James Moody (1907-95) : Little Suite for harmonica and small orchestra (1960)

[@maxmerry8470]

As I've said in relation to other uploads, it took me a while to warm to the harmonica in an orchestral context. I was fine with "Genevieve" or the instrument's use in blues or country music contexts but I think I needed to listen "outside the box". RVW's astounding "Romance" showed me how. Moody's delicious writing and Reilly's virtuoso musicianship are perfect here, another fine example of how wonderful harmonica and orchestra can sound together....

[@maxmerry8470]

As Tony writes, a delightful recording which, sadly, I never acquired as an Argo LP. However, I have been fortunate enough to track down, via Amazon, a Chandos reissue in CD format which I can't wait to receive! Listening again to this upload I have to marvel at the musicianship of Tommy Reilly and the St Martin's Academy. And what an amazing composition by James Moody about whom I know zilch. This piece has that curious mixture of quirky playfulness and occasional poignancy that always appeals to me in orchestral music.....

[@carolaxford9828]

I studied with Tommy Reilly in the past and I play this work now using my silver harmonica.

[@tonyobadinage6647]

This is a super LP. I remember having to hunt high and low to find it - eventually came across in Gramex at Waterloo.

[@maxmerry8470]

Tony O'Badinage , My God, Tony....Gramex!?!? Was that the one that used to have a sign saying "no riff-raff welcome"? And you had to wend your way upstairs to the shop? I'm sure I bought 2 old CBS mono LPs of Debussy's Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian there very early in the 1980's, maybe before then.

[@tonyobadinage6647]

@Max Merry. Yes, that's the one!!! I'm fairly certain the guy's name was Graham (I might be mistaken). I've lost countless hours in Gramex - and I do mean hours. The place was a veritable treasure-trove of goodies all randomly filed so that you needed to go through everything. Of course, you came out with more than you needed and probably not the item you were hunting around for in the first place! There was another such treasure-trove in Eltham run by a man (whose name I have since forgotten) who gave me a piece of sage advice. "Young man," he said when I was humming and haa-ing about purchasing an expensive item, "you should always make time for great art!" Ha, 'young man'!! I was in my forties at the time!

[@maxmerry8470]

Tony O'Badinage , These days, that's young!

[@tonyobadinage6647]

Max, I think I was wrong about the chap who ran Gramex; now I come to think of it, I'm sure his name is Roger. I'm fairly certain that Gramex is still in existence although I don't know whether Roger (if that really IS his name) is still at the helm; we're talking about 35 years ago!

[@maxmerry8470]

Tony O'Badinage, I don't know if Gramex is still going but then I haven't visited London since 2004! I do recall the shop being pretty congested, the regulars hanging around chatting to Graham/Roger and eyeing unknowns like myself with something akin to disdain! If I'm right in its being the early 80s when I dropped in, I would have been about thirty. I no longer have the Debussy LPs but I think they were conducted by Ormandy and must have been from the 1950s. Again, I could well be wrong about those details....

[@Johnsonicv]

Wonderful!

[@darkenergyhotep5793]

I love this piece of music, heard it once on classic king. for years it haunted my dreams I never knew what the title. thanks to an App. I was able to find it.

[@tonylogan4092]

Very enjoyable to hear.

[@miwamo]

Wunderschön!