Search - Gary Mcfarland :: America the Beautiful, An Account of Its Disappearance

An imaginative musical picture of American tragedy

Hugh Oliver | Provo, UT | 05/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The argument could be made that this was a worthwhile project on the basis of its theme alone, but I think many of us have come across projects that sound noble on paper but artistically aren't worth two cents. 'America the Beautiful',I'm happy to say, has both political and musical value.

This was recorded in 1968. The themes of destruction of natural beauty and disregard for the environment, as well as empty political promises, are all even more applicable in 2008.

McFarland has given each movement of this suite an apt and often witty subtitle. (The fourth movement is called 'If I'm Elected...') While the subject concerns us all, it is important to know that McFarland's music is intimate and deeply felt. His musical expressions are quite personal and individual. Four of the six movements contrast a voice of introspective sorrow, expressed by the cello, with writing featuring shouting brass and wailing guitar. By writing in such a manner, McFarland effectively set a voice of concern, the cello, against voices of destruction, generally represented by jazz scoring with a mix of what I believe is a boogaloo rhythm which caught on in 1968. Two of the gentler movements use a delightful shuffle rhythm.



Now--it is not necessary to go strictly with the program to get inside this music. McFarland's writing is brilliant. The shouting and wailing of the brasses may represent something negative, but that won't stop listeners from enjoying the writing just for its excellent voicing and sheer excitement. Part of the individualism of the sound is in the wind instrumentation--4 trumpets, 2 French Horns, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, and 5 woodwinds in interesting combinations with some great bassoon in 'If I'm Elected...'. ( The bassoon writing seems to suggest a candidate with a drinking problem.) The main individuality is in McFarland's close, often clustered harmonies. He is daring, different, but always idiomatic.



This is music, then, that can fulfill at more than one level. The musicians are great. Jerome Richardson plays a terrific soprano sax solo on 'If I'm Elected...' and some sensitive flute elsewhere. Marvin Stamm also contributes solid work. For me,the most beautiful writing and playing of all is Snooky Young's solo on 'Last Rites for the Promised Land'. 'Last Rites' has Snooky playing with strings and it's just about impossible to listen to this without becoming deeply affected.



It's not a perfect album--I could do without the number of times the movements end in fades (something which was too popular in the 60's), and the guitar solo in the 2nd movement is too long--but these really are minor flaws when set against the intense emotions, sardonic wit, and tragedy so movingly expressed in this mostly wonderful recording."