Havergal Brian.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Just to add to Luke's post:  in the final analysis vision is greater than perfection (says this perfectionist writer), and I think Brian realised (most of) his more than adequately. We still know too little about the man and his work, there is no critical edition, his operas lie unperformed, there are two volumes of his writings, but four still remain... I could go on. At this moment some individuals are deeply touched and inspired by his music, so much so that they devote a lot of time to listening to it, thinking about it, writing about it.


But that's only the beginning.

[Guido]

Do any recordings exist of any of the operas?

[Luke]

Yes. Who is it here that has The Tigers on mediafire? You'll love it, Guido...

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Yes. Who is it here that has The Tigers on mediafire? You'll love it, Guido...

Albion posted a link once. He is also active on the Unsung Composers Forum, and there is a folder there where The Tigers can be found... Wait a sec... And there is the Prologue in Heaven from Faust.

[Luke]

...and I've just put it on! [edit - THe Tigers, I mean]  In context, I think it only right to say how delicious the orchestration is. It might be a crazy piece, this, but the musical language is close enough to 'normal' to be able to appreciate, here, quite how well Brian could work within these parameters.



What I remember of The Cenci was really, really impressive, and desperately beautiful too; I can recall enough of it to know that, anyway! I would love to hear it again, I really would.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

http://www.mediafire.com/file/87be26h8pfd887r/Brian%20-%20The%20Tigers%20%281917-29%29%2C%20Prologue.mp3


http://www.mediafire.com/file/eh2ilnhoi32k96n/Brian%20-%20The%20Tigers%20%281917-29%29%2C%20Act%20I.mp3


http://www.mediafire.com/file/nu4fk5hqwl11ap6/Brian%20-%20The%20Tigers%20%281917-29%29%2C%20Act%20II.mp3


http://www.mediafire.com/file/8ap51gt3xzjbp4q/Brian%20-%20The%20Tigers%20%281917-29%29%2C%20Act%20III.mp3


http://www.mediafire.com/file/z3q8uq8r28apcv7/Brian%20-%20Faust%20Prologue%20%281956%29.mp3

[Guido]

Cheers! Happily listening to Jenufa atm - will download as I listen.

I how was Cenci not recorded? Surely there's a bootleg??!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Cheers! Happily listening to Jenufa atm - will download as I listen.

I how was Cenci not recorded? Surely there's a bootleg??!

The HBS recorded it. If you are a member, you can borrow a CD. There are also orchestral movements from Turandot (great!) and Agamemnon has been performed once (I have a tape, unplayable now - the ending is quintessental Brian).

[Luke]

Had forgotten quite how fabulously fun The Tigers is! Hilarious choral moments like the gigantic chordal climaxes of The Gothic's Judex, suceeded by the most trivial little snippets of street-tune; Janacek-like declamations about not-much (reminding me of parts of Broucek); awe-inspiring orchestral thinking at times, really neatly and convincing ly carried-off. The musical material is good, strong stuff, too. And that Petrouchka-like moment...only the solo flute has here become a bassoon. And I'm only a few minutes in. Guido, you must download this AT ONCE! Feel foolish that I haven't listened in a long time.

[Guido]

Ok! Just getting to the prayer scene in Jenufa. It's almost finished downloading so I'll break off and give it a spin!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The Tigers


3-8 January 1983 (recording) / 3 May 1983 (broadcast BBC Radio 3)

Teresa Cahill (soprano)  Mrs Freebody/Lady 1
Alison Hargan (soprano)  Columbine/Female in car/Lady Stout
Marilyn Hill-Smith (soprano)  Lady 2/Toy seller
Ameral Gunson (mezzo soprano)  Lady 3
Ann Marie Owens (alto)  Costerwoman/Sweetmeat seller
Paul Crook (tenor)  Artist/Bishop/Clergyman 2/Cook 2
Harry Nicoll (tenor)  Constable 1/Pantalon
John Winfield (tenor)  Coster/Clergyman 1/Cook 1/Old clothes seller
Kenneth Wollam (tenor)  Man on elephant/Man in tweeds
Ian Caddy (baritone)  Coster 1/Gentleman 1/Policeman 1
Malcolm Donnelly (baritone)  Colonel Sir John Stout
Henry Herford (baritone)  Gentleman 2
Alan Opie (baritone)  Clergyman 5/Napoleon/Young man
Alan Watt (baritone)  Coster 3/Clergyman 3/Fruitseller/Policeman 2
Norman Welsby (baritone)  Billposterer/Clergyman 4/Elephant keeper/Man's voice/Police sergeant
Richard Angas (bass-baritone)  Alexander the Great/Crier/Constable 2/Guard/Policeman 3
Eric Shilling (bass-baritone)  Officer/Regimental sergeant major/Voices
Denis Wicks (bass)  Coster 2/Clergyman 6/Red Indian

BBC Singers  The Tigers/Crowds

BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Lionel Friend

producer Elaine Padmore

[Guido]

I like it! It's a BIG work, not sure I'll listen to it all tonight.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I like it! It's a BIG work, not sure I'll listen to it all tonight.

Take your time! The Prologue will give you a good idea...

[Guido]

I'm just 15 minutes in. It's mad! What a ride! Is there a libretto online?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'm just 15 minutes in. It's mad! What a ride! Is there a libretto online?

Alas... I got the libretto in 1986. Some leftist group at the time saw The Tigers as a scathing indictment of class-ridden Britain and had printed it, complete with a Trotskyite introduction. This was photocopied for me by a friend when I was in England...

[cilgwyn]

It's marvellous!

[Hattoff]

Quote from: Hattoff on Today at 05:32:27 AM
Thanks to John for cleaning up the English Suite files, you have done a good job. I'm glad the files are being shared.
You can have the original LP as long as I get a copy of the new brighter files

That would be good. Is it stereo - the MP3s are mono.

The original LP is in stereo, my recording was of poor quality due to lack of resources at the time, I had to record it to cassette first.
Send me a private message and I will send the LP to you.
It will take some days to get suitable packaging though.

[Hattoff]

John,
I also have an LP recording of Brian's "Legend" for violin and piano which could do with a good transfer, would you be willing to do that? We could put it up here for the rest of the Brianites.

[John Whitmore]

The original LP is in stereo, my recording was of poor quality due to lack of resources at the time, I had to record it to cassette first.
Send me a private message and I will send the LP to you.
It will take some days to get suitable packaging though.

I need your email address please. If it's stereo I'm excited. I'll dust the Linn down and await the parcel.

[John Whitmore]

John,
I also have an LP recording of Brian's "Legend" for violin and piano which could do with a good transfer, would you be willing to do that? We could put it up here for the rest of the Brianites.

I certainly will. Happy to oblige. Can I make one point. To get the best possible results I play vinyl with 70% IPA. This dissolves all the rubbish and lets the stylus glide in the grooves with reduced distortion. The down side is that when the vinyly dries the sludge dries out and dry playing is not so good anymore. If you've accessed any of my uploads (Brian22/Psalm 23 for example) this is how I got the decent results. I use a Linn/SME/Supex and will be careful with your records. Any other vinyl bootlegs while we are at it?