Product Review

This disc shows Rubbra (1901-86) becoming more mature on one hand (Symphony No. 2 of 1937), and on the other, returning to more experiments in tonality than most other composers of his generation (Symphony No. 6 of 1954). The disc starts off with Symphony No. 6, which is much more user-friendly. It's more tonal, more engaging in lyrical ideas; yet these ideas do not draw from folk-music sources. It only alludes to them obliquely, then moves on. Symphony No. 2 avoids folk-music sources altogether and is more of an experiment in polyphonic patterns. It's quite an intense work; it's also quite brilliant. --Paul Cook