Howard Blake Orchestral Works Show Depth

This release is in honor of Howard Blake's 85th birthday. Blake has had a long and successful career both in the concert hall and in film. He's a skilled and prolific composer, with over 650 works to his credit. 

And yet to many, he's a one-hit wonder. -- "Walking on Air" from the animated classic "The Snowman." But there's so much more to this British composer. As this release demonstrates.

The release was timed for Blake's 85th birthday, but the material is much older. The works were recorded in the 1990s, with Blake serving as producer. 

I researched the tracks, but couldn't find previous listings for them. The artists are the same as an ASV Blake recording. Perhaps they were from the same sessions?

In the end, it doesn't matter. If these compositions were released earlier, they're long out of print. And thanks to SOMM, they're available now. The sound quality is very good, with plenty of detail to relish.

The collection includes Blake's Symphony No. 1 from 1967. Subtitled   "Impressions of a City," it shows Blake’s skill to set the stage with music.  And it shows his ability as an orchestrator.

The Concert Dances for Piano and Orchestra from 1992 shows Blake's skill as a performer. He both plays and conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra from the piano bench. 

The Court of Love (1979) and A Month in the Country (1992) round out the release. These are straightforward, appealing works. They're on a higher plain than British light classical music. Yet they're still quite tuneful and appealing. 

Orchestral Music by Howard Blake
Philharmonia Orchestra; Howard Blake piano and conductor
English Northern Philharmonia; Paul Daniel conductor
Somm Recordings