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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I must be careful to remain objective about this CD, because the composer happens to be my Father! Nevertheless, although I literally grew up with the music, I have no hesitation in saying that is a CD which needs to be heard, and it will demonstrate that there is much more to him than "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day".
The Symphony was a great success at the 1951 Cheltenham Festival. It received many subsequent broadcasts and performances around the World, and was the impetus for a string of major commissions in the subsequent years. "Midsummer Ale", written in the 1960s, is a pure delight. The Piano Concerto from 1956 was more-or-less consigned to the dustbin following a very poor first performance, but shines here in a vibrant interpretation by Peter Donohoe.
The three works sound as though might have been written by three different composers, but they do all contain JG's unmistakeable musical fingerprints. "Midsummer Ale" is light music, with a delightful interplay between duple and compound time which verges on the rioutous. The piano concerto is a weighty work which rewards repeated listening. The Symphony, developed entirely from a small number of thematic kernels, wears its heart on its sleeve and will in the course of its 41 minutes take you on an emotional journey.
The release of this CD is the biggest event of my Father's 90th birthday year. If you listen to it and his name is new to you, I hope it comes to you a wonderful revelation.
Chris Gardner
The Symphony was a great success at the 1951 Cheltenham Festival. It received many subsequent broadcasts and performances around the World, and was the impetus for a string of major commissions in the subsequent years. "Midsummer Ale", written in the 1960s, is a pure delight. The Piano Concerto from 1956 was more-or-less consigned to the dustbin following a very poor first performance, but shines here in a vibrant interpretation by Peter Donohoe.
The three works sound as though might have been written by three different composers, but they do all contain JG's unmistakeable musical fingerprints. "Midsummer Ale" is light music, with a delightful interplay between duple and compound time which verges on the rioutous. The piano concerto is a weighty work which rewards repeated listening. The Symphony, developed entirely from a small number of thematic kernels, wears its heart on its sleeve and will in the course of its 41 minutes take you on an emotional journey.
The release of this CD is the biggest event of my Father's 90th birthday year. If you listen to it and his name is new to you, I hope it comes to you a wonderful revelation.
Chris Gardner
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These days hardly a week goes by without the rediscovery of some `underappreciated' composer. In most cases the music is reasonable, but we can see why it didn't become standard repertoire. After all, there has to be quality control, decisions have to be made, and no doubt there will also always be some favouritism . Life is like that.
It is a pleasure to report that this CD reveals that English composer John Gardner is not one of those unlucky also rans being given his fifteen minutes in the limelight. I say is because although the works on this disc go back as far as just after the Second World War John Gardner is still with us, aged 90.
The opening track, a short overture `Midsummer Ale' is light stuff, happy, brisk and wouldn't be out of place in the sound track for an Ealing Comedy. But no reason to celebrate a thrilling new discovery yet.
The Piano Concerto is quite different, a serious and satisfying work clocking it at around 26 minutes. It is beautifully performed here with Peter Donohoe at the piano with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the Baton of David Lloyd-Jones. Within a classic fast - slow - fast movement structure it is a study in continuous movement and dexterity of interplay between main instrument and orchestra. It is a fine post war Piano Concerto. Although written in 1957 it explores similar territory to some concertos written since 1980 by composers coming back to traditional music language after a foray into modernism.
Finally there is the First Symphony from 1947. It is a revelation, an expansive 41 minute work in four movements: Slow - moderately fast - slow - moderately fast. It is a brilliant late flowering of the English Pastoral style and as good as any other large scale work of the 1940's I have heard by composers who continued in a traditional melodic and harmonic musical language. And I don't just mean British composers. The performance is impressive.
The only disappointment is that I am now raring at the bit to listen to more music by John Gardner, but so little has been recorded. Hopefully Naxos will treat us to more works from him in future, and the not too distant future please!
It is a pleasure to report that this CD reveals that English composer John Gardner is not one of those unlucky also rans being given his fifteen minutes in the limelight. I say is because although the works on this disc go back as far as just after the Second World War John Gardner is still with us, aged 90.
The opening track, a short overture `Midsummer Ale' is light stuff, happy, brisk and wouldn't be out of place in the sound track for an Ealing Comedy. But no reason to celebrate a thrilling new discovery yet.
The Piano Concerto is quite different, a serious and satisfying work clocking it at around 26 minutes. It is beautifully performed here with Peter Donohoe at the piano with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the Baton of David Lloyd-Jones. Within a classic fast - slow - fast movement structure it is a study in continuous movement and dexterity of interplay between main instrument and orchestra. It is a fine post war Piano Concerto. Although written in 1957 it explores similar territory to some concertos written since 1980 by composers coming back to traditional music language after a foray into modernism.
Finally there is the First Symphony from 1947. It is a revelation, an expansive 41 minute work in four movements: Slow - moderately fast - slow - moderately fast. It is a brilliant late flowering of the English Pastoral style and as good as any other large scale work of the 1940's I have heard by composers who continued in a traditional melodic and harmonic musical language. And I don't just mean British composers. The performance is impressive.
The only disappointment is that I am now raring at the bit to listen to more music by John Gardner, but so little has been recorded. Hopefully Naxos will treat us to more works from him in future, and the not too distant future please!
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This disc offers three fine and highly contrasted pieces of music by John Gardner. The composer, who died in December 2011, was one of many gifted musicians who were set aside quite scandalously by the BBC during the 1960's when music broadcasts on the Third Programme and the Music Programme (Radio 3's predecessors)were in the hands of William Glock, who was also in charge of the Promenade concerts at much the same time. Glock's musical austerities were no doubt neccessary at first to give a fresh look to broadcast music, but too much influence over repertoire was invested in one man's taste and as a result many very good composers like Gardner were prevented from being heard regularly on the radio.
Thankfully times have changed and these performances by the RSNO under David Lloyd-Jones, with Peter Donohoe in Gardner's Piano Concerto No 1, are wonderful:powerfully expressive, lyrical and full-blooded. Gardner's music is not simple late Romanticism. On the contrary, it is highly disciplined, often driven and gritty but ultimately sympathetic and human. It is also very rewarding and a pleasure to listen to.
The recording was made at Glasgow's Henry Wood Hall, in November 2006, produced by Andrew Walton and engineered by Phil Rowlands. The disc offers stunning sound and great music. Highly recommended.
Thankfully times have changed and these performances by the RSNO under David Lloyd-Jones, with Peter Donohoe in Gardner's Piano Concerto No 1, are wonderful:powerfully expressive, lyrical and full-blooded. Gardner's music is not simple late Romanticism. On the contrary, it is highly disciplined, often driven and gritty but ultimately sympathetic and human. It is also very rewarding and a pleasure to listen to.
The recording was made at Glasgow's Henry Wood Hall, in November 2006, produced by Andrew Walton and engineered by Phil Rowlands. The disc offers stunning sound and great music. Highly recommended.
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