Copland: Symphony No. 3; Clarinet Concerto; Quiet City

Title: Copland: Symphony No. 3; Clarinet Concerto; Quiet City Release Date: 2007 Label: EMI Classics Duration: 137:20 Album Type(s): Various artists collection, composer biography, composition (work) description UPC: 094639772728 Genre: Symphony Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Symphony No. 3
   - 1. Molto moderato, with simple expression
2. Symphony No. 3
   - 2. Allegro molto
3. Symphony No. 3
   - 3. Andantino quasi allegretto
4. Symphony No. 3
   - 4. Molto deliberato
5. Cortège Macabre, for orchestra (from ballet "Grogh")
6. Letter from Home, for dance orchestra
7. John Henry, railroad ballad for orchestra or chamber orchestra

1. Clarinet Concerto
   - Beginning -
2. Clarinet Concerto
   - Cadenza -
3. Clarinet Concerto
   - Conclusion
4. Music for the Theatre, suite for small orchestra
   - Prologue
5. Music for the Theatre, suite for small orchestra
   - Dance
6. Music for the Theatre, suite for small orchestra
   - Interlude
7. Music for the Theatre, suite for small orchestra
   - Burlesque
8. Music for the Theatre, suite for small orchestra
   - Epilogue
9. Quiet City, for English horn, trumpet & strings (from the incidental music)
10. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Introduction: Moderato
11. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Alegretto con tenerezza
12. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Scherzando
13. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Pas de trios: Lento
14. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Con brio
15. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Con moto
16. Dance Panels, ballet
    - Molto ritmico

EMI's two-disc set of Copland orchestral works focuses heavily on Copland's early compositions, starting with the Cortege Macabre of 1923. This is an excellent opportunity for listeners to become familiar with some of these lesser-known works while still getting some of the more commonly performed pieces like Music for Theatre and the Clarinet Concerto. The collection opens with a surprisingly weak performance of the Third Symphony by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Eduardo Mata. The DSO sounds unusually tentative in its approach to this well-known composition, and intonation in the strings is particularly problematic. Fortunately, when the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Slatkin take over with three of Copland's earliest works, the quality of performance greatly increases. The second disc is entirely performed by the New York Chamber Symphony under Gerard Schwarz. Clarinetist David Shifrin delivers a compelling, ethereal performance of the Clarinet Concerto, second only to Benny Goodman. Equally satisfying solos are given in Music for Theatre (again by David Shifrin, this time joined by Mark Hill on English horn) and Quiet City. The collection concludes with Copland's final ballet score, Dance Panels. Here, the orchestra is allowed to really demonstrate its energetic understanding of Copland's music, bringing listeners to a stimulating and gratifying conclusion. ~ Mike Brownell, All Music Guide

Name Credits Dallas Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Eckhardt van den Hoogen Liner Note Translation Eduardo Mata Conductor Hugo Wheatly Design Joanna Nickrenz Producer Malcolm MacDonald Liner Notes Marc Aubort Producer Michel Roubinet Liner Note Translation Paul Mitchell Series Design, Photography Peter Quantrill Editorial Richard Bradburn Series Compilation