William Wordsworth: Orchestral Music, Volume Four
The music of William Wordsworth (1908–88) – a great-great-grandson of the poet’s brother Christopher – lies downstream from that of Vaughan Williams and Sibelius; like that of his contemporary Edmund Rubbra, Wordsworth’s music unfolds spontaneously, as a natural process. This fourth volume of his orchestral works presents four works which are all symphonic studies in essence, each remarkable for its unassertive strength of purpose and its suggestion of a sense of scale beyond its actual dimensions – perhaps in part a reflection of the majesty of the Scottish Highlands where he made his home, and of the quiet resolve of his own character.
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
John Gibbons, conductor
Līga Baltābola, violin (Track 10)
Listen To This Recording:
- A Spring Festival Overture, Op. 90 (1970)
- Allegro largamente –
- Poco stringendo –
- Allegro con brio –
- Tempo 1 –
- Sostenuto –
- Largamente –
- Tempo 1
- Jubilation: A Festivity for Orchestra, Op. 78 (1965)
- Confluence: Symphonic Variations, Op. 100 (1976)
Symphony No. 7, Cosmos, Op. 107 (1980)
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘John Gibbons and the orchestra have the measure of this music. I wonder what the redoubtable Liepäja Symphony Orchestra make of Wordsworth, whose music would be new to them. Toccata Classics often use this fine Latvian ensemble. They play with considerable stylistic understanding, obviously communicated by John Gibbons who clearly enjoys exploring unusual repertoire. He so often does that in his role of principal conductor of the Worthing Symphony Orchestra.’
—Gary Higginson, MusicWeb International