Fight and you may die. Run and you'll live – at least a while. And dying
in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the
days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back
here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives...
but they'll never take our freedom!
Yes, Scottish composer William Wallace composed a symphonic poem entitled
William Wallace. And a beaut it is too!
All of these four symphonic poems are winners. Characterful, dramatic, big tunes, and soaring orchestrations.
When I first heard this recording, I thought, where has William Wallace been all my life. Then I learned there were only two recordings to his name, and I was slightly disheartened. This is what it is to be a Classical Music listener.
Click on the back cover image below to see the very specific subtitles Hyperion included, in order to get a feel for these characters and the music based upon them, portrayed wonderfully by Brabbins & Co!
A review from 2021
Scottish
composer William Wallace (1860-1940) should not be confused with the
medieval Scottish hero, although one of the symphonic poems on this
recording is written with him in mind. As a matter of fact, each of the
four symphonic poems on this recording are essentially musical portraits
of historical or literary figures.
William Wallace writes in a
thoroughly Romantic fashion, with large orchestrations, big tunes, and
strong musical visualizations. The liner notes intimate that Wallace was
influenced by Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, and while you can hear
these leanings, Wallace has a firmly British voice. Luckily each of the
four 15–20-minute works are filled with variety, keeping the recording
from just giving more of the same. It is all quite appealing, yet quite
unfortunate we don’t have more music from Wallace.
The symphonic
poem entitled Sir William Wallace is the most burly and winning, as
outgoing and triumphant as one would imagine music based on a Scottish
hero could be. Tunefulness and scene-setting is a boon with Wallace, and
his rhythms and harmonies bring to mind Britain in all its glory.
Conversely,
The Passing of Beatrice is akin to a Wagner prelude or overture, with
broad strokes for the strings, and long, gorgeous chorales for the brass
and winds. Villon, based on what Hyperion terms a rebel poet, is a bit
more playful, with lots of inner movement and a wit close at hand. The
final Sister Helen bends towards surliness, and certainly is the most
moody of the four symphonic poems. This collection revels in its
variety, and makes for great listening.
Martyn Brabbins and the
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra sound great in this recording from the
90’s. Brabbins makes Wallace’s music focus on musical storytelling, and
that is what gives this recording its success. Unfortunately there are
only two recordings to William Wallace’s name, this one of his symphonic
poems and one other of his Creation Symphony. The liner notes allude that there is more out there, but unfortunately, no one came back to the well. Here’s hoping!
If
you like lush, Romantic-Era orchestral music ala Vaughan Williams or
Rachmaninov, this music should be right up your alley. Granville Bantock
received a little more love from
Hyperion than William Wallace has, a contemporary that might not
immediately spring to mind, but what we have on record is quite
excellent.
WorksSir William Wallace (20.31)
Villon (17.34)
The Passing of Beatrice (15.37)
Sister Helen (18.34)
PerformersBBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins, conductor
Label: Hyperion
Year: 1996
Total Timing: 73.02
I was completely bowled over by this recording!
Heroic, witty, tragic, and sanctity are all portrayed so effectively here.
Hyperion and Chandos have some wonderful Scottish composer series'; this could easily fit in.
Find more Wallace recordings HERE!
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