Paul Creston: Symphony No.3; Partita for Flute, Violin & Stings, Op. 12; Out of the Cradle; Invocation & Dance, Op. 58

Paul Creston (Composer), Gerard Schwarz (Conductor), Seattle Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Gerard Schwarz
• Composer: Paul Creston
• Audio CD (December 11, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B0000006Y1
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,232 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 3, 'Three Mysteries,' Op. 48: The Nativity

2. Symphony No. 3, 'Three Mysteries,' Op. 48: The Crucifixion

3. Symphony No. 3, 'Three Mysteries,' Op. 48: The Resurrection

4. Partita For Flute, Violin And Strings, Op. 12: Preamble

5. Partita For Flute, Violin And Strings, Op. 12: Sarabande

6. Partita For Flute, Violin And Strings, Op. 12: Burlesk

7. Partita For Flute, Violin And Strings, Op. 12: Air

8. Partita For Flute, Violin And Strings, Op. 12: Tarantella

9. Out Of The Cradle

10. Invocation And Dance, Op. 58

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Creston Sampler, March 5, 2001

By 

Eugene G. Barnes (Dunn Loring, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paul Creston: Symphony No.3; Partita for Flute, Violin & Stings, Op. 12; Out of the Cradle; Invocation & Dance, Op. 58 (Audio CD)

Here's a recording that predates the popular Naxos recording of Creston's first three symphonies. As this CD was successful enough to warrant a sequel (Delos' Orchestral Works, Volume II), we may suppose that it probably did much to make the Naxos recording possible. This CD and the Naxos have a symphony in common, Number Three (1950). Schwarz and the Seattle band don't have Naxos' somewhat more spacious Ukrainian acoustics, but they do have significantly more accurate playing (especially in the fast violin passage toward the end of the third movement), and I kind of prefer the slight emphasis of brass and winds from Seattle.

The present recording also gives us a sampling of some early Creston, the Partita, Op. 12 (1937), a five movement Baroque/Classical bow with plenty of fancy passages excellently played by Scott Goff and Ilkka Talvi. Not desert island fare by any means, but it does offer an important hint as to the solid foundation upon which Creston would soon build.

The tone poem "Out of the Cradle" shows us that rich palate of colors Creston had at his disposal and how he could weave them into a sumptuous tapestry of sound.

The CD ends with "Invocation and Dance," a work made popular by virtue of its being on the first offering of the groundbreaking Louisville Orchestra series of LPs in the early 50's. It's Creston's calling card, a rhythmic tour de force in the grand tradition of Ravel's and Stravinsky's exotic dance music. (Why, sometimes you feel just like you've fallen into a Ginastera or Chavez black hole.) By any measure, it's one of the most striking examples of its kind in American music, fully deserving of far wider play than it has ever received. The Delos recording provides more detail than the old Louisville mono LP (as fine as that was for its time!), and that means we get to hear all the interesting structures and devices that make the piece come together as well as its more obvious overall power and sweep. I would recommend this CD solely for this 13 minute unjustly neglected masterpiece (no collection of American music could be called complete without it), but of course it's great to have all the other pieces on it as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous recording of Creston's work, May 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Paul Creston: Symphony No.3; Partita for Flute, Violin & Stings, Op. 12; Out of the Cradle; Invocation & Dance, Op. 58 (Audio CD)

This CD introduced me to the work of Paul Creston. Creston is, perhaps, a quintessential American composer. Born into a poor family, he basically taught himself to become a composer, an organist, and a pianist.

His work did pay off, as is demonstrated by these works. Especially reccommended is his Symphony No. 3 "Three Mysteries". For anyone who loves American music, this CD is a must have.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly American composer, March 19, 2011

By 

William J. Coburn (Basking Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paul Creston: Symphony No.3; Partita for Flute, Violin & Stings, Op. 12; Out of the Cradle; Invocation & Dance, Op. 58 (Audio CD)

Paul Creston was one of the great American composers; unfortunately, the emergence of twelve tone and serial music led to his being sidelined. Even Samuel Barber was being denigrated by professors at the Julliard School in New York from the sixties to the eighties. The third symphony and the Invocation and Dance are sterling examples of Creston's flair for lively dance rhythms. Out of the Cradle is another fine example of his affinity for the writings of Walt Whitman.
Creston comes as close as possible to the American paradigm of the self-made man. He was forced to leave high school after his freshman year to work with his dad, a house painter, to support his family. Creston was persistent in educating himself in so many areas, not just in music. He was also the organist at the Actor's Chapel; he played very well.
This is a man to admire not only for his musical talent but also for his persistence in overcoming adversity. I have long enjoyed his music and respected the character of the man who composed it. I suspect you will too.