Havergal Brian.

[Mirror Image]

Except you clipped off the smiley I had put on the end of that last quip. 

The smiley doesn't matter. An apology doesn't end with another negative comment. You can make excuses for your rude behavior all you want to.

[Scarpia]

Saying I'm sorry with good intentions and then turning right around and saying something unnecessarily negative again cancels out that apology in my view.

Except you clipped off the smiley I had put on the end of that last quip. 

You don't have anything better to do than follow me around this board?

[Mirror Image]

Except you clipped off the smiley I had put on the end of that last quip. 

You don't have anything better to do than follow me around this board?

Again, the smiley MEANS nothing because you followed that 'apology' with another negative comment. I have plenty better to do, but getting you to admit you were a jerk to Colin is too much to ask I suppose.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

John Grimshaw, Chairman of the HBS, wrote to me today about the new Dutton CD: "I hope to have the discs at the end of next week and will process orders immediately they arrive here." Can't wait!

[cilgwyn]

Neither can I!
Regarding Chandos,as referred to a few posts ago. I wonder what's happening there,behind the scenes. They used to be such an exciting label? Is it just a question of economics? Where are the Bax,Arnold,Rubbra,Dyson,Stanford,Parry (etc) cycles of times past. I remember the dreaded Hurwitz suggesting (he should know! ) they were running out of ideas. Could he actually be right?!!! Of course,they have had conductor problems,but still.........?!!!

[Mirror Image]

Neither can I!
Regarding Chandos,as referred to a few posts ago. I wonder what's happening there,behind the scenes. They used to be such an exciting label? Is it just a question of economics? Where are the Bax,Arnold,Rubbra,Dyson,Stanford,Parry (etc) cycles of times past. I remember the dreaded Hurwitz suggesting (he should know! ) they were running out of ideas. Could he actually be right?!!! Of course,they have had conductor problems,but still.........?!!!

Yeah, it appears that Chandos seem to be running out of steam, although they've had some good recordings in recent years. There are so many smaller labels now that offer more affordable prices and just as high content performance-wise like Naxos that are putting a hurting on Chandos. I could go to Naxos right now with the prospect of recording some Henning chamber music and if I have the funds to do make the recording happen, Naxos will release it and distribute it. Chandos doesn't seem to offer that kind of independence to their artists and I wonder how accepting they are to newer artists? All food for thought.

[cilgwyn]

Yes! A little sad,really. Chandos were a great label. I just can't quite believe I'm using the past tense!

[cilgwyn]

Oh well,perhaps they'll suprise us yet! They have got Raff 2 & this Rufinatcha chap on their books,apparently!

Going back to Havergal Brian. I am a bit puzzled by 'The Havergal Brian Project'? Who exactly is behind this website. Is it Naxos,or a joint venture between Naxos & the HBS? Also,are we likely to see any other developments in relation to this 'Project' besides cd recordings?

[calyptorhynchus]

Oh well,perhaps they'll suprise us yet! They have got Raff 2 & this Rufinatcha chap on their books,apparently!

Going back to Havergal Brian. I am a bit puzzled by 'The Havergal Brian Project'? Who exactly is behind this website. Is it Naxos,or a joint venture between Naxos & the HBS? Also,are we likely to see any other developments in relation to this 'Project' besides cd recordings?

I don't really care who's behind it, and I won't complain if it results in more recordings. Pleased to see that the latest Naxos will have the English Suite No.1 on it, that's a fun work, but the recording with the Hull Schools Orchestra is a terrible recording.

[cilgwyn]

I see the link,now! It's pretty big & obvious!!!

By the way,I hope Dundonnells still out there,somewhere!!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The Havergal Brian Project - that's the first time I hear of it! Intriguing!


http://havergalbrianproject.vpweb.co.uk/default.html

[cilgwyn]

Ah yes,the Hull Youth SO recordings. To be fair,just imagine being a teenager back in the late 70s,thirsty for more Brian....and it wasn't as easy to come by then. The Hull Youth SO Lps were a lone 'window' on another aspect of Brians long 'career'. I spent allot of time trying my best to glean out what I could from them. As luck would have it,I chose the Lp with 'In Memoriam',which as John pointed out,is a fairly straight forward march which they manage to cope with reasonably well. Also,'Festal Dance',which includes the 'piano part' missing from the,imo,rather humourless Marco Polo recording & at least their wacky,eccentric approach has some fun in it! On the other hand,their account of 'For Valour' is pretty hair raising,in the wrong kind of way!!
Also,the Hull Youth SO recordings gave my adolescent mind some pretty wierd ideas about HB's early attempts at orchestration,particularly the string section! The worst bits are rather like the old trick of dragging your fingernails across a school blackboard. Ouch!!! If only it had been the LSSO!!!
  Still,they were youngsters,so kudo's to them for trying!

I DO actually like their performance of 'In Memoriam! The strings are a bit scrapy in places & there are some decidedly knife edge moments;but there's a grandeur & imposing solemnity which I find missing from the MP performance.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I must say that the climax of the Fantastic Variations (fanfares and organ) are still best heard in the recroding by the Hull Youth Orchestra. And the start of the coda to Doctor Merryheart hasn't been bettered, either...

[cilgwyn]

We could be alone in our enthusiasm,I fear,Johan;but there is something there. Of course,now there are professional alternatives to most of the pieces. Back then,if you had enjoyed the Gothic,or some of those other Lps,the Hull Youth So recordings were pioneering ventures;you had nothing else,so you 'devoured' them with youthful enthusiasm,played them over & over again,trying to glean out anything you could between the admittedly,off key strings & lurching,ramshackle ensemble.
Nowadays,someone puts them. Huh! They're all out of tune!!! Lets grab some of those Naxos performances.....why bother?!!

IMHO,there is an enthusiasm & pioneering fervour there,somewhere,which I DO find missing from the Marco Polo performances. Yes,the professional performances are obviously superior,technically;but at the same time I find them curiously dull. However polished & fluid they might be,it's as if they are just 'going through the motions' & I DO have a problem with that! In that respect,I DO actually prefer the HYSO performances;even if I have to grit my teeth allot!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Give me fervour with imperfections over spotless tameness any time!

[cilgwyn]

In fact,I'm going to get those 'fervid imperfections' out of the box right now!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Don't wake up the neighbours

[cilgwyn]

I won't! Unfortunately,I can't friggin' find it! Have another look today!

The  Havergal Brian curse?!!

[Dundonnell]

I see the link,now! It's pretty big & obvious!!!

By the way,I hope Dundonnells still out there,somewhere!!

Fear not, my friend

I am still very much here    I have been out this evening enjoying a meal and some civilised company with friends

Going back-if I may-to your comments on Chandos. You are perfectly correct to focus on the loss of Richard Hickox. It was, obviously, a devastating blow to the company
He had become virtually their "house-conductor" and I have no doubt that he and they had a recording schedule planned out over the next few years that would have included all manner of enticing goodies.

Hickox-like Neeme Jarvi-appears to have been an insatiable addict for making cds. Indeed, it was that workaholic nature that, I fear, contributed to his tragic death. Attempting to balance the responsibility of running the Sydney Opera House-never an easy task at the best of times-and an intensive recording schedule was a heavy, and, as it turns out, an insupportable burden.

Hickox appears to have embraced the notion of the "British music specialist". Vernon Handley did so with some reluctance but could never shake off that reputation as far as orchestral managements were concerned. His steadily worsening health over the last few years before his death made concert promoters and record companies increasingly reluctant to bank on his ability to fulfill engagements.

Younger, up-and-coming conductors are also less than keen to be pigeon-holed. Edward Gardner would-understandably-prefer to record a complete Lutoslawski series than embark on something more esoteric. Sir Andrew Davis has moved on from the early decades of his career when he was most noted as a conductor of "modern music".
His current recordings of Delius are getting rave reviews so it will not particularly matter to Chandos that he is repeating repertoire already covered by Handley.....any more than getting Handley to re-do Arnold Bax when Bryden Thomson had been there before

I suspect that a further element is, as you suspect, finance. Companies like Chandos, Hyperion and Dutton live on the edge. (Naxos is quite a different story ). It is this financial pressure which makes the Dutton achievement so astounding. Long may it continue.....but I know that a company like Dutton will need as much financial support as they can get.
Before any recording project is undertaken I guess the begging-bowl may go out round the various musical trusts(RVW, Alan Bush) and the HBS.

Oh to be a fly-on-the wall when Michael Dutton and Lewis Foreman sit down to discuss a possible recording

As someone who has just been asked by a friend for a suggestion for a coupling for a possible recording project by one of these companies I am beginning to appreciate that, at the end of the day, a composer's chances can come down to pure chance/luck.   (And NO I am telling you absolutely NO MORE about the project....except that it does NOT involve HB).

Apologies.....prolix as ever

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Quote from: cilgwyn on Today at 01:53:17

I won't! Unfortunately,I can't friggin' find it! Have another look today!

The  Havergal Brian curse?!!



Yep, the Brian Jinx in classic mode. 


>

Apologies.....prolix as ever

Let's say fecund.