Arnold Rosner: Orchestral Music, Volume Four
The musical language of the New York-based Arnold Rosner (1945–2013) clothes the modal harmony and rhythm of pre-Baroque polyphony in rich Romantic colours, producing a style that is instantly recognisable and immediately appealing. This fourth Toccata Classics album of his orchestral music opens with an engaging and energetic early Scherzo and a Concerto Grosso that has something of the dignified reserve of the Swiss composer Frank Martin, whom Rosner much admired – as the broadly expressive Variations on a Theme by Frank Martin go on to show. Rosner’s A My Lai Elegy, a symphonic poem inspired by a massacre of civilians in Vietnam, has few equals in the orchestral repertoire: it veers from profound sadness to wild, freewheeling anger – protest music at its grandest and most passionate.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Nick Palmer, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- Scherzo for Orchestra, Op. 29a (1964) (11:44)
Concerto Grosso, No. 2 Op. 74 (1979) (24:11)
- I. Lento – Allegro (8:51)
- II. Adagio (7:13)
- III. Allegro molto (8:07)
Variations on a Theme by Frank Martin, Op. 105 (1996) (18:51)
- Theme (1:12)
- Variation 1: Grazioso (2:17)
- Variation 2: Adagio (1:57)
- Variation 3: Allegro (3:45)
- Variation 4: Adagio (4:48)
- Variation 5: Allegro (4:52)
- Canzona Secundi Toni, Op. 63 (1975) (8:30)*
- A My Lai Elegy, Op. 51 (1971; rev. 1993) (25:42)
*Available on Digital Release Only
First Recordings
BBC Music Magazine :
‘Rosner’s soundworld is compellingly individual, with the rhythms and harmonies of Renaissance polyphony overlaid with exotic modalities and dissonances, all richly clothed in late-Romantic orchestration. the Concerto Grosso No.2 is Rosner’s own very particular take on neo-classicism, while the Variations on a Theme by Frank Martin evoke that composer’s haunting, rhythmically driven style.’
— BBC Music Magazine
Gramophone :
‘Arnold Rosner’s extraordinary Requiem was my Critic’s choice for 2020, the third volume of his orchestral works my pick the previous year; can Vol4 follow in their wake? Well, every chance! This is another fascinating programme, compelling and appealing in equal measure, superbly played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra- who sounds as if they have been playing this music all their lives (rather than just in occasional visits to the studio over the past 10 years) […]
The four works […] are fine examples of how he synthetized elements from the entire history of Western music into his unique personal style. […]
The Scherzo […] is a gem of a piece and would make a splendid concert opener. The Concerto grosso No.2 (1979) is another find, […], a work of real depth. The Variations on a Theme by Frak Martin is […] a beautifully crafted tribute to the Swiss master. […]
Very strongly recommended.’
—Guy Rickards Gramophone, May 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘I […] think of him as one of the United States’s finest composers […]
This latest entry in Toccata’s survey of Rosner’s work provides a fine cross-section both of periods in the composer’s career and in facets of his musical personality […]
As for Rosner’s musical personality, many of its hallmarks were remarkably consistent in a career that spanned over half a century. If I had to give an “elevator pitch” about Rosner’s music, I would say that he used Renaissance materials and techniques with Romantic instrumentation and gestures to create music of tremendous intensity. […] The result is that Rosner sounds like no one else, and that, though there is considerable variety, scope, and breadth to his musical expression, all the pieces I have heard by Rosner are immediately identifiable as Rosner no matter how widely they diverge from each other. […]
The performances are authoritative: deeply attuned to Rosner’s harmonic language and emotional profile. This is a highly effective, emotionally satisfying disc of important repertoire. A My Lai Elegy should be recognized as a major 20th century masterpiece, and the remainder of the program is excellent. The sound quality is full and natural in acoustic. Urgently recommended’
—Myron Silberstein, Fanfare Magazine, Sept/Oct 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘I have no hesitation in calling My Lai Elegy an unqualified masterpiece, one that every reader of this magazine should experience. […]
Given the excellence of these works and their masterful presentation by Nick Palmer and the LPO, this disc is self-recommending, although I certainly add a most enthusiastic one myself. In short, do not pass this disc by!’
—David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘The richness of [Rosner’s] orchestrations and the breadth of emotions being conveyed result in powerful, expressive music. […]
Nick Palmer and the London Philharmonic have recorded a good deal of Rosner’s music for Toccata, and they perform it as if they love it. This is much more than dutiful note-reading. The recorded sound from the Abbey Road Studios is clear and well balanced. […] this is an important and gratifying recording of an American composer who deserves wider recognition.’
—Henry Fogel, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘[Variations on a Theme by Frank Martin] is masterful. The sheer variety, rigor (Rosner is good at counterpoint), and breadth of the work is astonishing, and it is highly unlikely it will receive a performance as fine as this in the near future, or possibly ever. […]
This is a splendid release. Toccata is doing sterling work for Rosner’s music, for which it deserves unstinting praise. ‘
—Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Nick Palmer and the LPO tackle these demanding works brilliantly, imbuing Rosner’s scores with passion and precision. They are to be commended for their championship of this brilliant, peculiar, inventive, and unjustly neglected composer.
—Andrew Desiderio, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Tonality, modality, and orchestration merge in endlessly intriguing ways to make this some of the most exhilarating and provocative music I’ve heard in a while. Tradition and innovation are conjoined in a music as richly inventive as it is rife with emotion. The performances should live up to such challenges, and they do! Nick Palmer and the London Philharmonic play every piece with clarity, contrast, and deep feeling born of an obvious dedication to these powerful scores. While Rosner’s music makes fairly frequent use of solo instruments, only Paul Beniston’s extended contribution to A My Lai Elegy is mentioned, and wonderful it is! I await the next volume with the keenest anticipation. ‘
—Marc Medwin, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘The music of Arnold Rosner is beautifully crafted, inviting to the listener, and highly communicative. […]
How fortunate we are to be able to hear these accomplished and communicative works performed by an ensemble of the quality of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, under the able direction of Nick Palmer. The recorded sound is excellent as well. Thanks to the artists and Toccata Classics for their wholehearted embrace of a composer so deserving of such advocacy. Recommended’
—Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
Fanfare Magazine :
‘All of the performances are excellent under the baton of conductor Nick Palmer. The sound is quite good too. This is a very fine release.’
—Mark Novak, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024