Ireland Orchestral Works
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: John (Nicholson) Ireland
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Chandos
Magazine Review Date: 11/1995
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 64
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CHAN9376
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(A) Downland Suite |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
City of London Sinfonia John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Richard Hickox, Conductor |
Orchestral Poem |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
City of London Sinfonia John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Richard Hickox, Conductor |
Concertino pastorale |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
City of London Sinfonia John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Richard Hickox, Conductor |
(2) Symphonic Studies |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
City of London Sinfonia John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Richard Hickox, Conductor |
Author: Andrew Achenbach
Chandos have been doing John Ireland proud over the last few years, and Richard Hickox's new anthology is well up to the high standards of previous instalments in this valuable series. Truth to tell, there is little to choose between David Garforth's excellent 1983 version of the fresh-faced Downland Suite and Hickox's new account, though it is the latter who extracts the slightly greater expressive intensity from the glorious second movement ''Elegy''. However, in the Concertino pastorale Hickox and his admirable CLS strings are clearly preferable to George Hurst and a somewhat lacklustre Bournemouth Sinfonietta. This is another fine work, boasting a most eloquent opening ''Eclogue'' and tenderly poignant ''Threnody'', towards the end of which (5'09'') Ireland seems to allow himself a momentary recollection of the haunting opening phrase of his much earlier orchestral prelude, The Forgotten Rite.
In 1969 Ireland's pupil, Geoffrey Bush, arranged two sections of the score for the 1946 film The Overlanders which were not incorporated into the 1971 concert suite compiled by Sir Charles Mackerras. The resulting, finely wrought Two Symphonic Studies were recorded many years ago by Sir Adrian Boult for Lyrita (2/71 – nla), and Hickox proves just as sympathetic an interpreter, whereas the Orchestral Poem in A minor is here receiving its recorded debut. This is a youthful essay, completed in February 1904, some three years after Ireland's studies with Stanford at the Royal College of Music. It is, to be brutally honest, a worthy rather than especially inspiring effort, with nary a glimpse of the mature manner to come, save for some particularly beautiful string writing in the tranquil passage from 9'47'' onwards. Hickox makes out a decent enough case for it, yet I continue to find this composer's even earlier symphonic prelude, The Tritons (Chandos, 2/92), a far more memorable, red-blooded statement.
With rich, refined Chandos sound, however, this remains a most enjoyable collection overall.'
In 1969 Ireland's pupil, Geoffrey Bush, arranged two sections of the score for the 1946 film The Overlanders which were not incorporated into the 1971 concert suite compiled by Sir Charles Mackerras. The resulting, finely wrought Two Symphonic Studies were recorded many years ago by Sir Adrian Boult for Lyrita (2/71 – nla), and Hickox proves just as sympathetic an interpreter, whereas the Orchestral Poem in A minor is here receiving its recorded debut. This is a youthful essay, completed in February 1904, some three years after Ireland's studies with Stanford at the Royal College of Music. It is, to be brutally honest, a worthy rather than especially inspiring effort, with nary a glimpse of the mature manner to come, save for some particularly beautiful string writing in the tranquil passage from 9'47'' onwards. Hickox makes out a decent enough case for it, yet I continue to find this composer's even earlier symphonic prelude, The Tritons (Chandos, 2/92), a far more memorable, red-blooded statement.
With rich, refined Chandos sound, however, this remains a most enjoyable collection overall.'
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