REGINALD PAUL (Pianoforte)
THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY Orchestra ; Leader,
S. KNEALE KELLEY
Conducted by THE COMPOSER
Overture, ' Carnival '
THE Carnival Overture, which was produced in 1894, fulfils the promise of its title in so joyous a spirit that very little analysis of it can be required. It begins at once with a vigorous tune on the whole strength of the orchestra, hurrying along on swift feet. A broader melody played first by woodwinds and strings, breaks in on the first tune, but very soon the bustling measure of the opening returns. Again a more slowly moving melody breaks in on it, this time in very quiet mood, but it also gives way quite soon to the carnival spirit of the opening. Then there is a new section at a more moderate speed, in which there is an organ part, to be replaced at need by the orchestral instruments. But the merriment of the beginning returns finally to wind up the Overture in the most boisterous good spirits. REGINALD PAUL
Prelude and Fugue, Op. 62
ORCHESTRA
Suite, 'The Seasons'
This Suite of orchestral pieces is made up of music originally written for a ballet. Glazounov has more than once deserted the realm of purely symphonic music to compose ballets, and this is the best known of them. Melodious and graceful throughout, it is all happily descriptive of the scenes set before us-Winter, with its four variations of Hoar-Frost, Ice, Hail, and Snow ; the Spring comes next, and in her train are Zephyrs, Birds, and Flowers, which group themselves, in the ballet, affectionately about her. There is a dance of roses, and little solo dances for Spring herself, for a Bird, but at the approach of the warmth and of Summer, all the attendants of Spring vanish.
The third scene is Summer, a cornfield waving under a soft breath of wind. There is a waltz of Poppies and Cornflowers and then naiads appear, holding veils which represent Water; their dance is a flowing Barcarolle, and Summer comes to an end with a variation presenting the Htrs of Corn. It is interrupted for a moment by the sound of open-air music, and at the end Fauns and Satyrs appear playing rustic pipes. They engage in a battle for the Grain, but it is rescued by the Zephyr. The last movement begins with a Bacchanale of Autumn in which all the Seasons take part. It is a merry and vigorous movement in which first Winter, then Spring, and Summer, have dances of their own before a little slow movement presents something of the wistfulness of Autumn. Then a Satyr has a variation, and a merry dance of Fauns and Satyrs under a rain of dead leaves leads to the short apotheosis which closes the ballet.
REGINALD PAUL
Gavotte, Op. 49, No. 3 Idylle, Op. 103
Etude in E Minor, Op. 31, No. 2
ORCHESTRA
Poeme Lyrique, Op. 12