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Dutton Epoch is delighted to present this ear-opening, pioneering traversal of Gordon Jacob's complete music for viola and orchestra - all world premiere recordings - that covers over fifty years of the composer's life. Here we have the two numbered concertos and the tuneful Concert Piece (essentially a third concerto) with Graham Parlett's orchestration of the Three Pieces from 1930. All are played with fine style and characteristic tone by viola soloist Helen Callus accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell. At the RCM Jacob was a composition pupil of both Stanford and Vaughan Williams, and the glorious First Concerto of 1925 was inspired by the playing of Lionel Tertis. Jacob explores the dual nature of the viola, alternating between music headed 'rugged and virile' and a plangent 'gentle and singing' style particularly appropriate to the viola. All lovers of British orchestral music of this period will surely take the First Concerto to their hearts; the modal slow section theme is fully worthy of his teacher Vaughan Williams in its wide-spanning lyricism and atmospheric orchestration. This is a remarkable work of its time; at the recording sessions, no one could understand why it is not regularly heard. Track listing: Viola Concerto No.1 in C minor (1925 rev. 1976); Concert Piece for Viola and Orchestra (1977); Three Pieces for Viola and Orchestra (1930 orch. 2010); Viola Concerto No.2 (with string orchestra) (1979); Passacaglia Stereophonica (1960)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. H. Smith
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) was a prolific composer, the majority of whose works, remarkably, were written to commission. He wrote for every conceivable instrument or combination thereof, including the then unfashionable recorder. He was a much underrated composer who was perhaps better known as a teacher (he held his post at the RCM for 42 years), but he had an almost uncanny feel for the instruments for which he was writing, made all the more remarkable by the fact thast he played none of them himself! It is fascinating to be able to delve into the highways and byways of his oeuvre and be pleasantly surprised by some previously undiscovered gem. Personally, I had no idea of the existence of the five works recorded here, and their neo-classical charm has proved something of a revelation to me.
The earliest piece, the Viola Concerto No.1 (1925), has distinct echoes of Jacob's teacher at the RCM, Vaughan Williams, and in its more lyrical moments the Lark Ascending is not far away. The work is essentially in one movement, broken by a viola cadenza, and the capabilities of the solo instrument, now "rugged and virile", now "gentle and singing", are exploited to the full. All in all, the English pastoral scene with its familiar modalism, is very much in evidence.
The Concert Piece for Viola and Orchestra (1977) was written over 50 years later, yet the same lyrical beauty is there and, despite the title, is just as substantial a work as the earlier concerto. There are eight short movements, each exploiting different characteristics of the viola. Highlights include a folk-inflected Andante, a lilting slow waltz and a deeply-felt Largo in which the viola theme is woven against a gentle string accompaniment.... Read more ›
The earliest piece, the Viola Concerto No.1 (1925), has distinct echoes of Jacob's teacher at the RCM, Vaughan Williams, and in its more lyrical moments the Lark Ascending is not far away. The work is essentially in one movement, broken by a viola cadenza, and the capabilities of the solo instrument, now "rugged and virile", now "gentle and singing", are exploited to the full. All in all, the English pastoral scene with its familiar modalism, is very much in evidence.
The Concert Piece for Viola and Orchestra (1977) was written over 50 years later, yet the same lyrical beauty is there and, despite the title, is just as substantial a work as the earlier concerto. There are eight short movements, each exploiting different characteristics of the viola. Highlights include a folk-inflected Andante, a lilting slow waltz and a deeply-felt Largo in which the viola theme is woven against a gentle string accompaniment.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Robbo
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I very much welcome the huge amount of British 20th century music becoming available on CD and I collect most of it. I always look beyond the major composers towards the many others that were active and contributing to the milieu of a period that interests me. This CD is particularly up my street as I love viola and was not disappointed by the works included here. The performances are excellent and you can expect faultless recording from Dutton. I've nearly got enough viola music now for a themed weekend of British Viola music!
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