1930 in Music

Reviews of music I’ve listened to from 1930.

1. Maurice Durufle: Prélude, adagio et choral varié sur le theme du ‘Veni Creator’ op. 4 (9/10)

The prelude goes for it right off the bat, throwing aggressive ideas at your right away, instead of lulling you in like some of his other preludes. To the best of my knowledge this is an aggressively modernist prelude for organ, utilizing the full range of the instrument and showing off the abilities of the performer.

The adagio, though more sedate as you would imagine, still allows for some showy playing by the organist. Like a lot of Durufle’s slower pieces, there are moments when the sound seems to almost disappear. The conclusion to the adagio is one of the prettiest things of his I’ve yet to hear.

The ‘choral varié’ (choral variations?) almost feels like more of a prelude to my untrained ears. It’s more somber than the prelude in this piece but still provides plenty of opportunity for the sort of cyclical pattern that Durufle likes so much. The end really does sum up the piece, though.

2. Ernest MacMillan: “Two Sketches for String Quartet Based on French Canadian Airs” (8/10)

Glad that someone is doing this kind of thing, but really, again, there’s just no comparison between the great pieces of the era and the pieces Canadians wrote. That I know of, we really haven’t produced a composer of note.

3. Memphis Minnie: “New Bumble Bee” (8/10)

Due to its age, this one’s a little poor sounding, but there’s some impressive playing in the intro. Minnie’s lower in her range on this one too, which is cool.

4. The Chocolate Dandies: “Goodbye Blues” (8/10)

A pretty strident trumpet solo from Bobby Stark and then a little more knotty solo from Benny Carter. (His second is even knottier.) Good trombone solo from Jimmy Harrison. Vocals come in half way through the track. (Carter sings too!)

5. The Chocolate Dandies: “Dee Blues” (8/10)

One of the most impressive things Benny Carter does in when takes on solos on two instruments in one song, as he does here.

6. The Chocolate Dandies: “Got Another Sweetie Now” (8/10)

Some (perhaps proto swing) communal playing that comes in sharp. Excellent solo by Benny Carter. Jimmy Harrison sings.

7. The Chocolate Dandies: “Bugle Call Rag” (8/10)

An older song but pretty modern playing to my ears. (Keeping in mind I haven’t listened to this kind of jazz in years.) A piano solo is rare for this band, I believe.

8. The Chocolate Dandies: “Cloudy Skies” (7/10)

This definitely sound a little more traditional with the guitar and combining playing to star. The solos are decent.

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