Frederick S. Converse(1871-1940): a Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

Frederick Converse and Henry Hadley were both born in 1871 in Massachusetts. Converse remained largely based in Boston, teaching at Harvard  for a short time. Although only four years younger than Amy Beach he is not counted as one of the 'Boston Six'(Paine, Foote, Chadwick, MacDowell, Parker and Beach).
The recent releases of some of his orchestral music by Naxos and Dutton have revived some interest in this romantic, lyrical composer whose best music probably lies in his attractive tone poems. Apparently Keith Lockhart is interested in recording more Converse with the BBC Concert Orchestra

(Compiling this list has not been easy A sixth symphony was left unfinished when Converse died in June 1940.)

FREDERICK S. CONVERSE: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

1895/97:Overture "Youth", op.6
1898:   Symphony No.1 in D minor, op.7  (withdrawn)
1899:   Festival March for orchestra, op.8
             "Festival of Pan" for orchestra, op. 9: 17 minutes   +  (Dutton cd)
1901:   "Endymion's Narrative" for orchestra, op.10: 20 minutes   +  (Albany and Naxos cds)
             "Night and Day"-Two Poems for piano and orchestra, op.11
1902:   "La belle dame sans merci" for baritone and orchestra, op.12
             Violin Concerto, op.13
1903:   Overture "Euphrosyne", op.15
1904:   "The Mystic Trumpeter" for orchestra, op.19: 20 minutes   +  (Naxos cd)
1907:   Dramatic Poem "Job" for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. 24
             Serenade for soprano, tenor, men's chorus, flute, harp and strings, op. 25
1908:   Scena "Hagar in the Desert" for contralto and orchestra, op.26
1911:   Symphonic Poem "Ormazd", op.30
1915:   Cantata "The Peace Pipe" for baritone, chorus and orchestra: 30 minutes
1914:   "The Masque of St. Louis" for chorus and orchestra
1916:   Symphonic Poem "Ave atque vale"
1919:   Symphony No.2
             Cantata "The Answer of the Stars" for soprano, chorus and orchestra
1921:   Symphony No.3
1922:   Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra
1922-23:Tone Poem "Song of the Sea": 13 minutes   +  (Dutton cd)
1925:   Elegiac Poem for orchestra
1927:   "Flivver Ten Million" for orchestra: 12 minutes   + (Albany and Naxos cds)
             "California- Festival Scenes for orchestra"
1928:   Suite for orchestra
1929:   Symphonic Suite "American Sketches": 31 minutes   +  (Dutton cd)
1930:   Cantata "The Flight of the Eagle"
1932:   Tone Poem "Prophecy" for soprano and orchestra
             Concertino for Piano and Orchestra
1934:   Symphony No.4
1935:   Concert March "Salutation"
1937:   "A Song at Evening" for small orchestra
1938:   Three Old-Fashioned Dances for chamber orchestra
             Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra, op.105: 6 minutes   + (Albany cd)
1939:   "Haul away, Jo!"-Variations on an American Sea Shanty for orchestra
             Symphony No.5

and          Indian Serenade for small orchestra

[M. Henriksen]

I've eagerly awaited this list, no surprise it would appear considering your working speed Dundonnell!
Thank you very much!


Morten