As You Like it Overture / The Tempest / Symphony No. 1 Naxos 8.559747
John Knowles Paine was one of the ‘Boston Six’, a group of important American composers active in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. His German training equipped him with considerable formal skill and he soon rose to become a pioneer of the symphonic tradition in America. Paine’s Symphony No 1 received a tremendous reception at its première on account of its attractive themes, skilful orchestration and accomplished design. The Overture As You Like It is notable for its graceful and tuneful themes, whereas Shakespeare’s Tempest is a more adventurous and powerful Lisztian tone poem.
Review:
If you have an attachment to the music of Mendelssohn and Schumann, I urge
you to hear this disc from the 19th century American composer, John Knowles
Paine. Born into a family deeply involved in music, much of his education in
that field came from time spent in Germany. Though his output was then rooted in
the traditions he learnt there, together with Foote, Chadwick, Beach, MacDowell,
and Parker, they sowed the seeds that would produce the next generation who
would embrace 20th century Americana. The disc’s most striking aspect is the
American conductor, JoAnn Falletta, who has achieved so much since arriving in
Ulster a year ago. The refinement and warmth she has brought to the strings, the
outgoing passages played with the brio of an orchestra that now believes it is
in the world premiere league. She is a fine advocate of Paine, and has a
recording of excellent quality to add to my fervent recommendation.
David Denton, David's Review Corner