Francis Chagrin: Renaissance Suite for string orchestra.

The Renaissance Suite (1969) by Francis Chagrin is a delightful piece of pastiche that demands to be heard in concert halls alongside the more popular realisations of 16^th/17^th century music by Peter Warlock and Ottorino Respighi. It is well written, melodically rewarding and gently crosses the boundary between authentic and modern-day arrangements.

Francis Chagrin (1905-72), whose real name was Alexander Paucker, was born in Bucharest, Romania on 15 November 1905. He studied music in his home country and later in France with Paul Dukas and Nadia Boulanger. In 1936 he settled in London, becoming by and large an ‘honorary’ British composer.

Chagrin made a major contribution to the film scores; there are over two hundred in his catalogue. This included music for adverts, cartoons and TV programmes. His best-known was written in 1955 for The Colditz Story, starring John Mills and Eric Portman. Despite being recalled for his film scores, Chagrin wrote a considerable body of ‘serious’ music, including two completed Symphonies, a piano concerto, a Romanian Rhapsody for Larry Adler and several chamber works. Chagrin was deeply involved with contemporary British composers and in 1943 he founded The Committee for the Promotion of New Music (which was later renamed Society for the Promotion of New Music). His musical style tended to be towards tonal music, sometimes influenced by French music. Some of his works lie in the cusp between ‘light’ or ‘serious.’ He always eschewed avant-garde procedures in his own music but was supportive of composers who followed this modernist path. Francis Chagrin died in Hampstead, London on 10 November 1972

The Renaissance Suite was composed in 1969 and displays Chagrin at his ‘light’ music best. The work is competently scored for strings, although I understand that a wind quartet can be added. The musical material of this suite features a satisfying mix of ‘early’ music in modern day arrangements of sixteenth century pieces. The sources remain anonymous. These may be recognised by experts of that musical era or they may be Chagrin’s own imitative invention. The four dances are ‘Intrada Marziale’, ‘Pavana a Gagliarda’, ‘Canzon’ and a ‘Rondo Giocosa.’ The most impressive movement is the Pavana with its teasing irregular phrases creating a subtle and sometimes moving appeal.

These pieces are similar in impact to Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances or Peter Warlock’s ubiquitous Capriol Suite.

In 2006 Naxos issued a recording of the Renaissance Suite on the fifth volume of its English String Music series (8.557752). Gavin Sutherland conducted the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. The CD featured music by John Ireland, Pamela Harrison, Paul Lewis, Humphrey Searle (Thomas Roseingrave transcriptions), Albert Cabazon and Percy Fletcher.

Reviewing this disc for MusicWeb International (6 August 2006) Jonathan Woolf wrote that: ‘Chagrin’s 1969 Renaissance Suite adopts a peaceable compromise between Old-Worlde and interventionist trickery. It’s not as Village Green as Rubbra’s Farnaby pieces or as affectionate as Barbirolli’s Purcell arrangements. And certainly not as explicit as Beecham’s Handelian dress. But it’s discreetly scored and has a warmly textured and attractive Pavana.’

A splendidly played performance of Francis Chagrin’s Renaissance Suite has been uploaded to YouTube.   The Arcadia High School's String Orchestra I conducted by Pin Chen. One must forgive the applause between movements.