Albany Records: Chamber Music of Herrmann & Moross

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Classical works by two of America's major film composers.

In 1927, Bernard Herrmann was a sixteen year old student at DeWitt Clinton High School in New York. Bored by his instructors, he eagerly sought out other rebellious spirits among his peers, and found one - a fellow composer, no less - in his German class: 14 year old Jerome Moross. A close friendship began, and for the next several years the two friends explored the musical by-ways of New York together, attending concerts and seeking out such composers as Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, George Gershwin and Morton Gould. In the early 1930s, as members of the Young Composers Group - a small band of New York composers modeled after the Russian Five, and led by Copland, Herrmann and Moross gave the first public performances of their music. Both composers were inspired by the vigorous American idiom of Ives, Copland and others; but while Herrmann's music was increasingly shaped by European models, Moross was most drawn to American folk music and other popular forms. Now, all these years later, here these two friends are joined in their music on this delightful disc.

Bernard Herrmann, composer
Souvenir de Voyage for Clarinet and String Quartet
Jeffrey Lerner, clarinet, Kenneth Goldsmith, Albert Muenzer, violins, Lawrence Wheeler, viola, Terry King, cello

Bernard Herrmann, composer
String Quartet, Echoes
Kenneth Goldsmith, Eric Halen, violins, Lawrence Wheeler, viola, Kevin Dvorak, cello

Jerome Moross, composer
Sonata for Piano Duet and String Quartet in G Major
Nancy Weems, John Sensen, piano, Kenneth Goldsmith, Albert Muenzer, violins, Lawrence Wheeler, viola, Terry King, cello

Review:

"...admirers of Bernard Herrmann's film music will be mesmerized by this recording of his neglected Chamber music. The 1967 Clarinet quintet (which was available on LP) is based on Houseman's poetry, Turner's paintings, and Irish landscape; but anyone who has seen Vertigo will instantly be reminded of that score's melancholy phrases, suspensions, and sighs. This music has an exquisite sense of longing made all the more poignant by lyrical clarinet lines; it works as absolute music, but Vertigo is so indelibly in our movie-going subconscious that it is hard to get it out of our heads....On the same disc is a 1975 Sonata for Piano Duet and String Quartet by Herrmann's longtime colleague Jerome Moross, an underrated American composer....This work is a real charmer. Moross's sprightly melodies, syncopated rhythms, and bright harmonies are a bracing contrast to Herrmann's moodiness, making this an exceptionally balanced and attractive album of unfamiliar music." (American Record Guide)

Classical works by two of America's major film composers.

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