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IVES: Holidays Symphony Symphony No. 2. JAMES GALWAY PLAYS SHOWPIECES BERNSTEIN: Trouble in Tahiti / Candide Charles Ives (1874 - 1954) often used familiar melodies in his orchestral music. These included These included Camptown Races, For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, Turkey in the Straw, Goodnight Ladies, and Sailor's Hornpipe, church hymns, and hints of Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner and Stephen Foster. .This can be heard on this intriguing new SACD that offers two of the composer;s major works. The Holiday Symphony, written 1897 -1913. is one of Ives' most colorful works. There are four movements: Washington's Birthday, Decoration Day The Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving and Forefather;s Day. All are described in detail in Kenneth Singleton's program notes from the original LP. Symphony No. 2 was composed 1897 - 1902 but not premiered until 1951 when Leonard Bernstein conducted it with the New York Philharmonic. The symphony is described in detail by George K. Diehl from the jacket of the original release. Ormandy always championed music of American composers and leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in these excellent performances assisted briefly by the Westminster Choir in the final section of Holiday Symphony. The recordings were made in the Scottish Rite Cathedral October 1975 (Holidays) and February 1973. The quad sound spreads the rich orchestral sounds most effectively. Here is a welcome collection of showpieces for the flute played by James Galway who enjoyed a distinguished solo career after leaving the Berlin Philharmonic. Many of these pieces were arranged by Charles Gerhardt, who conducts the excellent National Philharmonic., recordings originally made in 1975 and 1976, best sellers of their time. Needless to say, performances are spectacular, and the quad sound highly effective, with the solo flute not overly orinubebt.. A delightful release! Admirers of Leonard Bernstein will welcome this splendid release of the composer's own recordings of two of his "operas." Trouble in Tahiti was written in 1952, depicting one day in the life of two unhappy married couples. The better known Candide composed in 1953 heard here in Bernstein's 1973 adaptation. Voltaire wrote Candide in 1759 as "a wickedly joyful satire." Maureen Brennan makes much of the score;s best-known section, Glitter and be Gay, but all of the performers seem to have a great time. Included are many photos of the sessions as well as detailed program notes. Performances are vivid indeed, and the quadraphonic recording is admirable. This is a major release in every way, sure to please. Thank you, Dutton / Epoch! R.E.B. (April 2022) |