Negro Folk Symphony

Abstract

The main event in this odd grab bag of pieces is Stokowski's 1963 recording of the Negro Folk Symphony of African-American composer William Levi Dawson; Stokowski premiered this piece in Philadelphia in 1934. In spite of the common criticism that Stokowski gave more first performances -- and fewer second performances -- than any other conductor, the Dawson Negro Folk Symphony was a work that Stokowski frequently programmed throughout his career. Nevertheless, this 1963 recording with the American Symphony Orchestra appears to be the only surviving one Stokowski made of it. Stokowski's is an accomplished, respectful and colorful interpretation, if a little rough at the edges; it is nonetheless a work well suited to his tastes as conductor. The only other recording of this work, on Chandos with Neeme Järvi and the Detroit Symphony, is a more stable representation of the symphony as a work. Likewise, the Brahms Serenade in D here with the Symphony of the Air is the only complete Stokowski performance known, though he did record the fourth-movement Minuetto with Philadelphia in 1934. It is a bright and well-coordinated performance, and while it probably won't unseat anyone's favorites in this work, Stokowski was noted for his affinity with Brahms -- it is an enjoyable performance and a nice document of how Stokowski handled Brahms' First Serenade.