Meredith Willson: Symphony No. 1 in F minor; Symphony No. 2 in E minor

Meredith Willson (Composer), William T. Stromberg (Conductor), Moscow State Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: William T. Stromberg
• Composer: Meredith Willson
• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos American
• ASIN: B000026CWP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,795 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two First Rate Symphonies, November 16, 2001

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D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meredith Willson: Symphony No. 1 in F minor; Symphony No. 2 in E minor (Audio CD)

Meredith Willson had an impressive musical background. He attended the Julliard School (then known as the Damrosh Institute) where he studied flute and piccolo. He played in the John Phillip Sousa's band and the New York Philharmonic under Arturo Toscanini. He co-wrote the score for The Great Dictator with Charlie Chaplin and was the musical director for the Armed Forces Radio Services during the Second World War. He is better known for writing The Music Man and the Christmas song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."

Willson's two symphonies were written in 1936 and 1940 respectively and celebrate his favorite places: San Francisco and the missions of California. The symphonies have their first recording by Naxos for their American Classics series. Although the playing is a bit rough at times, the orchestra approaches the symphonies with a lot of spirit, and overall the results are impressive. The music tends to be like Howard Hanson and Paul Creston in style and will not disappoint anyone who is familiar with either composer. I can say that I not only have this recording but also give it as a gift.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More to Willson than Harold Hill!, October 19, 1999

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F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meredith Willson: Symphony No. 1 in F minor; Symphony No. 2 in E minor (Audio CD)

Yes, I didn't know either that Meredith Wilson had turned to the Symphonic Format, albeit with a 20th century spin, as well has having turned out "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and the unique "The Music Man." But then again only a superb composer could have given us that last score. So right away, this Naxos offering has its interesting side. His <Symphony No. 1> is subtitled "A Symphony of San Francisco" and does not quite do for that city in four movements what Gershwin did for Paris or Coates and Vaughan Williams for London; but the feeling is there, although without knowing the "program," one would never guess it. <Symphony No. 2> is more melodic, as one would anticipate from its subtitle, "The Missions of California>. Although I feel this material would better have been handled in a non-symphonic Respighian way, it is just fine on its own terms. Having no other versions with which to compare, I sense that the Moscow Symphony Orchestra is not quite the group for the first offering, but perfectly adequate for the second. Still in all, an unusual Naxos presentation and most welcome.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great discovery in American music, April 6, 2001

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cruisewhiz "cruisewhiz" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meredith Willson: Symphony No. 1 in F minor; Symphony No. 2 in E minor (Audio CD)

I ordered this CD without any information but also without hesitation. I have listened several times and it is music I am going to enjoy for many years. I love the idea of programme music in areas that we all know and love. Bravo to Naxos and the Moscow Symphony (to typical that an American Symphony Orchestra hasn't found it) in delivering new discoveries to us....especially those of us in the USA Craig