Howard Hanson - Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks

Title: Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks Artist: Howard Hanson Release Date: 2004 Label: Mercury Duration: 355:13 Album Type(s): performer(s) biography, composition (work) description UPC: 028947562740 Genre: Orchestral Music Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 5

1. Capricorn Concerto, for flute, oboe, trumpet & strings, Op. 21
   - I. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Capricorn Concerto, for flute, oboe, trumpet & strings, Op. 21
   - II. Allegretto
3. Capricorn Concerto, for flute, oboe, trumpet & strings, Op. 21
   - III. Allegro con brio
4. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: I. Introduction - Siesta in the Market Place
5. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: II. Entrance of the Vendors
6. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: III. Entrance of the Customers
7. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: IV. Tango of the Merchant's Daughters
8. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: V. Arrival of the Circus
9. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
   - Suite: VI. Circus March
10. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: VII. The Flutist
11. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: VIII. Minuet
12. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: IX. Spanish Waltz
13. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: X. (Eight o'clock strikes)
14. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: XI. Siciliano
15. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra
    - Suite: XII. Polka Finale
16. Poem, for flute & orchestra, A. 93
17. Pieces (3) for orchestra, Nos 1-3, complete
18. Pieces (3) for orchestra, Nos 1-3, complete
    - I. Promenade
19. Pieces (3) for orchestra, Nos 1-3, complete
    - III. Il Campo dei Fiori
20. Miniatures (5) for flute & string orchestra, Nos 1-5, complete
    - I. Adventurous
21. Miniatures (5) for flute & string orchestra, Nos 1-5, complete
    - II. Dolorous
22. Miniatures (5) for flute & string orchestra, Nos 1-5, complete
    - III. Dextrous
23. Miniatures (5) for flute & string orchestra, Nos 1-5, complete
    - IV. Languorous
24. Miniatures (5) for flute & string orchestra, Nos 1-5, complete
    - V. Capricious
25. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: I. Siesta
26. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: II. Parade
27. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: III. Elegant Dance
28. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: IV. Furious Dance of the Bearded Russians
29. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: V. Sinister Dance
30. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: VI. Chinese Dance
31. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: VII. Tender Dance
32. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: VIII. Chase Music
33. Gold and the Senor Commandante, ballet
    - Suite: IX. Happy Dance

1. Orchestral Set No. 1: Three Places in New England, for orchestra, S. 7 (K. 1A5)
   - I. The "St. Gaudens" in Boston Common (Col. Shaw and his Colored Regiment)
2. Orchestral Set No. 1: Three Places in New England, for orchestra, S. 7 (K. 1A5)
   - II. Putnam's Camp, Redding, Connecticut
3. Orchestral Set No. 1: Three Places in New England, for orchestra, S. 7 (K. 1A5)
   - III. The Housatonic at Stockbridge
4. Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, for orchestra, S. 3 (K. 1A3)
   - I. Old Folks Gatherin's (Andante maestoso)
5. Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, for orchestra, S. 3 (K. 1A3)
   - II. Children's Day (Allegro moderato)
6. Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, for orchestra, S. 3 (K. 1A3)
   - III. Communion (Largo)
7. New England Triptych, 3 pieces for orchestra or band
   - I. Be Glad then, America
8. New England Triptych, 3 pieces for orchestra or band
   - II. When Jesus Wept
9. New England Triptych, 3 pieces for orchestra or band
   - III. Chester
10. Symphony No. 5
    - I. Con sdegno
11. Symphony No. 5
    - II. Canto
12. Symphony No. 5
    - III. Allegro tempetuoso

1. Spirituals for orchestra
   - I. Proclamation
2. 
   - II. Sermon
3. 
   - III. A Little Bit of Sin
4. 
   - IV. Protest
5. 
   - V. Jubilee
6. Fall River Legend, ballet
   - Suite: I. Prologue and Waltzes
7. Fall River Legend, ballet
   - Suite: II. Elegy
8. Fall River Legend, ballet
   - Suite: III. Church Social
9. Fall River Legend, ballet
   - Suite: IV. Hymnal Variations
10. Fall River Legend, ballet
    - Suite: V. Cotillion
11. Fall River Legend, ballet
    - Suite: VI. Epilogue
12. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - I. Parodus
13. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - II. Choros. Medea and Jason
14. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - III. The Young Princess. Jason
15. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - IV. Choros
16. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - V. Medea
17. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - VI. Kantikos Agonias
18. Medea (Cave of the Heart), suite for orchestra, Op. 23
    - VII. Exodos

1. Symphonic Sketches, for orchestra in A major, L. 2/15
   - I. Jubilee
2. Symphonic Sketches, for orchestra in A major, L. 2/15
   - II. Noël
3. Symphonic Sketches, for orchestra in A major, L. 2/15
   - III. Hobgoblin
4. Symphonic Sketches, for orchestra in A major, L. 2/15
   - IV. A Vagrom Ballad
5. Suite No. 1 for orchestra in D minor, Op. 42
   - I. In a haunted forest
6. Suite No. 1 for orchestra in D minor, Op. 42
   - II. Summer Idyll
7. Suite No. 1 for orchestra in D minor, Op. 42
   - III. In October
8. Suite No. 1 for orchestra in D minor, Op. 42
   - IV. The Shepherdess's Song
9. Suite No. 1 for orchestra in D minor, Op. 42
   - V. Forest Spirits
10. Sinfonia in G
    - I. Presto
11. Sinfonia in G
    - II. Polonaise
12. Sinfonia in G
    - III. Menuet (vivace)
13. Sinfonia in G
    - IV. Presto

1. The Pageant of P. T. Barnum, for orchestra
   - I. Boyhood at Bethel
2. The Pageant of P. T. Barnum, for orchestra
   - II. Joice Heth - 161-year-old Negress
3. The Pageant of P. T. Barnum, for orchestra
   - III. General and Mrs. Tom Thumb
4. The Pageant of P. T. Barnum, for orchestra
   - IV. Jenny Lind
5. The Pageant of P. T. Barnum, for orchestra
   - V. Circus Parade
6. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
   - I. En Voiture!
7. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
   - II. The Policeman
8. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
   - III. The Hurdy-Gurdy
9. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
   - IV. The Lake
10. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
    - V. Dogs
11. Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra
    - VI. Dreams
12. Once Upon A Time (5 Fairy Tales) for orchestra
    - I. The Tinder-Box Soldier
13. Once Upon A Time (5 Fairy Tales) for orchestra
    - II. The Song of Rapunzel
14. Once Upon A Time (5 Fairy Tales) for orchestra
    - III. The Story of a Darning Needle
15. Once Upon A Time (5 Fairy Tales) for orchestra
    - IV. Dance of the Twelve Princesses
16. Once Upon A Time (5 Fairy Tales) for orchestra
    - V. The Ride of Koschei the Deathless
17. Selections from McGuffey's Reader for orchestra
    - I. The One-Horse Shay
18. Selections from McGuffey's Reader for orchestra
    - II. John Alden and Priscilla
19. Selections from McGuffey's Reader for orchestra
    - III. Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

All of the material on the five-CD Mercury set, Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks, has been previously released as single discs in exactly the same configuration. Most of the older issues, however, are out of print and are unlikely to return, given the availability of this box set. This is no reason to mourn, for this set is retailing at a bargain basement price, working out to roughly a "five for the price of four" ratio. Some collectors may welcome the added shelf space.

As to the performances themselves, they are all outstanding, with several performances being definitive, such as the Ives Three Places in New England, Barber's Capricorn Concerto, Douglas Moore's Pageant of P.T. Barnum, and many others heard here. Howard Hanson with the Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra was just simply a hard act to follow. Hanson's performances have hardly dated at all sonically, thanks to Mercury Living Presence's pioneering attitude toward sound quality and the careful maintenance accorded the master tapes of these early stereo recordings, which date from 1957 to 1966.

Not all of the pieces heard here are "masterworks" -- one would be hard pressed to apply such an adjective to such pieces as William McCauley's Five Miniatures for Flute and Strings or the greatly enlarged orchestral arrangement of one of Moravian composer Johann Friedrich Peter's six chamber sonatas as a "Sinfonia in G." There are still some excellent Hanson recordings for Mercury Living Presence that have never appeared on CD, presumably because they were made in mono; this would include his superb renderings of Griffes' The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan and Sessions' Suite from The Black Maskers. It is unfair, nevertheless, to complain about that which is not present; besides, the new disc does include greatly improved notes, detailing recording dates and locations, microphone setups and includes a well-written, conversational liner by Bill Newman, a producer and engineer who worked on a lot of these sessions. Unless one has already acquired all five of these single discs, the American concert music fancier can hardly afford to pass up Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Nicholas Mastering Bill Newman Liner Notes C. Robert Fine Engineer, Technical Supervisor Eastman-Rochester Orchestra and Chorus Orchestra Harold Lawrence Musical Supervision Howard Hanson Conductor Joseph Mariano Flute Raymond McGill Product Manager, Compilation Robert Eberenz Associate Engineer Robert Sprenkle Oboe Sidney Mear Trumpet Wilma Cozart Fine Producer, Recording Director