CD REVIEW
– E J MOERAN
In the Mountain Country
Rhapsodies
Overture for a Masque
Benjamin
Frith, Piano; Ulster Orchestra . JoAnn
Falletta
Naxos 8.573106
(57:06)
E J Moeran …
who he? You would not have asked
that question had you been an
English music devotee during the
first half of the 20th century.
Ernest John was born the son of a
country vicar of Irish origin at
Heston (now Hounslow), Middlesex
in 1894 and brought up in
Norfolk. His studies at the Royal
College of Music were interrupted
by WW1, during which he received
head injuries, and then became
known for his chamber and folk
compositions.
In 1934-37 he
wrote the acclaimed Symphony
in G minor (Naxos 8.555837),
with some people wondering
whether he could be another Ralph
Vaughan Williams.
He died in 1950
with his Symphony No.2
unfinished* – possibly
partly due to the demon drink
having done for him – and
his star somewhat dimmed;
although he did produce
well-received cello and violin
concertos in the early '40s.
I understand that
two pieces of church music, Services
in D and E-flat, are still
performed today. A lot of his
music is folk-flavoured and that
is evident on this album in his
first ever orchestral work In
The Mountain Country, and Rhapsody
No.1 in F major.
Pianist Benjamin
Frith plays superbly on the
17-minute Irish-sounding
mini-concerto Rhapsody in
F-sharp major. Two other
melodic works: Overture for a
Masque and Rhapsody No.2
in E-major complete the CD.
Throughout the disc the exciting
New York born conductor JoAnn
Falletta has the full measure of
the music and the Ulster
Orchestra produces some sumptuous
sounds. The recording quality is
excellent.
There is no point
lamenting what might have been
for what there is of 'E.J's'
music is too good to ignore. Well
done to Naxos for reminding us of
a forgotten significant English
composing talent with this
release, which is not new but
well worth acquiring for only
£5.99 in HMV stores or online at
http://best-cd-price.co.uk.
Peter Burt
© 2017
[*Sketches for Symphony
No.2 in E flat realised and
completed by Martin Yates on
Dutton Epoch CDLX 7281]
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