Paul Creston (1906-1985) was a younger participant in the "flowering" of American classical music in the 1930s and 1940s. But rather than aligning himself with the nostalgic, lyrical Romanticism of Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, and Howard Hanson, Creston aligned himself with the rugged, more dynamic aspects of Modernism found in the music of Walter Piston, Peter Mennin, and Samuel Barber. These three symphonies contain none of American Romanticism's melancholia or homesickness, for example, but they do remain mostly tonal and buoyant, soaring with their own energy and inventiveness, particularly Symphony No. 3 (Three Mysteries), written in 1950. Praise must also be given to the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and conductor Theodore Kuchar for their feel for Creston's music-altogether another achievement in Naxos's American Classics series.

Tracklist:

Sym No.1, Op.20: I. With Majesty
Sym No.1, Op.20: II. With Humour
Sym No.1, Op.20: III. With Serenity
Sym No.1, Op.20: IV. With Gaiety
Sym No.2, Op.35: I. Intro And Song (Slow, With Deep Emotion - Mo
Sym No.2, Op.35: II. Interlude And Dance (Moderately Slow - Mode
Sym No.3, Op.48 ('Three Mysteries'): I. The Nativity (Lento - Al
Sym No.3, Op.48 ('Three Mysteries'): II. The Crucifixion (Adagio
Sym No.3, Op.48 ('Three Mysteries'): III. The Resurrection (Lent

UPC: 636943903421
Label: Naxos American
Release Date: 4.11.00
Format: CD

Theodore Kuchar - Symphonies Nos 1-3 (CD)