PERCY GRAINGER (1882-1961)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Keith Brion
"The Power of Love"
Suite on Danish Folk-Songs
The Power of Love · Lord Peter's Stable-Boy · The Nightingale and the Two Sisters · Jutish Melody (Husband and Wifey)
Colonial Song
Country Gardens
Irish Tune from County Derry
Green Bushes
Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon
Shepherd's Hey
My Robin is to the Greenwood Gone
To a Nordic PrincessNAXOS 8.554263
[58'38"] budget-priceThis review is sponsored by Rock Records.
by Adrian Tan
No, it's not Huey Lewis and the News.
This is the music of Percy Grainger. The title seems somewhat misleading since the music is not particularly "romantic" in the conventional sense. But there was no doubt that Grainger was a passionate man. Scandals abound about his Oedipal Complex and how his wife, Ella Grainger (pictured on the cover) bore a strong resemblance to Grainger's mother who committed suicide upon hearing that people had accused her of having an incestuous relationship with her son. Such rumours aside, the emotional landscape of this man is beyond doubt, and such he was able to present in his music as all Great Composers could.
It's probably appropriate to note that Grainger never dwelled in one particular emotionality for too long in any of his pieces, neither did he condone mushiness. The listener is never allowed to wallow in that sort of state for too long as it renders it ineffective. He was capable of the most extrovert outbursts and climaxes but he never stayed there. He was also capable of stillness and quiet contemplation but he moves on quickly. His music is always exciting harmonically and in texture, intellectual but never lacking in the expressive touch.
I'VE NEVER heard the Suite on Danish Folk Songs until now. Grainger, like Vaughan Williams and Britten, was a collector of folk tunes. He collected material for this Suite in Denmark between 1922-1927. These songs have a dark, and morbid character telling of murderous lovers, wicked stepmothers, corpses and witches. The details of the tales are annotated in the comprehensive inlay by Barry Ould, Secretary of the International Percy Grainger Society. On first hearing, the music is not typically Grainger. The devices that Grainger usually employs are more subtle in this piece. In the first movement, a piano plays a harp-like introduction followed by a solo muted trumpet with the theme. I was quite disheartened by the way this solo was taken as there was a lack of direction and the tone was shaky and insecure. The second movement is a dance-like number with some baroque inclinations. The dissonance that starts seeping into the piece however, begins to separate this from that genre.
The third movement is perhaps my favourite with its dark character, beginning with a sad violin duet. The last movement is a almost a medley of a few different tunes, that runs between archaic religiousness and a bickering husband-and-wife duet. Certainly more lively in nature, and one sees a connection with English folksongs. I find that Grainger sounds more musically mature here, but less adventurous with his experimentations. Though he retains his concept of "free music", he wrote this piece in a much more accessible mode than say, Lincolnshire Posy, which is a genuine masterpiece.
Colonial Song is one of my favourite pieces, with an ever-expanding melodic theme that climaxes in one of the most ecstatic passages in all of the music I have ever heard so far. Grainger's scoring is at the peak of his unabashed Romanticism here, singing of his love for his home, Australia. However, Brion's interpretation is disappointingly conservative and ineffective. One can hear the orchestra's potential to burst forth but this is capped down for some reason that I do not comprehend.
The Irish Tune from County Derry from this selection probably works better in this recording but I think this beautiful melody begs to be given more shape. Brion's reading is straightforward and uninsightful, sometimes some passages comes across as clumsy almost as compared to Hickox in the Chandos collection.
The lighter music like Country Gardens, Green Bushes and Sheperd's Hey on the other hand are quite well-delivered, with a simple ease while not compromising the rhythmic precision, tempo or the dance-like nature of the music. Dynamic contrasts are wanting but not a fatal flaw in some sections. The accelerando in Sheperd's Hey is fun, controlled as compared to some other versions which tend to rush to its end.
To a Nordic Princess is a bridal song which is also one of Grainger's most extended works, first performed by the largest orchestra ever to play at the Hollywood Bowl (126 players) as a prelude to Grainger's marriage to Ella Viola Strom. It was certainly a spectacle (this Grainger would enjoy) and according to Ould in the program, belongs in the style of "ramble" which the composer enjoyed.
Yes, he goes on and on with his opening melody which is as tonal as anything he ever wrote; then makes the orchestra blaze forth with the melody midway through before relaxing into a quiet, more contemplative mode. Once again, Brion did not take the chance to hit the climax, opting for a more moderate high, which I do not agree with. Grainger quotes Saint-Saëns' The Swan in his conclusion to the piece before ending it with church bells. This piece could probably be considered a kind of proposal to Ella in that sense.
KEITH Brion is a noted expert on J.P. Sousa as well as Grainger but I have yet to be impressed by any of his recordings, as far as Grainger is concerned. His work with the University of Michigan Band resulted in a recording of Grainger's symphonic band music that though boasted of a good repertoire, failed to meet my expectations. I have noted that he often chooses moderated tempos and dynamics which I find strange, as Grainger would certainly not have desired them.
The Slovak Symphony Orchestra shows promise in its many recordings for Naxos, sometimes excelling beyond expectation. In this recording however, some of the wind parts are not well-taken and exposed sections (which Grainger is always focusing on) become a disaster.
In all, this recording is acceptable as reference material but as a whole fails to meet the mark of an excellent release. However, as with all the recordings under the budget label Naxos, it provides the novice or newbie to Grainger's music an opportunity to expand their scope with a decent rendition of the music. For the Grainger fans, I'll say go for the Chandos series. Otherwise this is highly recommended to those who have always heard Grainger's name but have yet to hear his music.
In Singapore, Naxos CDs can be easily ordered from Sing Discs (Raffles City), Tower (Pacific Plaza and Suntec City), Borders (Wheelock Place) or HMV (The Heeren).
The letter "k" on Adrian Tan's keyboard is not responding.
The Inkpot Percy Grainger Survey
Vol.1 Orchestral Works
Vol.2 Songs for Baritone
Vol.3 Works for Chorus & Orchestra
The Power of Love (Naxos)Back to the Classical Index!... or read previous classical music reviews and features at the InkpotOther classical music reviews by this or any other writer can be obtained from the InkVault by doing a key word search with the writer's name.
339: 10.11.98. up.31.3.1999 ©Adrian Tan
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