Search - Sydney Phillip Hodkinson, Vincent Persichetti, Ned Rorem :: Three Concerti

A great edition to any double reed player's library!!

David C. Green | 03/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tom Stacy is one of the foremost English Hornist of our time.He has more than 50 solo performances with the New york Philharmonic, and other major orchestras around the country.This CD shows both Tom's technical mastery of the instrument, and his sensitive musicality. The CD also demonstrates three comtemporary composers at there best."

Solid performances of incredible concerti

David C. Green | Suwanee, GA USA | 06/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The English horn is that instrument that everyone recognizes by sound but no idea what it looks like. From its beautiful melody from Dvorak's 9th to Franck's Symphony in D minor, the solos are stunning. Yet, despite its being the perfect soloist, there is an incredibly small amount of concertante works for it. That is why this CD is an awesome conception. Here we have three fascinating English horn concerti by three incredible composers. Starting with Rorem's concerto, the disc is non-stop with impressive virtuosity from Mr. Stacy. Also, the balance between soloist and orchestra is superb. Two thumbs way up for Thomas Stacy, the orchestras, and the composers (Rorem, Persichetti, and Hodkinson) for their fine work. You will not be disappointed in this disc. Hopefully this will inspire more composers to write works for this beauty of the orchestra."

Major Triumph For This Orchestra Star

rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 03/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is so much in the symphony reportoire which depends on a great, solid EH artist. None quite like the exceptional Thomas Stacy of the NY Philharmonic.Here he delights with three concertos written for him and his instrument. Each different and adding to the growing collection of works for this solo workhorse.Rorem's Concerto is just outstanding, especially the 2nd Movement named Love Letter and 3rd named: Recurring Dream. Its sonorous overtones are well suited for the EH, backed by nicely balanced orchestration of lilty, floating horns, strings, flute.Persichetti's Concerto for EH and String Orchestra is directed again for Stacy's talents and showcases them magnificently. An opener of fantasia is followed by the robust second "Amabile" which bustles and rustles with circulating lightness into the "Butterfly Song." The third move is a favorite of the CD, Spiritoso which zooms and shifts gears allowing Stacy to enter and exit from and around the strings, emanating a dancelike finish.Hodkinson ventures into the unknown. Imagine, electrified English Horn with reverb, modulation. Perfect for a piece meant to resemble mind journey... meandering, then clear, then muddled and complexed, then darting. Tedious at points. Eruptive. Gradually moves to bursts where we can identify this is really English Horn distorted sounds. Least of the three for me."