Let's see what sticks

 

This Koch recording throws a whole range of music from Daniel Pinkham at the listener.

I am intimately familiar with the composer's Christmas and Wedding Cantatas, and on this recording, they are his most approachable works.

The rest are oddities, yet show Pinkham's wide-ranging composing style.

For me, the String Quartet is the toughest nut, whereas the biggest curiosity is the mandolin/guitar duet.

Yet, if you want to explore a little known mid-20th Century composer, Daniel Pinkham is worthwhile.

A review from 2021

American composer Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas and Wedding cantatas have long been staples of the choral world, well regarded since they were composed in the mid-50’s. Koch’s compilation pairs these choral chestnuts with his later duet for mandolin and guitar, the String Quartet, and his Advent Cantata from the 80’s and 90’s, the latter two works quite new at the time of this recording.

I love the efficient scope of the Christmas and Wedding cantatas, easily no more than 10 minute each. In the Christmas Cantata, Pinkham’s music has an almost medieval flavour, but the mixed rhythms, brass choir, and organ make the whole affair so fun to listen to. The Wedding Cantata is a little more straightforward, but the sensual texts taken from the Bible’s Song of Solomon are a lovely pairing to some really beautiful music. These two are must-hears!

The Advent Cantata from 1991 bears an almost Stravinsky-ian neoclassicism. Maybe it is the pairing of the choir with wind quintet and harp (much along the lines of Stravinsky’s Mass), or the more complex harmonic style set over 20 minutes, but it is a work a fair bit different than his other choir music here. Pinkham’s choral music is very approachable, but not cinematic or commercialized, so there is a lot of substance in its runtime.

The String Quartet is a little knottier than the rest, reveling in dissonance and tougher textures. I will need to give it a few more listens, but it struck me as a rather difficult nut to crack. The Introduction, Nocturne & Rondo for mandolin & guitar duo is quite a bit of fun in contrast, but the music is not completely straight-forward. It certainly has a folksy quality to it, though.

This is a nice introduction to the wide-ranging style of Daniel Pinkham, alongside the other releases of his Symphony 3 & 4, also on Koch, and his Symphony 2 on LP, not to mention the reams of his organ music that he was most famous for during his lifetime. More of Pinkham's Christmas music can also be found with the Dale Warland Singers, including the Christmas Cantata.

I particularly like his choral music here, and the Boston Cecilia under Donald Teeters were a pleasant surprise, as far as singing quality is concerned. The rest of the performers, all Boston-area related, were all excellent. Recommended, but for me, mostly for the choral music.

 

Works
Christmas Cantata (9.40)
Wedding Cantata (8.19)
Advent Cantata (18.25)
Introduction, Nocturne, & Rondo (9.27)
String Quartet (20.22)

Soloists
William Buonocore, mandolin
John Curtis, guitar

Ensembles
Boston Cecilia
Lenox Brass
Ariel Wind Quintet
Boston Composers Quartet
Donald Teeters, conductor

Label: Koch
Year: 1993
Total Timing: 67.15

 

A wide range of compositions to discover from Daniel Pinkham here.

Some are easier than others, but curiosities abound regardless.

If nothing else, Pinkham's popular Christmas Cantata should be heard by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Pinkham recordings HERE!

Christmas Cantata:
Roger Wagner Chorale