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

$13.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
September 1, 2002
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      GROFE
    • PERFORMER
      William Stromberg
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      September 01, 2002
    • UPC
      636943901724
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8559017
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. On the Set - Sweepers

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    2. The Stand-In

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    3. Carpenters and Electricians

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    4. Preview

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    5. Production Number

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    6. Director - Star - Ensemble

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    7. The River

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    8. Henry Hudson

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    9. Rip Van Winkle

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    10. Albany Night Boat

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    11. New York!

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    12. Funeral Mountains

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    13. '49er Emigrant Train

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    14. Desert Water Hole

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg

    15. Sand Storm

      Composer: Ferde Grofé

      Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: William Stromberg


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