|
Albion
|
 |
« on: August 30, 2012, 05:56:56 pm » |
|
Yes, I completely agree that there is nothing here in terms of truly ground-breaking releases. The highlight for me will undoubtedly be the chance to hear a number of substantial choral scores by Parry which have not been performed professionally in decades, particularly The Glories of Our Blood and State (1883) and the large-scale Magnificat (1897). I'm intrigued by the fact that the Clarinet Concerto and Cello-plus-piano discs are clearly touted as series-openers, so there may be something a little more adventurous around the corner ...
:-\
Regarding the recording of British repertoire generally, there does need to be more of a balance struck between 'safe' repertoire (relatively speaking) and that which offers more of a challenge. If quality was the prime criterion, by now we should at least have (or at least have in progress) complete commercial symphonic cycles of Butterworth, Gipps, Jones, Hoddinott, Cooke, Wordsworth and Fricker together with other examples of their best works in other areas. I would dearly like to see continuing attention given to exploring earlier eras - Potter, Cowen, Drysdale, Mackenzie, Holbrooke, Victorian and Edwardian opera and choral music in general - but certainly not at the total expense of the mid-later 20th century figures already mentioned.
The prospect of further new recordings of Alan Bush from Dutton is very welcome in this context and, of course, there seems to be an encouraging commitment to Havergal Brian from the same company ...
;D
|
"A piece is worth your attention, and is itself for you praiseworthy, if it makes you feel you have not wasted your time over it." (Sydney Grew, 1922)
|
|
|
|
|
|
