Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 4; Suite from Merry Mount; Lament for Beowulf
Gerard Schwarz handles this music as if born to it, although the music of Howard Hanson does  tend to play itself once it gets going. The works on these discs are three of Howard Hanson's masterpieces,  especially his Symphony 4, hisRequiemSymphony. It is stately, moderated, and unabashedly  romantic. It may be Hanson's best symphony. "The Lament for Beowulf" is a choral tone-poem  based on the famous English epic. The suite from the operaMerry Mountshows Hanson being at  once playful and somber. This music is very user-friendly and is about as conservative as you can get.  Recommended.--Paul Cook