Howard Hanson: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6; Fantasy Variations on a Theme of Youth

Schwartz New York Chamber Symphony (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 11, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B0000006XE
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #223,984 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 3: Symphony No. 3: Andante lamentando-agitato

2. Symphony No. 3: Symphony No. 3: Andante tranquillo

3. Symphony No. 3: Symphony No. 3: Tempo scherzando

4. Symphony No. 3: Symphony No. 3: Largamente e pesante

5. Fantasy Variations On A Theme Of Youth

6. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Andante

7. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Allegro scherzando

8. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Adagio

9. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Allegro assai

10. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Adagio

11. Symphony No. 6: Symphony No. 6: Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and heartfelt, July 10, 2000

By A Customer

This is my first listen to these works conducted by Schwarz, and if this is any indication, his cycle of Hanson symphonies is masterful.

The Third is a wonderful work, deeply thoughtful and felt, and technically sophisticated. And that is how Schwarz presents it. In its elegant turn of phrase, the lush string sound, the polished brass and wind, the performance summons a lavish sound-picture that enraptures the listener without it turning into a sentimental wallow. This is the interpretative challenge of the symphony and Schwarz meets it in a way much like that of Koussevitzky whose recording is also available. Hanson's own reading is out on Mercury, straightforward, beautifully played, with composer's insight. All three performances are extraordinary, and the serious listener should have all three.

Schwarz is more out-on-his-own in the Sixth, the only other offering having been a stopgap effort by Landau and the Westerchester County SO. In many ways, the Sixth is Hanson's greatest work with its subtly subdivided movements, its masterful orchestration, its emotive power. Schwarz gets most of it, but hangs around a little too long in the slow movement where things start to sag a bit and a few winds seem near running out of breath. But it is scrupulously prepared, conducted and played with great dedication and commitment which encourages you to listen in the same spirit. In that is the highest praise one can lavish on interpreters, something I feel Schwarz and his Seattle players have come up a bit short on in the criticial media of late.

This lovely and powerful disk is one you'll take heart in from your first listen and will make an even greater impression when considered in supplement to Koussey and the composer in the Third. For here we may be listening to the passing of Hanson the symphonist from the purely American into the international pantheon of composers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Hanson, April 10, 2009

By	Charles Stubbert "Purplefred" (Waterville, Maine) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hanson's music is now getting the attention that it deserves after being largely ignored for most of his life. This is a great album showcasing some of his best works, especially the beautiful Symphony No. 3, which he wrote while vacationing on Bold Island off the coast of Maine.

Hanson's romantic style was not in vogue with the music critics during the period when he composed most of his music, thus not much was recorded until recently. The Seattle Symphony and Gerard Schwartz have recorded a number of Hanson's works and I highly recommend them.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant performance of a disappointing work, April 18, 2007

By	Steerforth (Sussex) - See all my reviews

Full marks to everyone involved in this recording. The Seattle SO pack a powerful punch in and the recording is of demonstration quality. The only disappointment is the actual music. Hanson has been called the American Sibelius and whilst he has clearly been influenced by the Finnish master in his orchestration, the actual process of composition is completely different. Sibelius writes real symphonies with a strong internal logic that binds the material together and they bear repeated listening. Hanson's symphonies feels more like film music. Some of it is very attractive, but the result is more a succession of themes and variations than a true symphony.

I first heard Hanson's 3rd Symphony ten years ago and hadn't it heard again until yesterday. In spite of this I remembered several themes because the music was so based on the repetition of a few themes rather than any genuine development. The first movement is quite enjoyable, although the second subject outstays its welcome. After that it is downhill all the way, unless you like really schmaltzy slow movements.

The rest of the CD is perfectly fine but is quite forgetable. If you haven't heard Hanson before the best work to listen to is probably the 4th Symphony, which is arguably his masterpiece. This feels like a real symphony rather than an impression of one.