Derek Newark's Francesca Suite, 1981 by request

 

I guess this is the only LP by him, as you can see here. This album is often requested and now you finally can get a listen to it and review it for yourselves.  Basically we have instrumental classical / rock compositions similar perhaps to Curved Air or Renaissance without any vocals, with relatively baroque classical harmonies being used in terms of the importations, on top of course of the rock rhythm section, and the titles are even programmatic in nature describing the tempos of the movements.  

So we have basic minor or major chord passages with little to no dissonance, no tritones, very few chromatic notes added, giving the whole a slightly old-fashioned feeling, which makes the release date of 1981 a bit of a surprise, as well, the total absence of fusion is of note.  A minor drawback is that with some additions the mixing is a bit off with occasionally the added electric guitar licks coming in a little too strong.

I found the second track called Swingo odd in that it changes tempos / styles which is obviously against all symphonic rules, not to mention there is nothing relating to swing in there:

Note, however, how interesting overall the track becomes as it pursues various styles throughout.  If you can focus that far (because you're not addicted to screens and thus have acquired ADHD) even the chords that conclude the composition are a bit of a surprise.

 And here and there (throughout the LP / composition) are passages of extreme beauty making it well worth hearing.