CRESTON: Suite for Strings, CHAJES Israeli Melodies, HOVHANESS Armenian Rhap #2,

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CRESTON: Suite for Strings, CHAJES Israeli Melodies, HOVHANESS Armenian Rhap #2,:
$6.86

Seven mostly-rare works for string orchestra by American composers are heard on this early (1986) Crystal Records CD: Alan Hovhaness\'s Celestial Fantasy op.44 and Armenian Rhapsody #2, Julius Chajes\'s Israeli Melodies, Vincent Persichetti\'s Introit, Norman Dello Joio\'s Air, and Paul Creston\'s Chant of 1942 and Suite for Strings (with its oddly-titled movements Prelude, Badinage, Cantilena, and Cumulus). The moods range from somber to playful, but are always tonal or modal. David Amos leads members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. You can listen to excerpts from the CD here.

From the MusicWeb review:Paul Creston\'s romantic and tuneful music has, surprisingly, made little headway despite its obvious strengths. Several of his symphonies have made it onto CD (and Naxos will add to that small store very soon). No doubt there would have been a complete symphonic cycle from Gerard Schwarz if only Delos had not run out of stamina (and cash).Creston\'s Chant of 1942 is overcast, emotional and heavy with tragedy redolent of the deathly times in which it was written. The liner notes relate the music to the despondency of the times and the horrors of Greece, Poland and Lidice (compare Martinu\'s and Alan Bush\'s works referring to Lidice). The final section of the Chant is like some muffled clock, desperate and at the same time threatened and empyreumatic. Surely this work takes some inspiration from Shostakovitch\'s Leningrad Symphony as well.What a surprise to discover the melting lilt of Creston\'s Suite For Strings (1978). The whole thing lasts less than 16 minutes and is in four movements, by turn, jaunty-lilting; scattily carefree; hauntingly serenading; and the final fugal Cumulus throws and spins the tunes of the three previous movements together in a careful and concentrated display.Hovhaness\'s Celestial Fantasy is subdued and inward with over-the-shoulder glances at Warlock\'s Capriol but with the accustomed oriental sway and twist. The Second Armenian Rhapsody (which closes this disc) is similar to the other two rhapsodies with its long-lined swaying tunes, pizzicato and wilder court dances. Not consistently compelling but well-rounded and always tuneful.Norman Dello Joio\'s Air for Strings (1967) is a tender serenade of crystal brevity. Chajes Israeli Melodies are a simple and dignified set of string songs. Nothing grates. The down-side is that there is a certain blandness about the music which is cast off only in the opening intensity of Song of the Night. Persichetti\'s Introit is not simple. It inhabits the desolate places of Warlock\'s Curlew and the misty streams of Bernard van Dieren\'s imagination.The fine notes by Anne Ford-Horne are in English only.Recommended for anyone wishing to add a tuneful collection of string works to their collection. Committed Crestonians (and we do exist) and Hovhaness acolytes will also need this polished and well-balanced album.

Disc, booklet, and case are in near-mint condition.

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About Jimmosk\'s CDs
I sell high-quality, little-known works, mostly 19th- and 20th-century. Many of the CDs are used, some are still-sealed, and most are the only one of that disc I have to offer. I sell a low volume of CDs, but that way I can listen to each (except the sealed ones :-) and describe the music to give you a better idea of what you\'re in for before you plunge into the unknown! More information about some composers may be available on my Unknown Composers Page.
-Jim Moskowitz