British Tone Poems Volume 1

British Tone Poems Volume 1 cover $35.00 Out of Stock
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ALWYN / AUSTIN / BANTOCK / GARINER / GURNEY / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
British Tone Poems Volume 1
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rumon Gamba

[ Chandos / CD ]

Release Date: Sunday 26 March 2017

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Alongside their British Isles Overtures series, the BBC NOW and the conductor Rumon Gamba launch a project to bring often neglected symphonic poems by British composers to wider attention and fame. This first volume presents some of the most individual, yet rarely heard, British tone poems written in the early twentieth century, by composers ranging from the long-established Ralph Vaughan Williams and William Alwyn to Balfour Gardiner and Granville Bantock, giants in their time. Works include Bantock's atmospheric The Witch of Atlas, based on a poem by Shelley, Frederic Austin's symphonic rhapsody Spring, Gardiner's evocation of summer A Berkshire Idyll, recorded here for the first time, and Gurney's mysterious A Gloucestershire Rhapsody, never performed before 2010.

"Rumon Gamba and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra are on excellent form and produce readings which sound entirely sympathetic. Recorded 14-16 September 2016 at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay, the sound is well-balanced and auditioned via high resolution 24-96 files, give a truthful impression. Hoddinott Hall is not quite as atmospheric as the various London churches Chandos used as recording venues a while ago, but set at the right level, the sound impresses. An encouraging start to a valuable series of British orchestral music." AudAud April 2017

"A highly enjoyable wander away from the familiar British path, including some rare youthful Vaughan Williams. The playing is suitably characterful throughout." BBC Music

"No tub-thumping here from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Rumon Gamba - rather, a reminder that imperial Britain relied on mainland Europe, including Russia, for its musical influences...For all the spot-the-influence games to be played here, there's still a lot to charm even the most resistant listener." The Guardian

Tracks:

Alwyn
Blackdown - a Tone Poem from the Surrey Hills

Austin
Rhapsody - Spring

Bantock
The Witch of Atlas Tone Poem for Orchestra No. 5

Gardiner
A Berkshire Idyll

Gurney
A Gloucestershire Rhapsody

Vaughan Williams:
The Solent