Virgil Thomson’s relatively small orchestral output contains a wealth of folk and folk-inspired tunes. It’s simple, direct, and colorfully scored. A Vanguard recording of two of his film scores (The Plow That Broke The Plains and The River), conducted by Leopold Stokowski, has been one of the favorites in that company’s catalog from its first vinyl release to the latest super analog CD. Yet one must concede that Leonard Bernstein’s comment, on Thomson’s death in 1989, seems accurate: “We all loved his music and rarely performed it.”
It seems unthinkable that every major orchestra in the U.S. has not at least recorded the Symphony on a Hymn Tune. But they haven’t, so this budget CD from New Zealand is quite welcome. At least it has an American conductor, James Sedares, originally from Chicago, who well understands the succinct succession of popular tunes and the sparse and direct scoring. Sedares brings flair, enthusiasm, and good spirits to this recording, coaxing excellent playing from his New Zealand musicians. Pilgrims and Pioneers, music written for a John Houseman film shown at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, is a world-premiere recording and a worthy addition to the Thomson recorded canon, offering the composer’s typical mix of folk tunes and American hymn influences.
I am less happy about the recording, which seems somewhat distant and lacking in presence, though it does have an amiable warmth. You might want to look into the James Bolle recording as well, which presents a pithier, leaner version of the Symphony on a Hymn Tune and Symphony No. 3, as well as pieces that are not contained on the Naxos CD. With this release at budget price, you can afford both. [2/21/2000]
