Malcolm Williamson 'A Mischievous Muse' 1931-2003

[Brian]

Downloaded both, thank you! Looking forward to listening this week.

[Albion]

Downloaded both, thank you! Looking forward to listening this week.

Just let me know if there's anything else that you require...

 

[Roasted Swan]

I must admit not being a great Williamson fan.  Is my memory right/wrong/absent - but was the Mass of Christ the King written for Sir Charles Groves in Liverpool?  My only specific memory of Williamson comes from around 1977 - as part of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Celebrations that year the City of Liverpool commissioned  a street pageant called "The Valley and the Hill" to be performed along the street that connects the city's 2 cathedrals - aptly named Hope Street.  The performers - including the pre-recorded music - were to be local Liverpool school-children and various scenes would be performed as the Queen's motorcade moved along the street.  Williamson would write the music - presumably as part of his role as Master of the Queen's Music.

Apparently, this was the time in his life when Williamson has a serious drink issue and completing any work was nigh-on impossible.  As a consequence the score, although carrying Williamson's name, was completed (all but written?) by one of the City's music advisors - an amazing educator called Michael Bush.  I was one of the players who recorded the music as such but we never were told anything except that it was a Williamson score.  The RLPO recorded an LP of the music a little later - my memory of hearing that is that its pretty weak stuff.  But conversely I seem to remember that the Mass of Christ the King - from much the same time and I guess written with many of the same issues has its "moments"  I will try to listen to that if only as a nostalgic revisiting of a very happy time in a great City making music courtesy of a visionary Education Authority and the people who ran it.......

A PS:  I've joined MediaFire but I don't know how to search there for a link to your uploaded recordings of the "Mass of Christ the King"...... thanks!

[vandermolen]

Nice to see some praise for the neglected figure of MW.
I need that PC set!

[Albion]

I've joined MediaFire but I don't know how to search there for a link to your uploaded recordings of the "Mass of Christ the King"...... thanks!

It's easier for me to just provide the links:

Mass of Christ the King (1976-78)
Eilene Hannan, sop; Elizabeth Connell, mezzo; Philip Langridge, ten; Brian Rayner Cook, bar/ Three Choirs Festival Chorus/ Goldsmith's Choral Union/ RPO/ Charles Groves (3/11/1978)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/dctrw18u5m9dzka/Williamson_-_Mass_of_Christ_the_King_%25281970-78%2529_-_Groves.mp3/file

Mass of Christ the King (1976-78)
Helen Walker, sop; Eilene Hannan, sop; Neil Mackie, ten; Brian Rayner Cook, bar/ Scottish National Opera Chorus/ BBC SSO/ John Currie (20/5/1981)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/bgimwr5asvd0l8q/Williamson_-_Mass_of_Christ_the_King_%25281970-78%2529_-_Currie.mp3/file

The Currie is in much better sound, but since the Groves was the first complete performance of the Mass (in the presence of the Queen Mother) it is a valuable historical document.

[Roasted Swan]

It's easier for me to just provide the links:

Mass of Christ the King (1976-78)
Eilene Hannan, sop; Elizabeth Connell, mezzo; Philip Langridge, ten; Brian Rayner Cook, bar/ Three Choirs Festival Chorus/ Goldsmith's Choral Union/ RPO/ Charles Groves (3/11/1978)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/dctrw18u5m9dzka/Williamson_-_Mass_of_Christ_the_King_%25281970-78%2529_-_Groves.mp3/file

Mass of Christ the King (1976-78)
Helen Walker, sop; Eilene Hannan, sop; Neil Mackie, ten; Brian Rayner Cook, bar/ Scottish National Opera Chorus/ BBC SSO/ John Currie (20/5/1981)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/bgimwr5asvd0l8q/Williamson_-_Mass_of_Christ_the_King_%25281970-78%2529_-_Currie.mp3/file

The Currie is in much better sound, but since the Groves was the first complete performance of the Mass (in the presence of the Queen Mother) it is a valuable historical document.

Many thanks - I'm looking forward to hearing them very much!

[Albion]

Many thanks - I'm looking forward to hearing them very much!

You're very welcome: it's as important (and as neglected) a work as Grace Williams' Missa Cambrensis (1971). The 2016 revival, which was splendid, was due to be issued by Lyrita but one of the soloists threw his dummy out of the pram and vetoed it. It is, however, widely available, for example here it is along with the 1971 premiere...

Missa Cambrensis (1971)
Janet Price, sop; Rhiannon Davies, alto; Kenneth Bowen, ten; John Barrow, bass/ Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society/ Llandaff Cathedral Boys' Choir/ BBC Welsh SO/ Robert Joyce (br. 4/7/1971)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/t0f5zsi94pgvypi/Williams_-_Missa_Cambrensis_%25281971%2529_-_Joyce.mp3/file

Missa Cambrensis (1971)
Fflur Wyn, sop; Catherine Wyn Rogers, alto; Andrew Rees, ten; Jason Howard, bass; Dr Rowan Williams, narrator/ Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion/ BBC National Chorus of Wales/ BBC NOW/ Tecwyn Evans (1/3/2016)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pkrueci4j8uhnge/Williams_-_Missa_Cambrensis_%25281971%2529_-_Evans.mp3/file