Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Elgar: Marches / Judd, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Naxos

Elgar: Marches / Judd, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

$19.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
ELGAR
Artist
James Judd
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Mar 22, 2005
Catalog #
8557273
UPC
747313227327

About

Nearly 80 minutes of Elgar in march tempo many be a bit much at a single sitting, but this disc fills a useful niche. The most interesting work here is the symphonic prelude Polonia, dedicated to Paderewski, and composed during the First World War. Making use of various Polish melodies (including music by Paderewski and Chopin), at nearly fifteen minutes it's a major statement for a mere "occasional" work, and the only reason I can think of that it isn't better known is that it's not about England so no one especially cares. James Judd and the New Zealand Symphony play it very well, as they also do the Pomp and Circumstances Marches. Frankly, you can have your Boults and Barbirollis: compared to Judd they sound far less involved. He actually has interesting ideas about phrasing (listen to how he drives the opening of March No. 2), and makes a persuasive case for this music as music, rather than as a high school graduation exercise or some other mundane event.


The Coronation March and the Funeral March from Grania and Diarmid are also bigger than their titles might suggest, the first as reflective as it is opulent, the second really a brief, elegiac tone poem. It's a bit hard to get excited about either the Empire March or the March from Caractacus, and the March of the Mogul Emperors (from The Crown of India Suite) could crash and bash with more abandon (where is the tam-tam?), but there's certainly enough here to whet the appetite of committed Elgarians. The sonics are also quite good: a touch low-level, perhaps, but easily adjustable, with plenty of room to expand and good bass separation between timpani, bass drum, and organ pedals (which are well caught but not overbearing). In short, this is another successful collaboration between Judd and the New Zealanders--long may they continue.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 Coronation March, Op. 65 10:37
    Track
    1
    Title
    Coronation March, Op. 65
    Duration
    10:37
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  2. 2 Grania and Diarmid, Op. 42, No. 2: Funeral March 10:21
    Track
    2
    Title
    Grania and Diarmid, Op. 42, No. 2: Funeral March
    Duration
    10:21
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  3. 3 No. 1 in D Major 06:13
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 1 in D Major
    Duration
    06:13
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  4. 4 No. 2 in A Minor 05:08
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 2 in A Minor
    Duration
    05:08
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  5. 5 No. 3 in C Minor 05:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 3 in C Minor
    Duration
    05:48
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  6. 6 No. 4 in G Major 05:14
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 4 in G Major
    Duration
    05:14
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  7. 7 No. 5 in C Major 06:16
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 5 in C Major
    Duration
    06:16
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  8. 8 Caractacus, Op. 35: Triumphal March 07:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    Caractacus, Op. 35: Triumphal March
    Duration
    07:06
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  9. 9 The Crown of India Suite, Op. 66: V. March of the Mogul Emperors 03:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    The Crown of India Suite, Op. 66: V. March of the Mogul Emperors
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  10. 10 Empire March 04:17
    Track
    10
    Title
    Empire March
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd
  11. 11 Polonia, Op. 76 14:25
    Track
    11
    Title
    Polonia, Op. 76
    Duration
    14:25
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    James Judd