Bantock: String Orchestra Recording Roundup

 

This time, I look at music from Sir Granville Bantock for String Orchestra.


1. In the Far West
2. Scenes from The Scottish Highlands

Bantock's In the Far West bases its music on Americana. I didn't realize this aspect until Swanee River appeared in the second movement, and later, snatches of Yankee Doodle in the final movement.

Bantock doesn't employ these tunes in a folk idiom either. Rather, the work exists mostly in a minor-keyed realm, driving its way through without thought of any US-based influences. Bantock then molds short segments of these familiar melodies as his own motivic material, sometimes apparent, other times hidden. This ended up being a rather interesting work, even if a Serenade seems the wrong label for the music.

Scenes from the Scottish Highlands is more overtly rustic and folk-flavored. If the scotch snaps of the opening doesn't clue the listener in, certainly the drones and tunes will, although none were familiar to me.

Both of these pieces were written for string orchestra, an ensemble type which worries me regarding a lack of color from the missing winds and brass. I didn't find any of these performances lacking in this aspect, however, and both were quite enjoyable.

I mainly know Douglas Bostock as a 'B-grade' conductor, usually leading regional or local orchestras. Certainly, the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim is not the most cohesive ensemble, where I could imagine a lusher presentation, but the relative rarity of this music is where groups like this with Bostock shine.

The Frogs of Aristophanes

I heard this work in its intended brass band iteration in another Round-Up (BLOG), but thought I would give The Frogs a try in its orchestral arrangement as well.

At 8 minutes in length, this is still a meaty enough work. Yet, I feel the music ends up more effective as a brass piece. Perhaps this is due to the sheer difficulty apparent when listening to the brass version, whereas a full symphony orchestra glides across this music with ease. It could also be the wide amount of differing timbres from an orchestra as opposed to the unique cohesivity of a brass family.

Still, I was glad to make time to hear Bantock's music in another form.

 

 

 

Recording Round-up

In the Far West
Scenes from The Scottish Highlands
  Southwest Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim
  Douglas Bostock, conductor
  CPO, 2021

The Frogs of Aristophanes
  BBC National Orchestra of Wales
  Rumon Gamba, conductor
  Chandos, 2014