Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 4; Suite from Merry Mount; Lament for Beowulf

Schwartz Seattle Symphony (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 5, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B0000006XR
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,852 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, 'Requiem': Kyrie (Andante inquieto)

2. Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, 'Requiem': Requiescat (Largo)

3. Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, 'Requiem': Dies irae (Presto)

4. Symphony No. 4, Op. 34, 'Requiem': Lux aeterna (Largo pastorale)

5. Serenade For Flute, Harp And Strings, Op. 35

6. The Lament For Beowulf, Op. 25

7. Pastorale For Oboe, Harp And Strings, Op. 38

8. Suite From The Opera 'Merry Mount,' Op. 31: Overture (Lento)

9. Suite From The Opera 'Merry Mount,' Op. 31: Children's Dance (Allegro molto)

10. Suite From The Opera 'Merry Mount,' Op. 31: Love Duet (Largamente, molto espressivo)

11. Suite From The Opera 'Merry Mount,' Op. 31: Prelude To Act II And Maypole Dances (Allegro grazioso; Piu animato; Allegro molto)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Gerard Schwarz handles this music as if born to it, although the music of Howard Hanson does tend to play itself once it gets going. The works on these discs are three of Howard Hanson's masterpieces, especially his Symphony 4, his Requiem Symphony. It is stately, moderated, and unabashedly romantic. It may be Hanson's best symphony. "The Lament for Beowulf" is a choral tone-poem based on the famous English epic. The suite from the opera Merry Mount shows Hanson being at once playful and somber. This music is very user-friendly and is about as conservative as you can get. Recommended. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beowulf -- a major and overlooked choral work, August 30, 2003

By	Jenny Hanniver "medieval_student" (Philadelphia, PA, United States) - See all my reviews

I've directed choirs in three large churches, and have considerable acquaintance with choral music, ancient to avant-garde. I discovered "Lament for Beowulf" on an LP (I'll buy anything "modern" and have seldom been disappointed). The first time I heard it, I swear my hair stood on end! I've since replaced the LP with this CD, which has much better sound quality and staying quality.

I suppose "Beowulf" hits me from two directions -- the deliberate primitive power of the chant-like themes and the use of a Medieval text of equal passion. Buy this album for a solid performance of one of Hanson's better symphonies, the Fourth (not equal, however, to the lush Second) and the cleverly-written and well-directed "Merrymount Suite" -- but do yourself a favor and listen first to "Beowulf."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching memorial, November 28, 2000

By	Michael S.Winningham (Bangor, Maine United States) - See all my reviews

This CD is unique for many reasons. One is that it is by a somewhat lesser known American composer, and because it is a piece of superb beauty and lyric background. The Seattle Symphony does a beautiful job of making the orchestral colors of this work come alive. Perhaps the most touching part of this work is the Kyrie of the 4th movement. Hanson wrote the music as a memorial to his dead father. It is a movement that contains more feeling and passion than any other of his symphonies. This cd is truly a great find.

5.0 out of 5 stars Neglected American Masterpieces, May 29, 2009

By	Music Is Everything "Music Is Everything" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

The first half of the twentieth century was a chaotic time for orchestras. Competition from radio and television was fierce, and the avante garde school of composition was good at getting headlines and bad at selling tickets. Orchestras made a hard shift toward "standard" repertoire, and the greatest casualty of this shift was the neo-Romantic American school of composers: Hanson, Diamond, Piston, Creston, Mennin and Schuman. Only Copland was able to reach commercial success in those days.

This is a modern Romantic music that is, in every way, approachable and utterly human. Howard Hanson's works are among the most accessible within this group. His orchestration was the predecessor of the modern film score sound. Here we find his Fourth Symphony, written in memory of his father and flowing in gorgeous harmonies and thoughtful reflection, followed by two lesser known works--Lament for Beowulf and the Merry Mount Suite. Another reviewer here says plenty about Beowulf, so I'll leave that for her, as she's right on the money.

Merry Mount was Hanson's stab at the quintessential American Opera--a title which was probably won by Porgy & Bess. The complete opera is excellent and also available in recording by Seattle & Schwarz, but the suite is an excellent concert hall work--colorful, exciting, and complex.

The Seattle Symphony plays everything excellently here, and Schwarz clearly has an affinity for this music. All things considered, this series of recordings by Seattle & Schwarz is probably the most significant development in Classical recording in the 1990s, as they successfully uncovered an overlooked and highly worthwhile niche of the repertoire. Only one minor criticism: The recording level for the entire series is rather low, so you have to turn the volume up a bit, but no harm done. Enjoy.