Album

Barber: Adagio for Strings by Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields is an Argo CD that is a long-standing favorite from the LP catalog. Recorded in 1976, in its LP incarnation this issue went a long way toward dispelling the notion that English orchestras were too heavy in body and provincial in tone to interpret American orchestral music in an effective way. Marriner's reading of the title work is the very model of restraint, and he employs a careful building up of mood in Barber's somber masterwork that suits it to a "T." Ives' Symphony No. 3 is likewise well served, if delivered at a tempo that seems a shade quick, particularly in the last movement, "Communion." Copland's Quiet City, however, is just about perfect, featuring fine trumpet playing by Michael Laird and the generous reverberation that characterized St. John's in Smith Square, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields' longtime recording "home." Cowell's Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 10, still a relatively obscure work in 1976 but afterward gaining in frequency of performances, is interpreted with sensitivity, expansiveness, and features the strong solo work of oboist Celia Nicklin. Creston's A Rumour is not nearly as famous a work as the others, but as a propulsive and clever American orchestral miniature, it fits with the rest of the program. In terms of American orchestral literature, Barber: Adagio for Strings is about the best album Decca has ever made, and it remains a top-flight choice for any of these works, save the Ives.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Samuel Barber Composer Adagio for Strings (arr. of 2nd mvmt. of String Quartet), Op.11 Work Celia Nicklin Oboe, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Michael Laird Cornet, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
1	Adagio for Strings (arr. of 2nd mvmt. of String Quartet), Op.11	8:44			$1.49
Charles Edward Ives Composer Symphony No.3: The Camp Meeting, S.3 Work 21:25 Celia Nicklin Oboe, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Michael Laird Cornet, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
2	1.Andante: Old Folks Gatherin'	7:54			$1.49
3	2.Allegro: Children's Day	7:17			$1.49
4	3.Largo: Communion	6:14			$0.99
Aaron Copland Composer Quiet City, for English horn, trumpet, and strings Work Celia Nicklin Oboe, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Michael Laird Cornet, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
5	Quiet City, for English horn, trumpet, and strings	8:43			$1.49
Henry Cowell Composer Hymn and Fuguing Tune No.10, for oboe and strings, HC813 Work Celia Nicklin Oboe, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Michael Laird Cornet, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
6	Hymn and Fuguing Tune No.10, for oboe and strings, HC813	6:54			$0.99
Paul Creston Composer Rumor for orchestra Work Celia Nicklin Oboe, Sir Neville Marriner Conductor, Michael Laird Cornet, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra
7	Rumor for orchestra	5:55			$0.99