A fine program of music by American composers which dates from 1976. Although The Originals series of reissue is touted as “96K/24-bit Remastered” bear in mind that this is still a standard 44.1K/16-bit CD. The sonics are very good, but if you have the original LP and a good turntable setup it probably sounds even better.
The three-movement Ives symphony, subtitled “The Camp Meeting,” makes this collection a bit different from most such programs of shorter works of one type. The work abounds in quotes from hymns and American folk tunes, and is given a more refined and cultured sort of performance than some of the recordings by U.S. orchestras. Cowell’s Hymn and Fuguing Tune is a wonderful classic of American music, and of course the Barber Adagio is a classic in any of its various transcriptions from the string quartet original. Some recorded collections of American orchestral music don’t have that distinctive American musical language in evidence in all the selections, but this one does in spades. In spite of some of the composers’ works being conservative (Barber) and others letting it all hang out (Ives), there is still an identifiable and difficult-to-pin-down American motif at work here. Copland’s writing is probably the best all-around example of it.
The CD label is printed to look like a 45 rpm disc.
– John Sunier
