A Portrait Album by Virgil Thomson

Another offering by Paul Jacobs along with the great talents of Joseph Silverstein and the America Brass Quintet. From one of the earliest digital recordings by Nonesuch (1982), here is a collection of "portraits" by Virgil Thomson.

Though I would not consider Virgil Thomson among the top tier of American composers, he did write some interesting music in operatic, orchestral and instrumental forms. Throughout much of his life, Thomson enjoyed making "gifts" of his music, in the form of rather short miniatures that he termed "portraits." In these portraits, the composer sought to capture the spirit and essence of an individual. Most were either close friends of Thomson or trusted colleagues from throughout the world of art, music and literature. These portraits would range in scope of under a minute to up to 5 minutes or more. This is personal music of Thomson, not meant for an extensive general audience but again, as a personalized and most often intimate and heartfelt gift.

These are delightful pieces, not at all overly intellectual or over the top. The hard thing about performing them is capturing the feeling that Thomson had when composing them. Being a "gift" there is emotion involved and for a third party to feel what the giver had in mind is a very difficult task. Fortunately with these artists, their musicianship and intuitive sense serve greatly to render a satisfying and enjoyable program.  Jacobs is indeed masterful in music which was his specialty but I believe that Joseph Silverstein is the real  master here. What a great musician he is, so versatile and levelheaded! Truly excellent violin playing here, warm and sensitive.

Something different here to enjoy and treasure for the artistic committment by the performers.


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Music from Columbia's Modern American Music Series

During the  1950's and 60's, Goddard Lieberson, Columbia Records longtime president, fostered a great project in which he knew little would be made back in actual sales. Columbia was awash in dollars, thanks to such well recorded, and selling, artists as Ormandy, Walter and Szell on the classical side and therefore could afford to indulge in a pet project by this sometime composer and well, recording visionary. Thus was born the "modern American Music Series, " a chronicle of the development of American classical composition from roughly the 1920's through the present era.

This particular issue, ML4987, is both an enterprising and entertaining one. First off, The Juilliard Quartet presents a convincing performance of Virgil Thomson's Quartet No 2. Admittedly, Thomson had, I think, a bit of a habit of taking ideas and using them over and over again in his compositions. One can at times hear phrases from "The River" or his "Symphony on a Hymn Tune" but no bother, when played by a crack ensemble like the Juilliard, the results are pure pleasure for the ear. The folksy tunes and strong tonal writing lend this quartet a certain freshness. Obvious to the listener is the enjoyment that the music brings to the excellent Juilliard quartet.

William Schuman, on the other hand, is far more probing and intellectual and I am delighted to have made the aquaintance of  his Voyage. If you know Schuman primarily by his orchestral works, this piano set will captivate because it presents an intimate side of Schuman that was not easily captured in his larger scale compositions. Esteemed pianist Beveridge Webster proves the ideal guide as he was a highly gifted interpreter of 20th century piano music. On this blog you will find Webster performing a marvelous recital of piano works by Stravinsky of which he was a noted interpreter.

I have some other lps of this series in the works, notably Carlos Surinach leading a performance of Antheil's Ballet Mechanique. I'll get to these down the road. As you know, I am rather "random" in my approach so as to keep you all constantly guessing! I will say that more Simon Barere is close at hand...

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