The first symphony, alongside the second which is included, with nos. The sound of the orchestral horn was an intimate part of richard strauss growing up. It was first performed at the 1977 interlochen summer music camp by the international youth orchestra with singers made up of other students, staff and faculty. The lyrical, haunting second theme of the first movement has become known as the.
Gerard schwartz and the seattle symphony recorded hansons seven symphonies together with other orchestral compositions for the delos label in the late 1980s early 1990s. Purpose of this thread is to ask you for your recommendation of these symphonies whether recorded as a complete cycle or as individual ones. Adagio allegro moderato from howard hansons hanson, h music of howard hanson, vol. In 1944, he won a pulitzer prize for his symphony no. It was first performed at the 1977 interlochen summer music camp by the international youth orchestra with singers made up of other students. Howard hansons music has been described as part of the neoromantic movement in music which endeavored to continue the traditions of the romantic era into the 20th century. Oct, 20 musicologist walter simmons on hansons symphony no. American composer howard hansons 18961981, the symphonies. Hence naxos rerelease of gerard schwarz and the seattle symphonys hanson symphonies under the american classics series is a welcome event. As director for 40 years of the eastman school of music, he built a highquality school and provided opportunities for commissioning and performing american music. This decade was a grim period for most americans, as it claimed both the great depression and the cusp of world war i. Hanson was born in wahoo, nebraska to swedish parents, hans and hilma eckstrom hanson. Selections from suite for viola and small orchestra. An american composer, conductor and teacher, howard hanson was an.
Hanson romantic symphony conducted by the composer, 1939. Samuel barber eastmanrochester symphony orchestra, howard hanson. Nov 30, 2011 american composer howard hanson s 18961981, the symphonies. The two seconds have such affinities for me that i find if i get the main theme of hansons second playing in my head, it often morphs into.
Bruckners first use of the horn is in the mass in c. Youll find a wide selection of howard hanson sheet music, songbooks, and music books at sheet music plus. Our listening activity focuses on the first and the third movements of hansons. It journeys from turbulence to the simplicity of resolution, in a way both characteristic and also deeply moving. Violin concerto to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. A few works emerged from hansons pen during the remaining three and onehalf years of his life, including two heard on this recording, the a cappella motet. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of american classical music. A few works emerged from hanson s pen during the remaining three and onehalf years of his life, including two heard on this recording, the a cappella motet.
Howard hanson was among the first twentieth century american composers to achieve widespread prominence. Born in wahoo, nebraska, howard hanson 18961981 did much to promote. I was not familiar with hansons music before hearing the 2nd and i was impressed. William grant stills afroamerican symphony also premiered in 1930, and hansons nearcontemporary, randall thompson, began his own second symphony that year, which hanson and his band premiered in 1932. Louis symphony under leonard slatkin a popular concert work which is the epitome of the twentiethcentury symphony that could have been written by an american. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, carol rosenberger, seattle symphony, new york chamber symphony symphonies no. The second movement, andante con tenerezza, opens and closes with one of. The piece is a terrific showpiece for an orchestras principal horn player.
In contrast to the angular stravinskian and americanainfluenced sounds that dominated american concert music prior to world war ii, hanson wrote in an unabashedly romantic idiom influenced by his nordic roots. It shares a key and a good number of ideas with sibelius first symphony, with a craggy, brooding opening movement and a broad finale enclosing a melodious slow movement that feels like nothing more than an interlude. Slatkin and the st louis symphony also include a very welldone performance of howard hansons 2nd symphony, the romantic, dating from 1930. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and ardent champion of american classical music. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, seattle symphony, new.
A true neoromanticist at heart, hanson spent his student years in. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hanson, howard, gerard schwarz, seattle symphony orchestra. Premiered in 1930 by the boston symphony orchestra, howard hanson s symphony no. Bassoon 1, bassoon 2, cello, clarinet 1 in bb, clarinet 2 in bb, contrabass, contrabassoon, english horn, flute 1, flute 2, harp, horn 1 in f, horn 2 in f, horn 3 in f, horn in f, oboe 1, oboe 2, percussion, piccolo in db, timpani and more. Hansons final symphonic work, his acknowledged valedictory musical statement and a moving meditation on morality, was the symphony no. Hanson was born in wahoo, nebraska to swedish parents, hans and hilma eckstrom.
Old american songs with the gso chorus program notes. Then its back to romantic second theme, more mood swings until after a short. The symphony was commissioned by the boston symphony orchestra for the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and the work. I was familiar with howard hanson by name only, not really familiar at all with his works. Howard hanson 1896 1981 served as the first director of the eastman school of music from 1924 1964 while composing extensively in a romantic style. Kolio plachkov has been with the colorado symphony since 2011, as an associate principalthird french horn. Excerpts from hansons second symphony were used to accompany several exterior sequences. Still, the composer himself lists as his greatest influence even above respighi, with whom hanson. Listen to your favorite songs from hanson, h music of howard hanson, vol.
The american series is an initiative of the georgia symphony orchestra to explore the. In 2016 waddell cofounded new horizons chamber orchestra to provide an. I have a question for anyone who might know about the connection between john williamss score to e. Plachkov is also a member of the guest horn faculty at the fairbanks summer arts festival in alaska, and rocky ridge music center in estes park, colorado. The american series is an initiative of the georgia symphony orchestra to explore the rich tapestry of american music. The symphony orchestra school of arts and sciences university. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer. Now its time to listen to hansons symphony keeping ears open for any solos or soli sections.
Born in wahoo, nebraska, howard hanson 18961981 did much to promote american music, and not just his own. Gerard schwartz and the seattle symphony recorded hanson s seven symphonies together with other orchestral compositions for the delos label in the late 1980s early 1990s. Oct 20, 2011 hence naxos rerelease of gerard schwarz and the seattle symphonys hanson symphonies under the american classics series is a welcome event. On disc 2, you have got to listen to the 2nd movement of the 3rd symphony, arguably, the most romantic of all of hanson s works, and brilliantly performed by schwartz et al. Ive been listening to the symphony quite a lot lately and cant help noticing that the third movement in particular bears a striking resemblance to the last reel of e. Howard hanson the classical composers database musicalics. Complete symphonies, an album by howard hanson, seattle symphony chorale, seattle symphony orchestra, gerard schwarz on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. American series georgia symphony orchestra timothy verville.
After graduating from northwestern university at the age of 19, he. This multiyear program includes performances by all organizational ensembles. The symphony was commissioned by the boston symphony orchestra for the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and the work premiered in boston on november 28, 1930. The seventh symphony by howard hanson, subtitled a sea symphony, is a choral symphony commissioned by the national music camp in 1974 to commemorate its fiftieth season at interlochen, michigan in 1977. Samuel barber eastmanrochester symphony orchestra, howard hanson symphony no. It is good to welcome the second delos double, grouping the symphonies of howard hanson, and his concertante and orchestral works, in these magnificently played and recorded performances from gerard schwarz and his fine seattle orchestra, with its superb body of strings. Premiered in 1930 by the boston symphony orchestra, howard hansons symphony no. When at symphony hall watching the orchestra, its also fun to look for the moments when a whole section plays together. Howard hansons music has been described as part of the neoromantic movement in. Winner of the american academys first rome prize three years earlier, hanson was an upand. The merry mount suite, mosaics, and the piano concerto are the most enjoyable performances on discs 3 and 4. American series georgia symphony orchestra timothy. The frequent classification of howard hanson as a neoromantic composer is certainly not without merit, though the case is perhaps disproportionately affected by the overwhelming success of his second symphony, which has maintained a stronger foothold in the canon than any of his other works.
Hanson, howard all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and are thus subject to immediate deletion. Hanson s final symphonic work, his acknowledged valedictory musical statement and a moving meditation on morality, was the symphony no. These works are also probably still under in the u. The barber concertos subtle nuances are brought out with beauty and grace, and the firey third movement is well executed. The episodic theme, influenced by the principal theme, also takes an important part in this section. Howard hanson, gerard schwarz, seattle symphony hanson. The hanson symphony is wonderfully expressed with the beauty of st louiss strings and the warmth and power of its brass section. The northern, nordic sound of the orchestra is not merely limited to scandinavia, as american composer howard hanson demonstrates in the two works on this album. In three colorful movements, the symphony has a heartonsleeve lyricism that has endeared it to audiences normally fearful of 20th century music. Howard hanson sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. Concerning my second symphony, as the subtitle implies, it. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, seattle symphony, new york. Violin concerto by elma oliveira, howard hanson, samuel barber, leonard slatkin, st.
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