CD Review – Eric Coates: Orchestral Works, Vol.4
CD Review – Eric Coates: Orchestral Works, Vol.4
BBC Philharmonic / John Wilson
Chandos CHAN 20292 [TT 61:36]
Any doubts I might have had about the last two John Wilson albums reviewed here not being of great interest to some readers does definitely not apply to this latest release. It is a surprise, however, to find that the first album in the series was all of five years ago.
So here we are again: the dynamic conductor with one of Europe's finest orchestras in more music from the pen of Eric Francis Harrison Coates (1886-1957), described as "the man who writes tunes" … and memorable ones at that.
The earliest work, from 1926, is 'The Three Bears' and probably the best-known of the composer's orchestral phantasies. Written for Coates's four-year-old son Austin, it realistically illustrates in 9½ minutes 11 tracks from the events of the children's story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 'Under the Stars' comes from two years later and prominently features an alto saxophone.
Only three of the 22 tracks are over five minutes. The longest work is 'Four Centuries', a suite conceived during the 1941 London Blitz featuring the flute of Alex Jakeman. The score also includes parts for bass clarinet, a trio of saxophones and jazz percussion. Dedicated "To my dear wife" it is in four movements: Prelude and Hornpipe. 17th Century, Pavanne and Tambourin. 18th Century, Valse. 19th Century and Rhythm. 20th Century. I enjoyed this the most.
Coates had been taken to live in London from Hucknall, Notts. when he was six-years-old, and another suite for orchestra 'From Meadow to Mayfair' (1931) is a musical autobiography. At the outbreak of war in 1939 and before he and his wife, Phyllis, were forced to move because of the bombing, he wrote the charming 'I Sing to You', first heard, on BBC Forces Radio, on 14 March 1940 – the week when wartime meat rationing came to the UK.
Completing the album are the first two pieces: 'Music Everywhere' (1948), the signature tune of Rediffusion, Britain's first independent TV and radio station; and the glamorous sounding concert waltz 'Footlights' (1939), which had its first outing as a BBC broadcast with the composer himself conducting.
There are nearly five pages of very readable liner notes by music writer and critic Richard Bratby. As someone who has had his light classical music reviews barred from another website, it is fascinating to learn that 'Four Centuries', with its Jazz-tinged ending and under pressure from the BBC, caused Sir Henry Wood to refuse performing it at the Proms.
I probably do not need to commend this release to our readers, and there may be those who find it especially valuable with some of the works (in my case: four) not being on Coates discs already in our collections. And I am pleased that Chandos have at last brought their booklet photographs of JW up to date.
© Peter Burt, June 2024