Harvard University Choir, Murray Forbes Somervill - Choral Music Of Amy Beach And Randall Thompson

Friday 1st November 2002
Harvard University Choir, Murray Forbes Somervill - Choral Music Of Amy Beach And Randall Thompson

STYLE: Choral
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 6266-
LABEL: ASV DCA 1125
FORMAT: CD Album

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Amy Beach (1867 - 1944) and Randall Thompson (1899 - 1984) were husband and wife. This collection favours the lady with seven of the 12 tracks or, if we are counting, 43 of the 70 minutes. Both followed in the European tradition of composition. She is a romantic (think Brahms); he is classical, with references to many styles. Perhaps this Euro-centric approach was necessary at this point in American musical development before Copland, Gershwin and others could sound a distinctively American voice. This is not meant to be faint praise. There are some interesting pieces here and the singing is of the highest standard.

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