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Naxos

Grofe: Death Valley Suite, Etc. / Stromberg, Bournemouth Symphony

$19.99

Details

Composer
GROFE
Artist
William Stromberg
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Sep 01, 2002
Catalog #
8559017
UPC
636943901724

About

Richard Strauss once famously remarked: "I may not be a first rate composer, but I am a very good second rate composer." The same might be said of Ferde Grofé. He's not going to win any medals for formal ingenuity, expressive depth, or contrapuntal mastery, but he knew how to orchestrate, he could turn out a good tune, and, like Gershwin's, his particular take on symphonic jazz remains irresistibly attractive. What once may have sounded cheap and glitzy now has period charm, and we can only hope that this second Naxos disc devoted to his symphonic suites won't be the last.


There's some great stuff here. The opening Hollywood Suite contains a dazzling movement called "Carpenters and Electricians" and a delightfully toe-tapping "Production Number". The Hudson River Suite offers evocative nature sounds and some authentic dog barks in "Rip Van Winkle", and concludes with a calamitous, Ivesian tribute to New York City. The Death Valley Suite features a vivid portrait of a wagon train, and like the more famous Grand Canyon Suite ends with violent weather (in this case a sandstorm). William Stromberg leads the Bournemouth Symphony in totally enjoyable performances, vividly recorded, with some particularly brilliant work from the brass section. If you like the Grand Canyon Suite, you'll be pleased to know that there's a lot more where that came from, and it's no less worthy of your attention.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 15 tracks

  1. 1 On the Set - Sweepers 02:59
    Track
    1
    Title
    On the Set - Sweepers
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  2. 2 The Stand-In 03:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    The Stand-In
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  3. 3 Carpenters and Electricians 03:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    Carpenters and Electricians
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  4. 4 Preview 03:07
    Track
    4
    Title
    Preview
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  5. 5 Production Number 02:19
    Track
    5
    Title
    Production Number
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  6. 6 Director - Star - Ensemble 05:25
    Track
    6
    Title
    Director - Star - Ensemble
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  7. 7 The River 05:15
    Track
    7
    Title
    The River
    Duration
    05:15
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  8. 8 Henry Hudson 02:47
    Track
    8
    Title
    Henry Hudson
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  9. 9 Rip Van Winkle 04:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    Rip Van Winkle
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  10. 10 Albany Night Boat 04:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    Albany Night Boat
    Duration
    04:57
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  11. 11 New York! 01:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    New York!
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  12. 12 Funeral Mountains 04:09
    Track
    12
    Title
    Funeral Mountains
    Duration
    04:09
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  13. 13 '49er Emigrant Train 04:26
    Track
    13
    Title
    '49er Emigrant Train
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  14. 14 Desert Water Hole 03:55
    Track
    14
    Title
    Desert Water Hole
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg
  15. 15 Sand Storm 04:07
    Track
    15
    Title
    Sand Storm
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Ferde Grofé
    Ensemble
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    William Stromberg