O'Brien: Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 3

The rediscovery of the music of the Edinburgh composer Charles O'Brien (1882-1968) continues with this third and final album of his orchestral music. The explicitly Scottish Ellangowan Overture contrasts splendid vistas with some wonderfully catchy tunes, in a manner reminiscent of the well-known overture Land of the Mountain and the Flood, by Hamish McCunn - O'Brien's teacher. The two suites show O'Brien skillfully combining a naturally symphonic voice with an unexpected sense of fun. The first two releases in this series were very well received. The reviewers for MusicWeb International described volume one as "beautifully played and paced, and finely recorded as well" and wrote of volume two "The booklet notes by Paul Mann are fascinating. His essay-length discussion of these works requires to b eread. The Latvian orchestra plays with enthusiasm and seem to have a definite flair for evoking the mists and sceneries of Scotland."