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Representing the very best of David Fanshawe's 36 year recording
career, this collection underlines the diversity of his music
from Trafalgar, a celebration of the Bicentenary of
The Battle of Trafalgar to African Sanctus, the Latin
mass harmonised with traditional African music and Flambards,
the theme from the popular 1970s television costume drama...
If
you are unfamiliar with the works of David Fanshawe then this
collection is a wonderful introduction to his varied and sometimes
incredibly beautiful work.
While
some of the orchestrated scores are relaxing, and at times
patriotic (in the case of Trafalgar) other tracks (Sirocco
- The Desert Wind) show their age due to the use of instruments
that were popular at the time. For example, Sirocco
has extensive use of the "wacca wacca" guitar that
you just don't hear these days.
For
me, personally, the most beautiful tracks come under the Sea
Images and Choral sections on this album.
Dover Castle is probably my favourite track, but I
also loved African Sanctus, which sees an unorthodox
mix of Latin Mass harmonised with traditional African music
which was recorded by the composer on his journeys on the
River Nile between 1969 and 1973. This mix of influences is
interesting and creates something that is greater than the
sum of its parts. Listening to the theme from Flambards
was interesting as it seems so much more catchy than I remember
it.
There
are annoying tracks like When the Boat Comes In, which
is distracting due to the fact that the singer puts a bizarre
regional accent on "boat".
This
collection also contains some interesting notes on each of
the tracks included. These explain the background to each
piece which should, if you like what you hear, move you to
pick up more of the composers work.
I'd recommend this as an introduction to Fanshawe. You'll
probably find, like me, that you'll be compelled to seek out
the full recordings of some of the work represented here.
Nick
Smithson
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