Search - Havergal Brian, Alan Smith, Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra :: Havergal Brian - Orchestral Works (2 CD) (Campion)

How much of a Brian fan are you?

lieblich | Arlington, VA | 07/07/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I doubt that anyone reading this review just blundered into a listing for a Havergal Brian collection, so its likely that the reader has at least some knowledge of this remarkable composer. These works, most from when he was relatively young (he died in 1972, a month short of his 97th birthday), lack the intensity and concision of most of his later symphonies, but neither do they sprawl like the earlier ones. They're somewhat like the lighter works of Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Holst, but much quirkier. And while Brian may be reminiscent of other composers on occasion, ultimately he's always his own man. That said, most of these works, given capable performances, should be relatively easy to get to like, even if they'll never be mistaken for Great Music.



The real problem lies in the performances. I'm sure the orchestra plays its heart out, but the players are mostly secondary school students, and this music is too tough for them. I bought this music originally on three LPs (all of it has been squeezed onto this two-CD set), and when I first listened to one of them I thought I was hearing some sort of weird audio distortion. It was, in fact, the string section, just enough off-key to hurt the ears. How close they come to Brian's intent varies with how hard the piece is to play, but none of this stuff is easy, and overall the orchestra just can't handle it.



But with the exception of a couple of items that have shown up on Marco Polo, this is the only game in town. Do you really love Havergal Brian? If so, get the set, grit your teeth, and listen to some music that you'll never otherwise get to hear. I find it entertaining enough that I've listened to most of the pieces several times each. Okay, so I'm a Brian nut. If you're a Brian nut too, join me."