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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Frances E. Fairman III, Diurnal Thoughts, Four Works for Orchestra

Today we look at something that came out late last year, by a composer who may not be fully known but nevertheless writes music of merit. Francis E. Fairman III's Diurnal Thoughts (Navona 5863) contains four of Fairman's orchestral works: "The Fox," "Diurnal Thoughts," "New York Taxi," and "Concerto for Clarinet" (with Richard Stoltzman as soloist).

Judging by these pieces Fairman writes tonal music of a tone-poem-painting, descriptive sort, perhaps a bit on the impressionistic side, music that well could have been written 100 years ago and not seemed outlandish by contemporaries.

That having been said, there is charm in this music, and light-heartedness. Stoltzman does a fine job with the Concerto and the music is generally well-played by the Slovak Radio Symphony, the Moravian Philharmonic, and the Warsaw Philharmonic.

This may not be essential to your modern orchestral collection, but it makes for a most pleasant diversion.

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