Naxos American Classics

[vandermolen]

Anyone heard of Steven Gerber (b 1948) here?

I've just listened to his Symphony No 1 (Chandos) which I impulse bought a while back.  It is very good - a dark, tonal and lyrical score with echoes of Irish composer John Kinsella.  This CD has been a nice discovery for me.

[vandermolen]

Anyone heard of Steven Gerber (b 1948) here?

I've just listened to his Symphony No 1 (Chandos) which I impulse bought a while back.  It is very good - a dark, tonal and lyrical score with echoes of Irish composer John Kinsella.  This CD has been a nice discovery for me.

I'll take that for a no then 

[Christo]

I'll take that for a no then 

No. 

Great tip about Creston's Second - I've been playing it now, and you might even be right about it ... 

[vandermolen]

No. 

Great tip about Creston's Second - I've been playing it now, and you might even be right about it ... 

What tip about Creston's Second? 

[Grazioso]

I've been enjoying this one--well, at least the symphony, not so much the piano concerto. The Metropolis Symphony, based on the Superman comics, comes off more as a suite (composer Daugherty claims each movement can be performed individually) or concerto for orchestra than a cohesive symphony. But while it might lack a sense of over-arching form or any great emotional depth, it's delightfully colorful, with whimsical orchestration and memorable themes. The first movement, with its fierce triplet ostinatos a la heavy metal, and the last, a lachrymose tango interwoven with the Dies Irae, particularly stand out. The inner movements, while featuring some interesting touches, could have benefited from more contrast: at least one should have been gentle and lyrical to counter the action and madcap exuberance of the others.

[vandermolen]

I've been enjoying this one--well, at least the symphony, not so much the piano concerto. The Metropolis Symphony, based on the Superman comics, comes off more as a suite (composer Daugherty claims each movement can be performed individually) or concerto for orchestra than a cohesive symphony. But while it might lack a sense of over-arching form or any great emotional depth, it's delightfully colorful, with whimsical orchestration and memorable themes. The first movement, with its fierce triplet ostinatos a la heavy metal, and the last, a lachrymose tango interwoven with the Dies Irae, particularly stand out. The inner movements, while featuring some interesting touches, could have benefited from more contrast: at least one should have been gentle and lyrical to counter the action and madcap exuberance of the others.

Thanks - looks fun.

[karlhenning]

(* slaps Jeffrey none too hard *)

Any disc with a comic book cover looks fun, don't you think?  Point: Marketing

[Benji]

It certainly caught my eye in the shop. But I didn't bite. I'm so strict with myself lately under the pretense that i'm 'saving for university'... (but somehow that doesn't stop me buying that Chilean merlot (Casillero del diablo - can't get enough of it)).

*sigh*

[karlhenning]

Solidarity, Ben.  I was just browsing at Newbury Comics, with a $2-off coupon.  I counted half a dozen temptations in either DVD or CD form.  But not today.  Three months from now, I may splurge;  but this month, it is strict financial discipline.

[Benji]

Solidarity, Ben.  I was just browsing at Newbury Comics, with a $2-off coupon.  I counted half a dozen temptations in either DVD or CD form.  But not today.  Three months from now, I may splurge;  but this month, it is strict financial discipline.

Unfortunately i'm visiting York tomorrow, which has the best second hand classical cd shop north of London and there is zero chance that i'll pass it by or come out empty handed. I will crumble...  /  ...... 

[vandermolen]

(* slaps Jeffrey none too hard *)

Any disc with a comic book cover looks fun, don't you think?  Point: Marketing

Very true Karl - now get back to composing 

[Grazioso]

(* slaps Jeffrey none too hard *)

Any disc with a comic book cover looks fun, don't you think?  Point: Marketing

Well, if it helps, the disc and the piece have gotten good critical press, too. I've enjoyed the symphony enough to where I want to explore some of his other work.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2009/Nov09/Daugherty_metropolis_8559635.htm
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=12480

[karlhenning]

Very true Karl - now get back to composing 

Very good.

Unfortunately i'm visiting York tomorrow, which has the best second hand classical cd shop north of London and there is zero chance that i'll pass it by or come out empty handed. I will crumble...  /  ...... 

How did you fare, Ben?

[Benji]

Very good.
 
How did you fare, Ben?

In one sense, very well (I didn't spend much money) and in another sense not very well at all (...I didn't spend much money).



I only picked up two discs; one yet another Copland Organ Symphony with exactly the same forces as the disc you obtained for me (except live at the '96 BBC Proms), and another with Kondrashin conducting Rach's Symphonic Dances and The Bells (recommended by Sidoze many many moons ago).

Is that the one on Micklegate?  If so, then it's there that I laid the foundations of my music collection as a student back in the LP era (when it was called "The Bodley Head".)  E.g. the pristine set of Bernstein/Ormandy Nielsen symphonies which some madman had disposed of...still a favourite today.  At 50 pence a shot you could afford to take a risk on the unknown.

They used to have a website, but that seems to have dropped off the twig.  Probably just as well.

Yes, that's right. Used to be Classical and Jazz, and now The Lamb CD shop. Unfortunately the word in the shop was that it is shortly to close for good. There is still a huge amount of choice in there, just not for me it seems, and the prices average about £10 per disc. Despite much of the stock being 'deleted' that is still about 50% more than I could pay on Amazon marketplace and as much as I would like to support ventures like this...it's just not economical for me. And that means its really not economical for them either. Online selling is the future I feel.

[Leo K.]

I have been listening to Stephen Albert's extraordinary 'River Run' Symphony (Naxos) - a great work which is tonal but very contemporary - it has an urgency which had me gripped from the start. I can't remember if we discussed it before - probably but it's too late here for me to trawl through the thread. Any other fans of this work? Very sad that he was killed in a car crash aged 50 or 51.

I am absolutely stunned by the beauty of Albert's Symphony "Riverrun" (on Naxos)...I'm a new listener to this work.  Thank God for the recommends of this thread...and thank God for Naxos!

[Leo K.]

Now I'm listening to Albert's Cello Concerto on Yo Yo Ma's New York album...how exciting to discover such a work! 

ON order I have more disks of Albert's music...Wind Canticle, and Violin Concerto.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I am absolutely stunned by the beauty of Albert's Symphony "Riverrun" (on Naxos)...I'm a new listener to this work.  Thank God for the recommends of this thread...and thank God for Naxos!

Indeed, thank God (or Klaus Heymann)... now I'm intrigued. All I know about this composer is that Christopher Rouse's 2nd Symphony is dedicated to him (in memoriam, after that car crash).

[Leo K.]

Indeed, thank God (or Klaus Heymann)... now I'm intrigued. All I know about this composer is that Christopher Rouse's 2nd Symphony is dedicated to him (in memoriam, after that car crash).

Here is an excellant review of the Naxos release of Albert's two Symphonies, by Carson Cooman


RiverRun (Symphony No. 1); Symphony No. 2:
Stephen Albert;
Naxos 8.559257 Time: 64:24

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra,
Paul Polivnick, conductor.


by Carson Cooman

Without doubt, American composer Stephen Albert (1941-1992) is one of the greatest musical losses of the 20th century. Killed in a car accident in the prime of his career, he was in the midst of producing works of profound significance to American music. A life-long New Yorker, Albert studied at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Pennsylvania; he taught at Stanford University and Smith College, before becoming professor of composition at The Juilliard School in New York City. He served as composer-in-residence with the Seattle Symphony in the 1980's and fulfilled commissions from many major American orchestras and organizations.

This superb new disc on Naxos nearly completes the recording of his mature orchestral works. Albert's next-to-last composition, the astounding clarinet concerto Wind Canticle (1991), was finally released two years ago on Albany Records in a strong performance by the Steven Schempf and the Bowling Green Philharmonia. I cannot recommend that recording highly enough. Wind Canticle would be one of my "desert island" compositions, as it sums up everything Albert does best in one compact, wonderful work. Thankfully, Naxos has decided to include music of Albert in their admirable "American Classics" series. This widely distributed new release should provide some much needed visibility for these important pieces.

Albert's first symphony, RiverRun, was first released on Delos in an excellent performance by its commissioners, the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich. Well more than half of Albert's compositions are inspired by the writings of James Joyce, in particular Joyce's last major work, the fantastical novel Finnegan's Wake. Given the depth of allusions and endless wordplay that fill the novel, it is not surprising that it could provide fertile ground for ongoing musical inspiration. In some of his "Joyce" works, Albert sets the actual texts to music. The symphony, by contrast, is a purely musical piece. However, it does share much of its musical material with the extended song cycle TreeStone (1983) for soprano, tenor, and twelve players (also recorded on an out of print Delos CD by the New York Chamber Symphony). Thus, if one knows TreeStone, one knows all sorts of words for the melodies that appear within RiverRun.

Structurally, the work overtly resembles a typical four movement symphony – Rain Music, Leafy Speafing, Beside the Rivering Waters, and River's End – each movement with a title from Finnegan's Wake. The use of myriad ostinati throughout the piece portrays the ever-present running river.

The third movement is perhaps the most striking; it is formally structured as a scherzo and trio (actually more of a "march and scherzo" as described by Albert). The most wild and fun music in the work appears within this movement. A tune is quoted that was adapted by James Joyce from an Irish folk song and was originally notated within the text of Finnegan's Wake. Albert combines Joyce's tune with his own material, often deliberately set up to be off-kilter in rhythmic alignment. The "scherzo" material, by contrast, is whirling and child-like, bringing back material from the earlier movements. The march theme returns to end the movement in a stupor, before it all fades away to nothing.

The final movement builds in intensity throughout; it is cast in three primary sections, each separated by contrasting interludes. The movement draws together music from all the previous three movements, developing it dramatically before finally disappearing in a water-filled coda.

The work, which was awarded the 1985 Pulitzer Prize in Music, is one of Albert's most distinctive compositions. This is one of the most important American symphonies of the second half of the 20th century and is a work of fascinating shapes, colors, and ideas – holding the interest of the listener for every moment.

Albert's Symphony No. 2 was his last composition. He wrote it on commission from the New York Philharmonic and left it unfinished at his death. His friend, composer Sebastian Currier, was asked by G. Schirmer (Albert's publisher) and the Albert family to complete the work. In his excellent liner note to this release, Currier describes his process – which involved primarily fleshing out already detailed orchestration notes and adding some other minor additions based on Albert's sketches and general style. Currier states his opinion that Symphony No. 2 represents a full flowering of romantic symphonic impulses in Albert's language that had always been present, but kept somewhat "in check" in previous works.

Unlike the fantastical world of RiverRun, the second symphony is audibly a more "conventional" piece in many regards. The myriad ostinati that featured so prominently in RiverRun are not a part of the second symphony. Rather, rich melody runs throughout, constantly developing, and awash in Albert's very characteristic orchestration and colors. This is the first recording of the second symphony, and we can be very thankful that this magnificent work is finally available on recording.

About Albert's style, Currier writes: When discussing musical form and structure, he liked to make the distinction between predictability and inevitability. To be predictable was simply boring. For him, the most intense, the most memorable points in a piece were those that were unpredictable, but nonetheless felt totally inevitable. Looking back, a life can seem that way too. Although one could endlessly wonder what his "Third Symphony" might be like, in the end it is great to have these two thoughtful, finely crafted and expressive pieces. 

Despite being prematurely silenced, Albert left an output that contains some of the most significant American music of the century. In terms of other noteworthy works in need of recording, the exhilarating violin concerto, In Concordiam (1986), is also only available on a Delos recording currently out of print, and the other major late orchestral work Anthems and Processionals (1988) has never been recorded. Several earlier orchestral and major chamber works from the 70's also have never seen commercial release. Albert wrote only one nonvocal chamber work after 1980. That piece, Tribute (1988) for violin and piano, is a gorgeous work whose absence on violin recitals and recordings is truly inexplicable.

The performances on this recording by American conductor Paul Polivnick (music director of the orchestras at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio) and the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra are very compelling. Though the National Symphony's recording of RiverRun is superior (most particularly in the third movement), this new RPO performance is still strong and is the only readily available option for hearing these two works. If you care at all about truly great music, run out and buy this disc.

[vandermolen]

Just saw these comments - yes, I too am a great admirer of Albert's 'River Run' Symphony - one of my best recent impulse purchases.  His premature death is clearly a great loss to American music.

[Christo]

impulse purchases

Really?