Robert Ward is from Cleveland and received his musical training at the Eastman School of Music as well as Juilliard. Anyone appreciating the music of Howard Hanson and others of the Eastman School will wonder why they haven’t paid more attention to Ward after hearing this lovely disc. I find his tonal style similar to that of Don Gillis, but with a more serious depth.
The Triple Concerto is a glorious work which should be regularly on concert programs. The first of its three movements has the cello and violin discoursing on the time before man began to destroy his environment. The piano then enters, portraying rival nations fighting for power and control of resources in the world. There are even quotes from the national anthems of several countries. After a very short central movement, the closing section is a tuneful and exuberant meditation on the joy of living, with fine solo passages for each of the trio of soloists. The chamber symphony – the Sixth – is also a delightful work which should receive more hearings. The Western Set, from a Ward opera with a Western setting, sounds even more like Don Gillis to me. Although the four works come from three entirely different recording sessions and musicians, the sonics are fine in each case; plus the disc is jam-packed time-wise. This CD is highly recommended for your acquaintance with a most deserving American composer!
– John Sunier
