Customer Reviews

Ives: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

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Symphony 2 with its varied musical quotations ranging from "Turkey in the Straw" to "Tristan und Isolde" is probably Ives' most famous, and most recorded, work.

It is hard to go up against Bernstein's "sampler" CD on DG which includes Symphony 2, together with a number of shorter works, but Tilson-Thomas has inherited the Ives torch from Bernstein, and acquits himself well on Symphony 2.

In some sense, then, the main interest in this disk is the less often recorded Symphony 3. Ives' Third Symphony, while incorporating thematic material from 19th century American hymns, lacks the "in-your-face" Americana of the Second Symphony, and could be regarded as a transitional composition toward Ives' later more abstract and dissonant work.

Tilson-Thomas has another recording of the Third Symphony, but it is paired with what is, to my mind at least, less interesting orchestral material than the Second Symphony. This pairing, then, makes this disk a winner.

This was the very first recording that introduced me to the music of Charlie Ives, and I still believe it's great! There is no better way to introduce youself to this incredibly original American composer. Both of these works are instantly accessible, especially when you compare them with his latter style. The No. 2 is actually better than Bernstein's 1990 DG account, which to many sets the standard for all the rest. The performance comes very close, but the sound quality of the Tilson Thomas has so much more body in the bass and also a more detailed treble. The No. 3 is better than average, but not as good as Sinclair's excellent Naxos version, which is also a great buy.