January 2000 Film Music CD Reviews

Film Music Editor: Ian Lace
Music Webmaster Len Mullenger


Collection: The Land of Mountain and Flood - Scottish Orchestral Music Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by John Wilson  ASV CDE WHL 2123 [70:46]

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Hamish MacCunn (1868-1916). This lively concert kicks off with MacCunn’s The Land of Mountain and Flood, probably the best-known and best-loved of all the pieces on this disc. And what a fine reading John Wilson gives us: thrilling, and splendidly paced and articulated. Amazingly, this self-assured composition was penned when the composer was only nineteen. The programme also includes MacCunn’s Highland Memories written ten years later in 1897. Over its two opening movements, By the Burnside and By the Loch, this composition is quieter and sweetly nostalgic, while Harvest Dance is an unlikely marriage of the main theme of the second movement of Schubert’s Great C Major Symphony and Charlie is My Darling!

Muir Mathieson (1911-73). Mathieson is of course remembered for his huge contribution to the music for British films. He not only persuaded many influential composers like Vaughan Williams to contribute scores but he also skilfully arranged and orchestrated others’ film music. But he was also an accomplished composer as his Suite – From the Grampians proves. Loch Laggan, a stirring march, based on his march which opened each day’s transmission of Grampion Television, is followed by the serene and captivating Shuna – Island Song. In Glengarry – A Highland Steam, is a sparkling, shimmering little evocation while The Spital of Glenshee – Strathspey and Reel is spirited, with all its twists and turns and accents beautifully articulated by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia players.

Marcus Dods (1918-84) became assistant to Muir Mathieson but later took charge of such films as Far From the Madding Crowd and Death on the Nile. He is represented by his little Highland Fancy, written for his second wife, Deirdre Lind when she was principal oboe in the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Muir Mathieson’s cousin Cedric Thorpe Davie (1913-83) was prolific; his output included music for radio, theatre and 24 films. He is represented by his Royal MileCoronation March, composed in 1952 in anticipation of the celebrations of the Coronation of Elizabeth II the following year. The work inevitably has a strong Scottish character.

Buxton Orr (1924-97) is represented by his Fanfare and Processional which is quite self-explanatory, except that this piece of brass writing is for strings, but it is nonetheless imposing.

Iain Hamilton’s (b. 1922) Scottish Dances are another lively and colourful invention. They blend traditional and modern forms so that on occasion you feel as though you are in the world of Saturday nights in the dance halls of the early 1960s.

Sir Hugh Roberton (1874-1952) was, oddly enough, a funeral director by profession. He wrote or arranged many fine pieces for choir. By far the most popular was All in the April Evening. Included here is Philip Lane’s arrangement for strings. Lane also acted as producer on this album.

A highly enjoyable album and another feather in young John Wilson’s cap.

Reviewer

Ian Lace

Performance

The music:
Land of Mountain and Flood

The others

Reviewer

Ian Lace

Performance

The music:
Land of Mountain and Flood

The others


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