Over the years I have reviewed various recordings of German's orchestral music, from reissues of the composer's own acoustic recordings (currently available on Pearl), through a youth orchestra performance of his Norwich Symphony (Gough & Davy, 4/77 – nla), to a recent CD of some of his lighter pieces (Marco Polo, 6/93). None has impressed upon me the worth of German's music to the extent of this well planned and impressively executed collection. Of course German could not match the passion or genius of Elgar; but the collection here proves that his music does not deserve the neglect that has been its lot. From the dark, brooding opening of the Richard III Overture this is music of real character, meticulously worked out, imaginatively scored, and more than once showing its Elgarian kinship.
There may be something a little saccharine about the theme upon which German based the Theme and Six Diversions he composed for the Philharmonic Society in 1919; but the way he builds upon it shows his skills at their best, with some striking contrapuntal writing and a swirling waltz section. Perhaps best of all is the symphonic suite The Seasons, written for the Norwich Festival of 1899, in which the restful yearning of the ''Autumn'' movement is especially striking. Andrew Penny conducts throughout with a fine feel for the music's shape and dynamics, and he coaxes from the RTE Concert Orchestra the impression that this is music they have come to know and love. Listeners may do so too.'