Grainger Edition, Vol. 1 - Orchestral Works 1
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: (George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger
Label: Grainger Edition
Magazine Review Date: 11/1996
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 72
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CHAN9493
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Duke of Marlborough's Fanfare |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Colonial Song |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| English Dance |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Shepherd's Hey |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| There were three friends |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Fisher's Boarding House |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| We were dreamers |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Harvest Hymn |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Blithe bells |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Walking Tune |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| In a Nutshell |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
| Green bushes |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Hickox, Conductor |
Author: Andrew Achenbach
A genuine tonic, this, and an auspicious start to Chandos’s ambitious Grainger Edition. Richard Hickox evidently has a deep affection for this intoxicatingly colourful repertoire and he draws a consistently alert and superbly stylish response from the BBC Philharmonic.
It was a shrewd idea to kick off the collection with TheDuke of Marlborough’s fanfare, for the outstanding blend and rich sonority of this orchestra’s magnificent brass section really make one sit up. There follow memorable accounts of the stirring, big-hearted Colonial song (such loving, richly drawn cellos at the start) and the extraordinarily dynamic and inventive English dance, whose headily opulent orchestral palette incorporates a part for organ. (On hearing this amazing piece, Grainger’s friend and colleague, Gabriel Faure, exclaimed: “It’s as if the total population were a-dancing”.) Shepherd’s hey has all the sparkle and exuberance you could wish. Green bushes, too, receives a notably propulsive, zestful performance, the BBC PO responding with fine spring and swagger. Another indelible offering comes in the shape of Walking tune, a charming ‘ramble’ originally dreamt up by Grainger whilst on a brief hiking tour through Argyllshire in 1900; Hickox gives us the 1940 version for symphonic wind, conceived for Eugene Goossens and the Cincinnati orchestra.
Of the lesser-known items, I especially warmed to a triptych of “youthful toneworks” inspired by the verse of Rudyard Kipling, namely There were three friends (1898-9), We were dreamers andFisher’s boarding house (both 1899). The last-named comprises a particularly captivating six-and-a-half minutes’ worth. In many ways, though, the most arresting music here can be found in the third movement of the In a nutshell suite. Entitled “Pastoral”, this is an unnerving, darkly intense creation, whose shimmering textures acquire an almost Ivesian complexity in the anguished central portion (play it to your friends and see if they can guess the composer). After this, the bounding vitality of the concluding “‘Gum-suckers’ march” could hardly form a more startling contrast.
Boasting tip-top, irrepressibly vivid Chandos sound, this well-filled CD makes supremely enjoyable listening. So go on: treat yourself!'
It was a shrewd idea to kick off the collection with The
Of the lesser-known items, I especially warmed to a triptych of “youthful toneworks” inspired by the verse of Rudyard Kipling, namely There were three friends (1898-9), We were dreamers and
Boasting tip-top, irrepressibly vivid Chandos sound, this well-filled CD makes supremely enjoyable listening. So go on: treat yourself!'
Grainger Edition, Vol. 1 - Orchestral Works 1
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