I've revisited one of my first transfers, one that did not come out all that well and deserved a second chance. Here is Horatio Parker's epic cantata-oratorio Hora Novissima.
Horatio Parker was Charles Ives' principal composition teacher at Yale. Parker himself had been a student of the influential John Knowles Paine and clearly, Parker was very heavily influenced by Paine's Mass in D and epic oratorio St Peter. Parker and Paine's music is deeply conservative, Germanic in leaning, and very much in debt to Mendelssohn and Schubert. Small wonder that Ives' wayward ventures with tonality and harmonics clearly left Parker perplexed and, probably downright shaken!
Hora Novissima is a grand work and deserves a first rate performance from time to time. A good number of years ago, Gunther Schuller recorded for New World Records a magnificent Mass in D by Paine; too bad he couldn't do the same for Hora Novissima. Schuller's intelligence, talent, and inspiration would yield a truly memorable result.
The offering here conducted by William Strickland in Vienna during the early 50's is more then adequate though it is obvious at times that this unfamiliar work poses challenges for the performers. One gripe that I have is the overall operatic quality given the vocal work here. The choral writing calls for a more somber, less mannered approach, I think.
The filler on side 4 of this set is Norman Dello Joio's Serenade. This is an extremely odd coupling, what with Hora Novissima being written in 1893 and Serenade over 50 years later and, for a different purpose and venue in mind. That said, the venerable Hans Swarowsky leads the VSO in a beautiful reading of a truly gorgeous composition. I'm convinced that you, the listener, will find this piece a true gem.
One note: the Dello Joio appears recorded in true stereo while the Parker is electronically enhanced. Go figure!
DOWNLOAD MUSIC
DOWNLOAD PROGRAM NOTES
