What a delightful album
this is; so full of sunny, melodic,
strongly rhythmic music.
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze
was born in Vienna on 6th
July 1865 of Swiss parentage. Educated
at the Geneva Conservatory, he went
on to Paris to study with Fauré
before going to Vienna for more study
with Robert Fuchs and Anton Bruckner.
He then returned to Paris where he consolidated
his technique under Léo Delibes
and Matthis Lussy whose knowledge of
the theory of rhythm influenced him
profoundly.
Jaques-Dalcroze was
to go on to impress as one of the most
enterprising figures on the musical
scene in Geneva. Of him Ernest Ansermet
observed: "What marks out the work
of Jaques-Dalcroze is a spontaneity,
an abundance of imagination, a fervour
and a warmth that binds all these together."
Adriano, well-known
as a champion of little-known Late Romantic
music, conducts winning, sprightly,
warm-hearted performances in these world-premiere
recordings.
Suite de danses
combines enchanting melodies that linger
in the memory, with rhythmic variety
and ingenuity. There is vitality and
feminine grace about this music, and
an exciting glitter (in the grand-ball
like concluding Allegro con brio). Add
to this an endearing sweet sentimentality
that has for much of its length French
charm as well as much that is reminiscent
of the style and mood of Eric Coates,
especially in the outer two movements.
There is irony and humour too in the
pert, perky Allegretto and a
cleverly observed, cool classical fugal
Andante.
Not quite so successful
is the Poème alpestre,
a colourful alpine evocation. It includes
folk dance material in a rather shallow
bombastic style but the main attraction
is an extended middle section in which
the pastoral peace of the Swiss countryside
is shattered by a violent storm fully
suggestive of lashing gales and torrential
rains.
The theme of Jaques-Dalcroze’s
Variations is a naïvely sentimental
song that enjoyed immense popularity
in both the French-speaking and Italian-speaking
parts of Switzerland. Jaques-Dalcroze’s
variations demonstrate much rhythmic
and harmonic ingenuity. For instance
his Allegretto leggiero, Variation
three is syncopated and jazzy, again
reminiscent of Eric Coates; his lovely
Adagio con misterioso Variation
four has Elgar’s brand of wistful nostalgia
and a remarkable trumpet solo. Then
there is the Alla Haydn
Variation with its own cheeky ‘Surprise’
and the mischievous piety of the Fauré-like
Andante religioso and the jolly,
high-spirited Alla fanfare Variation.
The whole is rounded off with a magnificently
vulgar and pompous Marche philistine!
The compilation ends
as it began with another scintillating
suite of ballet music, Suite de ballet.
It corresponds to a ball scene at
the end of Act II of Jaques-Dalcroze’s
Sancho, a very ambitious four-hour
lyric comedy in a four act and eight
tableaux drama that reserved a ‘privileged
position for dance and mime’. Each of
the four movements, especially the enchanting
Andantino second movement, have grace,
glamour and a melodic charm that is
quite irresistible.
An irresistible hour
of enchanting easy listening: wonderful
melodies and vivacious rhythms. Recommended.
Ian Lace
Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Adriano 
