I realize it has been a while since my last "Album of the Week" feature. Apologies. Frankly, I'm a bit stunned there hasn't been some sort of industry-wide collapse without the wisdom of my music picks guiding the fragile ears of America's record-buyers.
Record-buyers, not MP3-buyers. Remember that.
Anyways, I won't contend that this week's recommendation is anything but a cursory one. I was recently in a Half Price Books, and ran across a complete Sibelius symphonic cycle done by the Wiener Philharmoniker. Being in possession of a 50% coupon, I purchased it immediately for peanuts. And Tuesday, as I languished most of the afternoon away in a feeble attempt to understand the nature of Executive power under the Constitution, I literally listened to all seven symphonies.
Like I mentioned, I have only listened to these works through once, and not very closely at that. However, I'm fairly certain that even that cursory listening warrants a vehement thumbs up. This is exciting symphonic writing.
To add to my ineptitude this week, I'll admit I am very unfamiliar with Sibelius' work. My best knowledge comes from the stunning arrangement of "Finlandia" for trombone choir that I unfortunately had to play sophomore year. But I feel a kinship for Finland, for some odd reason. By default, maybe that means I feel a kinship for Sibelius. I think I knew this when against all my better judgment, I actually kind of liked that ridiculous trombone choir arrangement.
Bottom line, if you're sick of always listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert symphonies, blah, blah, blah, check out Sibelius. He for sure has a distinctive style, and it is incredibly pleasing to the ear.
Maybe I'll write a better review once I actually know what the hell I'm talking about. But probably not.
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