The orchestral works of Meredith Willson (1902-84) are another discovery in American music, although it may seem difficult to accept two unknown symphonies in their first recordings as part of a series called American Classics. Willson’s background was unusual. He studied flute, composition and conducting in New York, supporting himself by playing in cinemas. Then he toured as a flautist with Sousa’s band for three seasons before joining the New York Philharmonic. But Willson’s real metier was the popular scene, and in 1932 he became general musical director of the western division of NBC, making countless radio programmes and conducting major west coast orchestras. His symphonies were written in these years, before he became widely known as a popular song composer with hit shows such as The Music Man on Broadway.
The Symphony No 1 (1936), subtitled A Symphony of San Francisco, was designed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the great earthquake. It’s a colourful piece in the mainstream tradition of American romantics such as Howard Hanson and Paul Creston, and there’s something ironic about it being recorded with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. The playing is not especially polished, but the echoes of Rimsky-Korsakov, in spite of the employment of a quartet of saxophones, would have made the Muscovites feel at home.
The Second Symphony (1940) is subtitled The Missions of California. The use of liturgical chant in an opulent orchestral context reflects a Hollywood approach to this Spanish Catholic heritage, but Willson carries it all off with unswerving confidence.'