HOWARD L. RICHARDS (b.late 1920s): Violin Concerto, Irish Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, The Christmas Suite, Baishu and O'ume Suites Nos. 3 & 4, Song for a Departed Friend, Sailing the Soft Winds

Description: Although he studied composition in college and got a Master's degree (studying with Dohnányi), Richards spent his life as a computer program developer at IBM (after a stint at RCA as a music editor and recording director), apparently composing all the while. Although no dates are attached to the works recorded here, they are all in a conservative, tonal, late-Romantic style (sometimes, as in the Rhapsody, approaching film music in feel) and should appeal to collectors of unknown mid-20th century orchestral Americana. Antonin Hradil, Ondrej Lebr (violin), Jindra Kramperova (piano), Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra; Vit Micka.