BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Martyn Brabbins conductor
LYRITA SRCD451
Psalm 23 is an early (1904) work, and previous recordings had left me unconvinced of its merits. It starts impressively with a ponderous march, but thereafter the music remains…stubbornly ponderous.
After five minutes momentum has faltered: the agnostic Brian seems uninspired by the text, and occasional flashes of originality do not compensate for a lack of real melodic or rhythmic invention.
Passages the notes characterise as ‘wonderfully supple’ and ‘ethereal’ strike me as dutiful note-spinning, while an overwrought tenor solo leads to a rather forced climax, and a return to the opening march. Clearly, still, not one for me.
From 1905 By the Waters of Babylon is more successful. This time march rhythms lend the music a sinister tension, although by halfway that tension is slackening; happily, the melodic invention is interesting and effective, although after 19 minutes the music again seems to me to be treading water.
However, the (baritone’s) solo is more convincing, and the music works itself up to a startlingly angry climax – and then pretty much just stops. Rodney Newtons reconstruction of Brian’s idiom is entirely convincing. If not a complete success, it is definitely worth reviving.
Doctor Merryheart (1912) nearly has the makings of a popular hit, being packed with brilliant colour and invention equal to the works of Strauss in Brian’s sights. But in his lifelong determination to avoid the obvious, the proportions and pacing of the middle variations are oddly unvaried, though bar by bar always fascinating; only in the brief coda does Brian finally reveal a genuine toe-tapping ‘fife-and-drum’ tune and a rousing climax – that has gone before it has begun.
Doctor Merryheart richly rewards home listening, and Brabbins rattles through it with vigour, though a rather swimmy acoustic sometimes blurs detail.
John Pickard’s booklet notes are excellent, but at 57 minutes the duration feels a little skimpy. Confirmed Brianites will need this disc – others should maybe sample first.
Review by Kevin Mandry