20th Century Symphonis with Heart and Soul
Fred Granlund | Los Angeles, CA USA | 01/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This program exactly duplicates a homebrew CD I made years ago from the EMI LPs of these same performances. The full titles are:
Symphony No. 4, "In Memoriam Dylan Thomas" (1954)
Symphony No. 7 (1972)
Symphony No. 8 (1972)
(total: 78 minutes)
While the production notes above give a bit of background on this undeservedly neglected composer, they fail to touch on the qualities of the music itself - and why this is essential listening for anyone with a taste for accessible contemporary music. While so many composers of this generation abandoned their audience to write sterile, uncommunicative music, Jones' symphonies give us the missing link: passion. The Fourth Symphony, written in response to the death of his friend Dylan Thomas, is a perfect exemple. From the very opening, with its spooky chords in low trombones and bassoons supported by bass drum (a sort of motto that pervades the first movement) the music controls the listener's moods and never releases us. By the final movement, intense music sweeping to blazing climaxes, we've had a true emotional experience, not just an aural one. The other symphonies deal with other moods, the Eighth providing a kaleidoscope of feelings in nine closely-related sections.
The recordings are reissues from the '70s, but the sound is quite vivid. The performances are very effective, as well, though undoubtedly rehearsed and recorded at the same sessions in the time-honored British fashion. Orchestras sight-reading unfamiliar music can be counted on for high-tension performances, even if the edges get blurred occasionally.
Lyrita has also reissued Jones' Sixth and Ninth Symphonies, and Chandos has recorded his complete string quartets. Anyone who enjoys the music of Samuel Barber and William Schuman will consider Daniel Jones a lucky find. Thanks to all concerned for this excellent and timely reissue."
Powerful, intelligent modern music
P. Edwin | Fukushima, Japan | 02/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is accessible, largely tonal music by one of Wales best composers. Like so many composers that mostly ignored the atonal trends of the time, Daniel Jones has been sadly neglected.
These recordings are vivid, well conducted, and represent the early and middle period of Jones's symphonic life
Anyone interested in say the music of late Samuel Barber, or in well crafted, complex, but not difficult to understand art music will enjoy these gems from an important Werlsh composer."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1