The late 19th century witnessed unprecedented musical growth in the United States, and it is impossible to imagine a Copland, an Ives or even a Gershwin without the pioneering groundwork of the 'Boston Six', of whom John Knowles Paine was the senior member. Favourite among his own works, Paine's Second Symphony was described on its New York première as "a serious, important and totally beautiful work." His Prelude to the tragic play Oedipus Tyrannus was an immediate hit, while An Ocean Fantasy was his last orchestral piece. The first of this set of two volumes of Paine's complete published orchestral works is available on 8.559747.