The Grandma Moses Suite

• Artist: Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1951
• Genre: Easy Listening

Review

Documentary filmmaker Jerome Hill engaged Hollywood songwriter Hugh Martin to score his 22-minute film about the painter Grandma Moses. Martin, best-known for his songs with Ralph Blane for the warmhearted Meet Me in St. Louis, was perhaps a little out of his depth when it came to scoring, but he certainly knew how to write effective tunes that could evoke the New England world of Moses' paintings. This is not the soundtrack to the film, but rather a suite put together by Alec Wilder, played by André Kostelanetz's orchestra, and conducted by Daniel Saidenberg, based on Martin's score. Wilder brings out the stark, hymn-like quality of Martin's opening theme, "Cambridge Valley," as well as the playful tone of "Whistle Stop" and the stateliness of "Anna Mary." And so it goes. Grandma Moses, a farm wife who turned to painting in her seventies, was always like something from a Hollywood movie, and Martin captures the fairytale quality of her story in this innocent, attractive music. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Similar Albums

Joy to the World: Music for Christmas, Brand New Me, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, Stereo Wonderland of Golden Hits