Composer: Percy Grainger, Vincent Persichetti, Aram Khachaturian, Walter S. Hartley, Bernard Rogers
Performer: Carol Dawn Mayer
Orchestra: Eastman Wind Ensemble
Conductor: Frederick Fennell, Harold Lawrence
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Mercury
Size: 346 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘Lisbon’ (Sailor’s Song)
02. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘Horkstow Grange’ (The Miser and his Man: A local Tragedy)
03. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘Rufford Park Poachers’ (Poaching Song)
04. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘The brisk young Sailor’ (returned to wed his true Love)
05. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘Lord Melbourne’ (War Song)
06. Lincolnshire Posy: ‘The Lost Lady found’ (Dance Song)
07. Lincolnshire Posy: Hill Song No. 2
08. Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Adagio-Allegro
09. Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Adagio sostenuto
10. Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Allegretto
11. Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Vivace
12. Armenian Dances: Allegro moderate
13. Armenian Dances: Allegro
14. Concerto for 23 Winds: Andante-Allegro non troppo
15. Concerto for 23 Winds: Vivace
16. Concerto for 23 Winds: Lento
17. Concerto for 23 Winds: Allegro molto
18. Three Japanese Dances: Dance with Pennons
19. Three Japanese Dances: Mourning Dance
20. Three Japanese Dances: Dance with Swords
5 stars, if only for “Lincolnshire Posy”
‘Lincolnshire Posy’ is one of the greatest compositions written for wind band, and this is likely the definitive recording of the work. Frederick Fennell’s (the conductor’s) full score has become the definitive edition, since Grainger never published anything but a condensed score. The Eastman Wind Ensemble provides a tremendous performance of the piece, and of all the works on the album.
I must admit that I usually only listen to ‘Lincolnshire’ and ‘Hill Song’ because I’m a bit of a Grainger fan, but all the music if great, especially Persichetti’s ‘Symphony for Band’ and Rogers’ ‘Three Japanese Dances’.
If you’re not familiar with Grainger, get this album and get familiar with him. He is one of the most important and best composers of the twentieth century, despite how little attention is paid to him outside the world of wind bands.