JOHN McKENNA (tenor) THE PHILHARMONIC ENSEMBLE: John Francis (flute); David Martin (violin); Frederick Riddle (viola); James Whitehead (violoncello); Marie Korchinska (harp)
Despite the fact that Max Reger, the Bavarian composer, died in 1916 at the age of forty-three, he had already written prolifically in every branch of composition, except opera. Most of Reger's music is written in a highly involved contrapuntal style showing great imagination and technical mastery. He excelled as a composer of organ and chamber music. Among his chamber works are the Serenade for flute, violin, and viola and the Trio for violin, viola, 'cello, forming Op. 77. The Serenade, no less than the trio, is a refined and graceful work unusually simple in structure and light in texture.
6.10 ENSEMBLE
Suite en rocaille for flute, violin, viola, violoncello, and harp, Op. 84
Florent Schmitt i. Sans hate; 2. Anime ; 3. Sans lenteur; 4. Vif
(First Broadcast Performance in England)
Florent Schmitt, the French composer, was born three years before Max Reger. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire under, among others, Massenet and Faure. In 1900 Schmitt won the Grand Prix de Rome. 'A leading feature of his work', says a French critic, 'is a strength which sometimes produces violence and even brutality. On the other hand. the gentler side is not lacking; he can point tenderness, sorrow, and despair: and his work at times recalls the desolation of certain pages of Walt Whit-man.'