Alwyn: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 (2005)

performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones (conductor)
composed by William Alwyn

"Louis' art is not hard to follow. Louis' art is not hard to swallow." ("Everybody Loves Louis" from Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim) It's not that Alwyn's a simp -- there's heart, soul, and sincerity in his music -- and it's not that Alwyn's simple -- there's more going on thematically than appears on the tonal surface. It's that Alwyn's far more interested in expressing himself so that he can be readily grasped by the listener that makes some people find him so. In his symphonies, Alwyn relentlessly ... Read More

"Louis' art is not hard to follow. Louis' art is not hard to swallow." ("Everybody Loves Louis" from Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim) It's not that Alwyn's a simp -- there's heart, soul, and sincerity in his music -- and it's not that Alwyn's simple -- there's more going on thematically than appears on the tonal surface. It's that Alwyn's far more interested in expressing himself so that he can be readily grasped by the listener that makes some people find him so. In his symphonies, Alwyn relentlessly strives to articulate powerful emotions in a wholly comprehensible way, and if his invention seems old-fashioned harmonically and antiquated structurally to some, well, tough: there's more to life than intellectual anguish. In this disc coupling the First and Third symphonies with David Lloyd-Jones leading the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Alwyn has got his sunniest face on. The tunes are memorable, forms are understandable, and the emotional impact is direct and immediate.... Read Less