Customer Reviews

Howard Blake: Violin Concerto "The Leeds"

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What a beautiful violin concerto this is! Known as "The Leeds," because it was commissioned for the Leeds 1993 City Centenary Celebratory Year, it was given its premiere 6 February with Christiane Edinger, the violinist on this CD. This is not a showy concerto; it's soulful and moving in quite unexpected ways, and it plumbs depths I thought no mid-century composer would dare to. But Blake, born in 1938, does just this, and with a naturalness that silences criticism. The concerto is in three movements. The first, Allegro assai, times in at nearly twenty minutes; it builds quietly to an initial climax that is so glorious it will raise the hair on the back of your head. The violin then weaves in and out with the orchestra with this fabulous, unearthly, floating melody line that simply must be heard to be believed. Material is developed, drawing the listener in to the very core of the music, and then subsides and recapitulates in a grand coda. The second movement, Adagio (Calma), is a tad over seven minutes and is of such intense beauty that it absolutely brings tears to the eyes.... so ethereal and magical is Edinger's playing... it really does defy description. Yet, never is Blake's writing or Edinger's playing heart-on-the-sleeve. It's beauty and emotion simply distilled. The last movement, Allegro con brio, is a joyous, uplifting, spirit-renewing affair of five minutes plus, and the perfect conclusion to this wonderful concerto. In addition, ASV has included Blake's Suite for Strings (1986), called "A Month In The Country," and runs a moody twelve or so minutes. Again, it is music that is both beautiful and accessible (and originally commissioned as a film score). Its five movements, mostly slow, have titles such as "Idyll" and "Elegy." It's one of my favorite 20th Century works, although far too short for me. The last composition on the CD is the Sinfonietta (for ten brass instruments) of 1981, commissioned for the famous Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, in four movements running approximately fifteen minutes. Here is a more "modern" Blake or, dare I say, more "brassy?" However, although quite a contrast to the pieces before it, Blake still makes a statement that is tonally "centered" and never far from melody. The English Northern Philharmonia, under Paul Daniel, gives beautiful support to Edinger in the concerto and plays wonderfully throughout the other works. ASV has captured a nice, warm, broad sound, as well. A CD well worth acquiring, if for the "The Leeds," alone.

[Running time: 62:40]

I agree with the above reviewer. The music here is lovely, particularly of the violin concerto. The middle movement is very poignant, and forms a nice contrast with the outer movements (both of which have their own charm). It is all very much in the English tradition (echoes of violin works by Vaughn Williams and Dyson). The other pieces are also nice.