Morton Gould’s compositions for wind ensemble are masterly, and uniformly attractive. Derivations, written for Benny Goodman, effortlessly pays loving homage to jazz and popular music, just as the Jericho Rhapsody recalls the spiritual “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” (before a particularly graphic blast of percussion represents the calamitous climax of this particular battle). The “West Point” Symphony has long been regarded as a classic in its genre, while the St. Lawrence Suite (1958) was actually nominated for a Grammy Award–the only original work for wind band ever to earn that distinction (for what it’s worth).
Gould might best be characterized as a sort of American Prokofiev, with his own special brand of “wrong note Romanticism” that involves spicing up traditional melodies and harmonies with a contemporary dose of characterful dissonance and rhythmic sophistication. It works wonderfully well, and these fine performances do him full justice. Clarinetist Stephanie Zelnick plays Derivations with plenty of verve and swagger, though the engineers have placed her too close to the microphones to flatter her tone ideally. In all other respects, however, Scott Weiss and his University of Kansas forces do themselves proud, and as a program of important wind band repertoire, this disc is self-recommending. [10/6/2011]
