Dumbarton Oaks (1937-38). Igor Stravinsky /tepidity?/

Image via WikipediaAfter immersing myself several years ago in American classical music of the 1920s, I ended up like the later Americana phase of Aaron Copland more than I would have ever thought. Something about how modernism was later put to use for social purposes, albeit in a constrained manner. Although I suppose cynics would say that Copland himself was a cynic or at best an opportunist.

On the other hand, I just don't like the modernism of Igor Stravinsky. I've listened to a fair amount of his music and I can't find anything I really want to hear again. Just to clarify my modernist credentials, that's less true for me with Schoenberg and certainly not true with Webern.

So one pertinent sentence from Out West Arts on an LA Philharmonic concert caught my attention:

The show also featured Stravinsky’s “Dumbarton Oaks” concerto, a bit of tepid Americana à la Copland that didn’t help matters either.

Since I haven't heard this in years, I quickly found a Stravinsky-conducted version on lala:

Stravinsky & Prokofiev Conduct...

And my take? Tepid Americana.

So it's back to Copland's El Salón México for me, via a Lalo Schifrin jazz arrangement. In particular, I like the ride cymbal although others may find the whole thing tepid:

El Salon Mexico - Lalo Schifri...

Comments

[Davei]

I had the privilege of performing Dunbarton Oaks Concerto with the faculty at the FSU Music School in the concert done in memory of Stravinsky after his passing. I loved the piece; and I heard Peter Eotvos conduct it with the New World Symphony several years ago in Miami, and still loved it.

[Davei]

I had the privilege of performing Dunbarton Oaks Concerto with the faculty at the FSU Music School in the concert done in memory of Stravinsky after his passing. I loved the piece; and I heard Peter Eotvos conduct it with the New World Symphony several years ago in Miami, and still loved it.

[Charles D]

The recording you cited was rather poor in quality. You might have a better opinion of the piece from the Paavo Jarvi version (http://www.lala.com/#album/1657606138229424594).

Of Stravinsky's neo-classical works, this is not my favorite. My fave is Symphony of Psalms (http://www.lala.com/#album/504684633419841520) written a few years earlier.