Havergal Brian’s reputation these days rests on his first symphony — a record-breaker in size and scope. Thanks to recordings like this one, a more balanced picture of this British composer emerges. The New Russia State Symphony Orchestra directed by Alexander Walker may be far from London, but they manage to capture the inherent Englishness […]
contemporary classical music
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British Tone Poems, Vol. 2 delivers on quality
This volume of British Tone Poems features outstanding works by lesser-known composers and lesser-known works by outstanding composers. Either way, it’s a win-win for the listener, especially with these performances. Rumon Gamba and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales deliver beautiful and insightful performances of a mixed bag of music. This round features two world-premiere […]
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Victoria Bond chamber music full of revelations
Not a lot of Victoria Bond’s music has been recorded. To the best of my knowledge, this Naxos release marks the sixth her music’s appeared on. And only the third album exclusively devoted to her music. Bond has an active career as a conductor, but her catalog of works is also quite impressive. It includes […]
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Dmitri Tymoczko – Rube Goldberg Variations
There are two qualities I admire in Dmitri Tymoczko — his sense of humor, and his craftsmanship. Tymoczko’s titles are often humorous – like the title track on this release. But his humor also extends into the music. Several of his works have a light-hearted quality to them. These works sound like they were fun […]
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Charlottesville Symphony dazzles with contemporary work
The Charlottesville Symphony that opened its 2019-20 season was not the same ensemble as last year’s. About a third of the musicians were new to the orchestra, including two new principal players. Although new, the symphony seemed to retain the weaknesses and strengths of its former self. The first work of the evening, Mozart’s Symphony No. 32 […]
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Grace Williams chamber music get deserved attention
Six Grace Williams chamber works receive their world premiere recordings with this release. It still leaves the bulk of her catalog unrecorded — but it’s an improvement. Williams was one of the most important composers to come from Wales (with William Mathias). She studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacobs. Their influence can be […]
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John Robertson: Virtuosity a bit uneven
For me, Virtuosity was something of a mixed bag. There were many things I liked about the recording (the music), and a few things I didn’t (the playing). As a composer, John Robertson created his own path. He was mostly self-taught, and never tapped into the various trends in contemporary music. As the liner notes […]
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Star Wind – outstanding chamber music by Vyacheslav Artyomov
This reissue from Divine Arts brings together several short chamber works by Vyacheslav Artyomov. Each work has its own unique combination of instruments, and (in a way) its own aesthetic. The opening track, Star Wind, is a 1981 sextet featuring violin, cello, flute, French horn, piano, and glockenspiel. To me, it sounds like a very early […]
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Leshnoff: Symphony gives voice to the VIOLINS of HOPE
Jonathan Leshnoff is a talented composer. And his fourth symphony is a well-constructed work. It has engaging themes, nicely shaped melodies, and a fresh take on tonality. But for me, it didn’t have the desired effect. The liner notes explain the concept of the work in great detail. The project Violins for Hope refurbishes instruments […]