Bah! Humbug!
'Tis the season to be jolly, but Naxos have chosen to give us
three works here with the same carols repeated - God rest ye is
presented in four of the works, Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
twice, Ding Dong merrily on high twice and I saw three ships
twice as well. That's a total of at least 15 minutes that could
have been better used somewhere, somehow! Bah!
Seriously, though, this disc, full of Christmas tunes arranged
into "symphonic" works by five different composers, will be of
interest mostly to those who want to listen to to their
favourite carols dressed up, but also those interested in the
composers represented here.
The
title of the disc is A Christmas Symphony, and this is
the longest work on this disc, lasting 24'42". Four traditional
carols make up its four traditional symphony movements - an
Allegro, a Scherzo, an Andante and a Finale. Without analysing
everything to death, this is probably one of the better arranged
works, and is as such the most enjoyable - tastefully and
artfully arranged by Victor Hely-Hutchinson (1901-47). His use
of harmony doesn't grate and he sets up the music so that when
the carols enter they don't seem out of place. In this, and the
preceding work, Bryan Kelly's (b. 1934) Improvisations on
Christmas Carols (1969), which is not as subtly arranged but
still enjoyable, the listener is guaranteed to be left with
silly smiles at some point.
Peter Warlock (1894-1930) is probably the best known composer on
this disc; his contribution, Bethleham Down, a carol for
strings, is presented in its arrangement by Philip Lane, who is
himself represented by his early work “Wassail Dances”.
Bethleham Down is probably the most pensive and pastoral
piece here. It lasts all of about four minutes but immediately
manages to establish a lyricism that is not to be found in the
rest of the collection. As a piece for strings, it is remarkably
effective and evocative.
Philip Lane’s (incidentally the author of the excellent and
detailed sleeve notes) Dances were written when he was only 23
and is lighter stuff than the Warlock but no less pleasant or
enjoyable for that, especially in the Andantino, written in the
style of a Yorkshire wassail (a dance). The last movement, a
Goucestershire wassail, is appropriately folk-like and earthy.
It made me want to dance. Brilliant!
Patric Standford's (b.1939 and not to be confused with Sir
Charles Villiers Stanford) "A Christmas Carol Symphony" turns
out very well indeed, despite the "commercial" sounding
arrangements, which in some bits sound suspiciously like a
soundtrack (or a filmscore) to a Christmas movie. All the same,
it’s lots of good fun, and of all the works featured I think it
the most interestingly presented and orchestrated. Away in a
Manger is particularly lush and easy to enjoy. In the
“scherzo”, which takes its themes from three carols, most
recognizably The Twelve Days of Christmas the mood is
delightfully Christmassy and festive, the instrumentation
appropriate without being clichéd.
Not to philosophize too much over what is a simple CD, but I
wonder how these works would have sounded if I had never heard
these carols before – would my enjoyment have been as great? I
would have loved to hear these played by one of those light
music broadcast orchestras, who specialized in playing this sort
of repertoire and would surely have excelled in it.
If Christmas tunes are what you want, here they are aplenty, and
I can’t imagine anyone buying this disc being disappointed with
what is presented here. The music is well-played by the City of
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the excellent Gavin
Sutherland - they aren't the last word in beauty or tone, but
are more than adequate. Best enjoyed with your feet on top of a
footstool, in good, jolly company, a glass of wine and when not
taken too seriously.
