Although his actual name was Edward German Jones (1862-1936), he called himself Edward German. He studied in London and quickly made a name for himself with his theater music. His star rose so rapidly that in 1900 he was approached to complete 'The emerald isle', which was left incomplete by Arthur Sullivan, the undisputed star of English theater music, at his death. German's breakthrough came with
… his music for The Tempter (1893), from which the overture is played here. It is a fine specimen of effective orchestral music, complete with a depiction of a storm and a bacchanal. In the conciseness of the whole and the bright, but at the same time very catchy orchestral colors, German links up with Sullivan. Just as in the long run the latter mainly sought recognition as a 'serious' composer, German also wanted to escape the limitations of the theater company, as evidenced by the large-scale symphonic poem Hamlet (1897). In addition, Symphony No. 1 from 1890 will be heard; German's graduation work. It is a successful exercise, but just like Sullivan, who also wrote such a study symphony, this was not German's forte. Although of decent quality, the work lacks the beautiful and characteristic atmospheric drawings of the Overture Romeo and Juliet (1895) and The willow song (1922), also included here. It is mainly these theatrically inspired works that can still fascinate the listener. (JvG) but as with Sullivan, who also wrote such a study symphony, this was not German's forte after all. Although of decent quality, the work lacks the beautiful and characteristic atmospheric drawings of the Overture Romeo and Juliet (1895) and The willow song (1922), also included here. It is mainly these theatrically inspired works that can still fascinate the listener. (JvG) but as with Sullivan, who also wrote such a study symphony, this was not German's forte after all. Although of decent quality, the work lacks the beautiful and characteristic atmospheric drawings of the Overture Romeo and Juliet (1895) and The willow song (1922), also included here. It is mainly these theatrically inspired works that can still fascinate the listener. (JvG)more
