Richard Pennycuick <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I'd appreciate any other information about this composer.

There is a review of the CD in the latest American Record Guide (Jan-Feb
2004).  I own a previous 1997 Albany/Troy CD of his music (Troy 267),
also conducted by Alsop. The music is very nice, if not great.

Collins, according to the CD booklet, lived from 1889 to 1951, mostly
in the Chicago area.  He was a pianist who had many of his compositions
performed by the Chicago symphony between 1924 and 1943.  The fact that
Slonimsky leaves him out of the Baker's dictionary is just another example
of Eastern myopia.

I plan to purchase the latest CD, and would recommend the earlier one
for the "Concertpiece" for piano and orchestra (1931) and "A Tragic
Overture" (1923).

Jeff Dunn
[log in to unmask]
Alameda, CA