Douglas Bostock – Alto CD

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) Symphony in A min/ Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“(His) Symphony is a very likeable discovery. Both middle movements display a disarming melodic felicity and assurance, and admiring glances towards Dvořák, although Stanford (his teacher) was never happy with the finale. It was first played by RCM students in 1896 (including Holst and Vaughan Williams !). Although it went down well, it gathered dust for over a century. Bostock’s alert and affectionate lead enjoy making its acquaintance … crisp and clear sound for this world premiere recording. In every respect, a solid thumbs-up” [Gramophone] “The much-loved Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast recalls the extraordinary excitement of its first performance. Coleridge-Taylor was then 23 and the work an immediate and wild success. Parry suggested that because of the composer’s West African father, “he loved plenty of sound, plenty of colour, simple and definite rhythms and, above all, plenty of tune”. All these qualities kept it popular, and are admirably captured here: the Philharmonia provide the orchestral colour, and Sir Malcolm keeps the admirable Royal Choral Society on their rhythmic toes. Richard Lewis gives a suitably romantic Onaway! Awake, beloved ! Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast has been done proud in every way” [Gramophone]

Symphony in A minor, Op.8 (1896) [36:23]

[1] I. Allegro appassionato 11.26

[2] II. Lament: Larghetto affettuoso 7.26

[3] III. Scherzo: Allegro ma non troppo 7.21

[4] IV. Allegro maestoso ed energico 10.09

Aarhus Symphony Orchestra / Douglas Bostock (2006)

Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, Op.30 No.1 (1898) [31:36]

[5] You shall hear how Pau-Puk-Keewis 6.49

[6] Then the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis 1.53

[7] He was dress’d in shirt of doe-skin 2.24

[8] First he danc’d a solemn measure 3.23

[9] Then said they to Chibiabos 2.52

[10] Onaway! Awake, beloved* 5.36

[11] Thus the gentle Chibiabos 1.31

[12] Very boastful was Iagoo 5.18

[13] Such was Hiawatha’s wedding 1.42

Royal Choral Society / Philharmonia Orchestra / Malcolm Sargent

Richard Lewis (tenor)* (1962)

Malcolm Arnold Symphony No.5; Belles of St.Trinian’s, Divertimento No.2, Machines etc

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:18 +0000

“exciting reading of Arnold’s finest symphony from unexpected sources, coupled with enchanting CD debutants … The 5th is a marvellous symphony, perhaps his greatest – powerfully argued, confidently structured, and full of memorable invention. It is good to see it so well played and recorded in Munich, guided by Douglas Bostock who comes into his own in four extra works, which are all first recordings. Divertimento- a splendidly characterful triptych; there is much outrageous fun in the St Trinian’s score – bursting with irreverent ideas and effects; and the lovely, nostalgic ‘Sarabande’ of Solitaire (one of his most touching tunes).”(Gramophone)

Symphony No.5, Op.74 [29:55]

1. I. Tempestuoso 9:21 2. II. Andante con moto 9:05

3. III. Con fuoco 4:54 4. IV. Risoluto 6:33

Divertimento No.2, Op.75 [9:03] world premiere recording

5. I. Fanfare: Allegro 2:13 6. II. Nocturne: Lento 3:12

7. III. Chaconne: Allegro con spirito 3:37

8. Symphonic Study: Machines [6:34] world premiere recording

Solitaire (excerpts from the ballet) [5:48]

9. Sarabande 3:55 10. Polka 1:53

Homage to the Queen (ballet excerpts) [9:21]

11. Prelude & Opening Scene 4:39 12. Dance of the Insects 1:07

13. Fire Dance 1:08 14. Finale 2:26

Little Suite No.2, Op.78 [8:36]

15. I. Overture: Allegro moderato 2:58 16. II. Ballad: Andantino 3:30

17. III. Dance: Vivace 2:07

The Belles of St. Trinians – Comedy Suite [8:33]

world premiere recording

18. I. Prelude: Allegro 1:37 19. II. Train to Trinians: Allegro brillante 1:41

20. III. Flash and Miss Fritton: Andante moderato 2:03

21. IV. Races and Games (Tribal Warfare): Allegro 1:59

22. V. Finale: Allegro 1:10

Elgar: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; Polonia Crown of India; Civic Fanfare

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“(Concerto): Hickox unfurls the opening tutti richly, nobley, purposefully … no lack of brilliance, the fireworks are dashingly, tastefully despatched … sudden flashes of Paganinian dazzle”
(others): “The slow movement of the Piano Concerto … with a sympathetic performance from Margaret Fingerhut. Douglas Bostock is persuasive with his Elgarian rubato, which is what matters most.” (Gramophone)
“Polonia is to my mind, one of the finest works Elgar wrote … The nail-biting martial music mixes with spine-tingling Polish themes to reach a gloriously romantic and bombastic conclusion … a splendid reading by Bostock. The disc receives one of Classico’s best recordings to date with painstaking preparation in evidence throughout as his Munich players play with true commitment and dedication” (MusicWeb)

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61 (1910) [46:47]

[1] I. Allegro 16:53

[2] II. Andante 11:36

[3] III. Allegro molto 18:17

[4] Piano Concerto, Op.90 (slow mvt) (transcr. P.Young 1956) 6:06

(Margaret Fingerhut, piano)

[5] Polonia, Op.76 (Symphonic Prelude) 1915 12:47

The Crown of India Op.66 (exc) 1912:

[6] March 4:26

[7] Hail Immemorial Ind ! 6:33

(Mette Christina Ostergaard, mezzo)

[8] Civic Fanfare (Hereford, Three Choirs Festival, 1927) 1:22

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:13 +0000

“Jolly Cotswolds Symphony… shows the Holstian flair for colourful orchestration and has folksy influence….Scherzo an attractive dance rhythm…..and finale a striking tune in 6/4…in the Perfect Fool we hear the composer at his most inspired …and like the whole programme, it is most vividly played and recorded… remarkable how well this fine Munich orchestra takes to English music” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Symphony in F major, Op.8 “The Cotswolds”

[1] I. Allegro con brio 3:56
[2] II. Elegy (In Memoriam William Morris) Molto adagio 9:59
[3] III. Scherzo: Presto. Allegretto 5:58
[4] IV Finale: Allegro moderato 7:27
[5] Walt Whitman Overture, Op.7 7:35

A Hampshire Suite, Op.28, No.2 (arr. Jacobs)

[6] I. March: Allegro 4:59
[7] II. Song Without Words: I’ll Love My Love (Andante) 2:21
[8] III. Song of the Blacksmith: Moderato e maestoso 1:22
[9] IV. Fantasia on the Dargason: Allegro moderato 3:19

The Perfect Fool Ballet Music, Op.39

[10] Andante 0:57
[11] Dance of Spirits of Earth: Moderato 4:00
[12] Dance of Spirits of Water: Allegretto 3:36
[13] Dance of Spirits of Fire: Allegro moderato 3:32
[14] Scherzo for orchestra (from an unfinished symphony) 5:55