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Ives: Works for Orchestra / Sinclair, Malmö Symphony
Naxos

Ives: Works for Orchestra / Sinclair, Malmö Symphony

$19.99 Only 3 left

Details

Composer
IVES, CHARLES
Artist
Sinclair
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 27, 2009
Catalog #
8559370
UPC
636943937020

About

James Sinclair is always an excellent guide to this music, even through Ives' most complex textural thickets. The Fourth of July has real celebratory fervor and a sense of fun, while the climax of Thanksgiving, so often a muddle, here achieves real transcendence, with the choir perfectly integrated into the ensemble. I have to confess that I love this piece particularly, even though it's often considered the weakest part of what would later become the "Holidays" Symphony. I attended Hopkins Grammar in New Haven, as did Ives, and every Christmas the Glee Club gave a concert on the New Haven green at Trinity Church, right next to Center Church at which Ives served as organist. One of the hymns we often sang was "Duke Street", which forms the climax of Thanksgiving. So it has personal resonance, and it's also a great tune.

For this reason, and because of the similarities in tone and structure among the other three movements, I see no reason why the movements of "Holidays" should not be enjoyed separately, as they are presented here (the first, Washington's Birthday, already has been released). Interspersed between the better-known works are some real novelties. First, The General Slocum, a brief portrait of a tragic shipwreck, followed by two student works that sound totally Romantic, and completely unlike Ives: the Overture in G minor, and the Postlude in F. Finally, the Yale-Princeton Football Game, a two-minute riot of a piece that will make any fan of (American) football smile.

As already suggested, Sinclair's conducting gets everything right: tempos, textures, balances, and colors. He allows Ives' boisterous high spirits to emerge naturally, effortlessly, and where necessary, raucously. The Malmö orchestra plays all of this music with complete confidence, and the sonics are unaffectedly crisp and clean. An essential release for Ives fans.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": II. Decoration Day (ed. J.B. Sinclair) 08:56
    Track
    1
    Title
    A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": II. Decoration Day (ed. J.B. Sinclair)
    Duration
    08:56
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  2. 2 The General Slocum (realization by D.G. Porter) 05:46
    Track
    2
    Title
    The General Slocum (realization by D.G. Porter)
    Duration
    05:46
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  3. 3 Overture in G Minor (realization by D.G. Porter) 08:24
    Track
    3
    Title
    Overture in G Minor (realization by D.G. Porter)
    Duration
    08:24
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  4. 4 A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": III. The Fourth of July (realization by W.D. Shirley) 06:13
    Track
    4
    Title
    A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": III. The Fourth of July (realization by W.D. Shirley)
    Duration
    06:13
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  5. 5 Yale-Princeton Football Game (realization by J.B. Sinclair) 02:27
    Track
    5
    Title
    Yale-Princeton Football Game (realization by J.B. Sinclair)
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  6. 6 Postlude in F Major (ed. K. Singleton) 04:54
    Track
    6
    Title
    Postlude in F Major (ed. K. Singleton)
    Duration
    04:54
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair
  7. 7 A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": IV. Thanksgiving Day (ed. J. Elkus) 16:36
    Track
    7
    Title
    A Symphony - New England Holidays, "Holidays Symphony": IV. Thanksgiving Day (ed. J. Elkus)
    Duration
    16:36
    Composer
    Charles Ives
    Ensemble
    Malmö Opera Chorus, Malmö Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Sinclair