Search - David Amos, London Symphony Orchestra, Lavry :: Rozsa, Gould, Menotti, and Lavry : Tripartita for Orchestra

Rarities, Well-Recorded

Music Is Everything | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 09/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an odd recording, but a welcome addition to the catalog and to my library. The London Symphony with conductor David Amos perform four rare works: Miklos Rosza's "Tripartita for Orchestra," Morton Gould's "Folk Suite," Gian Carlo Menotti's "Triplo Concerto a Tre" and Mark Lavry's "Emek--Symphonic Poem." The connection between these composers and/or pieces? None!



While Miklos Rozsa is generally known for his blockbuster film scores, he was much more interested in writing music for the concert hall, but found it necessary to compose for film to put food on the table. In "Tripartita for Orchestra" we find elements of Rozsa's film scores, but in a much more dynamic and sophisticated setting. The hard-edged drama and brilliant orchestration hold the listener, but Rozsa ventures into much more complex harmonies and textures than we would expect from his cinematic endeavors. This is an exciting piece, not to be missed.



And while Morton Gould did write some impressive concert works, his "Folk Suite" toes the line between concert piece and "pops" romp. It's lively, humorous, and jazz-influenced (though definitely not truly jazz).



Menotti's "Triplo Concerto a Tre" is a rare gem from one of the sadly overlooked composers of the twentieth century. A concerto grosso for three groups of three instrumentalists, Menotti expertly handles the complexity of three solo groups plus orchestra with humor and virtuosity. This is joyful music that had me laughing out loud and listening to the piece again and again.



The least known composer on the program is Marc Lavry (1903-1967). Lavry's style is tonal and quite beautiful. "Emek" is inspired by the Emek Valley in Israel, where Lavry lived, and depicts the feel of daily life in the Valley. This is the most tonal piece on the disc, and was completely persuasive to me on first listening. Certainly, Lavry's music is due for a revival.



All things considered, this odd little recording has a great deal to offer. Highly recommended."