Search - Percy Grainger, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc :: Shepherd's Hey

A masterful recording

Jeff Boultinghouse | Canyon Country, CA USA | 05/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second of two glorious CD's by The London Wind Orchestra playing the great classical wind ensemble literature. The ensemble, the technique, the interpretations of Percy Grainger's best loved works is again immaculate. Denis Wick again relies on his close friends who just happen to be the employed by the major symphony orchestras in London and are the finest wind players in Britain. "Molly on the Shore" shows us just how woodwinds can be played with near perfect precision. I had to listen several times before I really believed it was an entire section of clarinets in the opening, not just one. I have played "Linconshire Posy" many, many times in 40 years as a hornist, but I can truly say I've never really heard it until now. The three-against-two rhythms in the second movement (Horkstow Grange) were never so clear nor have they ever made such musical sense. The two "Suites Francaise" by Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc are just as good. This recording really does set a new standard for these works. The obvious world-class capability of the ensemble, coupled with an equally obvious deep affection for the music make this one a must for any wind player's collection."