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Ireland: A Downland Suite, Etc / Hickox, City Of London Sinf
Chandos

Ireland: A Downland Suite, Etc / Hickox, City Of London Sinf

$21.99

Details

Composer
IRELAND BUSH
Artist
Hickox, City Of London Sinfonia
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Jun 01, 1995
Catalog #
CHAN 9376
UPC
095115937624

About

John Ireland’s Downland Suite, influenced by his beloved Sussex countryside, must surely be one of the most appealing string works in all English music. Hickox lovingly shapes the sublime second subject of the Prelude, the meltingly beautiful Elegy and the charming Minuet, without allowing the Romanticism to become cloying. The Concertino pastorale is a strong contrast. Written shortly before the Second World War in 1939, it reflects its times with dark clouds hanging over Downs that are now wrapped in more sombre hues.

The Orchestral Poem is an early work strongly influenced by Brahms and Stanford. It is dramatic enough and colourfully orchestrated but it shows little of the mature Ireland and is therefore more of academic interest. Hickox gives a stirring performance, and he realises all the excitement of the huge cattle drive across the vast expanse of Australia, the subject of the Two Symphonic Studies from the film music for The Overlanders. The work demonstrates Ireland’s skill in evoking scene and atmosphere and flair for the dramatic; you can see the animals stirring in the immense, hot and dusty landscape that is the great Australian outback. An interesting and valuable collection.

-- Ian Lace, BBC Music Magazine

Tracklist 10 tracks

  1. 1 I. Prelude: Allegro energico 04:17
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Prelude: Allegro energico
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  2. 2 II. Elegy: Lento espressivo 06:02
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Elegy: Lento espressivo
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  3. 3 III. Minuet: Allegretto grazioso 04:19
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Minuet: Allegretto grazioso
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  4. 4 IV. Rondo: Poco allegro 03:33
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Rondo: Poco allegro
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  5. 5 Orchestral Poem 13:30
    Track
    5
    Title
    Orchestral Poem
    Duration
    13:30
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  6. 6 I. Eclogue: Sostenuto 09:16
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Eclogue: Sostenuto
    Duration
    09:16
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  7. 7 II. Threnody: Lento espressivo 06:02
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Threnody: Lento espressivo
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  8. 8 III. Toccata: Allegro molto ma non troppo presto 04:27
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Toccata: Allegro molto ma non troppo presto
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  9. 9 No. 1. Fugue: Pesante 06:31
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 1. Fugue: Pesante
    Duration
    06:31
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  10. 10 No. 2. Toccata: Lento 05:04
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 2. Toccata: Lento
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    John Ireland
    Ensemble
    City of London Sinfonia
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox