FOUR JACK LARSON SETTINGS BY PHILLIP WILCHER - Reviewed by Henry Howell
Jack Larson is a well known Hollywood screen actor, best remembered for his entertaining portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the earlier Superman films, and a very credible Jimmy Olsen he was! It comes as a surprise to this reviewer, then, having been unashamedly a fan of the Larson Olsen, so to speak, to read works by a very sensitive poet indeed, and it is hardly surprising that Phillip Wilcher has seen to set him to music. His four poems demonstrate three very different styles of writing. The first is I WILL ALWAYS BE, a poem of three stanzas, modern romantic in style, and well known by me. Phillip Wilcher has set this poem, larghetto, with an ositinato-like accompaniment, not difficult to play, my wife tells me, but full of opportunities for the imagination. It does not intrude on the vocal line at all, but supports throughout. The vocal line was, for me, now that I can almost be known as a senior citizen, a little high for comfort, so,with the composer's permission I transposed it down a tone, and all was well. The tessitura is not really too high for a younger singer, but musical sensitvity is needed, with the dynamic remaining fairly quiet. Mr.Wilcher decsribed it as requiring a treatment similar to "Porgy and Bess's" SUMMERTIME, and if the singer bears this in mind, it works extremely well.

The second poem, OH, LOVE,SEE HOW THE FLOWERS MATE reminds me very much of the poetic style of William Blake, although it might be just my perception of this work, again of three stanzas. Incidentally, Mr. Wilcher always includes in his layout, the words of the poem, again set in three stanzas, at the end of the song, which is a very good idea that others might well embrace. The melodic line is not difficult, and is well supported by the accompaniment. The setting of verse one is tender, not intrusive, and sets the mood. This mood changes in verse two, and the melody changes with it, the word "smother" including a top A, then verse three, which is cynical, has music which matches it very well indeed. This is a very different Larson from the poet of I WILL ALWAYS BE. This atmospheric setting of it by Phillip Wilcher is well worth including in a recital.
The third and fourth poems set by Mr. Wilcher, to me are strongly reminiscent of the Barrett-Browning SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGESE which, incidentally do not refer to the Portugese language, but was Robert Browning's affectionate name for Elizabeth, due to her dark complexion. The two poems bear a distinct relationship to each other, and are called DO I LOVE YOU and LOOKS AND WORDS. All composers have a particular style of writing, so that Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner et al are immediately identifiable. The same is true of Benjamin Britten, who seems very difficult until the performer becomes accustomed to his style, whereupon everything seems to fall into place. It is true also of Phillip Wilcher, up to a point, although he has an astonishing variety of styles in which he writes.


HENRY HOWELL
Review source: Music Teacher Magazine Vol. 8 No. 3
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