American Impressionism

A disk in Naxos's American Classics series which features orchestral music by the relatively little known Charles Griffes. He died from pneumonia aged only 35 in 1920 before producing any defining magnum opus but he did produce beautifully distinctive miniatures such as those featured here. Perhaps the most obvious influence at firts hearing is that of Debussy and to a lesser extent Ravel. but the Russian school of composers like Mussorgsky and Scriabin is also present as an influence as is post romantic Germany. Griffes blended these characteristics to produce his own voice. The works here reflect a passion for verse and as well as three song settings, other pieces have an obvious literary link. The performers are the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by JoAnn Falletta. Titles are The White Peacock, Three Poems Of Fiona McCleod ( sung by soprano Barbara Quintiliani ), Bacchanale, Clouds, Three Tone Pictures, Poem for Flute and Orchestra ( soloist Carol Wincenc ) and The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan, which is the nearest Griffes came to a "greatest hit".