Composer: George Whitefield Chadwick
Work: Symphonic Sketches
Performers: Unspecified
Label/Year: Reference Recordings 2002
Grade: B
In Chadwick’s “Symphonic Sketches,” the composer seems to be caught in a lovers’ spat between Brahms and Wagner – with a dash of American pastoral nostalgia thrown in for good measure. While this might result in a musical gumbo that’s more ‘everything bagel’ than ‘fine dining,’ there’s a certain audacity to Chadwick’s approach that’s as refreshing as a slap in the face with a wet fish.
However, like a novice juggler on a unicycle, Chadwick occasionally wobbles under the weight of his own ambition. The melodic lines flirt with brilliance, but often end up like a teenage romance – full of promise but lacking in follow-through. Still, for those who appreciate a bit of musical chaos theory, this album is a curiously charming romp through Chadwick’s creative tumult. It’s like a Jackson Pollock painting – messy, confusing, but undeniably fascinating.
