John Gardner: Music for Brass and Organ
The British composer John Gardner (b. 1917) has been astonishingly prolific, writing 249 opus numbers in his sixty-year career as composer, conductor and teacher. His music – basically tonal and always impeccably crafted – is characterised by charm, grace and humour. Gardner’s musical fingerprints come from his love of jazz, Renaissance and Baroque procedures and his mastery of imitative counterpoint. He generally uses established musical forms but invests them with a quirky and distinctive harmonic idiom. This CD explores his rich output for brass and organ, from the elegant Theme and Variations, Op. 7, of 1951 to the lusty Five Dances for Organ, Op. 179, written in 1988.
Paul Archibald, trumpet
Cosmopolitan Brass
Stephen King, organ
Listen To This Recording:
- Flourish for a Wedding, Op. 162 (1983)
- Easter Fantasy, Op. 232 (1997)
- Theme: Andante flessible
- Variation 1: Un poco meno mosso
- Variation 2: Allegretto
- Variation 3: Allegro giocoso
- Variation 4: Marcia lenta
- Variation 5: Marcia rapida
- Variation 6: HabaÒera
- Variation 7: Misterioso
- Variation 8: Finale – Allegro vivace
- 1. Lavolta
- 2. Pavan
- 3. Jig
- 4. Lament
- 5. Fling
- I. Maestoso
- II. Allegro
- III. Lento e piano
- IV. Allegro ma non troppo
- I. Allegro con brio
- II. Ciacona (largo)
- III. Finale (vivace)
Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet, Op. 7 (1951)
Five Dances for Organ, Op.179 (1988)
Sonata da Chiesa sopra un tema di Claudio Monteverdi, Op. 136 (1976, rev. 1977)
Sonata Secolare, Op. 117 (1973)
MusicWeb International :
Among the many composers whose music does not get the exposure or the reputation that it deserves surely John Gardner is one of the most deserving. […] So for that reason alone this disc should be warmly welcomed, but when in addition to the quality of the music, performances, recording and presentation are all first rate the achievement and the attraction of the disc are all the greater. […]
All of his music that I have heard shares the characteristics of being above all musically alive, of having something to say and saying it interestingly and economically. […]
I knew little of this music before listening to this disc but it has given me immense pleasure and I am very keen to get to know more of this strangely under-performed and recorded composer.’
—John Sheppard, MusicWeb International