Bristow's Fourth Symphony, the 'Arcadian,' is recorded here in its entirety for the first time; a 1967 recording made large cuts, reducing its length by at least ten minutes.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Henry Fry and George Frederick Bristow were the first major native-born composers of instrumental music in the United States and fierce proponents of American music.
Historical Context
Fry and Bristow, despite originating the national symphonic tradition, were largely forgotten by the 1880s due to a new generation of German-trained composers.
Compositional Technique
Fry's Niagara Symphony (1854) is scored for an unusually large percussion section, including no fewer than eleven timpani, one for every pitch in the scale except F.
Composer Biography
George Frederick Bristow, a violinist, joined the New York Philharmonic soon after its formation and later became New York City's most prominent conductor.
Compositional Technique
Fry's Niagara Symphony opens with a dissonant diminished seventh chord played by four timpani, building to a grand fanfare representing the majesty of nature.
Composition History
Bristow once quit the New York Philharmonic for 18 months in protest against the German-dominated orchestra's failure to encourage American composers.
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