Lester Trimble, Louise Talma Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Akeo Watanabe The Dorian Chorale Harold Aks - Symphony In Two Movements Five Episodes For Orchestra La Corona

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Review by Bram Markus

Album Review: Symphony In Two Movements / Five Episodes For Orchestra / La Corona by Lester Trimble & Louise Talma Alright, let’s dive into this wild ride of an album. If you’re into classical music but crave something a little less yawn-inducing and way more modern, this one might just hit the spot. It’s got all the fancy trimmings—orchestra, chorus, deep poetry—but with that edgy twist only mid-20th-century composers could pull off. First up, we’ve got "Annunciation" from Louise Talma’s La Corona. Man, this track is haunting in the best possible way. The Dorian Chorale absolutely nails it here; their voices feel like they’re floating somewhere between heaven and earth. You know those moments when music makes your chest tighten because it's so beautiful? Yeah, that happens about three minutes in. Talma wrote this piece using John Donne’s holy sonnets as inspiration, and honestly, it shows. There’s a spiritual heaviness to it, but not in a preachy way. More like she’s whispering secrets straight from some cosmic dreamworld. I couldn’t stop replaying this part—it’s like being wrapped in sound. Then there’s "Temple", which comes from Trimble’s Five Episodes For Orchestra. This thing hits different. Right off the bat, the strings are doing these weird, tense little runs that make you feel uneasy, like you’ve walked into a room where everyone’s staring at you. But then Akeo Watanabe and the Japan Philharmonic bring in this massive swell, and suddenly you’re not uncomfortable anymore—you’re hooked. By the time the brass kicks in (oh man, does it kick), you’re ready to march into battle or maybe cry, depending on your mood. Either way, it sticks with you. One thing I gotta say—this album isn’t background music. You can’t just throw it on while folding laundry unless you want to end up standing still, staring at your socks thinking, “Whoa.” These pieces demand attention. They’re intricate, layered, and kinda cerebral. Like, yeah, sure, you could chill and enjoy it passively, but why would you? This stuff deserves headphones and focus. What really struck me was how both composers manage to balance tradition and innovation. Trimble’s symphony has these lush Romantic vibes, but he keeps throwing curveballs—unexpected rhythms, dissonances that sneak up on you. And Talma? She leans harder into the modern side, almost daring you to keep up. Together, they create this fascinating push-and-pull dynamic across the record. Oh, and props to the engineers who cut the lacquer (shoutout DBH!). The sound quality holds up surprisingly well for its age, especially given how tricky choral recordings can be. So yeah, if you’re looking for something fresh yet steeped in history, give this album a spin. Just don’t expect easy listening—it’s gonna mess with your head in the best way. Honestly, after listening to it, I felt like I needed a nap… but also wanted to write poetry or climb a mountain. Weird combo, right? Final thought: Whoever decided to pair these two composers together was either a genius or got super lucky. Either way, kudos to them.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: lester-trimble-louise-talma-japan-philharmonic-orchestra-akeo.zip
  • MP3 size: 57.6 mb
  • FLAC size: 644.4 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Symphony In Two Movements (14:25)
4. Temple
1. La Corona
Five Episodes For Orchestra11:06
3. Nativitie
5. Crucifying
6. Resurrection
2. Moderato
La Corona - Holy Sonnets Of John Donne (1954-55)(19:40)
1. Adagio Quasi Andante
7. Ascention
2. Annunciation

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Catalog Numbers

CRI SD 187

Labels

Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)

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Formats

  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album

Credits

RoleCredit
ChorusThe Dorian Chorale (tracks: B)
Composed ByLester Trimble (tracks: A1, A2), Louise Talma (tracks: B)
ConductorAkeo Watanabe (tracks: A1, A2)
Lacquer Cut ByDBH
OrchestraJapan Philharmonic Orchestra (tracks: A1, A2)

Notes

  • Symphony – C.F. Peters (BMI): 14'25" – Composed 1951, revised 1960.
  • Five Episodes – Duchess Music Corp. (BMI): 11'6" – Commissioned by the Florida Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Henry Mazur, and premiered under his direction in Orlando in February of 1962 – Composed and Orchestrated during the months of December 1961 and January 1962.
  • La Corona – MS (ASCAP): 19'40" – Composed in the ten weeks of August 11 to September 27, 1954 and June 14 to July 6, 1955, mostly at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The first complete performance was given by the Dorian Chorale under the direction of Harold Aks in the Colden Auditorium at Queens College, New York, on November 9, 1964, and recorded by the same group for CRI some weeks later. The work is dedicated to Donald Aird and Lloyd Pfautsch.
  • Printed in U.S.A.
  • Sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Institute of Arts and Letters

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A): CRI SD 187A
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B): CRI SD 187B
  • Matrix / Runout (Sides A and B): MP IZ [DBH]

About Lester Trimble, Louise Talma Japan Philharmonic Orchestra Akeo Watanabe The Dorian Chorale Harold Aks

American music critic and composer of contemporary classical music, August 29, 1923 Bangor, Wisconsin  December 31, 1986 New York City.

Real Name

    • Lester Albert Trimble

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Symphony In Two Movements / Five Episodes For Orchestra / La Corona* is a fascinating mix of modern classical music that bridges cultures and talents. Composers Lester Trimble and Louise Talma, both from the U.S., teamed up with Japan's prestigious Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Akeo Watanabe. What makes it even more unique? The inclusion of *La Corona*, a choral piece inspired by John Donne’s Holy Sonnets, performed by The Dorian Chorale. It’s like a musical conversation between East and West, blending orchestral depth with poetic spirituality. Definitely worth a listen if you’re into thought-provoking sounds!