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Holst: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 / Davis, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Chandos

Holst: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 / Davis, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

$21.99

Details

Composer
HOLST, GUSTAV
Artist
Gritton, Davis
Format
SACD
Label
Chandos
Released
Oct 29, 2013
Catalog #
CHSA 5127
UPC
095115512722

About



HOLST The Mystic Trumpeter. First Choral Symphony 1 • Andrew Davis, cond; Susan Gritton (s); 1 BBC S Ch; BBC SO • CHANDOS 5127 (SACD: 69:20 Text and Translation)


I complain so often of the modern tendency towards over-reverberant sonics, particularly in Naxos and Chandos releases, that when the sound matches the mood of the music I am pleased to admit that it works. In this disc, titled Holst Orchestral Works Vol. 3, the fine conductor Andrew Davis leads inspired performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and soprano Susan Gritton in two of Holst’s most interesting and appealing works for that combination.


The Mystic Trumpeter (1904, revised 1912) is described in the booklet as being in Wagnerian musical language, but evolved. Based on a poem by Walt Whitman, “From Noon to Starry Night,” it includes musical premonitions of The Planets , particularly “Neptune the Mystic.” The musical evolution also owes something to Richard Strauss, who Holst played under as a trombonist, but here Holst’s continuing musical growth is clear and fascinating from first note to last. It also has the trait in common with Debussy that every time the music reaches a climax, it pulls back shortly after and recedes. This ability of his to “cap the geyser,” so to speak, was to come to fruition in the next three decades of his life.


The First Choral Symphony, as the notes indicate, has a weakness only in the text setting of the Finale; otherwise this, too, is an outstanding work, and one deserving of greater exposure. Here, too, the mature Holst is able to maintain a spellbinding atmosphere at a consistently soft volume level, only occasionally opening up the sound to create brief climaxes. The orchestral texture is more varied, even in the fast sections of the music where a certain sameness might have been expected. There’s a touch of Britten in the later sections of this work—a possible influence on the younger composer? I make no claim for this, only a suggestion; make of it what you will. In any case, this is an excellent disc of truly excellent music.


Susan Gritton contributes a brief statement in the booklet recalling how she rehearsed these works under the late Richard Hickox, only to have that esteemed conductor die suddenly before the recordings could be completed. Under such circumstances, I’m sure that this project was a bittersweet one for her, but as I say, Andrew Davis has done himself—and Holst—proud.


FANFARE: Lynn René Bayley

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. 1 Hark! some wild trumpeter - 06:31
    Track
    1
    Title
    Hark! some wild trumpeter -
    Duration
    06:31
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  2. 2 Blow again, trumpeter - O, how the immortal phantoms crowd around me - 03:17
    Track
    2
    Title
    Blow again, trumpeter - O, how the immortal phantoms crowd around me -
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  3. 3 Blow again, trumpeter - O trumpeter - 03:14
    Track
    3
    Title
    Blow again, trumpeter - O trumpeter -
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  4. 4 Now, trumpeter, for thy close 05:30
    Track
    4
    Title
    Now, trumpeter, for thy close
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  5. 5 Prelude: Invocation to Pan: O Thou, whose might palace roof doth hang (Chorus) 03:38
    Track
    5
    Title
    Prelude: Invocation to Pan: O Thou, whose might palace roof doth hang (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  6. 6 I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 1: Beneath my palm trees, by the river side (Soprano) 04:33
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 1: Beneath my palm trees, by the river side (Soprano)
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  7. 7 I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 1: And as I sat, over the light blue hills (Soprano) 01:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 1: And as I sat, over the light blue hills (Soprano)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  8. 8 I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 2: Whence came ye, merry Damsels (Chorus) - Part 3: Within his car, aloft, young Bacchus stood (Soprano) - Part 4: Whence came ye, jolly Satyrs (Chorus) 02:09
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 2: Whence came ye, merry Damsels (Chorus) - Part 3: Within his car, aloft, young Bacchus stood (Soprano) - Part 4: Whence came ye, jolly Satyrs (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  9. 9 I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 5: Onward the tiger and the leopard pants (Soprano) - Part 6: Bacchus, young Bacchus (Chorus) 02:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Song and Bacchanal: Part 5: Onward the tiger and the leopard pants (Soprano) - Part 6: Bacchus, young Bacchus (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  10. 10 II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness (Chorus) 02:58
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  11. 11 II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard (Chorus) 02:09
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  12. 12 II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed (Chorus) 01:48
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  13. 13 II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Who are these coming to the sacrifice? (Chorus) 02:01
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: Who are these coming to the sacrifice? (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  14. 14 II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: O Attic shape! fair attitude! with brede (Chorus) 03:08
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Ode on a Grecian Urn: O Attic shape! fair attitude! with brede (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  15. 15 III. Scherzo: Part 1: Fancy: Ever let the Fancy roam (Chorus) 02:56
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Part 1: Fancy: Ever let the Fancy roam (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  16. 16 III. Scherzo: Part 2: Folly's Song: When wedding fiddles are a-playing (Chorus) 02:41
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Part 2: Folly's Song: When wedding fiddles are a-playing (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  17. 17 IV. Finale: Part 1: Spirit here that reignest! (Soprano) - Part 2: God of the golden bow (Chorus) 03:15
    Track
    17
    Title
    IV. Finale: Part 1: Spirit here that reignest! (Soprano) - Part 2: God of the golden bow (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  18. 18 IV. Finale: Part 3: Then, through thy Temple wide (Soprano) - Part 4: 'Tis awful silence then again (Chorus) 05:18
    Track
    18
    Title
    IV. Finale: Part 3: Then, through thy Temple wide (Soprano) - Part 4: 'Tis awful silence then again (Chorus)
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  19. 19 IV. Finale: Part 5: Next thy Tasso's ardent numbers (Soprano) - Part 6: But when Thou joinest with the Nine (Chorus) 03:17
    Track
    19
    Title
    IV. Finale: Part 5: Next thy Tasso's ardent numbers (Soprano) - Part 6: But when Thou joinest with the Nine (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  20. 20 IV. Finale: Part 6: Bards of Passion and of Mirth (Chorus) 04:49
    Track
    20
    Title
    IV. Finale: Part 6: Bards of Passion and of Mirth (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  21. 21 IV. Finale: Part 7: Spirit here that reignest (Soprano) - Bards of Passion and of Mirth (Chorus) 02:08
    Track
    21
    Title
    IV. Finale: Part 7: Spirit here that reignest (Soprano) - Bards of Passion and of Mirth (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis