Search - Virgil Thomson, Richard Kapp, Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York :: Thomson: The River/The Plow That Broke the Plains

The River/The Plow that Broke the Plains

Richard A. Patton | Ormond Beach, FL United States | 05/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance is excellent it is a worthy addition to your collection. It is an exciting performance by the Philharmonic Virtuosi under the direction of Richard Kapp. Both the Plow that Broke the Plains and the River (complete scores here) are a part of American History. The music woven through out these scores should be very familiar as they represent part of Americana.



Buy it!





Background:



Many years ago, I have purchases these two compositions in Vinal. As I recall the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority*) was commissioned by the federal government (FDR's New deal in the 1930's) to solve the growing electrical shortage in the southern states while attempting to redress the damage done to the Mississippi by man or visa versa. After years of study and hearings they decided to damn the Tennessee River and build a hydro electric plant. The problem was that this would resultant in flooding many would displace many people, and whole towns had to be moved to new locations. Virgil Thomson was commissioned to prepare a score for a documentary that would be prepared to present the project to the communities. It was elegant in its execution and masterfully integrated with the film.



* Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned corporation in the United States created in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly hard hit by the Great Depression. The TVA was envisioned not only as an electricity provider, but also as a regional economic development agency that would use federal experts and electricity to rapidly modernize the region's economy and society. The TVA's jurisdiction covers most of Tennessee, parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and small slices of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

"

I you want to move beyond Copeland. Virgil Thompson has 2 c

Bill Murphy | Harrisburg, PA | 04/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having accidentally taped a Neville Marriner selection of the River, I wanted the entire composition. This is an excellent rendition of very attractive American works. If you like Appalachian Spring and Rodeo, you will love these works and the recording does them justice."

Not an expert!

D. E. Macias | San Antonio, TX | 08/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not an expert on music nor a musicologist, but I like this guy's music. It is American. It is classical. It is darn good stuff. I liked it even more the 3rd time I listened to it. I recommend it."