John Marsh: Five Symphonies

Description

John Marsh Syms

The Chichester Concert
Ian Graham-Jones

Catalogue Number: ALC 1017

“[L]ocal enterprise, to be sure, but one which deserves nationwide or indeed international dissemination…. John Marsh …spent 40 years of his life at Chichester in Sussex… The five symphonies were written between about 1770 and 1788. The spirit of Handel is apparent, as is the influence of J. C. Bach … But Marsh was more than a mere provincial amateur. His work has strength and a very pleasant, engaging and individual personality, the quality of invention is high, and the craftsmanship is skilled, steady and secure…. Marsh deserves much more than local posthumous esteem, for there were contemporary composers of international fame who wrote much less appealing music than here…. The Chichester Concert, on copies of 18th-century instruments, are an accomplished group, and Ian Graham-Jones directs stylish, lively performances. The players are recorded in an attractive, quite spacious acoustic and the quality is first rate.” — Gramophone

• [1-3] Symphony No.1 in Bb Major
• [1] Allegro (4:23)
• [2] Andante (3:11)
• [3] Allegro (2:38)

• [4-6] Symphony No.3 in D Major
• [4] Allegro (4:07)
• [5] Andante (2:35)
• [6] Presto (2:29)

• [7-9] Symphony No.4 in F Major
• [7] Allegro (4:10)
• [8] Larghetto (4:01)
• [9] Minuetto (3:08)

• [10-13] Symphony No.6 in D Major
• [10] Largo maestoso–Allegro spiritoso (6:34)
• [11] Andante (5:38)
• [12] Minuetto (3:45)
• [13] Allegro scherzando (4:09)

• [14-16] Conversation Symphonie for Two Orchestras
• [14] Allegro maestoso (7:00)
• [15] Andante–Adagio (2:30)
• [16] Allegretto (3:53)

All symphonies edited Ian Graham-Jones except No.1, ed. Brian Robins
Rec: Chichester July 1989
Producer: Jackie Warrender; Associate Producer: Arthur J. Cook
Recording Engineer: Antony Howell,
Licensed from Francis A. Wilson
Mastered for alto by Paul Arden Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)