Listening to the first few seconds of Virgil Thomson's Cello Concerto, there is absolutely no surprise that the composer was born and raised in America's heartland. Like many of his film scores and other compositions, this concerto is satiated with folk-like melodies and pure Americana without ever appearing clichéd or hackneyed. The cover of the album, however, may unfortunately give the false impression that the music is less serious or reputable than it actually is. The first movement of the Thomson concerto, from which the album borrows its title, is the most "Western" of the three and is highly evocative of wide opens plains. The second movement is much more sentimental and introspective, while the third movement is a playful dialogue between cello and orchestra. This piece is a work all its own, with nothing else in the repertoire quite like it, and is just as deserving of respect and performance as the more standard concertos. Charles Fussell's Right River Variations are likewise unmistakably American, but with a much more modern flare and demanding increased virtuosity from the soloist. Cellist
Emmanuel Feldman does a splendid job with these two concertos, as well as the many miniatures included on the album. His production is clean and robust and his sound palate is extremely varied.