Healey Willan: Symphony No 2 in C minor (1948)

[@beowulfschefing7697]

I hear the country lanes and villages of Southern England with touches of a few europeans in this rather than any or much Canadian influence. Maybe I am hearing it from the wrong angle. Really enjoyable work though. If he had remained in Britain he would have been a forgotten composer today. Wise move moving to Canada. Thanks for the upload.

[@timknightmusic]

Used to dealing with his fine choral music, really enjoyed this, felt shades of Elgar in the way he builds up climaxes, and although maybe RVW put in a small appearance it is definitively an Original work

[@jksteven1]

Robert, this is one of my favorite Canadian symphonies. I also have the Willan Symphony No. 1 which I should upload although the quality is a little compromised. Great composer! I don't have this particular performance. Thanks!

[@robt0007]

The Willan Fist Symphony is a delightful work, but the second has the edge. Thanks for the up-load.

[@jksteven1]

Robert, you are right. The first is not as memorable, but there are two or three places which seem to predict the Second. Also, I have a CD performance of the Second by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Uri Mater conducting, which presents the incredible sonorities the LP version misses.. I can't upload the CD of course for copyright considerations, but I totally agree that the Second is the better work! Thanks for your comments! -Jim

[@paulvanture8466]

Good stuff. This, among others (Otto Winter-Hjelms Sym #2, George Frederick Frederick Bristow Syms Nos 3 & 4) should be on discs so that they can be heard through a music and not the computer. I would urge whoever has the contacts to recommend that they be recorded commercially.

[@micfuh]

A good chunk of his music can be heard at The Canadian Music Centre along with a great host of other sadly neglected great Canadian composers. www.musiccentre.ca/

[@micfuh]

Registration with CMC is free and takes only a moment to do. The rewards are bountiful, including Mozetich's hypnotizing music and SO much more!

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

It does sound somewhat "conservative" --as it "competes" with much more progressive styles of the mid-20th century. ... But, features lovely, suspenseful, lyrical, and energetic passages, and overall a consistent, chromatic, "tonal" language !! Craft always wins in my opinion.