South African Orchestral Works - Gideon Fagan, Concert Overture in D - Ilala (Tone Poem) - W.H. Bell, A South African Symphony - National Symphony Orchestra of the South African Broadcasting Corp. - Richard Cock, Peter Marchbank - Marco Polo 1995

Here's a nice release that likely 99.9% of collectors never knew existed; make that double since there  is another "South African Orchestral Works" cd which although not labeled is considered Volume 1.
There isn't much music available by the composers at hand, although the aforementioned S.A.O.W. Vol. 1 contains Fagan's "Karoo Symphony" and there is a great recording of W.H. Bell's Viola Concerto, "Rosa Mystica" on Dutton Epoch that I posted quite awhile ago: http://nocturna-artificialia.blogspot.com/2014/08/stanley-bate-william-henry-bell-viola.html

Gideon Fagan's "Concert Overture in D" sounds somewhat like early Sibelius (the opening main theme could fool many listeners in fact!),  and it's a whistle-worthy and tuneful work. The Tone Poem "Ilala" is mostly pastoral in mood. The notes describe Ilala as expansive with music that suggests the wide open spaces of Central Africa. That I can hear. The notes continue, and I'm quoting: "The work is also characterized by very strong African rhythms" This is puzzling and nonsense imo as I do not hear a single note that suggests African music whatsoever, indigenous or otherwise. It's a nice piece, but don't waste time looking for the "local flavor".

Gideon Fagan

W.H. (William Henry) Bell's "A South African Symphony" is a sweeping, energetic work and a worthy addition to anyone's library - not to mention important in that one would be hard-pressed to list almost any symphonies penned in South Africa. Bell wrote four symphonies (this is his 4th) however I don't know if the other three have been performed at all. I for one would be most interested  to lend an ear!

W.H. Bell

Here is a link to a good bio on Gideon Fagan:

http://www.sacomposers.co.za/sacomposers/Fagan,_Gideon.html


And a small bio on W.H. Bell, although the liner notes here say mostly the same thing:

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/b/e/l/bell_wh.htm



Enjoy!

South_African_Orchestral_Works-Tzadik.zip

http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/99SH2gGw/file.html

Stanley Bate & William Henry Bell - Viola Concertos (World Premieres) Vaughan Williams - Romance

Dutton's adventurous and explorative label, Dutton Epoch has an impressive on-going series surveying British composers, mostly lesser known, but also lesser known works by better known composers (Vaughan Williams, Bax, etc.) as well. This is one of the finest releases in the series; Stanley Bate's Viola Concerto is a major find- fans of Vaughan Williams (like myself) will be

in heaven, the concerto is beautiful. We also get a viola concerto "Rosa Mystica" by William Henry Bell. It's a real keeper too, but I prefer the Bate. Also Vaughan William's short "Romance". Enjoy!

Top of the Epoch list for October 2008 comes a gorgeous programme of viola concertos whose previous neglect no one at Dutton Epoch can understand. Played by celebrated British viola player Roger Chase, the Stanley Bate and W H Bell Concertos are both heart-warming and tuneful scores oozing popular appeal. These remarkable finds are made even more appealing by the coupling – Chase’s own orchestration of Vaughan Williams’s wonderful Romance. The BBC Concert Orchestra is on top form under the direction of Steve Bell, and to top it all Roger Chase plays the programme on Lionel Tertis’s celebrated Montagnana Viola.

New Link:

British_Viola_Concertos-Tzadik.zip


http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/Fnnb2iSw/file.html

Enjoy!