Still, the composer himself lists as his greatest influence even above respighi, with whom hanson. Then its back to romantic second theme, more mood swings until after a short. In 1944, he won a pulitzer prize for his symphony no. Adagio allegro moderato from howard hansons hanson, h music of howard hanson, vol. The two seconds have such affinities for me that i find if i get the main theme of hansons second playing in my head, it often morphs into. Violin concerto by elma oliveira, howard hanson, samuel barber, leonard slatkin, st. Hanson was born in wahoo, nebraska to swedish parents, hans and hilma eckstrom hanson. Concerning my second symphony, as the subtitle implies, it. I was not familiar with hansons music before hearing the 2nd and i was impressed. Kolio plachkov has been with the colorado symphony since 2011, as an associate principalthird french horn. Slatkin and the st louis symphony also include a very welldone performance of howard hansons 2nd symphony, the romantic, dating from 1930. Winner of the american academys first rome prize three years earlier, hanson was an upand. Oct 20, 2011 hence naxos rerelease of gerard schwarz and the seattle symphonys hanson symphonies under the american classics series is a welcome event. A true neoromanticist at heart, hanson spent his student years in.
American series georgia symphony orchestra timothy verville. In 2016 waddell cofounded new horizons chamber orchestra to provide an. These works are also probably still under in the u. Premiered in 1930 by the boston symphony orchestra, howard hansons symphony no. The lyrical, haunting second theme of the first movement has become known as the. When at symphony hall watching the orchestra, its also fun to look for the moments when a whole section plays together. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of american classical music. Hanson, howard all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and are thus subject to immediate deletion. The merry mount suite, mosaics, and the piano concerto are the most enjoyable performances on discs 3 and 4. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, carol rosenberger, seattle symphony, new york chamber symphony symphonies no. Our listening activity focuses on the first and the third movements of hansons. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and ardent champion of american classical music. This decade was a grim period for most americans, as it claimed both the great depression and the cusp of world war i.
The piece is a terrific showpiece for an orchestras principal horn player. Gerard schwartz and the seattle symphony recorded hanson s seven symphonies together with other orchestral compositions for the delos label in the late 1980s early 1990s. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, seattle symphony, new. Nov 30, 2011 american composer howard hanson s 18961981, the symphonies. Howard hansons music has been described as part of the neoromantic movement in.
Oct, 20 musicologist walter simmons on hansons symphony no. The frequent classification of howard hanson as a neoromantic composer is certainly not without merit, though the case is perhaps disproportionately affected by the overwhelming success of his second symphony, which has maintained a stronger foothold in the canon than any of his other works. The symphony was commissioned by the boston symphony orchestra for the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and the work premiered in boston on november 28, 1930. Howard hanson gerard schwarz, seattle symphony, new york. Listen to your favorite songs from hanson, h music of howard hanson, vol. The episodic theme, influenced by the principal theme, also takes an important part in this section. Gerard schwartz and the seattle symphony recorded hansons seven symphonies together with other orchestral compositions for the delos label in the late 1980s early 1990s. Hanson romantic symphony conducted by the composer, 1939. William grant stills afroamerican symphony also premiered in 1930, and hansons nearcontemporary, randall thompson, began his own second symphony that year, which hanson and his band premiered in 1932.
A few works emerged from hanson s pen during the remaining three and onehalf years of his life, including two heard on this recording, the a cappella motet. The barber concertos subtle nuances are brought out with beauty and grace, and the firey third movement is well executed. The symphony was commissioned by the boston symphony orchestra for the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and the work. The hanson symphony is wonderfully expressed with the beauty of st louiss strings and the warmth and power of its brass section. Hanson, howard, gerard schwarz, seattle symphony orchestra. In three colorful movements, the symphony has a heartonsleeve lyricism that has endeared it to audiences normally fearful of 20th century music. The second movement, andante con tenerezza, opens and closes with one of. The first symphony, alongside the second which is included, with nos. It was first performed at the 1977 interlochen summer music camp by the international youth orchestra with singers made up of other students. Hansons final symphonic work, his acknowledged valedictory musical statement and a moving meditation on morality, was the symphony no. It journeys from turbulence to the simplicity of resolution, in a way both characteristic and also deeply moving. Youll find a wide selection of howard hanson sheet music, songbooks, and music books at sheet music plus. I have a question for anyone who might know about the connection between john williamss score to e. The american series is an initiative of the georgia symphony orchestra to explore the.
The northern, nordic sound of the orchestra is not merely limited to scandinavia, as american composer howard hanson demonstrates in the two works on this album. Bruckners first use of the horn is in the mass in c. Louis symphony under leonard slatkin a popular concert work which is the epitome of the twentiethcentury symphony that could have been written by an american. Adagio for stringsagnus dei with the gso chamber chorus copland. Violin concerto to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Samuel barber eastmanrochester symphony orchestra, howard hanson.
Selections from suite for viola and small orchestra. In contrast to the angular stravinskian and americanainfluenced sounds that dominated american concert music prior to world war ii, hanson wrote in an unabashedly romantic idiom influenced by his nordic roots. The seventh symphony by howard hanson, subtitled a sea symphony, is a choral symphony commissioned by the national music camp in 1974 to commemorate its fiftieth season at interlochen, michigan in 1977. It was first performed at the 1977 interlochen summer music camp by the international youth orchestra with singers made up of other students, staff and faculty. I was familiar with howard hanson by name only, not really familiar at all with his works. The american series is an initiative of the georgia symphony orchestra to explore the rich tapestry of american music.
The sound of the orchestral horn was an intimate part of richard strauss growing up. American series georgia symphony orchestra timothy. Premiered in 1930 by the boston symphony orchestra, howard hanson s symphony no. It is good to welcome the second delos double, grouping the symphonies of howard hanson, and his concertante and orchestral works, in these magnificently played and recorded performances from gerard schwarz and his fine seattle orchestra, with its superb body of strings. Hence naxos rerelease of gerard schwarz and the seattle symphonys hanson symphonies under the american classics series is a welcome event. 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. Howard hansons music has been described as part of the neoromantic movement in music which endeavored to continue the traditions of the romantic era into the 20th century. Excerpts from hansons second symphony were used to accompany several exterior sequences. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Purpose of this thread is to ask you for your recommendation of these symphonies whether recorded as a complete cycle or as individual ones. Born in wahoo, nebraska, howard hanson 18961981 did much to promote american music, and not just his own. Born in wahoo, nebraska, howard hanson 18961981 did much to promote. A few works emerged from hansons pen during the remaining three and onehalf years of his life, including two heard on this recording, the a cappella motet. It shares a key and a good number of ideas with sibelius first symphony, with a craggy, brooding opening movement and a broad finale enclosing a melodious slow movement that feels like nothing more than an interlude. Samuel barber eastmanrochester symphony orchestra, howard hanson symphony no. As director for 40 years of the eastman school of music, he built a highquality school and provided opportunities for commissioning and performing american music. Hanson was born in wahoo, nebraska to swedish parents, hans and hilma eckstrom. On disc 2, you have got to listen to the 2nd movement of the 3rd symphony, arguably, the most romantic of all of hanson s works, and brilliantly performed by schwartz et al. Howard hanson the classical composers database musicalics. American composer howard hansons 18961981, the symphonies. This multiyear program includes performances by all organizational ensembles. Plachkov is also a member of the guest horn faculty at the fairbanks summer arts festival in alaska, and rocky ridge music center in estes park, colorado.
Now its time to listen to hansons symphony keeping ears open for any solos or soli sections. Hanson s final symphonic work, his acknowledged valedictory musical statement and a moving meditation on morality, was the symphony no. An american composer, conductor and teacher, howard hanson was an. The symphony orchestra school of arts and sciences university. Howard hanson was among the first twentieth century american composers to achieve widespread prominence. Ive been listening to the symphony quite a lot lately and cant help noticing that the third movement in particular bears a striking resemblance to the last reel of e. Complete symphonies, an album by howard hanson, seattle symphony chorale, seattle symphony orchestra, gerard schwarz on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Howard harold hanson october 28, 1896 february 26, 1981 was an american composer. Old american songs with the gso chorus program notes. Howard hanson, gerard schwarz, seattle symphony hanson. After graduating from northwestern university at the age of 19, he. Bassoon 1, bassoon 2, cello, clarinet 1 in bb, clarinet 2 in bb, contrabass, contrabassoon, english horn, flute 1, flute 2, harp, horn 1 in f, horn 2 in f, horn 3 in f, horn in f, oboe 1, oboe 2, percussion, piccolo in db, timpani and more. Howard hanson sheet music and music books at sheet music plus.
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