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Copland: Red Pony Suite, Prairie Journal / Falletta, Buffalo Philharmonic
Naxos

Copland: Red Pony Suite, Prairie Journal / Falletta, Buffalo Philharmonic

$19.99

Details

Composer
COPLAND
Artist
Falletta, Buffalo Po
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 31, 2006
Catalog #
8559240
UPC
636943924020

About


Although it's played and recorded frequently, there is a genuine difference between a decent performance of Rodeo and a really excellent one such as we have here. This difference can be summed up in two words: rhythm and tempo. When it comes to rhythm, it's not merely a question of hitting the syncopations in the opening movement and concluding Hoedown, but of being both accurate and relaxed enough to let the music swing. This is a quality that Bernstein's performances always had, and JoAnn Falletta understands it too. This gives the music both the necessary verve in the outer sections and real balletic grace in the two inner ones, reminding us that we are, after all, hearing a story told through physical movement.


When it comes to tempo, the issue is at once simpler and less impressionistic. In Buckaroo Holiday, speeds have to be quick enough to prevent the music from breaking up into discrete, detached bits. Once again, Falletta & Co. come through with flying colors. The music never sounds mechanical, disconnected, or excessively "Stravinskian". Copland disliked excessive sentimentality, but his music is never dry (the rich, warm, but clear sonics also help in this department). And what turns out to be a successful recipe for Rodeo works just as well in all of the other pieces here. Prairie Journal (a.k.a. Music for Radio) is one of the least known of Copland's "Westerns", but it's every bit as enjoyable as the three great ballets, and this is as fine a performance as you will hear anywhere. Letter from Home is an exercise in nostalgia that never turns overly sweet.


Best of all, perhaps, is The Red Pony, one of the great film scores of all time, and a glorious work that for some reason seldom gets played live. Copland's invention is of exceptionally high quality throughout, and once again you can hear from the unusual freshness of the opening bars how effortlessly Falletta and the Buffalo players get into the spirit of the music. There are so many delightful moments, from the raucous Circus Music to the unforgettable Walk to the Bunkhouse, a piece that has become the very essence of musical Americana. Finally, it's great to see one of the very popular pieces, like Rodeo, coupled with some less ubiquitous examples of Copland's genius. A wonderful disc! [10/20/2006]
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Prairie Journal 10:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    Prairie Journal
    Duration
    10:54
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  2. 2 No. 1. Buckeroo Holiday 07:19
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 1. Buckeroo Holiday
    Duration
    07:19
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    JoAnn Falletta
  3. 3 No. 2. Corral Nocturne 03:42
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 2. Corral Nocturne
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    JoAnn Falletta
  4. 4 No. 3. Saturday Night Waltz 04:24
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 3. Saturday Night Waltz
    Duration
    04:24
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    JoAnn Falletta
  5. 5 No. 4. Hoe-Down 03:26
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 4. Hoe-Down
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    JoAnn Falletta
  6. 6 Letter from Home (version for chamber orchestra) 06:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    Letter from Home (version for chamber orchestra)
    Duration
    06:26
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  7. 7 I. Morning on the Ranch 04:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Morning on the Ranch
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  8. 8 II. The Gift 04:31
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. The Gift
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  9. 9 IIIa. Dream March 02:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    IIIa. Dream March
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  10. 10 IIIb Circus March 01:48
    Track
    10
    Title
    IIIb Circus March
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  11. 11 IV. Walk to the Bunkhouse 02:57
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Walk to the Bunkhouse
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    JoAnn Falletta
  12. 12 V. Grandfather's Story 04:15
    Track
    12
    Title
    V. Grandfather's Story
    Duration
    04:15
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
  13. 13 VI. Happy Ending 03:10
    Track
    13
    Title
    VI. Happy Ending
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Aaron Copland