The fortunes of American composer George Antheil declined after his daring Ballet Mécanique, an accompaniment to a Dada film by Fernand Léger. He wrote film music, which shows up as an influence in the music on this release by the BBC Philharmonic and Finnish conductor John Storgårds. And he flirted with jazz and with major classical styles of the day, never quite finding a fully original voice again but always maintaining an appealing level of ambition. Storgårds is the latest of a diverse group of conductors (including Eugene Goossens) to champion Antheil's orchestral music, and he's not as unlikely a champion as he might seem. Finns have always been enthusiastic programmers of Russian music, and Antheil's models here are Russian: Shostakovich, principally, and to a lesser extent Prokofiev. This is true even in the case of the Symphony No. 3, subtitled "American," whose sound collages suggest that Antheil was familiar with the music of Ives by this time, but whose finale is pure Prokofiev. The Symphony No. 6 ("Delacroix," referring to programmatic inspiration by that painter's Liberty Leading the People) brings several Shostakovich symphonies to mind, which is hardly surprising: Shostakovich appeared on the cover of Time during the war and was an extraordinarily popular figure in the U.S. Probably the strongest pieces are the short ones. The opening Archipelago is in the vein of Milhaud's Brazilian pieces but is lush, with harp glissandos and a bit of everything else, where Milhaud is concise and brisk. The little Hot-Time Dance (the reference is not to Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight but to an old election-night custom) offers a Shostakovich-like clarinet theme, but here Antheil is economical and treats the little tune in a bewitching way. The BBC Philharmonic keeps up with detailed, difficult parts and what was likely unfamiliar music. This album can be recommended to anyone with an interest in American symphonic music. James Manheim
GEORGE ANTHEIL (1900-1959)
1. Archipelago (6:01)
2-5. Symphony No. 3 'American' (24:47)
6. Hot-Time Dance (American Dance Suite No. 1; Election Dance) (4:33)
7-9. Symphony No. 6 'After Delacroix' (26:12)
10. Spectre Of The Rose Waltz (4:53)
Credits :
Conductor – John Storgårds
Orchestra – BBC Philharmonic
The planets align as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, are releasing their first studio album in over twenty years, ‘Swirling’.
“We truly hope that this recording brings much joy to a planet which is so deeply in need of a spirit sound and vibration,” states saxophonist Knoel Scott. “We hope it contributes to a change in the ominous direction of man’s journey through the cosmos.”
“This new release is the Arkestra’s love offering to the world,” concludes Marshall Allen. “Beta music for a better world.”
Recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia, the new recording represents the continuation of a heartfelt rebirth of the Arkestra under Allen’s guidance since Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, gaining new generations of followers from their regular touring across the globe. With a big band line-up featuring long-standing Arkestra members including Danny Ray Thompson (RIP), Michael Ray, Vincent Chancey, Knoel Scott, Cecil Brooks, Atakatune (RIP), Elson Nascimento and Tyler Mitchell, the album is a full-blooded celebration of Sun Ra’s legacy. bandcamp.com
Tracklist :
1. Satellites Are Spinning / Lights On A Satellite 8:00
Written-By – Sun Ra
2. Seductive Fantasy 11:49
Written-By – Sun Ra
3. Swirling 7:42
Written-By – Marshall Allen
4. Angels And Demons At Play 7:05
Written-By – Sun Ra
5. Sea Of Darkness / Darkness 5:06
Written-By – Sun Ra
6. Rocket No. 9 5:00
Written-By – Sun Ra
7. Astro Black 4:51
Written-By – Sun Ra
8. Infinity / I'll Wait For You 9:18
Written-By – Sun Ra
9. Sunology 4:25
Written-By – Sun Ra
10. Door Of The Cosmos / Say 7:29
Written-By – Sun Ra
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Knoel Scott
Alto Saxophone, Electronic Valve Instrument [EVI] – Marshall Allen
Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Danny Ray Thompson
Bass – Tyler Mitchell
Congas – Stanley "Atakatune" Morgan
Cover [Original Cover Artwork By] – Lewis Heriz
Directed By [Under The Direction Of] – Marshall Allen
Drums – Wayne Anthony Smith, Jr.
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Guitar – Dave Hotep
Performer – Sun Ra Arkestra
Piano – Farid Barron
Surdo [Surdo Drums], Percussion – Elson Nascimento
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – James Stewart
Text By [Poem "Calling Planet Earth", August 1990] – Sun Ra
Trombone, Vocals – Dave Davis
Trumpet – Cecil Brooks, Michael Ray
Vocals, Violin – Tara Middleton
The Mediæval Bæbes, with their original melodies, harmony singing, and set of often electronic instruments, clearly use medieval music as a ...
