Little Known But Pretty Good

Given the way in which the major record labels have responded to commercial pressures in recent years ( as opposed to the ever resourceful independants )it was something of a suprise to see this release on a Universal outlet only a couple of years ago. It features Symphonies Nos 6 and 7 by Johann Wilhelm Wilms performed by Concerto Koln led from the violin by Werner Erhardt. Wilms was a German-Dutch composer whose dates, 1772 to 1847, span the period from Classical to Romantic symphonic form and his own music made that journey with his youthful work adopting Haydnesque forms and his late work taking on Romantic colours, atmospheres, shapes and melodies. The symphonies featured here are his last two and so they have more of a Romantic feel. They were neglected for some 170 years and the 7th was indeed lost for some time. Being in thw what was then relative backwater of Amsterdam must have had something to do with this state of affairs but the music stands up well to comparisons with any contemporaries. it will be interesting to see to what extent this disk provokes follow up interest. he'll never achieve the stature of a Schumann or Mendelssohn but there should be more of his work recorded.