William Henry Fry (August 10, 1813 -- December 21, 1864)
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| William Henry Fry |
Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conductor: Tony Rowe
Naxos:
Fry's Santa Claus, Christmas Symphony of 1853 was the longest instrumental composition ever written on a single subject, with unbroken continuity. It was composed for the unsurpassed Jullien soloists. The technique of the Jullien soloist showing in very high passages for the winds and the violins, and many solos, even a rare one for the double bass made Fry dedicate this work to them. It also seems that this is the first symphonic use anywhere of the newly invented saxophone.
Fry's meticulously followed story line deserves a look. The trumpet announces the Saviour's birth, and the celestial host takes up the chorus. The exultation is broken by loud discords as some of the angels fall away in anger, but harmonious triumph concludes the section. Now during the Christmas Eve party where family reunited, dancing, and general frivolity are depicted in pell-mell joy, an impending snowstorm arrives in the brass, but the dancing resumes, quieter this time as the party-goers leave for home.
As sleep descends, Fry employs one of his favorite devices, the setting of text to instrumental declamation. We hear The Lord's Prayer in syllabic cadence on the upper strings, followed by 'Rock-a-by baby' on the soprano saxophone. Muted strings even mimic the baby's breathing. The snowstorm again comes into view, and in the middle of it is a traveler (the solo double bass). Lost and alone, his moans are heard through the wind as he perishes.
But this depressing scene shifts as Santa Claus enters, with the voice of the high bassoon, here in his horse-drawn sleigh Down the chimney he slides with flutes accompanying; plucked strings signify the clicking of toys being dropped into stockings The children still sleep Santa leaves, the sound of hooves and bells receding into the distance.
Up in the sky, extremely high violins portray a chorus of angels singing the familiar Adeste fideles. The sun rises on Christmas Day. The house awakens to the sounds of 'Get up!' on the horn and 'Little Bo-peep' on the trumpets as the children play The beginning of the work reappears, as does the Adeste fideles, Santa Claus closes in a hymn of praise.
