Did You Miss Lloyd on Albany?

 

Well, now here they are!

I had long thought about collecting George Lloyd's orchestral and concertante works from Albany Records, but there were so many. Instead, I invested in his large-scale choral works, although even then, not all of them.

Thankfully, Lyrita has come to the rescue by offering two 4CD sets of the composer's twelve symphonies.

Most of these were set down in the late 80s and early 90s, with George Lloyd himself leading the BBC Philharmonic and Albany Symphony orchestras. If Lloyd was a firm hand at orchestrating and cogently putting together a symphonic experience, he is equally up to the task leading his own music, not always the case with composers. Even when his recordings come up against Sir Edward Downes on Lyrita, George Lloyd's performances remain secure in their excellence.

The composer's first three symphonies are strong efforts and of medium-sized length. This certainly allows the composer to stretch his wings and find his way compositionally. Lloyd's musical attributes are all here - highly melodic renderings, dramatic, brass-filled buildups, long, swollen string lines, all wrapped up in a symphonic package.

With Symphonies 4 & 5, composed amidst a post-war outlook, Lloyd determinedly keeps his musical message positive and life affirming. His symphonic form has grown to an hour's length, yet I daresay the composer's invention is as strong as ever. In Symphony no. 6, Lloyd goes back to the shorter format, where he will bandy back and forth in length clear through the Twelfth Symphony, but his musical statements are more assured regardless.

I like to say George Lloyd is for those listeners who are afraid to touch the music of the 20th Century. Indeed, his music seems an extension of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Dvorak, so Romantic Era listeners should have much to enjoy. Does a composer who rejects the undercurrents of 20th-Century musical trends deserve a seat at the table? For me, yes, but it will depend on individual ears.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

 

 

Works
Symphony 1 (24.50)
Symphony 2 (33.57)
Symphony 3 (23.34)
Symphony 4 'The Arctic' (64.58)
Symphony 5 (56.24)
Symphony 6 (22.19)
John Socman: Overture (5.27)
Charade (32.48)

Performers
Albany Symphony Orchestra
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
George Lloyd, conductor

Label: Albany
Year: 1988-89

 

 

 

A missing aspect of the 20th-Century symphony is filled out with the music of George Lloyd.

Not for everyone, especially those who like the crunchier psychological aspect of that era, yet Lloyd has much to offer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Lloyd recordings HERE!