Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 4; Suite from Merry Mount; Lament for Beowulf (1994)

About this title: Music is not good because it's innovative any more than music is bad if it's conservative. Music is good if it's moving and well-written and bad if it's neither of those things. So what about the music of Howard Hanson? His Requiem Symphony is certainly moving and it's clearly well-written. His Serenade for flute, harp and strings is certainly lyrical and it's clearly evocative. His Lament for Beowulf is certainly expressive and it clearly aims to be awe-inspiring. His Pastorale for oboe, harp and strings is certainly just as lyrical and evocative as his Serenade. And his Suite from his opera ... read more

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 4, Op 34 "The Requiem"
2. Serenade for flute, harp & strings, Op. 35
3. Lament for Beowulf for chorus & orchestra, Op. 25
4. Pastorale for oboe & piano (or harp & strings), Op. 38
5. Merry Mount, suite from the opera, Op. 31

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.