JAMES COHN (b.1928): Symphony No. 2, Op. 13, Symphony No. 7, Op. 45, Variations on "The Wayfaring Stranger", Op. 34, Waltz in D, Op. 29a.

Description: A student of Roy Harris, Cohn is a natural symphonist with a bold sense of orchestral color and texture. Both these symphonies are structured more or less in conventional form; even when the composer makes use of a tone row as a theme the music remains resolutely tonal, harmonically and emotionally expressive. Both works open with a sense of energy and urgency and incorporate strongly contrasting slow and fast inner movements, with lively and insistent rondo-finales. The Variations (on an American folksong) are lushly scored and overtly emotional, even sentimental, though with an underlying strength and depth of feeling - strongly reminscent of Grainger. The Waltz is a colorful, slightly sardonic take on the traditional form. Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Vakhtang Jordania, Kirk Trevor (opp. 13 & 29a).