Celebration for orchestra is the opening track on the first instalment
of Chandos’s new cycle of orchestral music by Richard Rodney Bennett. It is a splendidly
vibrant, up-tempo piece, that has many nods to William Walton in its rhythmic
and melodic interest.
The work was commissioned by the
Maryland Symphony Orchestra in 1991 as a ‘celebration of its 10th
Anniversary Season.’ It is dedicated to ‘the founders, subscribers, and musicians’
of that institution. The work’s premiere was given at Hagerstown, Maryland on 14
March 1992 with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra founding artistic director
Barry Tuckwell conducting.
It is difficult to define the
form of this short work. On the one hand it is like a little overture, on the other
hand, Richard Bratby (CD liner notes) has described it as ‘a miniature concerto
for orchestra, somewhere between a fanfare and a comedy overture in the
bustling manner of Walton’s Johannesburg
Festival Overture (1956).’ This is immediately apparent from the ‘brassy
swagger, soaring melody, and an invigorating, distinctly American rhythmic kick
in just over four exuberant and brilliantly scored minutes.’ In addition, the
orchestration is a masterclass of variety, interest and exuberance.
The Gramophone (January 2018) reviewer Edward Seckerson notes that ‘First
up, Bennett arrives disguised as William Walton …whose wiry string figures and angular
syncopations raise the question: is this a tribute or an impersonation…’ Seckerson
concludes that ‘either way, it is very knowing and virtuoso, and does exactly what
it says in the title.’
Nick Barnard reviewing this CD considered
that Richard Rodney Bennett was ‘at his most overtly brilliant in Celebration…This brief work contains all
of the Bennett fingerprints of vigorous music with a distinctly jazz-derived
harmonic and rhythmic slant. If one was being harsh you might say this is the
least individual work presented here but that is just to demonstrate the range
of Bennett’s style from abstractly serious, to impressionistic and
programmatic. It also shows his particular brilliance at being able to write
hugely enjoyable occasional music…it certainly sounds as though the performers
here are having a ball!’ (MusicWeb
International,1 March 2018)
Richard Bratby in the CD liner
notes, reminds the listener of an interview with the composer in 1988 when he
was asked ‘what motivated him to write music.’ Bennett replied that ‘I want to
bring some people something beautiful, which will stimulate their imaginations’
and added that ‘I want to give players something which is a joy to play’. In Celebration this aim is amply achieved.
Celebration can be found on Chandos CHSA 5202. Other works on this
CD include the Symphony No.3, the Marimba Concerto, the Sinfonietta and Summer
Music. John Wilson and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra give an enthusiastic
and vibrant performance of this dynamic overture (and the other works in this
CD).
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