Both works on this short CD are written in an immediately
approachable idiom that is most appealing. Both, also, are carefully
and successfully crafted in their own ways.
Chicago-born Ernst Bacon was of Austro-American
parentage. He was a pupil of Bloch in composition and Goossens
in conducting; his Symphony in D minor of 1932 won a Pulitzer
Award. Recordings of his works have appeared on CRI and New World
Records.
Although perhaps best known for his songs, this
Violin Sonata is a thoroughly confident affair, given here in
a most committed performance by Greening-Valenzuela and Walker.
The violinist has an expressive, but mot distracting, vibrato
and a strong sense of line that suits this music perfectly. In
addition, Greening-Valenzuela’s sweet top register is well-captured
in the first movement. The Allegretto is probably the most successful
part of the Sonata. Playful and with a vital rhythmic interplay
between the two instruments, it is immediately appealing and does
not outstay its welcome (6’29).
Copland’s influence is audible in the Lento in
the delicate and sparse writing (Greening-Valenzuela uses a ‘grainy’
tone effectively at times here). However, the overall impression
is of a distinctive, if conservative, voice. Interested readers
may wish to follow a link to www.ernstbacon.org
for further details about this composer.
The name of Rochester-born David Diamond is better
known, although perhaps admittedly not by much outside the USA.
The championship of Leonard Bernstein can’t have done any harm
to his cause, State-side, though. Diamond spent some time in Paris,
where he established links with the likes of Milhaud, Roussel
and even his hero, Ravel. As a student of Sessions and Boulanger,
it is hardly surprising that his works are beautifully and confidently
assembled. For more information on Diamond, including work-list
and discography: www.peermusic.com/classical/Diamond.htm).
The Chaconne is quite a remarkable work
and, whatever the appeal of the Bacon, it is the Diamond that
provides this disc’s true musical worth. Diamond’s output was
quite large and here we find a composer who really is deserving
of our attention. The harmonic language used is immediately identifiable
as ‘American’ (try the lyrical Introduction, for example). The
Chaconne, despite the many moods necessitated by the variation
form, is all of a piece. It falls neatly into six main sections,
preceded by an Introduction and followed by a Cadenza and a (very
exciting) Coda, and tracked accordingly here. Greening-Valenzuela
suavely characterises the various variations.
A pity the recording is not more flattering to
the piano, for John Walker is evidently an experienced and more
than just attentive accompanist. But the piano sound can lack
depth; this CD is a transfer of a 1987 LP (the original session
tapes have been lost), which may help to explain this. Someone
was a bit over-happy with the reverb button on occasion, too.
Nevertheless (and despite the short playing time)
this remains a fascinating disc, especially for the Diamond.
Colin Clarke
James Greening-Valenzuela
(violin); John Walker (piano).