Despite being an important
figure in the foundation of American
classical music, Marion Bauer - who
died fifty years ago this year - is
little talked about these days. The
first of many American composers to
study with Nadia Boulanger, her importance
lies not only in her compositions, but
also as a distinguished teacher, critic
and writer. She also did much for the
position and importance of women in
classical music and American society,
teaching at both New York University
and the Juilliard School.
While her music is
not as instantly recognisable as some
of the more major figures in American
music, there is much of merit on this
Naxos disc. Part of the ever-growing
series of ‘American Classics’, the music
is here performed by the British-based
Ambache Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble,
who are also regular champions of music
by women composers.
There is no one consistent
particular style across these six works,
however there is a typically American
optimistic and spacious open-air quality
to much of the music. The variety on
this disc is clear, with a wide range
of approaches and scoring. The influence
of French music (among other styles),
in which Bauer was immersed, is evident.
The music is at times impressionistic,
intensely romantic and often thoughtful.
There are also lighter qualities to
this music, which become most obvious
in the American Youth Concerto
of 1943. Along with A Lament on an
African Theme this is perhaps the
most ‘American’-sounding work on the
disc. The concerto contains some exquisite
and lush writing in the slow movement
before concluding with a boisterous
medley of American styles.
The profound and sincere
virtues of the Symphonic Suite
for Strings reflect a feeling
of grief, with members of her own family
being killed as a result of their Jewish
faith during the Second World War. Consequentially
this is perhaps the most individual
and personal music on the disc.
The Duo for
oboe and clarinet in four movements
displays a technical brilliance in Bauer’s
composing. It is surprisingly varied
enough not to be too long, being also
perhaps the most experimental work in
this programme. The Concertino for Oboe,
Clarinet and Strings is primarily romantic
in nature and extremely lyrical, while
the remaining work (the Trio Sonata
No. 1) displays almost open impressionist
tendencies.
The music is sensitively
and thoughtfully performed throughout
and Diana Ambache is a worthy exponent
of this music as director and soloist.
A criticism is that there could have
been an extra element of passion in
the music-making; this could have brought
alive certain sections of the Trio Sonata
and of the Symphonic Suite a
little more. The final impression is
certainly favourable, however. The string
quality in the Symphonic Suite
is at times a little thin and I wonder
if a larger group of strings may have
been able to do this work a little more
justice.
Naxos have given us
an appropriately intimate recorded sound
and St Silas’ Church in Kentish Town,
London offers a suitably atmospheric
acoustic. The booklet notes by Diana
Ambache are clear and to the point.
Overall a useful addition
to Naxos’s American Classics’ series.
Adam Binks
see also review
by Mark Morris
Ambache Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble/Diana
Ambache 
