John McLaughlin Williams - What a Guy!

I had written a review on Amazon of a recording I heard, as I always do...

It was filled with my usual nonsense, and boy, oh boy, do I hate going back and reading my terrible writing, all of which you can now peruse on this blog! 😁

This time, however, was different.

John McLaughlin Williams contacted me, letting me know aspects of what I had written was as if I had taken it out of his head.

This is a major source of positive news, for I just write what I hear, and in this case I found a score, so it was also what I saw printed in the music. For him to reach out was beyond what any professional musician needs to do, nonetheless to give a boost to some Joe-Schmo in the yokel-infested backwaters of America's Heartland.

It wasn't as if I was particularly kind to the recording. The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine was a stable of the Naxos American Classics series. It was obviously an ensemble with eager musical enthusiasm and great talent, we could all be so lucky(!), but I made mention in my review of not comparing to the world's greats. Of course, which of the world's greats are going to pick up John Alden Carpenter with dedication and vision? A young man's delusions.

I have since found Maestro Williams has a strong online presence. He writes intelligently, he has strong, well thought-out opinions, but does so without belittling or casting aspersions, and it seems he is an all-around swell and well-respected fellow. If he approached a rando, Amazon Classical Music troll like me, imagine how many he has reached in the time since.

It is the hope of this reviewer that he has reached many; for music, and the collaboration within the business of music, has the ability to lift and raise up, in a world full of casting aside and degradation. If this is the legacy of a man who touched a young, amateur Classical Music listener, the lowest form on life's ladder, think of all he might have accomplished for others more worthy?

Kudos, Maestro Williams, and my best wishes to you!
VS

A review from 2006

John Alden Carpenter's music is not well known to the general public today (nonetheless musicians), but thanks to the Naxos American Classics series, Carpenter's symphonic works are now on record. While I am only familiar with a vocal song cycle of his, Carpenter's music has always seemed to have an innate innocence and tunefulness, with interesting harmonies, all of which are exemplified in these symphonic works: Symphonies 1 & 2 and Adventures in a Perambulator.

Carpenter's 20 minute, one movement, First Symphony features utterly Romantic, tonal, American youthfulness and optimism, not to mention bushel-baskets full of charm. Lonely laments by solo woodwinds show the great melodic qualities of his music, sprite and bouncy sections with chattering woodwinds, bells, and percussion show his natural, colorful orchestrations, often with whimsy, and drama is shown in sweeping string lines and noble brass chorales of great breadth. While nothing is particularly memorable in his First Symphony, it is the moods he convincingly creates that last well past the first hearing. His Second Symphony, also under 20 minutes, is in three movements, each lasting just over 6 minutes. Featuring a large role for piano, the first movement balances itself between two moods, a menacing one at the start with brass and percussion, and a mood that is more a graceful dance with a slight lilting feel. String centered at the beginning, the second movement also alternates between a more complex harmonic forcefulness, and the simplicity of a light and calm melody with a sunny nature. The vivacious and cheery final movement, with its incessant rhythmical qualities, decides the works' ending mood of Romantic joyousness.

The popular Adventures in a Perambulator was an early outing in Carpenter's career. The program is the happenings of a baby and his/her nurse taking a morning stroll with the baby's pram. The interesting part is that the description of the day's events are taken from the perspective of the baby. A suite in six movements, the 26-minutes include titled movements (All Aboard, The Policeman, The Hurdy-Gurdy, The Lake, Dogs, and Dreams). Each are an almost impressionistic portrait utilizing harps and bells in addition to the orchestra. The Policeman and The Hurdy-Gurdy are more vivid, while the contrasting movements have a dreamy aura about them. Highly entertaining, the turn of the century work has charm oozing from all of its pores.

The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine under John McLaughlin Williams doesn't seem suited for the music at first mention, but they are right at home. There is no dark brooding or heaviness marked in the score, nor do we get it from the performers; far from it. This is a better outing by the Ukrainian ensemble than other Naxos offerings and at budget price, is worth investigating. The only issue that I could possibly scrounge up is that it is all pretty light and fluffy, with no real meat and potatoes type of works. I find the shimmering, light musical quality of a neglected American composer, however, rather entertaining.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Symphony 1 (19.27)
Symphony 2 (19.06)
Adventures in a Perambulator (26.51)

Ensemble
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
John McLaughlin Williams, conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2001
Total Timing: 65.24

 

  This music isn't going to change the world, but who cares?

  The news here is John McLaughlin Williams and this rare Americana coming from the Ukraine.

  If we could all be just as Stand-Up...

 

 

 

Find more Carpenter recordings HERE!