GMG Classical Music Forum

Following the Naxos Japanese composers thread I thought I'd start one for American composers. In particular I'd be interested in your views on the lesser known composers whose music appears in this series. Two recent purchases which I've enjoyed are Stephen Albert's Symphony No 1 "River Run" and Adolphus Hailstork's (great name!) Symphony 3. Albert, in particular, strikes me as a major discovery. Tragically he was killed in a car crash, when he was only 51 (in 1992). Flagello's First Symphony has been another important discovery for me. Any other recommendations?

I can enthusiastically recommend at least two: Joan Tower's Made in America, and Huang Ruo's Chamber Concerto cycle.  The former has three substantial Tower works, beautifully played by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, and the latter is the first release by the up-and-coming International Contemporary Ensemble (a.k.a., ICE), with works by one of the most interesting young composers on the scene.  But given the size of the list (here (http://www.naxos.com/series/american_classics.htm)), I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

--Bruce

Oh, just buy them all. You know you want to.  ;D

Quote from: Mn Dave on July 06, 2008, 02:46:32 PM
Oh, just buy them all. You know you want to.  ;D

That is quite true  :o but as an underpaid school teacher I have to be selective (well, up to a point anyway!)

Quote from: bhodges on July 06, 2008, 02:45:55 PM
I can enthusiastically recommend at least two: Joan Tower's Made in America, and Huang Ruo's Chamber Concerto cycle.  The former has three substantial Tower works, beautifully played by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, and the latter is the first release by the up-and-coming International Contemporary Ensemble (a.k.a., ICE), with works by one of the most interesting young composers on the scene.  But given the size of the list (here (http://www.naxos.com/series/american_classics.htm)), I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

--Bruce

Thanks Bruce,

I'll look out for these.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey,

J. Scott Morrison, who pops in here at GMG from time to time, writes detailed Amazon reviews for many of these Naxos recordings.

Here is his profile from where you can access all his reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2PAD826IH1HFE/ref=cm_pdp_pop_prof_name

[Just scroll down to the Reviews section.]

Get the Stefan Wolpe string quartet disc - great players (Fred Sherry, Harvey Sollberger, Charles Wuorinen) and the SQ is much less well known than it deserves

Quote from: vandermolen on July 06, 2008, 02:22:49 PM
Following the Naxos Japanese composers thread I thought I'd start one for American composers. In particular I'd be interested in your views on the lesser known composers whose music appears in this series. Two recent purchases which I've enjoyed are Stephen Albert's Symphony No 1 "River Run" and Adolphus Hailstork's (great name!) Symphony 3. Albert, in particular, strikes me as a major discovery. Tragically he was killed in a car crash, when he was only 51 (in 1992). Flagello's First Symphony has been another important discovery for me. Any other recommendations?

I really enjoyed Samuel Jones' Roundings, which has the single best "musical locomotive" out there (even among such competition as Pacific 231 and Nyman's MGV) among its tone paintings, each inspired by a specific mural from the New Deal era of America. Melodically the pieces are quite Coplandesque, yet with a definite personality of their own.  At one point the recorded sound of a John Deere tractor is used as a rhythmic loop; it works, too!  The cello sonata on the disc is also fine, rather austere and stern as opposed to the often joyous sound of Roundings.

Joan Tower's Made in America is a good purchase; I heard some music by this composer some years ago that didn't do much for me, but the three pieces on that disc have forced me to reevaluate her musical value.  Made in America takes off from the melody of America The Beautiful, but this is no Ivesian quotation, but a perpetual reworking and recasting of the melody in a hundred different kaleidoscopic forms.

Paul Moravec's discs, The Time Gallery and Tempest Fantasia, remind me of nothing so much as certain avantgarde rock bands with strong Bartok/Stravinsky leanings, particularly the Belgian bands Aranis and Univers Zero. Tempest Fantasia won a Pulitzer; I find that prizes don't always mean quality, but this music is quite interesting and powerful.

I just started reading this heavy volume

(http://www.wwnorton.com/cover/005717.jpg)

so naturally I am interested in hearing some of the music by composers mentioned therein. For instance Chadwick, a fellow of who I had never heard but who was apparently a very well known composer in Boston around 1900. I sampled some of the tracks available online, e.g. of the 2nd symphony, and what I heard appeared to me, as they would have said in his day, rather delightful, so I am thinking about getting some of his music. Any tips?

Quote from: M forever on July 06, 2008, 05:26:11 PM
I just started reading this heavy volume

(http://www.wwnorton.com/cover/005717.jpg)

so naturally I am interested in hearing some of the music by composers mentioned therein. For instance Chadwick, a fellow of who I had never heard but who was apparently a very well known composer in Boston around 1900. I sampled some of the tracks available online, e.g. of the 2nd symphony, and what I heard appeared to me, as they would have said in his day, rather delightful, so I am thinking about getting some of his music. Any tips?

I'm still slowly making my way through the same book, M (I haven't made much time to read lately). And it prompted me to pick up a couple Chadwick CDs from Naxos.

I buy almost all the cd's in this series, and the latest that I played, was the one below.
Flagello's work, as well as Rosner's are of extra ordinary quality, and I love this music very much. The element of two symphonic
Masses, so Orchestral works, without the chorus, was very appealing to me, and I was proven right.

Thank you for the replies. I have ordered the Towers CD "Made in America" and the Flagello recommendation. So maybe starting this thread wasn't good for my bank balance!

Quote from: Mn Dave on July 06, 2008, 03:56:52 PM
Jeffrey,

J. Scott Morrison, who pops in here at GMG from time to time, writes detailed Amazon reviews for many of these Naxos recordings.

Here is his profile from where you can access all his reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2PAD826IH1HFE/ref=cm_pdp_pop_prof_name

[Just scroll down to the Reviews section.]

Dave,

Thanks very much. I have read many reviews by Scott Morrison and they are very detailed. Many thanks for the link.

Jeffrey

Quote from: vandermolen on July 07, 2008, 01:09:01 AM
. So maybe starting this thread wasn't good for my bank balance!

I am quite sure it is not my friend, asking for recommendations will always cost you money.

(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb79/walboi/1214653041734.jpg) ;D

Quote from: Harry on July 07, 2008, 01:47:58 AM
I am quite sure it is not my friend, asking for recommendations will always cost you money.

(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb79/walboi/1214653041734.jpg) ;D

Yes, and you have not helped with your new Flagello recommendation, which I have already ordered. You are just feeding my OCCDCD (obsessive compulsive CD collecting disorder) and, furthermore as someone with medical knowledge you should know better  ;D

The Naxos American Classics is a strange series-in my opinion. I can't quite figure out the use of the word 'Classics' for a number of composers and compositions who are almost completely unknown. That is not to say that they don't deserve to be brought to the attention of the listening public. I have certainly discovered a good deal of extremely fine music through the series. The Flagello/Rosner disc mentioned above contains two pieces with which I fell instantly in love. The two Hailstork symphonies are attractive works. I too was impressed by the late Stephen Albert.
It just puzzles me a little that Naxos should choose to record so much that is (frankly) obscure before going for more established composers whose music desperately requires to be recorded. It is perfectly true that the company is doing a set of William Schuman's symphonies with Gerard Schwarz but Nos. 6 and 8 still await release. They have committed to a Roy Harris set but that is going very slowly(although Nos. 5 and 6 have been recorded recently). What is certainly required would include the unrecorded symphonies of David Diamond(Nos. 6,7, 9, 10 and 11), Paul Creston's 6th, George Rochberg's 3rd, 4th and 6th and a modern set of Peter Mennin's symphonies-to mention but some. I do feel that these works would more accurately fit the definition of 'classics' than the recent CD of music by Hubert Klyne Headley, whose symphony and piano concerti seemed pretty second rate to me.

Quote from: Harry on July 07, 2008, 12:15:32 AM
I buy almost all the cd's in this series, and the latest that I played, was the one below.
Flagello's work, as well as Rosner's are of extra ordinary quality, and I love this music very much. The element of two symphonic
Masses, so Orchestral works, without the chorus, was very appealing to me, and I was proven right.

I agree, in sofar, that both works are indeed substantial and agreeable. Flagello's work has more "bite" ( possibly"structure" ) than Rosner's . I found Rosner's "Missa" tiring on the ears after a while - huge washes of fluttering neo-impressionistic color, usually capped by tam tam crashes ( and that Ukranian instrument has a strange "rumbling/grumbling" sound - almost as an electronic device...). Respighian -splendor -indigestion - alert!
Still, good work from conductor  & orchestra - but I will take it in small doses.

Anyway, the American Composers series adds greatly to our knowledge .
P.

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 07, 2008, 03:08:18 AM
It just puzzles me a little that Naxos should choose to record so much that is (frankly) obscure before going for more established composers whose music desperately requires to be recorded. It is perfectly true that the company is doing a set of William Schuman's symphonies with Gerard Schwarz but Nos. 6 and 8 still await release. They have committed to a Roy Harris set but that is going very slowly(although Nos. 5 and 6 have been recorded recently). What is certainly required would include the unrecorded symphonies of David Diamond(Nos. 6,7, 9, 10 and 11), Paul Creston's 6th, George Rochberg's 3rd, 4th and 6th and a modern set of Peter Mennin's symphonies-to mention but some.

Heartily seconded!

P.

Quote from: vandermolen on July 07, 2008, 02:00:00 AM
You are just feeding my OCCDCD (obsessive compulsive CD collecting disorder)

So many people here are suffering from that...

* melancholy sigh *

Quote from: Jezetha on July 07, 2008, 03:19:03 AM
So many people here are suffering from that...

* melancholy sigh *

What else would I do with an entire wall of my (large) sitting room but decorate it with shelves of CDs? :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 07, 2008, 03:25:17 AM
What else would I do with an entire wall of my (large) sitting room but decorate it with shelves of CDs? :)

Now I understand!  ;D

Wm Grant Still, Afro-American Symphony

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41i7M-4nVSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Eventually, this piece will appear in the Horowitz book, Dave. It really is worth a listen.

A fascinating and much-needed series. I strongly recommend newcomers to check out the 25-disc Naxos American Symphonies Collection available from Arkiv: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/listPage.jsp?list_id=734 (Note that they sometimes sell it more cheaply.)

A couple of my favorites from the series include the disc with Diamond's Brucknerian 2nd and luminous 4th symphony:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418cnvvMlBL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

and Rorem's three symphonies, which sound a bit like Copland crossed with Hindemith:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t3uAXIyvL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Quote from: karlhenning on July 07, 2008, 04:01:27 AM
Wm Grant Still, Afro-American Symphony

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41i7M-4nVSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Eventually, this piece will appear in the Horowitz book, Dave. It really is worth a listen.

I was looking at that one just last night, Karl. Thank you.

There is so much to enjoy in this series--I say this based on research and personal listening experience--that we'd probably save time and space by listing which recordings to avoid.  ;)

Quote from: M forever on July 06, 2008, 05:26:11 PM
IFor instance Chadwick, a fellow of who I had never heard but who was apparently a very well known composer in Boston around 1900. I sampled some of the tracks available online, e.g. of the 2nd symphony, and what I heard appeared to me, as they would have said in his day, rather delightful, so I am thinking about getting some of his music. Any tips?

Not Naxos, but this VoxBox two-CD release has Chadwick's string quartet:

(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/6b/e5/6729024128a066ea541b8010._AA200_.L.jpg)

It also includes works by Arthur Foote, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, Henry Hadley, Charles Martin Loeffler, Daniel Gregory Mason, and an unusual open-string composition attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

With Chadwick, Foote (1853-1937, born in Salem, Massachusetts) was one of the Boston Six. Hadley (1871-1937) was born in Somerville, MA and Mason (1873-1953) was born in Brookline. Loeffler was German-born, but played with the BSO from 1882-1903.

Quote from: Szykniej on July 07, 2008, 04:46:27 AM
Not Naxos, but this VoxBox two-CD release has Chadwick's string quartet:

It also includes works by Arthur Foote, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, Henry Hadley, Charles Martin Loeffler, Daniel Gregory Mason, and an unusual open-string composition attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

With Chadwick, Foote (1853-1937, born in Salem, Massachusetts) was one of the Boston Six. Hadley (1871-1937) was born in Somerville, MA and Mason (1873-1953) was born in Brookline. Loeffler was German-born, but played with the BSO from 1882-1903.

Why must it be out of print? ;)

Quote from: Harry on July 07, 2008, 12:15:32 AM
Flagello's work [is] of extra ordinary quality

I agree. It's not just routinely ordinary.  ;D

The Naxos series is wildly uneven, from landmark Ives down to the bottomless pit of neo-romanticism à la Kenneth Fuchs.

Thomas

Quote from: sound67 on July 07, 2008, 05:24:39 AM
I agree. It's not just routinely ordinary.  ;D

The Naxos series is wildly uneven, from landmark Ives down to the bottomless pit of neo-romanticism à la Kenneth Fuchs.

Thomas

Seems more to me like it's wildly diverse.

Quote from: Mn Dave on July 07, 2008, 05:23:22 AM
Why must it be out of print? ;)

You're not allowed to have the good stuff, I guess  ;) .  I picked up my copy on ebay a couple of years ago and to the best of my recollection, it was in new condition. There still might be a small stockpile somewhere.

Quote from: Mn Dave on July 07, 2008, 05:27:40 AM
Seems more to me like it's wildly diverse.

Only if you're a subscriber to the "I'm okay, you're okay" doctrine.  ;)

Quote from: sound67 on July 07, 2008, 05:39:17 AM
Only if you're a subscriber to the "I'm okay, you're okay" doctrine.  ;)

Not really. But even light music has its uses for some of us.

I know this set is expensive but if you are intersted in hearing some of this music in "idiomatic" in every sense of the word performances go with this set only available from the NYPO:

http://nyphil.org/buy/estore/itemDetail.cfm?itemnum=5&itemcategorynum=cds&itemdetail=yes (http://nyphil.org/buy/estore/itemDetail.cfm?itemnum=5&itemcategorynum=cds&itemdetail=yes)

which you may find on ebay from time to time. Every single work features the NYPO in flawless form with biting winds, growling brass, and with rhythmic and lithe attacks. As good as most of the Naxos recordings are, and they are very very good, I just think the NYPO captures the spirit of this music better. The highlight of the set is an Appalachian Spring from 1946 conducted by Arthur Rodzinski and the 2nd Symphony of Howard Hanson conducted by the composer himself which is head and shoulders above his anemic remake with his Eastman Rochester Orchestra. Every single cd clocks in at almost 80 minutes so you are getting your money's worth for 10 cds.

Let's not forget the incomparable Amy Beach.

However, every time I hear something by Alan Hovhaness I like it.

I was so impressed with the 'City of Light' symphony that I went out and bought the Naxos disc which has the 'Cello Concerto played by Janos Starker, no less.

I think that it is because he reminds me, just reminds me and nothing more, of VW!

Quote from: Hector on July 07, 2008, 06:48:18 AM
However, every time I hear something by Alan Hovhaness I like it.

I was so impressed with the 'City of Light' symphony that I went out and bought the Naxos disc which has the 'Cello Concerto played by Janos Starker, no less.

That is a mighty fine disc!

Thanks to all for your replies. I agree with Colin and we need to complete the William Schuman and David Diamond series above all else. Schuman's 6th Symphony has not yet appeared on Naxos but it has to be one of his greatest works, although a bit more uncompromising than the excellent better-known No 3. In my terrific Ormandy CD, the 6th Symphony is described as a "Requiem for the 20th Century", which I do not find inappropriate. I too like Hovhaness (Symphony 50 is my favourite, the "Mount St Helens"). Diamond's Third is one of the greatest American symphonies IMHO and deserves to stand alongside those other great Third symphonies by Copland, Harris, Ives and Schuman. Antheil's No 4 has enormous appeal too.

Naxos will-presumably-be coupling Schuman's 6th and 8th in performances by Gerard Schwarz. That will be a coupling which will really test both orchestra and conductor! These two symphonies are positive powerhouses which require the greatest possible orchestral virtuosity to pull off successfully. Ormandy and the Philadelphia did a fantastic job with the 6th in a performance dating back now to 1953(reissued by Albany Records on CD in 1997) and Bernstein had the New York Philharmonic for his incandescent recording of the 8th from 1962(reissued on CD by Sony in its Bernstein Century series). But these were conductors of genius with the most superb American orchestras. Schuman's music requires such consummate musicianship and orchestral virtuosity to make the maximum impact. It is sad to have to recognise that at the present time it is almost completely inconceivable that orchestras like those would record music like this!

(Incidentally, there is another recording of Schumann's 6th on the Koch label with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hugh Keelan, coupled with Roy Harris's 7th. That is a worthy performance with the New Zealanders to be applauded for their enterprise
but however hard they try they cannot match the sheer power of a major world-class orchestra.)

David Diamond's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th symphonies(Seattle Symphony/Schwarz) have all been transferred from Delos to Naxos and are all very fine works indeed. I managed to find his 5th symphony in a performance by the Juilliard Orchestra(Christopher Keene) on New World Records coupled with Vincent Persichetti's Night Dances and Milton Babbitt's Relata I. As I think I have remarked before here,
Delos also issued the Adagio from Diamond's 11th Symphony on a CD containing other works by the same composer. I thought at the time and still think that this was an unimagineable disgrace! Why on earth one would issue-in this day and age-a single movement from a modern symphony I find impossible to understand >:(

Agree too about Antheil's 4th. CPO issued Antheil's 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hugh Wolff but not the 2nd. They may not have got round to that symphony before Wolff left Frankfurt but I hope they can find someone else to record it.

Naxos have also reissued the Delos recordings of Piston's 2nd, 4th and 6th symphonies. I wonder if they plan to record the other five?

There are plenty of great American compositions still awaiting recording in the American Classics series and I am sorry that some of these have not preceded some of the lesser music that has been included in that series to date.

Oh...N.B.....just announced for issue next month-Virgil Thomson's Cello Concerto, William Perry's Jamestown Concerto(for cello) and Schuman's Song of Orpheus for cello and orchestra. Excellent!

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 07, 2008, 03:42:41 PM
Naxos will-presumably-be coupling Schuman's 6th and 8th in performances by Gerard Schwarz. That will be a coupling which will really test both orchestra and conductor! These two symphonies are positive powerhouses which require the greatest possible orchestral virtuosity to pull off successfully. Ormandy and the Philadelphia did a fantastic job with the 6th in a performance dating back now to 1953(reissued by Albany Records on CD in 1997) and Bernstein had the New York Philharmonic for his incandescent recording of the 8th from 1962(reissued on CD by Sony in its Bernstein Century series). But these were conductors of genius with the most superb American orchestras. Schuman's music requires such consummate musicianship and orchestral virtuosity to make the maximum impact. It is sad to have to recognise that at the present time it is almost completely inconceivable that orchestras like those would record music like this!

     I don't think Schwarz recorded the Schuman 6th or 8th for Delos. Are they making new recordings? I wasn't aware of that. We really need a new recording of the 6th.

     You're absolutely right about the Schuman 8th and the Bernstein recording of it. It's tremendous on both counts, one of the most powerful American symphonies and a tremendous performance. Bernstein is the best imaginable conductor for this work.

Quote from: drogulus on July 07, 2008, 04:04:13 PM
     I don't think Schwarz recorded the Schuman 6th or 8th for Delos. Are they making new recordings? I wasn't aware of that. We really need a new recording of the 6th.

     You're absolutely right about the Schuman 8th and the Bernstein recording of it. It's tremendous on both counts, one of the most powerful American symphonies and a tremendous performance. Bernstein is the best imaginable conductor for this work.

The only Schuman symphony Schwarz recorded for Delos was No.5 for strings. The others(Nos.3, 4, 7, 9 and 10) are all new recordings for Naxos. Nos. 4 and 9 and Nos. 7 and 10 were recorded in 2003/4 and released in 2005 while No. 3 was recorded in 2005 and released(coupled with No.5) in 2006.

   

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 07, 2008, 04:36:24 PM
The only Schuman symphony Schwarz recorded for Delos was No.5 for strings. The others(Nos.3, 4, 7, 9 and 10) are all new recordings for Naxos. Nos. 4 and 9 and Nos. 7 and 10 were recorded in 2003/4 and released in 2005 while No. 3 was recorded in 2005 and released(coupled with No.5) in 2006.

Thanks, Dundonnell. I have some catching up to do with this composer.

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 07, 2008, 03:42:41 PM
Naxos will-presumably-be coupling Schuman's 6th and 8th in performances by Gerard Schwarz. That will be a coupling which will really test both orchestra and conductor! These two symphonies are positive powerhouses which require the greatest possible orchestral virtuosity to pull off successfully. Ormandy and the Philadelphia did a fantastic job with the 6th in a performance dating back now to 1953(reissued by Albany Records on CD in 1997) and Bernstein had the New York Philharmonic for his incandescent recording of the 8th from 1962(reissued on CD by Sony in its Bernstein Century series). But these were conductors of genius with the most superb American orchestras. Schuman's music requires such consummate musicianship and orchestral virtuosity to make the maximum impact. It is sad to have to recognise that at the present time it is almost completely inconceivable that orchestras like those would record music like this!

(Incidentally, there is another recording of Schumann's 6th on the Koch label with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hugh Keelan, coupled with Roy Harris's 7th. That is a worthy performance with the New Zealanders to be applauded for their enterprise
but however hard they try they cannot match the sheer power of a major world-class orchestra.)

David Diamond's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th symphonies(Seattle Symphony/Schwarz) have all been transferred from Delos to Naxos and are all very fine works indeed. I managed to find his 5th symphony in a performance by the Juilliard Orchestra(Christopher Keene) on New World Records coupled with Vincent Persichetti's Night Dances and Milton Babbitt's Relata I. As I think I have remarked before here,
Delos also issued the Adagio from Diamond's 11th Symphony on a CD containing other works by the same composer. I thought at the time and still think that this was an unimagineable disgrace! Why on earth one would issue-in this day and age-a single movement from a modern symphony I find impossible to understand >:(

Agree too about Antheil's 4th. CPO issued Antheil's 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hugh Wolff but not the 2nd. They may not have got round to that symphony before Wolff left Frankfurt but I hope they can find someone else to record it.

Naxos have also reissued the Delos recordings of Piston's 2nd, 4th and 6th symphonies. I wonder if they plan to record the other five?

There are plenty of great American compositions still awaiting recording in the American Classics series and I am sorry that some of these have not preceded some of the lesser music that has been included in that series to date.

Oh...N.B.....just announced for issue next month-Virgil Thomson's Cello Concerto, William Perry's Jamestown Concerto(for cello) and Schuman's Song of Orpheus for cello and orchestra. Excellent!

Yes, I too have both versions of Schuman's 6th Symphony (are you surprised? ;D). The one on Koch with the New Zealenders is very worthy but the Ormandy version is much more compelling. Whilst I am a great fan of Diamond (at least symphonies 1-4 + Romeo and Juliet, Psalm and Kaddish), I couldn't get to grips with those by Ned Rorem.

There is something of a vogue for Ned Rorem at the present time. Certainly Naxos has done him proud with four CD releases in the American Classics series(the three symphonies, Piano Concerto No.2, Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, Flute Concerto and Double Concerto for Violin and Cello). Three of these CDs are conducted by Jose Serebrier, who obviously admires Rorem's music.
Now that is pretty generous. Rorem is an attractive composer whose music is undoubtedly pleasant on the ear but I don't rate him anywhere near as highly as Harris, Piston, Schuman, Diamond etc.

No doubt others will disagree!

(There is a vogue in Great Britain just now for the music of York Bowen which completely bemuses me. Sub-Rachmaninov medioctrity!
There that's harsh!)

I just purchased a Rorem CD last night.  :-\

Quote from: Mn Dave on July 08, 2008, 04:26:13 AM
I just purchased a Rorem CD last night.  :-\

You don't say which one but I am sure that you will enjoy it :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 04:39:13 AM
You don't say which one but I am sure that you will enjoy it :)

It's the Three Symphonies disc on Naxos. I also read last night, after my purchase, that his best works are his songs. Nevertheless, I'm sure I will enjoy it!

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 04:24:42 AM
There is something of a vogue for Ned Rorem at the present time. Certainly Naxos has done him proud with four CD releases in the American Classics series(the three symphonies, Piano Concerto No.2, Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, Flute Concerto and Double Concerto for Violin and Cello). Three of these CDs are conducted by Jose Serebrier, who obviously admires Rorem's music.
Now that is pretty generous. Rorem is an attractive composer whose music is undoubtedly pleasant on the ear but I don't rate him anywhere near as highly as Harris, Piston, Schuman, Diamond etc.

No doubt others will disagree!

(There is a vogue in Great Britain just now for the music of York Bowen which completely bemuses me. Sub-Rachmaninov medioctrity!
There that's harsh!)

Yes, my Bowen purchases were great disappointments. I must try again with Rorem. I  received a very charming letter from David Diamond years ago; another recipient of an unsolicited fan letter from me!

Très cool, Jeffrey!

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2008, 05:32:53 AM
Très cool, Jeffrey!

Thanks Karl, although you may well be the first person to use that expression ("cool") in relation to me, apart from occasional sarcastic use by one of my students  8)

Quote from: karlhenning on July 07, 2008, 06:57:36 AM
That is a mighty fine disc!

Indeed, and he writes toons!

Quote from: vandermolen on July 08, 2008, 06:26:53 AM
Thanks Karl, although you may well be the first person to use that expression ("cool") in relation to me, apart from occasional sarcastic use by one of my students  8)

Oh, what do they know, Jeffrey! A generation which has turned words like "wicked" and-now-"fierce" into terms of approbation cannot be relied to demonstrate discriminatory good taste :) :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 06:46:33 AM
Oh, what do they know, Jeffrey! A generation which has turned words like "wicked" and-now-"fierce" into terms of approbation cannot be relied to demonstrate discriminatory good taste :) :)

Whatever, yes, it's pants, I agree Colin!  :) :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 06:46:33 AM
Oh, what do they know, Jeffrey! A generation which has turned words like "wicked" and-now-"fierce" into terms of approbation . . . .

That's long-standing tradition in Boston, where wicked is even used as an adverb ("a wicked good time")  8)

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2008, 06:55:07 AM
That's long-standing tradition in Boston, where wicked is even used as an adverb ("a wicked good time")  8)

Oh dear! I am really getting old :)

Welcome to the club.  ;D

Make sure that your eyes, ears, prostate and heart, lungs.... are checked every year!! >:D

I'd love to see more C.M.Loeffler on (Naxos) disc !! Both Pagan poem and the 5 Irish fantasies could do with a new recording.
I have an old LP with Howard hanson conducting Loeffler's symphonic poems - lovely & lush music. don't know if it was t'ransfered to CD.

(http://www.audiophileusa.com/covers400water/47707.jpg)

Peter

I found this beautiful drawing of Loeffler by John Singer Sargent.
An elegant man.....

Peter

Quote from: pjme on July 08, 2008, 10:13:05 AM
Welcome to the club.  ;D

Make sure that your eyes, ears, prostate and heart, lungs.... are checked every year!! >:D

I'd love to see more C.M.Loeffler on (Naxos) disc !! Both Pagan poem and the 5 Irish fantasies could do with a new recording.
I have an old LP with Howard hanson conducting Loeffler's symphonic poems - lovely & lush music. don't know if it was t'ransfered to CD.

(http://www.audiophileusa.com/covers400water/47707.jpg)

Peter

Oh, please...stop!! I am still waiting for the wonderful National Health Service to deal with my double hernia. Don't mention other parts of the body :'(

And...I have just gone off and ordered a New World CD of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra doing Loeffler's Symphonic Poem "La Mort de Tintagiles" and Five Irish Fantasies because of you!! Still, only £6.48. One dealer is looking for £115 for the Pagan Poem :o

Quote from: pjme on July 08, 2008, 01:51:34 PM
I found this beautiful drawing of Loeffler by John Singer Sargent.
An elegant man.....

He looks like Lenin!

Quote from: karlhenning on July 07, 2008, 04:01:27 AM
Wm Grant Still, Afro-American Symphony

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41i7M-4nVSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Eventually, this piece will appear in the Horowitz book, Dave. It really is worth a listen.

Just stopping by to say, for a really jazzy take on the Still, get the Cedille recording (Chicago Sinfonietta, conducted by Paul Freeman). What a terrific symphony! Would be a big hit in Americana pops concerts  :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 06:46:33 AM
Oh, what do they know, Jeffrey! A generation which has turned words like "wicked" and-now-"fierce" into terms of approbation cannot be relied to demonstrate discriminatory good taste :) :)

Good to learn! The same phenomenon can be observed in other languages, like German and e.g. Dutch – my students using terms like "wreed" (cruel) and "sluw" (wicked) in a similar fashion.

Still's Afro-American Symphony is one of my personal favourites too. It should be as popular as the Rhapsody in Blue or An American in Pari.  I learnt to know it from the Chandos recording by Neeme Järvi, who also recorded Still's Second (`Song of a New Race'), which isn't really as exciting as this First.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/613EMYM8RTL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Y3CG74D1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

Other favourites in the American Classics series include all Barber CDs and the still incomplete series with David Diamond. Indeed, thanks to Jeffrey, I only discovered Diamond's symphonies late in my life, via this series, and he's now among my favourite Americans too. I agree with Colin and Peter that we're eagerly waiting for more Harris and Piston, instead of so many lesser composers. The three Rorem symphonies are a quite fierce/wicked/cruel however - no complaints about them.  :D

I fully appreciate that a language must evolve over time and that evolution is the outcome of changes in popular usage but it does seem strange that there are words in several languages-as Christo has indicated-which are being used in a diametrically opposite sense to their generally accepted meaning.

Is this the result of an increasing moral ambivalence in so-called advanced societies?

(Just a thought :))

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 04:07:52 PM
And...I have just gone off and ordered a New World CD of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra doing Loeffler's Symphonic Poem "La Mort de Tintagiles" and Five Irish Fantasies because of you!! Still, only £6.48. One dealer is looking for £115 for the Pagan Poem :o

I find that an extremely fine disc. Very " fin de siècle" - refined but not weak . The Fantasies ( The hosting of the sidhe/The host of the air/The fiddler of Dooney/Ballad of the foxhunter/The song of Caitilin ni Uallachain) form a beautiful cycle, now very impressionistic and subdued, then light and fast (The fiddler)The foxhunter is my favorite - really touching . Caitilin ( How tossed, how lost...) is a pathetic prayer, but Loeffler gives it a brillant treatment and the song ends in a blaze of bells & brass.
Tintagiles - with solo viola d'amore- is a somber and passionate symphonic poem based on Maeterlinck's quite gruesome story.

Pagan poem should be available in Stokowski's version on EMI - I suppose ( MATRIX series /4). Manuel Rosenthal recorded it (mono / Rarissimes) aswell.
Check Arkiv.

Enjoy.
Peter

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2008, 06:55:07 AM
That's long-standing tradition in Boston, where wicked is even used as an adverb ("a wicked good time")  8)

No, that's still an adjective.  $:)

Pardon, but in that phrase "wicked" is an adverb modifying the adjective "good";  it answers the question "How?"

How good? Wicked good.

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 08, 2008, 07:25:07 AM
Oh dear! I am really getting old :)

(http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df200602/df20060202.jpg)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 09, 2008, 06:49:27 AM
(Just a thought :)) 

Thanks for sharing it anyhow! In the rather wicked society I happen to live in, it's not specifically the younger generation that's showing `moral ambivalence', so, no, I won't blame them.  :)

All seems to be part of a broader postmodern phenomenon: in the 1980s I already noticed new types of jokes and humour, also based on this mixing up of categories. The present digital world with its side-effect of virtualization of the actual world, seems to have been preceeded (historically) by a cultural tendency to `virtualize' language, meaning, a.s.o. But, no more than just a thought!  ;)  0:)

Quote from: Christo on July 10, 2008, 05:44:49 AM
Thanks for sharing it anyhow! In the rather wicked society I happen to live in, it's not specifically the younger generation that's showing `moral ambivalence', so, no, I won't blame them.  :)

All seems to be part of a broader postmodern phenomenon: in the 1980s I already noticed new types of jokes and humour, also based on this mixing up of categories. The present digital world with its side-effect of virtualization of the actual world, seems to have been preceeded (historically) by a cultural tendency to `virtualize' language, meaning, a.s.o. But, no more than just a thought!  ;)  0:)

That was something I talked about in the speech at my retirement dinner. I said quite a bit about the philosophical theories of Jean Baudrillard in that speech. I am sure that the audience found it really fascinating ;) ;D

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 10, 2008, 06:02:29 AM
That was something I talked about in the speech at my retirement dinner. I said quite a bit about the philosophical theories of Jean Baudrillard in that speech. I am sure that the audience found it really fascinating ;) ;D

I hope they didn't simulate interest, Colin...

Quote from: Jezetha on July 10, 2008, 06:04:26 AM
I hope they didn't simulate interest, Colin...

:) :)

Oh, I've had to sit in on seminars where I've needed to simulate interest . . . .

Quote from: karlhenning on July 10, 2008, 06:39:48 AM
Oh, I've had to sit in on seminars where I've needed to simulate interest . . . .

Better than giving a seminar, faking enthusiasm for the obligatory subject, for an audience doing the same - a position I sometimes find myself in. (Bud hardly postmodern) ::) 0:)

BTT, my absolute favourite in the series:
                                                       (http://bp3.blogger.com/_FPpiWNARTt4/R6RJ86N21hI/AAAAAAAADjw/sCNKjnCGKqk/s400/EC2.jpg)

Quote from: Harry on July 07, 2008, 12:15:32 AM
I buy almost all the cd's in this series, and the latest that I played, was the one below.
Flagello's work, as well as Rosner's are of extra ordinary quality, and I love this music very much. The element of two symphonic
Masses, so Orchestral works, without the chorus, was very appealing to me, and I was proven right.

This is a great CD! (Flagello's Missa Sinfonica and Rosner's Symphony No 5) Many thanks for the recommendation Harry  :)

Flagello's Missa Sinfonica (1957) is quite beautiful. In parts it reminded me of the contemporaneous Ninth Symphony of Vaughan Williams.

Jeffrey

Quote from: vandermolen on July 10, 2008, 11:13:51 AM
This is a great CD! (Flagello's Missa Sinfonica and Rosner's Symphony No 5) Many thanks for the recommendation Harry  :)

Flagello's Missa Sinfonica (1957) is quite beautiful. In parts it reminded me of the contemporaneous Ninth Symphony of Vaughan Williams.

Jeffrey

Did you miss my post about Rosner, Jeffrey? If so, here is the link-

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,5743.0.html

If not, I apologise for bringing it up again :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 10, 2008, 11:33:58 AM
Did you miss my post about Rosner, Jeffrey? If so, here is the link-

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,5743.0.html

If not, I apologise for bringing it up again :)

I totally missed the thread Colin. But not any more  :)

Actually the American work which sounds more close to VW to me is the (excellent) Three New England Sketches by Walter Piston (on Naxos with Piston's 4th Symphony). The opening of the last movement 'Mountains' is very similar to the opening of VW's 9th Symphony. Both works are from 1958.

Quote from: Grazioso on July 07, 2008, 04:09:22 AMand Rorem's three symphonies, which sound a bit like Copland crossed with Hindemith:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t3uAXIyvL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

NO!! Rorem's #1 is a worthless piece. I was driving long distance and turned on my radio & found myself hearing from what was (in hind sight) the middle of the work to its end. I prayed that I would hear the announcer tell me what that meandering mess was so I could avoid it. My prayer was answered.

Quote from: johnQpublic on July 12, 2008, 03:35:33 PM
NO!! Rorem's #1 is a worthless piece. I was driving long distance and turned on my radio & found myself hearing from what was (in hind sight) the middle of the work to its end. I prayed that I would hear the announcer tell me what that meandering mess was so I could avoid it. My prayer was answered.

Let's just say you're in the critical minority :) I'd advise interested listeners to audition the samples on Naxos.com.

Quote from: bhodges on July 06, 2008, 02:45:55 PM
I can enthusiastically recommend at least two: Joan Tower's Made in America, and Huang Ruo's Chamber Concerto cycle.  The former has three substantial Tower works, beautifully played by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, and the latter is the first release by the up-and-coming International Contemporary Ensemble (a.k.a., ICE), with works by one of the most interesting young composers on the scene.  But given the size of the list (here (http://www.naxos.com/series/american_classics.htm)), I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

--Bruce

Have just received Joan Towers's 'Made in America' and have greatly enjoyed it; so thank you Bruce. I liked all the pieces on the CD but especially 'Made in America' which is great fun. I have made two excellent discoveries through this thread, the Flagello/Rosner CD and the Tower one. Both fortunately on Naxos, so I don't feel so guilty about buying them!

Quote from: Dundonnell on July 10, 2008, 06:02:29 AM
Baudrillard

Ah, Baudrillard ... Again one of those unknown but no doubt great composers I must get to learn!   ;D

Quote from: Harry on July 07, 2008, 12:15:32 AM
I buy almost all the cd's in this series, and the latest that I played, was the one below.
Flagello's work, as well as Rosner's are of extra ordinary quality, and I love this music very much. The element of two symphonic
Masses, so Orchestral works, without the chorus, was very appealing to me, and I was proven right.

This was a GREAT recommendation Harry.

Many thanks

Jeffrey

I'm listening to this: http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/8559320.htm

I have four Naxos CDs now featuring the music of George Frederick McKay (1899-1970). There is something I find very endearing about this composer and his style is unique in its way. My latest aquisition is a new release below. A long work of over an hour with a lovely slow movement, like an American Delius. At one point I thought that the third movement was going to develop into the Pines of Rome! However, if you want to explore one disc by this composer I'd recommend the one with the Violin Concerto and Suite on Sixteenth Century Hymn Tunes (1962), which has echoes of Vaughan Williams. Also on this CD is my favourite work by McKay the Song Over The Great Plains; a haunting work which I have played over and over again. McKay's Symphony for Seattle is also worth exploring.

Hey, ho.......do I have to add that I am-of course-in full agreement with my esteemed friend(probably now released from his Saturday 'voluntary' incarceration in his school-a building incidentally which reminds me of a cross between a Victorian lunatic asylum and the sort of Carpathian castle habituated by the villains in Hammer Horror films) :) :)

Btw I hope your no doubt illustrious Head doesn't like classical music ;D ;D

McKay was a composer of genuine substance. Perhaps it was because he was based in Seattle-not then as fashionable as it has later become-that he was less often heard than some of his contemporaries?

Although I bought the Naxos disc of the Epoch Symphony when it was issued a month or two back I held off playing it at first because I doubted from what I read that the piece would actually hang together. Having now listened to it now I am not sure that it does-the last movement('Machine Age Blues') is not one I would much like to listen to again. The other movements are much more to my taste however and certainly do remind me of some British composers. The 'Pastoral' movement is particularly beautiful.

Must go back and give the other works you recommend a whirl :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on October 04, 2008, 10:54:16 AM
Hey, ho.......do I have to add that I am-of course-in full agreement with my esteemed friend(probably now released from his Saturday 'voluntary' incarceration in his school-a building incidentally which reminds me of a cross between a Victorian lunatic asylum and the sort of Carpathian castle habituated by the villains in Hammer Horror films) :) :)

Btw I hope your no doubt illustrious Head doesn't like classical music ;D ;D

McKay was a composer of genuine substance. Perhaps it was because he was based in Seattle-not then as fashionable as it has later become-that he was less often heard than some of his contemporaries?

Although I bought the Naxos disc of the Epoch Symphony when it was issued a month or two back I held off playing it at first because I doubted from what I read that the piece would actually hang together. Having now listened to it now I am not sure that it does-the last movement('Machine Age Blues') is not one I would much like to listen to again. The other movements are much more to my taste however and certainly do remind me of some British composers. The 'Pastoral' movement is particularly beautiful.

Must go back and give the other works you recommend a whirl :)

Good morning Colin!

I am now temporarily released from Castle Dracula (I would have added Colditz to your description of the buildings although the Hammer House of Horror/Bedlam analogy is highly appropriate...the school has recently been painted a ghastly yellow colour, which gives it a sickly hue). Back to McKay. Totally agree with you about movement 4 of the Epoch Symphony although it reminded me a bit of Foulds before it lapsed into a kind of light music which does not appeal. But, as you agree, the slow movement is beautiful. Do try Song Over the Great Plain, a bit like an American Lark Ascending, I play it more than any other work by McKay, but the Sinfonietta No 4 from 1942 and the Suite on 16th Century Hymn Tunes (1962) are well worth on exploring (all on the same CD).

I've also been dipping into the Naxos American series—here are some notes on some of them.

Rorem Three Symphonies—I like this disc a lot—particularly the third.  The Piano Concerto #2 is also a nice investment if you like his more Romantic stuff.

I'm still wrapping my head around the Stephen Albert Symphonies—like, not love , is how I feel that  moment.

Craig Russell: Rhapsody for Horn and Orchestra —I dunno—I confess I haven't gotten through it yet.  It seems a bit too crowd-friendly to me, but I liked some of the stuff he's tried to incorporate here-- it just lacks a bit of bite.  It seems like watered down jazz, watered down Afro-Cuban, etc.  Maybe I picked the wrong day to listen.

Hanson- Organ Concerto—what a work!  I'm a big Hanson fan, but this alone was worth the price of admission.  None of the others on that disc grabbed me as much.  The Symphony 1 disc didn't get me as strong either—I don't know if it was the work itself or the interpretation.  Hard to beat symphonies 2 and 4. (Particularly 4)

Hailstork: Symphonies 2 and 3.   Although I think both ran a bit long, the first and fourth movements for symphony 2 were real keepers. 


Antheil: Ballet Mechanique.  Lots of fun to play loud—although some of his quiet Stravinsky influenced works on the disc left a longer impression on me.


The Barber Series:  I don't have other versions to compare to, but this was certainly worth the cost.  Highlights were the Knoxville 1915 with the all important Essay #2, the Cello Concerto (a gem), and the Symphonies disc—although I must admit the reconstituted 2nd Symphony did not blow me away as much as the first. Tucked in at the end of the Violin Concerto disc was the Music for a Scene By Shelly, and that is a real powerful one.

Creston Symphonies 1-3:  Okay—this didn't grab me completely as a whole , but the second half of his Dance Symphony is something I can listen to on endless repeat.  The rhythms are so compelling.  Similarly, the disc with Symphony 5 has one track I gravitate towards, and that is the powerful Invocation and Dance.

Diamond Symphonies 2 and 4:  Love the dark mood in the first movement of the second symphony. The disc with the 3rd didn't grab me as much, but I need to go back.

Flagello- Symphony 1, Theme, Variations and Fugue.  I didn't immediately take to the symphony, but the Fugue at the end is one of those "power" pieces that needs to be heard real loud.

Griffes—Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan and other Orchestral stuff .  What a loss that he died so young.  Anybody who admired the impressionists and Scriabin has my admiration.  A solid album.

Hartke- Clarinet Concerto.  I liked this a good deal—recommended if you want to find the middle ground between Stravinsky and jazz.

Harris: Symphonies 7 and 9.  Listened twice and put back on shelf.  Neither grabbed me like his Third.
Hovhanness: Symphony 22 and Cello Concerto:  Based on what I read here, I need to go back and listen again.

Nancarrow: Pieces for Small Orchestra.  Some very interesting stuff, and, as far I can tell, pulled off very well.  I must admit I like the player piano stuff more, but even that in light doses.

Piston: The Incredible Flutist, Symphonies 2 and 6.  Liked these at first listen, but didn't feel a tug to go back.

Serebrier Symphony #3:  This didn't really grab me—I may be missing something.  It's on the list of ones I need to go back to.

I for one love this series, and everything Naxos does to get more of the repertoire out there. (I've also been bagging the Bax, Arnold, and Alwyn cycles.)  Since my tastes are pretty omnivorous (jazz, blues and world) , I usually can't afford to collect extra versions of the same work. 

Quote from: jowcol on October 08, 2008, 06:05:42 AM
I've also been dipping into the Naxos American series—here are some notes on some of them.

Rorem Three Symphonies—I like this disc a lot—particularly the third.  The Piano Concerto #2 is also a nice investment if you like his more Romantic stuff.

I'm still wrapping my head around the Stephen Albert Symphonies—like, not love , is how I feel that  moment.

Craig Russell: Rhapsody for Horn and Orchestra —I dunno—I confess I haven't gotten through it yet.  It seems a bit too crowd-friendly to me, but I liked some of the stuff he's tried to incorporate here-- it just lacks a bit of bite.  It seems like watered down jazz, watered down Afro-Cuban, etc.  Maybe I picked the wrong day to listen.

Hanson- Organ Concerto—what a work!  I'm a big Hanson fan, but this alone was worth the price of admission.  None of the others on that disc grabbed me as much.  The Symphony 1 disc didn't get me as strong either—I don't know if it was the work itself or the interpretation.  Hard to beat symphonies 2 and 4. (Particularly 4)

Hailstork: Symphonies 2 and 3.   Although I think both ran a bit long, the first and fourth movements for symphony 2 were real keepers. 


Antheil: Ballet Mechanique.  Lots of fun to play loud—although some of his quiet Stravinsky influenced works on the disc left a longer impression on me.


The Barber Series:  I don't have other versions to compare to, but this was certainly worth the cost.  Highlights were the Knoxville 1915 with the all important Essay #2, the Cello Concerto (a gem), and the Symphonies disc—although I must admit the reconstituted 2nd Symphony did not blow me away as much as the first. Tucked in at the end of the Violin Concerto disc was the Music for a Scene By Shelly, and that is a real powerful one.

Creston Symphonies 1-3:  Okay—this didn't grab me completely as a whole , but the second half of his Dance Symphony is something I can listen to on endless repeat.  The rhythms are so compelling.  Similarly, the disc with Symphony 5 has one track I gravitate towards, and that is the powerful Invocation and Dance.

Diamond Symphonies 2 and 4:  Love the dark mood in the first movement of the second symphony. The disc with the 3rd didn't grab me as much, but I need to go back.

Flagello- Symphony 1, Theme, Variations and Fugue.  I didn't immediately take to the symphony, but the Fugue at the end is one of those "power" pieces that needs to be heard real loud.

Griffes—Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan and other Orchestral stuff .  What a loss that he died so young.  Anybody who admired the impressionists and Scriabin has my admiration.  A solid album.

Hartke- Clarinet Concerto.  I liked this a good deal—recommended if you want to find the middle ground between Stravinsky and jazz.

Harris: Symphonies 7 and 9.  Listened twice and put back on shelf.  Neither grabbed me like his Third.
Hovhanness: Symphony 22 and Cello Concerto:  Based on what I read here, I need to go back and listen again.

Nancarrow: Pieces for Small Orchestra.  Some very interesting stuff, and, as far I can tell, pulled off very well.  I must admit I like the player piano stuff more, but even that in light doses.

Piston: The Incredible Flutist, Symphonies 2 and 6.  Liked these at first listen, but didn't feel a tug to go back.

Serebrier Symphony #3:  This didn't really grab me—I may be missing something.  It's on the list of ones I need to go back to.

I for one love this series, and everything Naxos does to get more of the repertoire out there. (I've also been bagging the Bax, Arnold, and Alwyn cycles.)  Since my tastes are pretty omnivorous (jazz, blues and world) , I usually can't afford to collect extra versions of the same work. 

Interesting survey; thanks. Diamond's Symphony 3 is my favourite of his series, although I love 2 and 4 also. You might like the Flagello/Rosner CD mentioned above. There is a good Copland No 3 and Bernstein No 1 "Jeremiah" in the Naxos series. Do you know ther CD with Antheil's 4th and 6th symphonies on? A winner in my view.

Two more recent discs that I think are stunning are:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Js4nZDIwL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
It also contains the 3 Latin American Sketches and Quiet City. I do not know why the cover image doesn't list those???

and this one:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519c9R0V2IL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)

Both are splendidly played by two American bands. Those wide open intervals and crisp wind details leap out at you. The sonics are natural and spacious.

Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on October 08, 2008, 08:01:51 AM
Two more recent discs that I think are stunning are:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Js4nZDIwL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
It also contains the 3 Latin American Sketches and Quiet City. I do not know why the cover image doesn't list those???

and this one:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519c9R0V2IL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)

Both are splendidly played by two American bands. Those wide open intervals and crisp wind details leap out at you. The sonics are natural and spacious.

Yes, the disc with the Red Pony on is especially good; an imaginative programme.

Quote from: Dundonnell on October 04, 2008, 10:54:16 AM
Hey, ho.......do I have to add that I am-of course-in full agreement with my esteemed friend(probably now released from his Saturday 'voluntary' incarceration in his school-a building incidentally which reminds me of a cross between a Victorian lunatic asylum and the sort of Carpathian castle habituated by the villains in Hammer Horror films) :) :)

Btw I hope your no doubt illustrious Head doesn't like classical music ;D ;D

McKay was a composer of genuine substance. Perhaps it was because he was based in Seattle-not then as fashionable as it has later become-that he was less often heard than some of his contemporaries?

Although I bought the Naxos disc of the Epoch Symphony when it was issued a month or two back I held off playing it at first because I doubted from what I read that the piece would actually hang together. Having now listened to it now I am not sure that it does-the last movement('Machine Age Blues') is not one I would much like to listen to again. The other movements are much more to my taste however and certainly do remind me of some British composers. The 'Pastoral' movement is particularly beautiful.

Must go back and give the other works you recommend a whirl :)

McKay's son commnted about his father @ this review. I thought it was a fascinating read:

http://sdtom.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/epoch-an-american-dance-symphony-1935mckay/

Quote from: tjguitar on October 29, 2008, 05:01:12 PM
McKay's son commnted about his father @ this review. I thought it was a fascinating read:

http://sdtom.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/epoch-an-american-dance-symphony-1935mckay/

Interesting! Thanks for the link.

Quote from: Dundonnell on October 29, 2008, 06:12:41 PM
Interesting! Thanks for the link.

Thanks from me too for the interesting link. Coincidentally I listened to "Epoch" again today. The Delian slow movement is very beautiful and I'm really pleased to discover it.

Quote from: vandermolen on October 30, 2008, 06:28:24 AM
Thanks from me too for the interesting link. Coincidentally I listened to "Epoch" again today. The Delian slow movement is very beautiful and I'm really pleased to discover it.

"Delian slow movement"....? You mean that I might actually like something which can be described as "Delian"?? Good grief :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on October 30, 2008, 06:40:33 AM
"Delian slow movement"....? You mean that I might actually like something which can be described as "Delian"?? Good grief :)

I am no great fan of Delius but it is kind of "Delian" but so is the slow movement of Miaskovsky's 8th Symphony ('Like a melancholy Delius of the Steppes' was one rather good description I read).

Quote from: jowcol on October 08, 2008, 06:05:42 AM

[snip]

The Barber Series:  I don't have other versions to compare to, but this was certainly worth the cost.  Highlights were the Knoxville 1915 with the all important Essay #2, the Cello Concerto (a gem), and the Symphonies disc—although I must admit the reconstituted 2nd Symphony did not blow me away as much as the first. Tucked in at the end of the Violin Concerto disc was the Music for a Scene By Shelly, and that is a real powerful one.

I've got three of those discs;  love the concerti, especially.

Quote from: jowcolFlagello- Symphony 1, Theme, Variations and Fugue.  I didn't immediately take to the symphony, but the Fugue at the end is one of those "power" pieces that needs to be heard real loud.

All the Flagello I've heard made a good first impression, and has worn well with better familiarity.

Quote from: jowcolHovhanness: Symphony 22 and Cello Concerto:  Based on what I read here, I need to go back and listen again.

My favorite Hovhaness disc!

Quote from: jowcolNancarrow: Pieces for Small Orchestra.  Some very interesting stuff, and, as far I can tell, pulled off very well.  I must admit I like the player piano stuff more, but even that in light doses.

This stuff is a blast, I love it!

Quote from: vandermolen on July 13, 2008, 02:21:16 PM

Have just received Joan Towers's 'Made in America' and have greatly enjoyed it; so thank you Bruce. I liked all the pieces on the CD but especially 'Made in America' which is great fun. I have made two excellent discoveries through this thread, the Flagello/Rosner CD and the Tower one. Both fortunately on Naxos, so I don't feel so guilty about buying them!

I don't know how I could have missed this cd-particularly when it had been recommended here.

What an excellent composer Joan Tower appears to be :) The three pieces included on the cd are all highly enjoyable, marvellously written for the orchestra and easily communicative to a wide audience. 'Made in America' is indeed a splendid piece but I was also most impressed by the Concerto for Orchestra.

And very well played by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under Slatkin :)

I don't understand why one of our omniscient moderators has not moved this thread to the recordings page ...

They're not omniscient; but they do try hard.

Only Miss Mussel (http://theomniscientmussel.com/) is omniscient.  ;D

Anyway, your wish has been granted.  Carry on.

--Bruce

Impulse bought this double CD today. Apart from the Copland, the most interesting work on a first sampling is definitely George Frederick McKay's 'To a Liberator (A Lincoln Tribute)'.  McKay is an endearing composer, with a very recognisable style. His Lincoln tribute is all the more poignant for being understated - he uses the chorus to moving effect in a similar way to his recently released 'Epoch: An American Dance Symphony'.

Sorry, something went a bit wrong with the picture transfer  ::)

Awww, do we have to stick to Naxos???  Most of the American composers I listen to are on other labels!  ;D

Quote from: vandermolen on July 06, 2008, 02:22:49 PM
Two recent purchases which I've enjoyed are Stephen Albert's Symphony No 1 "River Run" and Adolphus Hailstork's (great name!) Symphony 3. Albert, in particular, strikes me as a major discovery. Tragically he was killed in a car crash, when he was only 51 (in 1992).

Albert is a very interesting composer, and I have collected quite a few of his works. The cello concerto, his last piece, is also his greatest - in it he resolves the compositional issues which had plagued him over the years before his early death. It is a wonderful score, dramatic, lyrical, combining the new and old in a very unique way such that a truly individual voice very clearly shines through. It is unfortunately extraordinarily difficult, both for orchestra and especially the solo cellist, which I think will hamper its ability to muster the performances that it so richly deserves. The same fate befalls that greatest of American cello concertos - Barber's op.22, but here at least the situation has begun to improve over the last two decades. The Albert cello concerto was recorded by Yo-Yo Ma in the early nineties, and remains one of his finest recordings.

Quote from: Sorin Eushayson on March 25, 2009, 05:09:09 PM
Awww, do we have to stick to Naxos???  Most of the American composers I listen to are on other labels!  ;D

No, please feel free to discuss any CD of music by American composers.

Quote from: Guido on March 26, 2009, 12:09:22 PM
Albert is a very interesting composer, and I have collected quite a few of his works. The cello concerto, his last piece, is also his greatest - in it he resolves the compositional issues which had plagued him over the years before his early death. It is a wonderful score, dramatic, lyrical, combining the new and old in a very unique way such that a truly individual voice very clearly shines through. It is unfortunately extraordinarily difficult, both for orchestra and especially the solo cellist, which I think will hamper its ability to muster the performances that it so richly deserves. The same fate befalls that greatest of American cello concertos - Barber's op.22, but here at least the situation has begun to improve over the last two decades. The Albert cello concerto was recorded by Yo-Yo Ma in the early nineties, and remains one of his finest recordings.

Thanks. Is the Cello Concerto on CD?

Quote from: vandermolen on March 26, 2009, 04:11:36 PM
No, please feel free to discuss any CD of music by American composers.

Wonderful!

Then I can safely recommend this...

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61BEWDT6GAL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Barber-Symphony-Strings-Frederick/dp/B000000ARV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238126454&sr=1-1)

Bristow's F-Sharp Minor Symphony = BRILLIANT!  I must have listened to it over a dozen times.  I'm shocked that none of his other works have been recorded!

By the way, check out the works of John Knowles Paine ASAP if you're not yet acquainted with them!  :)

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HV3SYSPXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://mp3.rhapsody.com/new-york-philharmonic/john-knowles-paine-symphony-no-1) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R6o35ufBL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://mp3.rhapsody.com/new-york-philharmonic/john-knowles-paine-symphony-no-2)

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XgGKZVuXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://mp3.rhapsody.com/album/john-knowles-paine-mass-in-d?artistId=art.22829954) (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/6e/21/1281eb6709a081a772aa2110.L._AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/John-Knowles-Paine-Peter-oratorio/dp/B000005VXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238128980&sr=1-1)

Yes: http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-York-Album-Yo-Yo-Ma/dp/B0000029K5/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238153136&sr=1-3

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nD6DqV0BL._SS500_.jpg)

In case Colin is reading this - the piece is much much more romantic than that previous Ma disc I recommended - I think it would be right up your street. As I say, it remains one of his finest achievements on record, and I think another CD of american chamber works he recorded very close to that album is also superlative:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Made-America-Yo-Yo-Ma/dp/B0000028UF/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238153302&sr=1-2
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61ECPGqm%2BhL._SS500_.jpg)

The Ives piano trio is one of my all time favourite works and this remains by far the most convincing and beautiful account on record. The Bernstein clarinet sonata is another hidden gem and to me sounds even better on the cello (though I am biased of course! And it does help that one of the world's great artists is playing it.) The Gershwin preludes are also an absolute delight.

For me, with a few exceptions, Ma's recordings from the late 80s and early 90s remain his best, mostly because at some point in the late 90s/early 2000s he seems to have stopped practising to anything like the same degree - one exception is the CD of John Williams 'serious' works for cello and orchestra which is just fantastic on every level - the orchestral playing and recording is first class - the compositions are all superb - far better than what I was expecting from either his previous serious works or his film music. I recommend the cello concerto (and Heartwood) as highly as the Albert concerto:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yo-Yo-Plays-Music-John-Williams/dp/B00005YVQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238153753&sr=1-1

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LE6r14KgL._SS500_.jpg)

The soundworld of the cello concerto is somewhere between Adams' harmonielehre, Walton's cello concerto, Britten's cello symphony and maybe Piston, though the result is pretty unprecedented in either the cello repertoire, or 20th music in general as far as I am concerned.

Yes ;D Well, I liked the Albert symphonies on Naxos so it looks as though the Cello Concerto is next up :)

(Updated: Ordered...but from Arkiv-since no Amazon dealer has it. Also ordered the Piston Clarinet Concerto which is just about the last mainstream American concerto on cd that I don't have ;D)

Quote from: Dundonnell on March 27, 2009, 07:12:18 AM
Yes ;D Well, I liked the Albert symphonies on Naxos so it looks as though the Cello Concerto is next up :)

(Updated: Ordered...but from Arkiv-since no Amazon dealer has it. Also ordered the Piston Clarinet Concerto which is just about the last mainstream American concerto on cd that I don't have ;D)

That means that 3 other people ordered the cheap ones off amazon.co.uk - that's how many there were this morning when I made the post! I'm glad my posts make that kind of impact! It's a really fine work, and though it is initially gorgeous, it took me a few listens to really see the whole picture. There is a cleanness to the orchestral textures that is very distinctive, such that the music is beautiful, but always open and never quite lush. The themes have an appealing angularity that makes them resonate in the mind. I'd love to hear other people's views when they hear it.

Do you have the Williams concerto Colin?

http://joshuanemith.blogspot.com/2008/01/dpo-plays-alberts-cello-concerto.html

here's a nice blog entry on a recent performance of the Albert cello concerto.

Quote from: Guido on March 27, 2009, 08:22:08 AM
That means that 3 other people ordered the cheap ones off amazon.co.uk - that's how many there were this morning when I made the post! I'm glad my posts make that kind of impact! It's a really fine work, and though it is initially gorgeous, it took me a few listens to really see the whole picture. There is a cleanness to the orchestral textures that is very distinctive, such that the music is beautiful, but always open and never quite lush. The themes have an appealing angularity that makes them resonate in the mind. I'd love to hear other people's views when they hear it.

Do you have the Williams concerto Colin?

See...this is what happens when I stay up half the night posting here and don't get up until lunchtime: the cheap copies of the cd get snaffled ::)

Williams? Which Williams would that be? You are not suggesting more expenditure by me are you :o

John Williams (see five posts up).

Quote from: Guido on March 27, 2009, 04:33:49 PM
John Williams (see five posts up).

Ok...£5.80 on Amazon. Bought! Cheaper than a packet of those things I really shouldn't buy ;D

Quote from: Guido on March 27, 2009, 03:40:18 AM
one exception is the CD of John Williams 'serious' works for cello and orchestra which is just fantastic on every level - the orchestral playing and recording is first class - the compositions are all superb - far better than what I was expecting from either his previous serious works or his film music. I recommend the cello concerto (and Heartwood) as highly as the Albert concerto:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yo-Yo-Plays-Music-John-Williams/dp/B00005YVQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238153753&sr=1-1

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LE6r14KgL._SS500_.jpg)

The soundworld of the cello concerto is somewhere between Adams' harmonielehre, Walton's cello concerto, Britten's cello symphony and maybe Piston, though the result is pretty unprecedented in either the cello repertoire, or 20th music in general as far as I am concerned.

That is a great disc, yes. I especially like the Elegy. I'm not sure I hear Harmonielehre in the Cello Concerto (but I certainly do in Williams' score for A.I. if you know that?), but Walton yes. Williams is quite big on British composers (as was Bernard Herrmann, incidentally), and I hear the influence of Walton in a lot of Williams' music from the 80s, including my favourite score, TESB. I often think that in another universe, Williams might have written Walton's 2nd Symphony.

Quote from: Dundonnell on March 27, 2009, 04:39:42 PM
Ok...£5.80 on Amazon. Bought! Cheaper than a packet of those things I really shouldn't buy ;D

Knickers?  ;D

Quote from: Benji on March 27, 2009, 04:40:59 PM
Knickers?  ;D

;D ;D

They would be less injurious to my health :)

Quote from: Benji on March 27, 2009, 04:40:29 PM
That is a great disc, yes. I especially like the Elegy. I'm not sure I hear Harmonielehre in the Cello Concerto (but I certainly do in Williams' score for A.I. if you know that?), but Walton yes. Williams is quite big on British composers (as was Bernard Herrmann, incidentally), and I hear the influence of Walton in a lot of Williams' music from the 80s, including my favourite score, TESB. I often think that in another universe, Williams might have written Walton's 2nd Symphony.

Yes, Hermann was a Finzi fan! I hear the clear influence of Harmonielehre (first movement) in the first movement of the concerto - mainly in the orchestral writing with those subtle pulsating figures laying down a shimmering and slowly shifting background to the by turns heroic and ecstatic solo line of the cello which arches and lurches around the whole range of the instrument. I don't know anyone else who writes for the cello like this, but I think it's very effective, even if very difficult to play. The same sort of thing applies to the end of the fourth movement. The Scherzo (third movement) is just pure Britten - its incredibly similar to the scherzo of Cello Symphony. And yes as I said Walton's cello concerto looms large too.

I really love Heartwood too - it has the most beautiful harmony - those massive chords at the begginning, and the last three minutes are just perfect too. Another very fine piece. I just wish that the sheet music was published for both of these (I have hastled his secreteary repeatedly about this, but she says that there are no plans to publish it either.  :()

QuoteOk...£5.80 on Amazon. Bought! Cheaper than a packet of those things I really shouldn't buy

See I'm saving you from yourself by enticing you with CDs!

Not a Naxos disc, but if you liked Williams's cello concerto and would like to hear more of his "serious" music, you might try his bassoon concerto, on this disc with several fine couplings:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hVmrBVUoL._SS500_.jpg)

I have that CD yes, some nice music, but I found the bassoon concerto a little more ordinary, less memorable. Maybe the nature of the solo instrument, but yes as you say the couplings are good. I love the front cover (Ansel Adams).

The CD with Gil Shaham playing various works for violin and orchestra by John Williams is better I think.

He has a thing for trees it seems - theres are concertante pieces for cello, bassoon and violin which all have someting to do with 'em.

Quote from: Guido on March 28, 2009, 06:15:48 AM
I have that CD yes, some nice music, but I found the bassoon concerto a little more ordinary, less memorable.

;D And I feel the same way about the cello concerto!  Funny, eh?  Different strokes for different folks, and it would be a pretty boring world if we were all exactly alike.  ;)

Quote from: DavidRoss on March 28, 2009, 07:13:03 AM
  ;D And I feel the same way about the cello concerto!  Funny, eh?  Different strokes for different folks, and it would be a pretty boring world if we were all exactly alike.  ;)

True dat!

Of the Cello Concertos recommended by Guido(and others) in this thread I am most impressed by the Stephen Albert. This strikes me as a really fine addition to the cello repertoire, a serious and beautifully written piece which makes one regret Albert's early death even more :(

The John Williams works for cello I am less taken by-although 'Heartwood' is certainly attractive. I do not sense anything like the same profound depth as in the Albert. The Williams is more music of effect rather than substance.

Sorry to negative about Williams....but one masterpiece is better than none ;D

The John Alden Carpenter disc I listened to earlier this week (Violin Sonata, String Quartet, Piano Quintet) was a Naxos American Classic disc, I just realized it now.

Has anyone heard this and can offer any comment?:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dRA0glsFL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)

A symphony for large wind ensemble. Interesting! Naxos obviously think highly of it given the crazy holographic cover they gave it, which was probably pretty expensive.

Quote from: Benji on April 11, 2009, 06:20:52 AM
Has anyone heard this and can offer any comment?:
A symphony for large wind ensemble. Interesting! Naxos obviously think highly of it given the crazy holographic cover they gave it, which was probably pretty expensive.

Not yet, but agree it sounds interesting.  Not enough repertoire for wind bands!  Subscription to streaming of all the Naxos catalog is only £20/year, Ben.

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 11, 2009, 06:31:14 AM
Not yet, but agree it sounds interesting.  Not enough repertoire for wind bands!  Subscription to streaming of all the Naxos catalog is only £20/year, Ben.

That's an exceptionally good deal no doubt. I pay £15 a month to Napster currently, and they have all the Naxos releases, plus well just about everything else from the major labels so i'm happy with that.

Napster have the Corigliano disc in fact, so I will have a listen tonight and report back. Nothing like stirring your own curiosity eh?  :)

Quote from: Benji on April 11, 2009, 06:58:12 AM
That's an exceptionally good deal no doubt. I pay £15 a month to Napster currently, and they have all the Naxos releases, plus well just about everything else from the major labels so i'm happy with that.

Napster have the Corigliano disc in fact, so I will have a listen tonight and report back. Nothing like stirring your own curiosity eh?  :)

Quote from: Benji on April 11, 2009, 06:20:52 AM
Has anyone heard this and can offer any comment?:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dRA0glsFL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)

A symphony for large wind ensemble. Interesting! Naxos obviously think highly of it given the crazy holographic cover they gave it, which was probably pretty expensive.

Yes, I have that disc :) "Interesting" is the word for it. Not necessarily a piece I would want to listen to repeatedly but it is colourful and exciting-a real 'sonic spectacular'. Corigliano is not a composer whose music strikes me as having much real depth or substance but there is a lot of surface attractiveness.

There is a bit about the work here and a review by our own Bruce-

http://www.schirmer.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=290

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.

A new discovery for me has been Quincy Porter's Symphony No 1 - one of those works that I listened to once and didn't make much of.  Having returned to it my opinion has radically changed and I have played it through, with much pleasure, four times today.  It was composed in 1934 and is rather in the spirit of Walter Piston I think.  It has an especially fine last movement.

Quote from: vandermolen on April 26, 2009, 02:18:01 PM
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.

A new discovery for me has been Quincy Porter's Symphony No 1 - one of those works that I listened to much and didn't make much of.  Having returned to it my opinion has radically changed and I have played it through, with much pleasure, four times today.  It was composed in 1934 and is rather in the spirit of Walter Piston I think.  It has an especially fine last movement.

I shall listen to both works again and get back to you :)

Quote from: Dundonnell on April 26, 2009, 02:37:26 PM
I shall listen to both works again and get back to you :)

Thanks Colin - will be interested to hear your views. Porter's Symphony No 1 lost out in a competition to Gardner Read (remember him?  ;D). Porter died of a stroke, aged 69, in his tv room, watching the Yale-Princeton (American) football game. The last movement of symphony No 1 is very gripping I think.

The Musicweb review of the recently issued Naxos disc of music by the Seattle composer, Samuel Jones-

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/May09/Jones_8559378.htm

I certainly agree with the comparisons between Jones and his teacher Howard Hanson :)

What did people think of the Albert cello concerto?

Quote from: Guido on May 09, 2009, 02:58:08 PM
What did people think of the Albert cello concerto?

A very fine piece, Guido :)

Streets ahead....in my humble opinion....of the John Williams.

Quote from: Dundonnell on May 09, 2009, 03:31:20 PM
A very fine piece, Guido :)

Streets ahead....in my humble opinion....of the John Williams.

You may be right about that - it is an extraordinary work in my opinion, I really enjoy the clean textures, memorable themes, and sheer drama and power of it. Sorry that you didn't like the John Williams - Heartwood I think is very fine in deed (though I very much like the cello concerto - such unusual writing for the instrument and there's nothing else quite like it for us cellists...)

Quote from: Dundonnell on May 09, 2009, 10:53:25 AM
The Musicweb review of the recently issued Naxos disc of music by the Seattle composer, Samuel Jones-

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/May09/Jones_8559378.htm

I certainly agree with the comparisons between Jones and his teacher Howard Hanson :)

Thanks Colin - I will be ordering this - sounds really good from the review.

I have been playing the Symphony No 3 'Palo Duro Canyon' by Samuel Jones (b 1935) and greatly enjoying it (thanks Colin for alerting us to it). It begins with what I assumed was a wind machine (cue for extended debate on the virtues of wind machines  ;D) but is actually a 'prepared tape'. The opening section reminded me of John Kinsella's 4th Symphony which is a kind of traversal of the counties of Ireland in the order of which they are hit by the prevailing wind. The Jones work is not necessarily a great symphony but it is an enjoyable one - a bit like Arnold Rosner in places and having heard it once I immediately wanted to hear it again - I suspect that it will continue to grow on me. There are echoes of Howard Hanson too - a composer I much admire.

Incidentally, does anyone know the Giannini Piano Concerto and Symphony in the Naxos series? I just read a very good review of both works.

Delighted that you enjoyed the Samuel Jones Symphony, Jeffrey :)

Giannini? Certainly worthy of investigation :) The Piano Concerto is very romantic in a style reminiscent of Rachmaninov, the Symphony is a sound, very respectable addition to the ranks of the American 20th century Romantic Symphony, although no match for those of, say, Howard Hanson.

I don't recall much discussion of Paul Creston here (1906-85). I regard his Symphony No 2 as one of the great American 20th century symphonies - along with the thirds of Copland, Harris, William Schuman and David Diamond, the first symphonies of Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein and the fourths of George Antheil and Howard Hanson.  The rhythmically propulsive second movement of Creston's Second Symphony is one of the most exciting movements I know. The best version is on Chandos with Neema Jarvi and the Detroit SO, coupled with a not-so-good version of Ives's Second Symphony. I have just noticed this available at £2.48 at the Amazon UK site.

Quote from: vandermolen on June 18, 2009, 02:39:42 PM
I don't recall much discussion of Paul Creston here (1906-85). I regard his Symphony No 2 as one of the great American 20th century symphonies - along with the thirds of Copland, Harris, William Schuman and David Diamond, the first symphonies of Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein and the fourths of George Antheil and Howard Hanson.  The rhythmically propulsive second movement of Creston's Second Symphony is one of the most exciting movements I know. The best version is on Chandos with Neema Jarvi and the Detroit SO, coupled with a not-so-good version of Ives's Second Symphony. I have just noticed this available at £2.48 at the Amazon UK site.

No Piston 6th?

I think In my summary further back, I mentioned the 2nd movement of Creston's 2nd symphony was alone worth getting that Creston Symphonies disc. As I recall, there is a passage in the Naxos version running from about 8:50 to 10:00 that is one of my favorite "soundbites" in 20th century classical music.  It's simply too brilliant-- the driving rhythms and the soaring strings are unreal.  It resolves sort of conventionally, which is a let down, but time truly stops there.

I must confess I've made a separate mp3 just so I can put that part on repeat....

Quote from: erato on June 18, 2009, 11:13:00 PM
No Piston 6th?

Yes, that's a fine work but I don't know it so well.  Actually his Second Symphony is my favourite.

Quote from: jowcol on June 19, 2009, 07:27:19 AM
I think In my summary further back, I mentioned the 2nd movement of Creston's 2nd symphony was alone worth getting that Creston Symphonies disc. As I recall, there is a passage in the Naxos version running from about 8:50 to 10:00 that is one of my favorite "soundbites" in 20th century classical music.  It's simply too brilliant-- the driving rhythms and the soaring strings are unreal.  It resolves sort of conventionally, which is a let down, but time truly stops there.

I must confess I've made a separate mp3 just so I can put that part on repeat....

Yes, that's the section - I just want it to go on and on - one of the most exciting moments in any symphony I know. You are right, it does resolve rather conventionally but things fire off again at very end of the Symphony.

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.

Quote from: vandermolen on December 14, 2009, 08:09:03 AM
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  :D

Quote from: vandermolen on December 15, 2009, 01:00:25 AM
I'll take that for a no then  :D

No.  8)

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

Quote from: Christo on December 15, 2009, 07:27:16 AM
No.  8)

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?  8)

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q5mZamwXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

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.

Quote from: Grazioso on December 16, 2009, 04:01:15 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q5mZamwXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)

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.

(* slaps Jeffrey none too hard *)

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

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*

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.

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on December 16, 2009, 08:40:41 AM
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...  :D /  :( ......  ;D

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on December 16, 2009, 05:55:02 AM
(* 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  :D

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on December 16, 2009, 05:55:02 AM
(* 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

Quote from: vandermolen on December 17, 2009, 12:52:35 AM
Very true Karl - now get back to composing  :D

Very good.

Quote from: Benji on December 16, 2009, 08:45:13 AM
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...  :D /  :( ......  ;D

How did you fare, Ben?

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on December 17, 2009, 04:30:03 AM
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).

Quote from: Soapy Molloy on December 17, 2009, 05:12:44 AM
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.

Quote from: vandermolen on April 26, 2009, 02:18:01 PM
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!

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.

Quote from: Leo K on January 10, 2010, 05:38:19 AM
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).

Quote from: Velimir on January 16, 2010, 09:10:51 AM
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.

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.

Quote from: vandermolen on January 18, 2010, 04:38:45 PMimpulse purchases

Really?  8) ;)

Quote from: Christo on January 19, 2010, 09:07:05 AM
Really?  8) ;)

One has to be spontaneous sometimes  8)

I continue to listen to Stephen Albert's music from this release:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/215ZS8H3X7L._SL160_AA115_.jpg)

The Voice of the Composer: New Music from Bowling Green, Vol. 2:

Emily Freeman Brown (Conductor), Bowling Green Philharmonia (Orchestra)


Yesterday I heard his Clarinet Concerto (named "Wind Canticle" from 1992) for the first time...if I'm not mistaken this was his second to last work.

The whole work runs about 13 or so minutes.  The solo clarinet enters after a whisper from the orchestra and throughout the rest of the work an intimate and determined diaglogue ensues between these two forces...I listened to the work numerous times thoughout the day and I'm slowly starting to hear the main thematic material and how it's permutations influence the overall form.  I was told this work uses a modified sonata form structure (ie. the exposition, development, and Recapitulation) as the roadmap for the constantly developing melodic material.  I won't be able to hear this structure until I can hear the main musical themes with more clarity which will take more listens without using a score.  The orchestration is percise and stunning in it's evocation of shifting time and intimate drama.  A stunning work.

(http://www.themodernword.com/Joyce/muSic/treestone.gif)

Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Ilkka Talvi, violin
Seattle Symphony

Stephen Albert (1941-1992)
Violin Concerto (In Concordiam) (1986)


I just heard Albert's Violin Concerto recently and I was very taken with the sound and the way he incorporates melody into the various sections.  Like his Wind Canticle this is another extended sonata form structure, this time lasting about 18 minutes.

More thoughts will come as I listen more...

Anyone heard of Robert Kurka (1921-1957), whose Second Symphony I would rate very highly? Sadly he died of Leukaemia very young. I suspect that, had he lived on, Kurka would have been as well-known as Copland, Barber, Harris etc. The three movement Second Symphony (premiered posthumously in 1958) is a very powerful work - not unlike an American Prokofiev, it has been suggested but also a work of considerable originality. There are two recordings (not Naxos by the way). The triumphant/defiant finale I find very moving in the circumstances.

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=870

KURKA
     I did enjoy his opera setting of Hašek's  The Good Soldier Schweik    available on Cedille

Quote from: listener on April 12, 2010, 10:07:37 AM
KURKA
     I did enjoy his opera setting of Hašek's  The Good Soldier Schweik    available on Cedille

Thanks - must look out for it.

Any information on or admirers of the American composer Thomas Jefferson Scott (1912-1961)? There is a Cala CD of Stokowski's premiere recording of Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony which also includes a piece called 'From the Sacred Harp'. It is a rather beautiful and moving folk-song inspired work of seven minutes. This is from a 'V-Disc', apparently issued to American servicemen during and after World War Two and features a short introductory speech by the composer; 'Hi fellas, this is Tom Scott...' who was also apparently a singer. He evidently wrote a symphony which I would be very interested to hear. Certainly, I really enjoy 'From the Sacred Harp' and am now listening to it for the third time in a row. There is no separate American composers thread which is why I have put it here despite the CD not being a Naxos disc:
[asin]B000222YGO[/asin]

Quote from: vandermolen on March 31, 2015, 04:15:29 AM
Any information on or admirers of the American composer Thomas Jefferson Scott (1912-1961)? There is a Cala CD of Stokowski's premiere recording of Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony which also includes a piece called 'From the Sacred Harp'. It is a rather beautiful and moving folk-song inspired work of seven minutes. This is from a 'V-Disc', apparently issued to American servicemen during and after World War Two and features a short introductory speech by the composer; 'Hi fellas, this is Tom Scott...' who was also apparently a singer. He evidently wrote a symphony which I would be very interested to hear. Certainly, I really enjoy 'From the Sacred Harp' and am now listening to it for the third time in a row. There is no separate American composers thread which is why I have put it here despite the CD not being a Naxos disc:
[asin]B000222YGO[/asin]

I'll take that for a no then  8)

But if you get the chance do listed to 'From the Sacred Heart' by Tom Scott.

Listed on Wikipedia under "Tom Scott" born in 1912:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Scott_%28composer%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Scott_%28composer%29)

I really wish Naxos would get back to recording mid-20th American composers. Some new recordings of Randall Thompson's symphonies would be nice.

Quote from: Mirror Image on April 02, 2015, 07:27:13 AM
I really wish Naxos would get back to recording mid-20th American composers. Some new recordings of Randall Thompson's symphonies would be nice.

True!  Roger Sessions also! 

How about 21st century composers like "our" esteemed Karl Henning?

Quote from: Cato on April 02, 2015, 07:34:35 AM
True!  Roger Sessions also! 

How about 21st century composers like "our" esteemed Karl Henning?

It's sad to say that Naxos isn't too kind (from what I hear) more unknown American composers like Karl for example. I had a friend named Justin Taylor, who is Canadian, and had an absolute horrible time dealing with them. You pretty much have to pay for everything and Naxos will just handle the distribution.

Quote from: Mirror Image on April 02, 2015, 07:27:13 AM
I really wish Naxos would get back to recording mid-20th American composers. Some new recordings of Randall Thompson's symphonies would be nice.

Yes indeed.

Quote from: Mirror Image on April 02, 2015, 07:39:20 AM
It's sad to say that Naxos isn't too kind (from what I hear) more unknown American composers like Karl for example. I had a friend named Justin Taylor, who is Canadian, and had an absolute horrible time dealing with them. You pretty much have to pay for everything and Naxos will just handle the distribution.

This is true. But also understandable. How else would they keep the price of their releases so ridiculously low?

This way of working is fairly standard practice at record companies these days. I worked for Challenge Classics for a good while, and we would often have releases of recordings that the artists brought in wrapped up and ready. Then we would take care of the artwork, distribition, and promotion. It's just too much of a risk to fund the recording of an unknown artist nowadays. In most cases, you hardly break even.

Quote from: Mirror Image on April 02, 2015, 07:27:13 AMI really wish Naxos would get back to recording mid-20th American composers. Some new recordings of Randall Thompson's symphonies would be nice.

+1

Thanks so much for the replies!  :)

Quote from: betterthanfine on April 03, 2015, 12:37:38 AM
This is true. But also understandable. How else would they keep the price of their releases so ridiculously low?

This way of working is fairly standard practice at record companies these days. I worked for Challenge Classics for a good while, and we would often have releases of recordings that the artists brought in wrapped up and ready. Then we would take care of the artwork, distribition, and promotion. It's just too much of a risk to fund the recording of an unknown artist nowadays. In most cases, you hardly break even.

Right. John is looking at it backwards. Naxos is offering a service: they will help package, distribute, and market your recording. That would have been nearly impossible in the days of vinyl. It is easier now.
An anology is Amazon self publishing. They shouldn't be thought of as a publisher, but as offering a service to those who want to publish a niche product.

Quote from: Ken B on April 03, 2015, 02:01:40 PM
Right. John is looking at it backwards. Naxos is offering a service: they will help package, distribute, and market your recording. That would have been nearly impossible in the days of vinyl. It is easier now.
An anology is Amazon self publishing. They shouldn't be thought of as a publisher, but as offering a service to those who want to publish a niche product.

Yes.  In theory, Henningmusick via Naxos is a possibility.

Another warm review of the Jack Gallagher Symphony № 2. (http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2015/04/29/new-classical-tracks-jack-gallagher-ascending)

Quote"If you're brought up in Long Island, Ohio is kind of the Wild West," Gallagher quips.

Quote from: vandermolen on December 14, 2009, 08:09:03 AMAnyone 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.

A very belated 'Yes' from me. Only 14 years late, mind. I made a playlist of his music on Spotify a couple of years ago and never went back to it. Seeing it referred to today in the WAYLT thread made me put it on. I know it is still my first spin, but how good is this? I've never been great at describing what I am listening to, but I know I want to hear more of it.

Quote from: vandermolen on April 12, 2010, 06:43:45 AMAnyone heard of Robert Kurka (1921-1957), whose Second Symphony I would rate very highly? Sadly he died of Leukaemia very young. I suspect that, had he lived on, Kurka would have been as well-known as Copland, Barber, Harris etc. The three movement Second Symphony (premiered posthumously in 1958) is a very powerful work - not unlike an American Prokofiev, it has been suggested but also a work of considerable originality. There are two recordings (not Naxos by the way). The triumphant/defiant finale I find very moving in the circumstances.

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=870

Yes, I have that Symphony No. 2 disc.  Fine composer who as you say, died too young.

EDIT: Opps, sorry - just noticed it took 13 years for me to respond to your post.   :laugh:

Quote from: relm1 on September 01, 2023, 06:05:21 AMYes, I have that Symphony No. 2 disc.  Fine composer who as you say, died too young.

EDIT: Opps, sorry - just noticed it took 13 years for me to respond to your post.   :laugh:

No problem. Thanks for the turbo-charged response!  ;D