Gershwin, Harbison, Tower & Piston: Orchestral Works National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic & David Alan Miller

• George Gershwin (1898 - 1937): Piano Concerto in F Major (T. Freeze Critical Edition):
• 1 Piano Concerto in F Major (T. Freeze Critical Edition): I. Allegro 12:38
• 2 Piano Concerto in F Major (T. Freeze Critical Edition): II. Adagio - Andante con moto 11:04
• 3 Piano Concerto in F Major (T. Freeze Critical Edition): III. Allegro agitato 06:36
• John Harbison (b. 1938):
• 4 Remembering Gatsby 06:42
• Joan Tower (b. 1938):
• 5 Sequoia 16:19
• Walter Piston (1894 - 1976): Symphony No. 5:
• 6 Symphony No. 5: I. Lento - Allegro con spirito 08:45
• 7 Symphony No. 5: II. Adagio 08:40
• 8 Symphony No. 5: III. Allegro lieto 04:39
• Total Runtime 01:15:23

Info for Gershwin, Harbison, Tower & Piston: Orchestral Works

This programme represents American orchestral music in all of its verve and expressive variety. Following the sensational success of Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin’s Concerto in F was his first foray away from jazz bands into the concert hall, recorded here for the first time in a new critical edition by Timothy Freeze based on the composer’s own notation and performances. John Harbison’s Remembering Gatsby is a foxtrot that evokes the sonorities of 1920s dance bands, while Joan Tower’s Sequoia reflects her fascination with these silent giants of the tree world. Walter Piston’s contribution to the development of 20th-century American music cannot be underestimated, and his Fifth Symphony successfully blends twelve-tone modernity with reflective profundity and a finale that evokes a spirit of joy and optimism.

This substantial programme of American orchestral works offers superb new recordings of major works that rarely appear on commercial releases, the most significant of which is Walter Piston’s masterly Fifth Symphony. There is also a hidden premiere in this recording of Gershwin’s Concerto in F, which is the first to be made using The George and Ira Gershwin Critical Edition. This is based on a comprehensive study of manuscript, print and recorded sources, and presents the Concerto as it was notated and performed by the composer.

This new release follows the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic’s (NOIP) previous recording of Bernstein’s Songfest (8559859). The said disc also featured a performance of An American in Paris, which is also the first to use the new Gershwin Critical Edition.

Kevin Cole, piano (tracks 1–3)
National Orchestral
Institute Philharmonic
David Alan Miller, conductor

David Alan Miller
Grammy Award-winning conductor David Alan Miller has established a reputation as one of the leading American conductors of his generation. Music Director of the Albany Symphony since 1992, Mr. Miller has proven himself a creative and compelling orchestra builder. Through exploration of unusual repertoire, educational programming, community outreach and recording initiatives, he has reaffirmed the Albany Symphony's reputation as the nation's leading champion of American symphonic music and one of its most innovative orchestras. He and the orchestra appeared twice at "Spring For Music," the festival of America's most creative orchestras at New York City's Carnegie Hall. Other accolades include Columbia University's 2003 Ditson Conductor's Award, the oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, the 2001 ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming and, in 1999, ASCAP's first-ever Leonard Bernstein Award for Outstanding Educational Programming.

Recent guest appearances include the Tucson and Hawaii Symphonies, Sacramento and Buffalo Philharmonics, the American Youth Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Vietnamese National Orchestra in Hanoi, Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival, and Portugal's Estoril Festival. Frequently in demand as a guest conductor, Mr. Miller has worked with most of America's major orchestras, including the orchestras of Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco, as well as the New World Symphony, the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition, he has appeared frequently throughout Europe, Australia and the Far East as guest conductor. He made his first guest appearance with the BBC Scottish Symphony in March, 2014.

Mr. Miller received a Grammy Award in January, 2014 for his Naxos recording of John Corigliano's "Conjurer," with the Albany Symphony and Dame Evelyn Glennie. His extensive discography also includes recordings of the works of Todd Levin with the London Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon, as well as music by Michael Daugherty, Kamran Ince, and Michael Torke for London/Decca, and of Luis Tinoco for Naxos. His recordings with the Albany Symphony include discs devoted to the music of John Harbison, Roy Harris, Morton Gould, Don Gillis, Peter Mennin, and Vincent Persichetti on the Albany Records label.

A native of Los Angeles, David Alan Miller holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School. Prior to his appointment in Albany, Mr. Miller was Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. From 1982 to 1988, he was Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony, earning considerable acclaim for his work with that ensemble. Mr. Miller lives with his wife and three children in Slingerlands, New York..

Booklet for Gershwin, Harbison, Tower & Piston: Orchestral Works