Orchestral works vol. 1

Richard+Wagner+revolutionised+the+way+composers+used+the+orchestra%2C+as+he+did+so+many+other+aspects+of+music+and+musical+life.+In+the+course+of+his+career%2C+he+expanded+the+standard+operatic+orchestra+of+the+earlier+nineteenth+century+into+a+large+assembly+of+instrumental+families%2C+capable+of+being+used+separately+in+full+harmony+as+well+as+being+combined+in+sonorous+harmony+and+clearly+defined+counterpoint%2C+with+an+apparently+infinite+variety+of+colourings+to+match+the+setting+and+mood+of+each+work+and+each+scene.+His+writing+for+individual+instruments+and+sections+took+full+advantage+of+contemporary+developments+in+playing+technique+and+in+the+design+of+the+wind+instruments.+And+the+expressive+and+flexible+orchestra+of+his+mature+operas+became+essentially%2C+not+an+accompaniment+to+the+singers%2C+but+the+leading+carrier+of+the+musical+line+and+the+embodiment+of+the+characters%26rsquo%3B+thoughts%2C+feelings+and+memories+%26ndash%3B+so+that+the+preludes+for+the+orchestra+alone+formed+an+integral+part+of+the+drama.+%28From+the+CD+linernote+by+Anthony+Burton+%26copy%3B+2010%29+%3Cbr+%2F%3E