Customer Reviews

English String Miniatures

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I admit I was not familiar with any of these works, however I love English music for strings (Elgar, Britten, Parry, Bridge, etc), so when I saw this new release from Naxos, which has already issued two previous winning discs of English string music, this was a must have.

This volume exceeded my expectations. The string section of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia performs beautifully under the very capable direction of David Lloyd-Jones (who has given us several excellent disc on Naxos, including works by Bax, Bliss, Holst, and Delius).

As for the selections, they may be classified as miniatures but they are all full of delightful melodies and wonderful invention. For example, John Rutter, best known for his choral works, provides us with a wonderful four movement suite of folksong settings. Each movement is a delight and the rest of the works are in a similar style.

Another wonderful release from Naxos which is quickly becoming a champion of the British catalog.

The further Naxos recordings stray from the standard repertory, the better they get. Seldom have I heard more ravishing music to open a "light" program than John Rutter's "Suite" of four English folk songs that starts <English String Miniatures> (8.554186). In this wonderful offering, David Lloyd-Jones leads the Royal Ballet Sinfonia in short pieces by British composers who never quite attained the worldwide reputations of Elgar or Britten but have contented themselves to aim perhaps not always as high but to delight even more. (Some of Gibb's symphonies and songs are available on Naxos and Marco Polo labels.)

So while names such as Orr, Melachrino, Dodd, Gibbs, Cordell, Lyon, Douglas, and Lane might not enjoy high recognition as some of their compatriots, you will enjoy selections from their outputs nonetheless and feel as I do to seek out other works by some of these artists.

Those who want some classical music to relax by won't go wrong with this bargain-priced album. The music is tonal, beautifully scored and played, and quintessentially English, much of it being based on English folk music. John Rutter's Suite that opens the disc is one of the highlights but there really isn't a dud in the bunch. Listeners who like the lighter work of Vaughan Williams, say, "Rhosymedre" or "Fantasia on Greensleeves," will find this disc a great alternative to familiar repertory.

This CD ranges from the light and playful to the hauntingly beautiful to more modern clashes. It's a delightful collection of whimsy and restfulness. My personal favorites are John Rutter's, whose music I have heard and loved before, but all the pieces are interesting. Some of the pieces, such as some of Gibbs', are more classical sounding, but they are all quite modern and lovely pieces.

As the other reviews have written, these pieces are wonderful for listening and well represent, among these shorter works, the variety and beauty of 20th century English music. I've purchased all six in this Naxos series and love them all.