[Weston]

I love the tone poems The White Peacock and The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan. There are others works on the same Naxos recording with these, though I can't say I remember them. I was familiar with these two better known pieces from public radio before I owned the CD.

It's interesting that you would place him with the impressionists. I never thought much about it, but considered him more modern than the impressionists, perhaps more accessible than other moderns of the time. I think it is unusual that an American composer would write this exotic music when so many were wrapped up in American folk music and folklore. The only other composer I can think of that dealt with such exotic subjects is Hovhaness many years later.

 

[Weston]

Okay - now I hear the impressionism influence, but just barely. Morso in the 2nd movement. And maybe a bit of blues or jazz?

I had not heard this piece before. Is it supposed to be that heavy handed? It seems to go from f to fff for its dynamics and almost always non-legato at least in the 1st movement. The 3rd movement is bit better and very American. I'd like to acquire this piece, but maybe a different interpretation.

[ETA: I think the YouTube link is a performance by pianist Michael Lewin on Naxos, Griffes: Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1. It sounds very close anyway. Maybe I should check out the EMI.]