Edwin CARR
Symphony No 4 (1993) 25.27
Promenade (1986) 18.41
Sinfonietta (1979) 14.30
Pacific Festival Overture (1986) 7.27
New Zealand SO/Kenneth Young
rec Tory St, Wellington, NZ
CONTINUUM CCD 1077
[66.05]
The Fourth Symphony dashes onto the scene with gusto and rumpus. If you know
the opening orchestral bars of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd evocative
of a heartless city thudding with callous Stravinskian energy then you are
pretty much prepared for Carr's introduction. It does not have the chaotic
wash of Mossolov but is somewhat mechanistic in a way similar to Prokofiev
in the Scythian Suite cut across with material from the Kurt Weill
symphonies. The ticking allegro scherzando like a lively shifting
spider web prepares the way for a predominantly lyrical Allegretto -
Housman's 'Grecian Lad' staring into the still lakes of the New Zealand
highlands. The jaunty tight rhythmic clatter of the finale again prompts
memories of the (rather wonderful) Weill symphonies allowing for a look cast
back over the shoulder toward the Allegretto. Carr was a pupil of
Benjamin Frankel and there is some slight resemblance in the light-handed
dissonance of a few parts of the score. Overall though nothing to frighten
the horses and much to ingratiate.
The Promenade ballet (eight numbers) sparkles charmingly (and with
grace) like some Francophile companion to Samuel Barber's Souvenirs
suite and to Sondheim's and Nicholas Flagello's waltz fantasies. The
Sinfonietta is the earliest of the works on the disc. Of its four
movements only the fourth exceeds four minutes. The second movement is cut
from the same bubbling cloth as Promenade but both the first and third
are serious, the third in particular is gravely elegiac. The finale is skittish
with emphasis on the woodwind. Likeable music leaning in the direction of
neo-classical Respighi. The overture celebrated Carr's sixtieth birthday
in 1986. It is a Blissy 'jeu d'esprit' not without some of Bliss's sense
of darkness as well as his flightiness. It would go well in company with
Howard Ferguson's Overture for an Occasion and the Walton concert
overtures. The countryside tune at 2.40 suggests inspiration from Copland
(Appalachian Spring and Outdoor Overture).
When we see Murray Khouri's name as producer we know that we are in safe
hands. Everything is clearly lit without dazzle but not lacking power.
Rob Barnett
ORDERING DETAILS IN CASES OF DIFFICULTY:-
DI Music Direct (Mail Order)
7 High Street
Cheadle
Cheshire SK8 1AX
dimus@aol.com
phone 0161 491 6655
fax 0161 491 6688
www.dimusic.co.uk
Continuum
20 Lochiel Road
Remuera
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64-9-520-7449
continuum@digitalpacific.co.nz
www.digitalpacific.co.nz
Centre for NZ Music (trading as SOUNZ)
PO Box 10042
Wellington, NZ
Street address: Level 1, 39 Cambridge Terrace
Phone: (64 4) 801 8602
Fax: (64 4) 801 8604
Email:
sounz@actrix.gen.nz
Website:
www.sounz.org.nz
