Ives: Symphonies & Orchestral Sets 1 & 2

Having heard the San Francisco Symphony and Tilson Thomas perform Charles Ives during this year's Edinburgh Festival I was interested to hear more of his works. I would say this Double DECCA CD of his four Symphonies and Orchestral Sets 1 and 2 is ideal to get to know his music and it is only priced at £5.99.I was surprised to hear that his first two Symphonies are actually quite Classical in style, but everybody had to start somewhere including Charles Ives. On this 1972 recording they are played by Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.Ives' Symphony No. 3 is starting to sound more American or folksy and is well played on this 1975 recording by Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin-in-the- Fields.However by his Symphony No. 4 he had fully developed the Maverick sound that he became well known for. This Symphony is simply a masterpiece and he wrote it for full Symphony Orchestra and Chorus plus a second conductor. On this 1992 recording the main Conductor is Christoph Von Dohnanyi with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus and their performance of it is stunning. They really capture the at times explosion of sound such as in the second movement with its marching band themes played strongly by the brass. Also that fine steely Cleveland string sound effective in the second and third movements .Von Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra also perform both of Ives' Orchestra Sets superbly as well. These continue his Maverick sound of inverted strings and strong brass playing. Set 1 was recorded in 1993 and Set 2 in 1994.In fact I would recommend this Double DECCA set for the 4th Symphony and the two Orchestral Sets alone.

Ives is one of a kind, and this CD set has some beautiful music.Some of the pieces are a wee bit atonal to i-v chord buffs, but for those who are open to more, Ives is up there with them all.Beautiful recordings and a fab orchestra to boot, buy!

A American composer that was sadly not recognised in his time a Must Buy , thanks to Iggy Pop on BBC 6Radio for puting me write on this composer

Good recording,a fine orchestra and great music with an interesting slant on things.All ordered and received with excellent speed.A good package.