2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An extremely rewarding release, January 19, 2011
This review is from: The Incredible Walter Piston (Audio CD)
This record has recently been reissued by Naxos. I haven't heard the reissue and do not know if they have remastered it or anything - not that it would have been necessary; with respect to the recorded sound it may be a little "dark" and bass-heavy, but you have to be unreasonably nitpicky to complain. Anyway, this disc contains works from all periods of Piston's career although it is tilted towards the lighter repertoire (I am willing to claim that Piston was America's greatest symphonist but that is another story).
The Suite for Orchestra was Piston's first published work; it is rather Bartokian in character and contains lots of motoric rhythms and rather percussive sequences; a really enjoyable if hardly great work. Piston's flair for long-spun, elegiac melodies comes to the fore in the Fantasy for English horn, harp and strings - a haunting, beautifully atmospheric work. The Ballet suite to The Incredible Flutist is a colorful, tuneful and engaging affair, full of sparkling wit and energy. Clearly modeled on Stravinsky, this is still an individual, imaginative work strongly recommended to anyone who appreciates Stravinsky's ballets.
The Concerto for string quartet and orchestra is a gorgeous work, though exhibiting a slightly "resigned" character. It was Piston's last published orchestral work and a truly worthy swansong for a great composer. The Psalm and Prayer of David is a less individual or imaginative work, but worth hearing nonetheless, and not only for committed fans of the composer. The performances are spirited and colorful, full of sparkling wit and energy. Strongly recommended.
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