Henry Cotter Nixon, Orchestral Music vol. 3 from Toccata

[Sharkkb8]

Vol. 2 did not exactly open to rave reviews, but for what it's worth, Vol. 3 is just around the corner.  A couple of overtures, a Fantasia for Violin & Orchestra, and assorted other orchestral fare.

https://www.amazon.com/Orchestral-Music-3-Ana-Torok/dp/B0875W7CK2/ref=sr_1_190?dchild=1&fst=as%3Aoff&qid=1588649998&refinements=p_n_date%3A1249114011&rnid=1249111011&s=music&sr=1-190&swrs=5DE7CF05F8C8DD8841D3A2C606BEEE68

"The English composer-conductor Henry Cotter Nixon (18421907) had entirely disappeared from music history until this series presenting all his surviving orchestral music in its first-ever recordings revealed him to have been one of the most accomplished English composers of his generation, with a style that takes in elements of Mendelssohn, Schumann, Weber, Brahms and Sullivan. This third and final volume mixes music for the concert hall and the stage and adds the Coronation March for Edward VII that turned out to be Nixons last composition. Most of the pieces here were left incomplete, but thanks to Paul Manns orchestrations they now confirm Nixons position as one of the superior tunesmiths of Victorian England."

[Mark Thomas]

one of the superior tunesmiths of Victorian England

That's a bit of a stretch I think. It isn't just the often banal material, it's that he spends a lot of time doing not very much with it. Sadly, I was even more underwhelmed by vol.2 than I was by vol.1, such uncharacteristically dull releases from Toccata. I'll definitely listen to the whole album on Spotify or on Toccata's own web site before I commit my cash for this one.

[Alan Howe]

It's third-rate stuff, I'm afraid, judging by the toothless fare on the website. I won't be buying this.

[Ebubu]

"I'll definitely listen to the whole album on Spotify or on Toccata's own web site before I commit my cash for this one."

Looks like Toccata has changed their policy, and now offer only 45 seconds of music for each track, instead of the full track as before....
Too bad...

[Mark Thomas]

I was always surprised that they did that and, from a commercial point of view, I think their decision is a sensible one. For those with a Spotify account, Toccata releases have so far appeared there in full.

[Ilja]

Although I'm not entirely convinced of Nixon's orchestral output, I really did enjoy both concert overtures. They appear to be not as badly afflicted by the sense of self-importance that cripples other works.

[semloh]

OK, despite its pretensions to be otherwise his music is certainly lightweight fare, but that suits some of us occasionally. It makes good background music when responding to messages on UC, for example.