Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 2; Lux Aeterna; Mosaics

An American Romantic

Howard Hanson (1896 -- 1981) served as the first director of the Eastman School of Music from 1924 -- 1964 while composing extensively in a romantic style. Gerard Schwartz and the Seattle Symphony recorded Hanson's seven symphonies together with other orchestral compositions for the Delos label in the late 1980's -- early 1990's. The budget-priced Naxos label has reissued the recordings as part of its series of American music, called "American Classics". This series is an excellent way get to know American music. The Schwartz/Seattle Symphony recordings of Hanson recordings offer a good introduction to this composer. Schwarz has long been a champion of American music.

Lush, romantic, and somewhat conventional, Hanson's music has fallen out of favor. But it still can be enjoyed. This CD includes his most famous work,, the Symphony No. 2, "Romantic", composed in 1930 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This is a lush sinuous work in three movements sharing a common theme. The symphony makes heavy use of brass chorales in the manner of Sibelius. The work is most famous for the anthem-like passage which appears as the second theme of the first movement and also forms the basis for the second movement. The music traditionally is played at the Interlachen Center for the Arts and has also been used, sometimes without respect to copyright, in Hollywood movies. Hanson and the Seattle Orchestra offer a full-voiced idiomatic performance of this symphony, especially in the long climactic crescendo with cymbals and brass near the end of the final movement. Following this big crescendo, Schwarz has the orchestra die away into a whisper. Schwartz offer a committed performance of this famous piece in this 1988 recording.

The CD also includes two shorter orchestral works from earlier and latter stages of Hanson's career. Hanson composed "Lux Aeterna" in 1921 while he was a student in Rome. Hearing this work after the "Romantic" symphony, one can already hear the characteristics of Hanson's style. This work includes an extensive part for solo viola, performed here by Susan Gulkis Assadi. The music alternates slow heavily orchestrated passages with faster, lighter scored and more lyrical sections. As does the "Romantic" symphony, this piece gradually builds to a huge climax before fading away in a quiet close. Although it has some moments, I did not find this early work effective. The recording dates from 1994.

I enjoyed the other short piece on this CD, "Mosaics" composed in 1958 composed for the Cleveland Orchestra and George Szell and recorded in 1992. As does the "Romantic" symphony, "Mosaics" takes and varies a small musical phrase over the course of a single movement of about twelve minutes. The music begins tautly and ominously with a rumbling theme deep in the bass. The work is collage-like in character, as befitting its title and ultimately develops into an endearing dance-like theme with light, lilting orchestration.

This music is conservatively written and accessible. Hanson's Romantic Symphony will appeal to listeners who favor a traditional musical style. The CD will also appeal to listeners who want to explore the breadth of classical music composed by Americans.

Total time: 57:06

Robin Friedman