Hyperion's Continuing Series...

 

of Bantock's orchestral music.

As well as nude portraiture for their cover art. Here we have Aphrodite, the titular Cyprian Goddess, which is subtitled as Symphony no. 3.

I have generally enjoyed Bantock's symphonies, and this one is no different. The tracks divide the work into five sections, and I find them all rather varied and characterful.

In this third volume from Hyperion, the brass outbursts are less pungent than the previous Pagan Symphony (BLOG), not as exotically modal or tuneful as the Celtic Symphony (BLOG), but thankfully not as meandering as the Hebridean Symphony. The Cyprian Goddess moves along fairly swiftly too, coming in under 25 minutes, allowing for a focused musical experience from Sir Granville.

Such is not the case of Dante and Beatrice, an orchestral tone poem taking inspiration from Liszt and Wagner. As I was listening, I thought about the many works based on Dante's Divine Comedy alongside the appearance and death of Beatrice. There just aren't many I wholeheartedly enjoy, showing my difficulty with late-Romanticism across this blog. Liszt's Dante Symphony and Dante Sonata (BLOG) are ones which immediately come to mind, two works which have taken me a long while to appreciate. So too, I could add Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini and William Wallace's The Passing of Beatrice (BLOG), both of which I enjoy a bit more.

Regardless, Dante and Beatrice from Bantock finds the composer in full Richard Strauss mode, where thick, swooning strings undulate endlessly, a musical style which drives me nuts. There is a bit of that in the other works on this program too, but not as rampantly as it appears in this symphonic poem.

I am not sure Bantock's Helena Variations sound out a particularly strong theme to be varied, but as a whole, I think the work works pretty well. As a dedication to one's spouse, we could all hope to do as well as the composer does here. Again, this is late-Romanticism, but in short bits and bobs, so the structure keeps me interested throughout.

With Volume 3 in Hyperion's series of orchestral music from Granville Bantock, none of the works can be found elsewhere on record. Luckily, Vernon Handley and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra do the music here great justice, offering wonderful playing as well as terrific sonics in a church location.

 

 

 

Works
The Cyprian Goddess (24.23)
Helena Variations (19.25)
Dante and Beatrice (25.00)

Performers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vernon Handley, conductor

Label: Hyperion
Year: 1995
Total Timing: 69.17

 

 

 

 

As I delve into music not elsewhere recorded, Bantock's music becomes subject to personal preference rather than worthiness.

Here, I continue to be taken with the composer's symphonic treatments, and his orchestral variations are rather well written too.

The tone poem on the other hand, does little for me. But then again, the subject of Dante and Beatrice in music rarely inspires much within me.