Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) has long struggled to rise above the influences of Dmitri Shostakovich. Her earlier symphonies are virtual pastiches of Shostakovich with hints of Prokofiev sprinkled here and there. They were clear knockoffs. The works on this disc aren’t. They show a definite evolution away from the two mighty Russians even though their influence is not gone entirely. Zwilich’s Symphony No. 4 “The Gardens” for Chorus, Children’s Choir, and Orchestra opens with an unmistakable nod toward Shostakovich’s 13th Symphony (which also is a cantata), but what follows is all Zwilich. The symphony centers on the importance of plants in our lives, beginning with a list of endangered plants sung in their Latinate names. The second movement, with its dark, captivating lyricism, has no choral elements, and the last two are full choral pieces sung around simple poems. This is clearly Zwilich’s best symphonic work to date.
The Concerto for Horn and String Orchestra is a peculiarly dour yet often interesting and dynamic piece. It begins with long melancholy lines in the strings which soon are joined by David Jolley’s horn. The only caveat here is that at times the miking on the horn is a little too close–it can rattle your woofers, depending on how loud you like your music. The final work is the Concerto for Bass Trombone, Strings, Timpani, and Cymbals, and it also has the same miking problem, this time with the trombone. Throughout, the Michigan State University Orchestra puts on a competent and truly professional performance, guided by the skillful hand of conductor Leon Gregorian. Zwilich is clearly an American post-romantic composer of considerable merit, and if you’re new to her music, this is an excellent place to start.
