Charles Ives - Symphony No.3

Charles Ives, born in Danbury, Connecticut in 1874 was one of the first American composers to gain international recognition. A composition graduate of Yale University, his musical activities had begun under the influence of his father, an army bandleader, and aged 14 Ives became a church organist.

Charles Ives

Although having a successful career as an insurance agent and actuary, Ives was a prolific composer, combining European musical influences with popular American culture, church music, and bands as well as pioneering experimental techniques such as polytonality and aleatoric, or chance performance. As is often the case, Ives music was largely ignored during his lifetime and his achievements only belatedly recognised.

Ives 3rd Symphony first appeared in 1904 but underwent various revisions. A relatively short composition, it's scored for a chamber orchestra including two horns, a trombone, and bells. There are quotations from hymn tunes, and it ends with the music fading into silence with the evocation of church bells. The outer two movements had their origins in pieces for organ. There is a story that Gustav Mahler had planned to give the piece it's premiere either with the New York Philharmonic, or back in Europe, but neither happened and the piece was unperformed until 1946 when Lou Harrison conducted it in New York.

The three movements are:
1. Old Folks Gatherin' - Andante maestoso
2. Children's Day - Allegro
3. Communion - Largo

Cartridge: Shelter 5000

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC with Enigma power supply

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 / SME M2-12-R