Search - John Knowles Paine, Zubin Mehta, New York Philharmonic :: John Knowles Paine: Overture to Shakespeare's As You Like It, Op. 28; Symphony No. 1

A neglected American genius

Stephen Shotwell | Belmont CA | 06/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Classical music fans -- please don't miss out on this recording. You will find it an astonishing and delightful discovery. John Knowles Paine must be the most undeservedly neglected of composers. Every work of his I find is a real find!



The youthful c minor symphony is enjoyable throughout. The intriguing first movement sounds like Beethoven, but with quirks (and therefore is flawed in a way that Beethoven never is. A more masterful c minor movement is Paine's overture to Oedipus Tyrranus.) The following movements are more evocative of Schumann.



The Overture to As You Like It is the real gem here. Following the slow romantic opening is a movement in dotted 6/8 meter that is so bursting with energetic joy that I am hard-pressed to describe it. Think of Beethoven or Verdi during heights of unbuttoned happiness. The movement never just rides along on a good idea, but is inspired from beginning to end. I still cannot get over what happens in the development section, and the coda is magnificent also. On the first day of discovering this you won't sleep at night, but you will want to run outside and praise the skies.



Please be sure also to get the recording of Paine's superior second symphony."

Astonishing

ira saposnik | nashville, TN United States | 08/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is probably essential that you become familiar with John Knowles Paine. I have a good music education, and had never heard of him until I happened to catch this piece on digital cable. I thought it was Brahms/Beethoven/Mahler, a mix...could not quite make it out. But you should listen to what an American wrote that is basically unknown. i think you will be surprised positively."

Paine- a hidden genius and American!

Brian Hanson | Covington, Louisiana | 11/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An American genius who was born in Maine and lived around the the time of Brahms. His music is pretty much neglected around the world even though its genius is unparallel. I find Paine's music a mix of Brahm's sophistication and Thaickovsky's melodic genius which is quite a great sound. I also love the fact that he is a born American."