Gould: Symphonettes Nos. 2-4 & Spirituals for String Choir & Orchestra

Featuring

Arthur Fagen
Grosses Wiener Rundfunkorchester
Morton Gould

Did you know?

1/7

Composer Biography

Morton Gould, an American composer, was known for being equally adept in 'serious' and 'light' music, described as a 'crossover composer well before crossover had a name'.

Composition History

The premiere of Morton Gould's 'Spirituals for Orchestra' in 1941 was described by the composer as 'the most disastrous performance you ever heard' due to a union dispute.

Composer's Artistic Vision

In 'Spirituals for Orchestra', Morton Gould aimed to capture the 'texture of this idiom' and the 'different feelings and characteristics of the folk expression' of American spirituals, rather than quoting them literally.

Composer Biography

Morton Gould received numerous accolades, including a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Album in 1967, a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1995.

Notable Performances

The 'Latin-American Symphonette' was staged as a ballet titled 'Parranda' by the San Francisco Ballet in 1947, remaining in their repertoire until 1952.

Compositional Technique

Morton Gould's Symphonettes Nos. 2 and 3 incorporate the vernacular of jazz and swing, while Symphonette No. 4, the 'Latin-American Symphonette', draws its character from Latin-American idioms and dance forms.

Composition History

The term 'symphonette' was coined by Morton Gould as an attempt to Americanize and modernize 'sinfonietta', linking it to contemporary words like 'kitchenette' and 'dinette'.