Could Creation have rambled on a bit too long?

As far as this music is concerned, yes.

William Wallace's brand of late-Romanticism works for me in fits and starts. Love the symphonic poems, and really I like the music here too, but it rises and falls all a little too much and a little too long for my liking.

What I absolutely do like is Martyn Brabbins' bringing Wallace's music out for everyone to hear. The composer's musical visualizations are his greatest attribute, and everyone involved is able to bring these aspects to the fore.

I wonder how it works...does Maestro Brabbins get his hands on a score and say 'we have to do this'? Is it is project of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, maybe having the music hanging around the library? Does someone stumble upon William Wallace's music accidentally while renting Braveheart?

The possibilities are endless, but alas my imagination grows weary. Give Wallace a chance!

A review from 2021:

Scottish composer William Wallace only has two recordings to his name, at least that I am aware of. This album of his Creation Symphony and another of his Symphonic Poems. Wallace has a strong Romantic-Era vein running through his orchestral music, sounds that are swollen with fulsome string lines, hefty brass chorales, and winning climaxes opposite yearning lyricisms. His love of Wagner and Liszt shine through his music, although I think he has a strong British voice as well.

The 45+-minute Creation Symphony in c-sharp minor has a biblical scope to it. The opening burbles from the briny murk of primordial ooze and slowly wends its way towards light, water, and the creation of man. As enamoured as I was with the recording of his Symphonic Poems, I find his Creation Symphony a little rambling, and maybe their 10-15 minutes encapsulated Wallace’s style moreso than what can be sustained over 45 minutes in this symphony. All of his grandeur and tunefulness is here, and it is developed nicely, but the work overall seems to amble more than captivate.

The smaller items, the 10-minute Eumenides Prelude and 15-minute Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, are all quite lovely. I think Wallace is good at setting scenes, and each of these subjects are solidly portrayed. Eumenides is a bit cranky sounding, opposite the tragic love story of P & M, and the two works show a nice variety of Wallace’s abilities with orchestra. The jaunty Spinning Song find Wallace at his most charming and witty, and it sounds quite fresh opposite the seriousness of the rest of the recording.

I have no problems at all with Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, for they sound superb. Even though I thought the symphony could use tightening up, I think the pacing is still pretty good, and the orchestra has a lovely, lush sheen to their sound.

I would love to explore more of William Wallace, but alas there is no more to seek. Here is hoping that someone comes back to his music.

Listen on YouTube

 

Works
Creation Symphony in C-sharp minor (47.05)
Pelleas and Melisande: Suite (15.28)
Eumenides Prelude (10.27)

Performers
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins

Label: Hyperion
Year: 1997
Total Timing: 73.29

 

I might not like the Creation Symphony as much as his Symphonic Poems, but this is all fairly convincing music.

You'll never take my freedom!

Find more Wallace recordings HERE!