African American Voices
WL Dawson: Negro Folks Symphony; Nonetheless: Symphony No. 1; G Walker: Lyric for Strings
Royal Scottish Nationwide Orchestra/Kellen Grey
Linn Data CKD699 61:01 minutes
The very title of William Levi Dawson’s solely symphony, premiered by Leopold Stokowski in 1934, speaks of a unique time and place. So does its dogged try and replicate the African-American expertise by fusing established European musical types with the folks materials of his heritage, as famously inspired by Dvořák within the Nineties (when the Czech composer wrote his Symphony ‘From the New World’). William Grant Nonetheless’s earlier symphony (1930) pursues the identical tactic, however with a wider sphere of reference, the spirituals and ‘juba’ dances (additionally a specialty of Florence Worth) mingling with the smoky and lanky strains of the blues. There are some jaunty jazz rhythms, too.
Each works, of clear historic curiosity, want particular pleading in the event that they’re to be thought-about symphonic masterpieces. Equally, each have engaging moments. Dawson’s mainly characteristic within the second motion’s haunting finish stretch, the place quiet gong strokes and drum beats fortunately substitute the customarily crude use of percussion elsewhere. Nonetheless’s symphony, way more sturdily constructed, is usually pleasantly melodious, however with inadequate fibre to make a deeper impression. For music of lasting and real high quality, the listener’s comfort stays George Walker’s comparatively acquainted Lyric for Strings from 1946: absolute music with a coronary heart.
Below the baton of their assistant conductor, Kellen Grey, the Royal Scottish Nationwide Orchestra skilfully buckle right down to their job, although the artificial air hanging over the symphony performances means that gamers are following extra of the music’s letter than its spirit. The marginally shrill and shallow recording emanating from Glasgow’s new state-of-the-art ‘Scotland’s Studio’ could also be an element too.
Geoff Brown
