Symphonic Night Music
Idylle (Concertino on the Pastoral Fourth)
Spring Music

Joseph Marx was one of the leading figures of Austrian musical culture during his lifetime, but his music was out of step with 20th-century Modernism and most of his music disappeared from concert programmes after his death. The Natur-Trilogie is a richly impressionistic work that brims with lyrical passion, portraying the moods of Marx's untouched native landscapes while displaying his magical feel for harmony and orchestration. This recording's original release was the first time the Natur-Trilogie had been heard in its complete and original form, and was considered a major discovery. This is the first in a four-volume set of Joseph Marx's orchestral works to be re-released on Naxos. It was originally released in 2003 on the ASV label. {Naxos}

Joseph Marx (1882-1964) was highly respected and his music widely performed during his lifetime but after his death, his name fell out of fashion, most likely due to his outmoded style, highly redolent of late 19th century romanticism. The première performance of these works took place in 1926 under the direction of Clemens Krauss. Conductor Riccardo Chailly once remarked: "How could such a major composer fall into oblivion?" I find his music to have the melodic sweep of Korngold, the orchestral magnitude of Bantock, and the harmonic reach of Scriabin. The opening paragraph mentions that he was gifted with a magical feel for orchestration and that is quite true. A perfect sense of orchestral weight, balance and color permeates his music, and a knack for knowing exactly when to weave the main motifs through the orchestral fabric, and constantly maintaining lush orchestral textures. Unfortunately, it seems he liked to luxuriate at length sometimes within his own beguiling orchestration and in doing so, fell into a meandrous trap. (Sort of like people who talk a whole lot without bringing any of their thoughts to fruition or conclusion). But when he does, for example, bring the Spring Music to its dramatic and epic conclusion, it makes the 23 minutes it took to get there all the more worthwhile and justifiable.

I for one am looking forward to the next three volumes in this important set of Naxos re-issues of unjustly neglected orchestral gems.