Albany Records: Paul Freeman Introduces...Vol. 4

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Delightful cross-section of modern American styles.

Elie Siegmeister received his B.A. from Columbia University. He studied with Wallingford Riegger, Nadia Boulanger and at Juilliard. The Clarinet Concerto, a delightful piece, reflects the composer's involvement with Broadway theatre and his interest in a type of personalized jazz. Gwyneth Walker is a rarity among composers, in that she supports herself entirely by her writing. Her catalog contains over 100 commissioned works. Her artistic and personal goal is to provide music "where it is needed and will be enjoyed." She lives on the Brainstorm dairy farm in Braintree, Vermont, surrounded by more than 200 Holstein cows. Paul Creston's Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra was completed in September, 1942 and was first performed by the High School of Music and Art Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. This is its first recording. Just an Accident? was first written as a Chamber work, commissioned by the Festival of New Music in Wiener Neustadt, Austria for the Webern Centennial in 1983. As a symphonic work for full orchestra it was premiered in America in 1986 with Philippe Entremont and the New Orleans Philharmonic.

Paul Creston, composer
Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman, conductor, Joan Yarbrough, piano

Elie Siegmeister, composer
Clarinet Concerto
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta, conductor, Robert Alemany, clarinet

Rene Staar
Just an Accident?
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman, conductor, Louise Toppin, soprano, Robert Russell, narrator

Gwyneth Walker
An American Concerto
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman, conductor, Melissa White, violin

Review:

"Here is another volume in the excellent Paul Freeman (mostly) American music series....Performances and recording are top-notch, and as usual, the repertory is refreshingly unfamiliar: Elie Siegmeister's bluesy and lyrical Clarinet Concerto, with guest conductor JoAnn Falletta; Gwyneth Walker's charming American Concerto for violin and orchestra, full of recreated folk, rock, and jazz against a misty orchestral backdrop; Paul Creston's tuneful, snappy Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra; and Rene Staar's grim Just an Accident?, the one European piece, a 1983 meditation on the violent deaths of artists. The performances are highly colorful and involving. In addition, we are introduced to some excellent soloists, the young violinist Melissa White and pianist Joan Yarbrough, who is also executive producer of this gratifying series." (American Record Guide)

Delightful cross-section of modern American styles.

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