Notes and Editorial Reviews
'[James MasMillan's] "Enigmatic variations on a zoological carnival at a Caledonian exhibition for organ and orchestra" (as the work's subtitle reads) was obviously stimulated by Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. His satire targets not only animals but humans as well, and another inspiration for the work was the great American animators who represented human characters in animal form. The suite portrays human archetypes and personalities MacMillan found in Scottish life. As the subtitle might reveal, another stimulus to the composer was Elgar's Enigma Variations. He even pokes fun at Mussorgsky's oft-repeated theme from Pictures at an Exhibition which connects up the various musical depictions of the paintings. The work is divided
Read more
into two major sections: the menagerie both caged and uncaged. Among the section titles: Her Serene and Ubiquitous Majesty: Queen Bee; Uncle Tom Cat and his Chickens; Scottish Patriots; Big Fish in a Small Pond.
The three-movement piano concerto is based on various Scottish folk dances. The first and longest movement has a desperate-sounding jig as a central element, and the final movement uses a repeated reel theme akin to the finale of Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. Marshall shines in some spectacular solo passages and the entire concerto is in a more directly accessible tonal world than that of the Bestiary. Chandos' sonics are state-of-the-art for 44.1K CDs today.'
- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Piano no 2 by James MacMillan
Performer:
Wayne Marshall (Piano)
Conductor:
James MacMillan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 2004; Scotland
2.
A Scotch Bestiary by James MacMillan
Performer:
Wayne Marshall (Organ)
Conductor:
James MacMillan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: Scotland
Sound Samples
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: The book is opened: Andante -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 1. Ode to a cro-magnon hyena: Adagio -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: A page is turned: Tempo I -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 2. Reptiles and Big Fish [in a small pond]: Largo - Andante - Largo - Andante - Tempo di valse [Allegro] - Andante - Largo -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 3. Her Serene and Ubiquitous Majesty, Queen Bee: Senza misura: Prestissimo possibile, sempre legatissimo - [ - ] - Adagio -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: Another page is turned: Tempo I -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 4. The red-handed, no-surrender, howler monkey: [ - ] - Tempo di marcia -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 5. Uncle Tom Cat and his Chickens: Adagio -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: Yet another page is turned: Tempo I -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 6. Scottish Patriots: [ - ] - [ - ] - Maestoso -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 7. The Reverend Cuckoo and his Parroting Chorus: [ - ] -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: No. 8. Jackass Hackass: Prestissimo possibile [moto perpetuo] -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, caged: The book is closed: Tempo I -
A Scotch Bestiary: The menagerie, uncaged
Piano Concerto No. 2: I. Cumnock fair: Fast
Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Shambards: quarter note = c. 60
Piano Concerto No. 2: III. Shamnation: Allegro [Tempo di reel]
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
