Adolphus, Pisk, Gerschefski & McBride: Music for Orchestra
Liner Notes   Cat. No. NWCRL228     Release Date: 2010-07-01
H. Kiecki, clarinet; The Polish National Radio Orchestra; Wlodzimiertz Ormicki, conductor; Jan Krenz, conductor; Ladzistan Szostak, conductor

Milton Adolphus' Elegy, composed when he was 23, is listed as Op. 46 (it was revised in 1947 as Op. 81). Of the music, he writes, “I had no programmatic inspiration for the Elegy. That there was an inspiration is undeniable though, because I have always been moved to recording in some fashion - musical or otherwise - whatever has impressed my sight or soul. One of the earliest of such impressions is Walt Whitman's poem, 'All is Truth', which concludes:

And henceforth I will go celebrate anything I see or am And sing and laugh and deny nothing."

The first of Paul Pisk's Three Ceremonial Rites is a slow, solemn, marchlike piece in tripartite form, the middle section being introduced by solo woodwinds. The second is a highly stylized sarabande, although it is cast in the form of minuet and trio, complete with repetitions. The final rite is fast and strongly rhythmical; twice, as in a rondo form, a contrasting section, featuring a quiet oboe solo, interrupts the dance.

Fanfare, Fugato And Finale was composed when Edwin Gerschefski was interested in dissonance within the confines of classical forms. Its movements are titled simply for the outstanding characteristics of the three main parts of the work. It has aroused considerable interest because the Finale was derived by geometrically expanding the first movement of the composer's “Classic Symphony”; it was composed at the time when Gerschefski was studying with Josef Schillinger, famous for his mathematical approach to musical analysis and composition.

Robert McBride's Panorama Of Mexico was composed for the 75th anniversary of the University of Arizona. It is a combination of the composer's “sound-impression” of Mexico and a collage of the popular music rhythms of that country. March Of The Be-Bops was composed during the period when jazz was undergoing attack by the new disruptive music of that sobriquet. It is one of three McBride compositions that make use of be-bop influences for symphonic orchestras.

This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.

We have preserved the original CRI LP catalog number for this title, preceded by the prefix NWCRL, to distinguish previously unavailable back catalog titles from those later reissued by CRI on compact disc.

Polish National Radio Orchestra

Adolphus, Pisk, Gerschefski & McBride: Music for Orchestra

MP3/320 $7.99
FLAC $7.99
WAV $7.99
CD-R $7.99
CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print material or jewel case included.
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
   Liner Notes



Track Listing

Elegy
Milton Adolphus
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Three Ceremonial Rites: I. -
Paul Pisk
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Three Ceremonial Rites: II. -
Paul Pisk
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Three Ceremonial Rites: III. -
Paul Pisk
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Fanfare, Fugato and Finale
Edwin Gerschefski
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Panorama of Mexico
Robert McBride
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March of the Be-Bops
Robert McBride
Buy