Harrison: Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower" and Other Works

The New First Suite had a long and varied genesis across the period from 1937 to 1995. The composer’s tinkering leaves intact a reflection of Harrison's interest in Coperario, Jenkins and Frescobaldi. The surface has a grave shade of RVW's Tallis to it and a Schoenbergian complexity of harmony - there's quite a lot of that sombre complexity. In the Round Dance we pick up a echo of gamelan and oriental inflection. The Goliard song Vestiunt Silve has a Gallic lambency and a consistently high-lying soprano line. This gorgeous piece was written for Wilfred Mellers' 80th birthday... Gending Chelsea is elaborate and created out of a slip of an idea which Harrison had encouraged Virgil Thomson to provide. It's an idyllic piece with plenty of gamelan activity and words ranging from the exalted to the mundane including Money is inspiring, success is mellowing.... Sanctus is a virile 1948 song for mezzo and piano. Ruth Golden's name is familiar from her collection of British art-songs. She has a volatile vocal potency. He accompanist on this occasion is Dennis Russell Davies tackling a piano part reminiscent of Alan Bush in his most attitude-striking mood.... For a complete change of gear and mood go forwards into the seven movement suite from The Marriage at the Eiffel Tower – not the same as the composite work associated with Les Six. This is rather closer to Berners, Poulenc or Barber in light mode than the Harrison voice we are accustomed to. The music is all by Harrison and spans touching, frivolous, brassily bombastic, toy soldierish, bluesy (Speech by the General), satirical and finally frivolously and flouncily Parisian. Virgil Thomson and the composer are the two speakers hamming it up with the surreal text.