Notes and Editorial Reviews
During his time William Schuman (1910?1992) was a notable part of American musical life, as a teacher, administrator, and composer. His legacy of musical compositions is significant and distinctive, and this release couples two striking examples of his art.
Symphony No. 7, premiered by Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony in 1960, is in four movements played continuously, beginning with a pregnant, sinewy, and dark, slow movement that is succeeded by a brief Scherzo that is typically pugnacious and characteristically scored, not least in the percussion. The slow mood returns for a radiant
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style="font-style:italic">Cantabile intensamente
that grows in emotion, and the symphony concludes with a propulsive finale that begins skittishly (reminding us of Copland and developing an exuberance that suggests Leonard Bernstein) and ends in thrilling clamor. Whether this lively movement is quite the expected corollary to what has gone before is a moot point, although there is no doubting the sheer quality of the music, and the uplift of the final measures.
Symphony No. 10, ?American Muse,? was first heard in Washington, DC, in 1976, Antal Dorati conducting the National Symphony Orchestra. Leonard Slatkin and the Chicago Symphony then took it up, and Slatkin recorded
American Muse
, dedicated ?to the country?s creative artists, past, present and future,? and other works of Schuman, for RCA with the Saint Louis Symphony in either 1991 or 1992 (RCA?s booklet doesn?t specify what was recorded when). It?s a great piece, the last of Schuman?s 10 symphonies (the first two were withdrawn by the composer), a vindication of writing
real
symphonic music, and begins with a sustained, brass dominated
Con fuoco
that is a virtuoso display of considerable import; a tidal wave of communication. The lengthy
Larghissimo
that follows is hauntingly beautiful, very personal, even private, but it steals to the listener?s heart, and the finale, having begun in exploratory fashion, is an optimistic summation.
Both Slatkin and Gerard Schwarz are deeply sympathetic conductors of Schuman?s music, but I imagine Slatkin?s version of ?American Muse? is now deleted. Schwarz?s leading of both symphonies is excellent; so, too, the sound quality; and the music is superb. With Schuman 4 and 9 already released from Seattle, one hopes the other four symphonies will follow. Very important.
FANFARE: Colin Anderson
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Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 7 by William Schuman
Conductor:
Gerard Schwarz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1960; USA
Date of Recording: 11/2003
Venue: Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Washington
Length: 28 Minutes 57 Secs.
2.
Symphony no 10 "American Muse" by William Schuman
Conductor:
Gerard Schwarz
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1975
Date of Recording: 09/2004
Venue: Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Washington
Length: 31 Minutes 51 Secs.
Sound Samples
Symphony No. 7: I. Largo assai -
Symphony No. 7: II. Vigoroso -
Symphony No. 7: III. Cantabile intensamente -
Symphony No. 7: IV. Scherzando brioso
Symphony No. 10, "American Muse": I. Con fuoco
Symphony No. 10, "American Muse": II. Larghissimo
Symphony No. 10, "American Muse": III. Presto - Andantino - Leggiero - Pesante - Presto possible
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