Search - Percy Grainger, Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra :: In a Nutshell

Wayward Genius

M. C. Passarella | Lawrenceville, GA | 08/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What to make of Percy G. and his music? Actually, the man--piano virtuoso, maker of innovative musical instruments, ethnomusicologist, racist, anti-Semite, alleged sado-masochist--is more interesting to many people than is the music. And the music has just as much of a split personality as the man. The fascinating ballet "The Warriors" is surely more wildly Stravinskian in its use of polyrhythms and emphasis on the percussion section than any other music coming out of England when it was written (1916). Listen to the first movement of "In a Nutshell" from the same year, and you think that this must be the most perfect evocation of the sound of a gamelan orchestra by a Western composer: a fascinating bit of musical orientalism in the vein of Debussy, anticipating the Britten of "Prince of the Pagodas" by four decades or so. But stay tuned for the next movement, and you're in an Edwardian music hall. And we never do get back to the amazing mood of that forward-looking first movement.



There is the visionary "Train Music" (1901) written when Grainger was only 18. Then again, there is Grainger's greatest hit, the orchestral arrangement of his much earlier piano arrangement of "Country Gardens," a lollipop of a work he came to despise.



Probably the most successful music on this disc is "Lincolnshire Posy," a classic suite for military band given its premiere, of all places, in Milwaukee. It's a fine work in the tradition of Gustav Holst's wonderful band suites. But somehow, the regularity of this work doesn't hint at the wayward genius that Grainger evinces in the other large works on this CD.



Rattle and his band take Grainger very seriously, which you need to do in order to produce convincing results. And Grainger would be easy to patronize, but Rattle doesn't do that. Instead, he concentrates on capturing the extraordinary sense of orchestral color Grainger had. He's supported by the bright, wide-ranging sound that always seems to emerge from Birmingham's Symphony Hall. A fascinating disc that, I see, is no longer available from EMI. We can only hope they'll reissue it soon on their budget label."

Exceptional Grainger

Ralphus | Goyang, Gynggi-Do Korea (South) | 04/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an exceptional disc featuring an interesting selection of Grainger's distinctive, idiosyncratic music.



It's particularly wonderful to hear an orchestral wind section playing "Lincolnshire Posy", a work which is usually the domain of concert bands. In fact, it's an outright classic of the band repertoire and is loved by band musicians and conductors the world over. And rightly so; it's magnificent music. I have to disagree with the more negative of the two other reviewers here. Rattle's performance is vivid and far from dull. Band musicians are very protective of their Grainger. I think orchestral wind players will bring a different perspective to this kind of music. Let's face it, these are seasoned classical musicians. Emphasis on CLASSICAL. And this IS music written in the Western classical tradition, regardless of ensemble (and admittedly, Grainger's very unique approach). As a result (and I don't intend to be disrespectful or condescending of bands--I was a band saxophonist for many years and played in several fine ensembles) this performance doesn't have that 'bandy' sound that most will associate with this piece. Having said that, I think the Birmingham winds DO play idiomatically; listen to that gallumphing baritone sax, for example: just as Grainger wanted it. Grainger's harmonic, textural and orchestrational quirks are really emphasised here to great effect. Rattle plays up every suspension and harmonic twist and turn, wringing them to maximum effect. It works well and helps give the listener a clue to this misunderstood genius's true uniqueness and compositional mastery. I think I've opened a can of worms here. I reiterate, I don't at all mean to diminish the qualities, abilities, of band musicians.



A bonus on this disc is Grainger's orchestrations of Ravel's "La Valle des cloches" and Debussy's "Pagodes". He brings his wonderful orchestration to bear extremely effectively in these pieces. His use of percussion, as is often noted, is very very effective and atmospheric.



A fine disc and a perfect introduction to Grainger for people who may only know "Country Gardens" or "Irish Tune from County Derry".



Unfortunately, as often seems the case with EMI, they haven't supported this release beyond an initial pressing. Hopefully it will appear on a budget two-fer or re-release of some kind. Until then, buy it used.

Highly recommended.



TT = 69'59""