DENNIS RUSSELL DAVIES: THE MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY RECORDINGS

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

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

This is one of the most exciting and interesting items I have had the pleasure of reviewing all year, I hope that it will be enjoyed by as many people as possible for it shows a side of American music so removed from the music we know from that country – Copland, Barber, Rorem. Also, it’s very good music. --MusicWeb International

AVAILABLE ON MAJOR STREAMING SERVICES


Brooklyn Philharmonic

Dennis Russell Davies, conductor & piano

Lou Harrison, narrator

Virgil Thomson, narrator

 

1 New First Suite For Strings: I. Fantasia - Allegro Moderato 04:26
2 New First Suite For Strings: II. Chorale - Adagio Cantabile 03:00
3 New First Suite For Strings: III. Round Dance - Allegro (Vigoroso) 02:33
4 New First Suite For Strings: IV. Threnody - Poco Lento, Affetuoso 03:50
5 New First Suite For Strings: V. Chaconne - Medium Slow 05:17


6 Vestiunt Silve For Mezzo Soprano, Flute, 2 Violas and Harp 03:51


7 Gending Chelsea For Gamelan 10:43


8 Sanctus For Contralto And Piano 06:46


9 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": I. Overture - Fast 02:45
10 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": II. March For The Marriage Of Frank And Anne Wigglesworth - Slow 02:42
11 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": III. Waltz - Fast Waltz Tempo, But Not Too Fast 01:43
12 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": IV. Speech By The General - March, "Marsailles-Like" 01:22
13 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": V. Blues For The Trouville Bathing Beauty - Slow Blues Style 03:36
14 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": VI. Funeral Of The General - Slow, Grand, Solemn, With A Touch Of Mockery 02:25
15 Suite From The "Marriage At The Eiffel Tower": VII. Quadrille - The Actual Polka Tempo 01:43

View full details
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.
MusicWeb International
11/29/2024

Also Available from The DENNIS RUSSELL DAVIES: THE MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY RECORDINGS