Eastman Showcase 2005
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Eastman Legends on CD
This fall's CD releases include several that feature names (and music) familiar to Eastman alums. Howard Hanson, of course, led the School from 1924-1964 and established its national profile, while maintaining his reputation as one of America's prominent composers. He recorded many of his works at Eastman, and many of these Mercury "Living Presence" recordings from the 1950s and 1960s are collected on a new 3-CD set (Mercury 475-6867): Hanson's first three symphonies, the Merry Mount Suite, Lament for Beowulf, and several more pieces.
Hanson's most popular work, his "Romantic" Symphony (1930), has a sumptuous new recording on Telarc 80649, by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Of special interest is the first recording of Hanson’='s attractive Bold Island Suite, written in 1961 in homage to the island off the coast of Maine where Hanson spent his summer vacations.
Versatile classical/jazz composer Alec Wilder (1907-1980), who studied at Eastman in the 1930s, was not a formal alumnus, but definitely qualifies as an Eastman legend. Several rarely-heard works are on a selection of Wilder's music for winds and brass (Albany TROY 763): Children's Plea for Peace, first performed by the Eastman Children's Chorus in 1968; Entertainment No. 1, premiered by the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Fred Fennell in 1960; and a Fantasy for Piano and Wind Ensemble, written in 1974 for Marian McPartland. Among the performers on this CD is trumpeter Chris Gekker (BM '76), who also wrote the booklet notes.