted together with Mendelssohn as one of the most important German composers of oratorios in the first half of the 19th century.
Inspired by a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Spohr wrote his Passion oratorio Des Heilands letzte Stunden WoO 62 in 1834, which reports the Passion events from an unusual perspective.