Parry

Symphony No. 4; Suite moderne – excerpts; Proserpine

BBC National Chorus of Wales & Orchestra/rumon Gamba

Chandos CHAN 10994 74:59 mins

From a speedy glance, this Chandos release timed for the centenary of ★ubert Parry’s death might give the impression of sweeping out the cupboard. Drawn entirely from unpublished material edited by Parry expert Jeremy Dibble, these premiere recordings embrace two lighter works and the original version of a symphony the composer extensively revised. None of the pieces, however, are the musical equivalent of dust. The little ballet with chorus, Proserpine, and the selection from Suite moderne (modern, that is, in 1886) are immensely appealing, variously graced with gamboling woodwinds, airy textures, and some of Parry’s fetching, long-legged melodies. Both works also highlight the refined tones of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in performances perfectly gauged by Rumon Gamba to match the music’s elegant charms.

The Symphony of 1889, considerably reworked and tautened 20 years later, needs and gets greater muscle. This is Parry in his Brahmsian mode, particularly in the sturdy, often stern first movement, with intimations of future Elgar slipped in, pre-echoes also evident in the graceful scherzo, later replaced (Elgar indeed was in the audience at its first performance). The Symphony’s revised edition, recorded by Chandos in 1990, may be stronger overall (the first movement’s new reflective coda is particularly fine), though it would be a poor soul who didn’t feel stirred in the 1889 version by Parry’s characteristic mix of serious European purpose and hearty British optimism – a quality aptly reflected by Gamba’s forces in the blazing final pages. Is there a Brexit parable here? Geoff Brown PERFORMANCE

RECORDING