Jim Tobin responds to my review of this work, available on a Koch CD:
>Having just heard this (twice) for the first time I really need to express
>a different kind of response. If I were going to say the things Steve
>said about any Thompson work, it wouldn't be this one. For one thing,
>I really like the instrumental writing, which is spare, vivid, and a
>prominent part of the work; the fine recording gave the instruments--and
>vocal soloists--real presence. I don't much care for unaccompanied vocal
>music, which is why I admit to much preferring this and the really
>disdained Testament of Freedom to, say, Peaceable Kingdom. There is great
>simplicity to this music (Nativity), to be sure, but there is much to like
>here. It more than kept my attention.
I'd agree with most of this. The orchestration is actually a marvel.
Thompson calls for only (as I recall) 13 instruments and gets a lot of
variety and even some power. There is indeed a lot to like, and I tried to
point out what seemed compelling to me. On the other hand, the Saint-Saens
Christmas Oratorio has a lot to like, too, and it is also very well-
written. However, ultimately it comes down to a matter of what grabs you.
Despite the virtues of both Thompson and Saint-Saens, I can't say that the
two pieces in question do so on the whole. However, I thank Jim for
speaking up for the other side.
Steve Schwartz
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