Mary Esterheld <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Re: NAXOS American Classics CD 8.559057.  The music is by William Henry
>Fry (1813-1864) - the first native-born American to compose for large
>symphonic forces and the first [american] to write a grand opera.  I
>find it interesting that 'NAXOS' (rather than the US) is putting out
>an American Classics series but anyway the CD contains four works:
>
>1. Santa Claus, Christmas Symphony
>2. Overture to Macbeth
>3. Niagara Symphony - with 11 tympani
>4. The Breaking Heart

The music on this CD is not of any great depth.  It is all in good fun,
especially the Santa Claus symphony...for which you do not need to wait
until Christmas to enjoy it.

Naxos is to be commended for the outstanding breadth of repertoire they
are putting into recordings.  They are providing an invaluable service
to music lovers worldwide.  That no US company is producing an 'American
Series' is not strange.  The market for this is small...a niche that
only the likes of Naxos can take on.

Philip Jongeneel