Celtic Fantasies
see end of review for track listing
Rosemary Tuck (piano), Richard Bonynge (piano)
rec. Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset, UK, 9-11 October 2009
NAXOS 8.572775 [78.03]
William Vincent Wallace was born in Ireland and travelled widely during
his youth - founding Australia’s first music festival and music
academy during a stay there. He also visited the Caribbean and South
America on his way to New Orleans and New York, all the while making
quite a name for himself as a performer and composer.
Back in England he composed the opera Maritana,
which was a tremendous success; yet his second opera Matilda
found a colder reception, with the fickle public’s tastes having
changed. He returned to America, where he was celebrated and dedicated
himself to composing primarily piano works and songs. It was during
this period that he brought out his first, popular, set of arrangements
of Scottish and Irish melodies, which he then continued producing throughout
the rest of his life. Moving back to England in 1857, he produced his
third opera, Lurline.
This was again highly acclaimed, yet when his following three operas
once again fell foul of changes in taste, he turned to Paris, where
he lived out his remaining days.
In total around 200 piano works came from his fertile pen, about a quarter
of which were based upon traditional Irish and Scottish music; in which
genre he had been immersed as a child by his musical family.
The arrangements presented here by Rosemary Tuck often link two different
melodies, whether dance tunes, songs, jigs or marches; Wallace had arranged,
interwoven and combined them into piano fantasies, sometimes in the
form of variations.
One can well comprehend the popularity of these works, particularly
in America, given the inclusion of some much-loved and well-known tunes
such as Ye Banks and Braes, the Blue Bells of Scotland,
the Yellow Haired Laddie and even Home Sweet Home, which
Wallace here turns into a grandiose and unsentimental piece. The arrangements
are all highly impressive - intriguing and well-crafted. The performances
on this disc all do the works and composer justice, although I did rather
feel that the boisterous and fun The Weary Pund o' Tow and There's
Nae Luck About This House, which almost foreshadows Percy Grainger,could
be a bit more lively and effervescent. The four-handed Ye Banks and
Brae, in which Rosemary Tuck is joined by Richard Bonynge, is particularly
spectacular, making this altogether a satisfying and enjoyable release.
Em Marshall-Luck
Previous review: Byzantion
Track listing
The Yellow Hair'd Laddie and Whistle and I'll Come
to You, My Lad [3:37]
Brilliant Fantasia on My Nanny, O! and My Ain Kind Dearie
and Bonnie Dundee [5:13]
The Gloomy Night is Gathering Fast and The Lass o' Gowrie
[5:23]
Go Where the Glory Waits Thee and Love's Young Dream [3:31]
When Ye Gang Awa' Jamie [2:56]
The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls and Fly Not Yet
[3:36]
Desmond's Song [4:56]
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms and An Irish
Melody [3:04]
The Blue Bells of Scotland [3:44]
Fantaisie brillante de Salon pour piano sur des Melodies Ecossaises:
Roy's Wife and We're a' Noddin' [4:30]
John Anderson My Jo and Thou Hast Left Me Forever, Jamie
[3:46]
The Weary Pund o' Tow and There's Nae Luck About This House
[3:10]
Flow On, Thou Shining River and Nora Creina [4:03]
Maggie Lauder [2:43]
Rondino on the Scotch Melody Bonnie Prince Charlie [3:03]
Kinloch of Kinloch and I'm O'er Young to Marry Yet [3:24]
Scots Wha Hae [4:46]
Home Sweet Home - Ballade [4:51]
Ye Banks and Braes [3:36]
Auld Robin Gray and The Boatie Rows [4:12]
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