Havergal Brian.

[calyptorhynchus]

Well, last time I counted I had 1200 volumes of poetry on my shelves*, but Lord Alfred Douglas's Collected Works isn't there.

*(Thoreau once said "I have over 1000 books in my library, many my own works" [ie unsold copies of his publications]. I assure you I have a few boxes of unsold copies of my poetry collections, but those aren't included in the total above.)

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I AM my psychiatrist!

* shudders *

Well, last time I counted I had 1200 volumes of poetry on my shelves*, but Lord Alfred Douglas's Collected Works isn't there.

*(Thoreau once said "I have over 1000 books in my library, many my own works" [ie unsold copies of his publications]. I assure you I have a few boxes of unsold copies of my poetry collections, but those aren't included in the total above.)

An acquaintance of mine (Dutch) wrote a whole biography about Lord Alfred Douglas. He found his poetry underrated. I think history was right in this case...

Glad to see you are a poetry-lover, too!

[Christo]

My cup runneth over (or it will when I get hold of the Dutton and this new Naxos).

Does it surpass the unbeatable "Humboldt Redwoods State Park Community Orchestra under the unflappable baton of Armand Aisselle and baritone Hans Dieter Schwungvoll", one wonders. [AKA the 1976 live performance by the New Philharmonia Orchestra under Stanley Pope, with baritone Brian Rayner Cook].

[Sergeant Rock]

And yes Roderick Williams has a wonderful voice and does his best with the awful words in 5*. As always, though, I keep on wishing there simply wasn't a vocal line and I could enjoy the strange new world of Brian's impressionist phase instrumentally. 

My complaint about the recording, and perhaps the only one, is the forward balance of the voice. I'd prefer a more realistic (i.e., concert hall) perspective. I think the voice is simply too big in relation to the orchestra. It's especially disconcerting at the first entry after that delicate and magical opening. I prefer the Pope/Cook in this respect. Having the voice as a more natural part of the musical texture has the additional advantage of playing down the poetry 

Sarge

[John Whitmore]

* shudders *

An acquaintance of mine (Dutch) wrote a whole biography about Lord Alfred Douglas. He found his poetry underrated. I think history was right in this case...

Glad to see you are a poetry-lover, too!

I used to admire Jack Douglas. He made me laugh with that pretend twitch of his.

[calyptorhynchus]

I just found the details of the new Naxos disk on their website, I note for 28

3.         II. Grazioso e leggiero - 00:03:28
4.         III. Andante espressivo - 00:03:45

Phew!

[Only a complete Brian tragic would understand this].



http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.573408

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The second movement is now about right. But the Andante is almost as quick? Intriguing.

[calyptorhynchus]

I think when I did that adjusted speed version of Stokowski those were approximately the times I had. Certainly the Andante wasn't much longer than the Grazioso.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

You're right. I discovered it later last night...

[John Whitmore]

You're right. I discovered it later last night...

Klassic Haus transfer from Aries LP clocks in at 4:43 and 3:33.

[Sean]

This is a long thread for a second-rate composer, guys!

[Christo]

Second-rate comments won't help to make it shorter. 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

And me wholeheartedly seconding that, neither.

[Albion]

Further links:

http://www.naxos.com/SharedFiles/pdf/rear/8.573408r.pdf#

http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.573408&catNum=573408&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Read all. Thanks, Albion! I cannot wait to hear it, especially the 'new' 6th and 28th.

[cilgwyn]

A welsh sculptor and dedicatee? I didn't know that!
Good!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

New Brian movie - The Welsh Connection.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Just discovered this on YouTube: another performance of Symphony No. 27. The UK public premiere in Birmingham,  by an American orchestra...

http://youtu.be/_TMmNHOk89A

[John Whitmore]

Just discovered this on YouTube: another performance of Symphony No. 27. The UK public premiere in Birmingham,  by an American orchestra...

http://youtu.be/_TMmNHOk89A

Yes, Johan. I remember this performance. Apparently the Town Hall in Birmingham was virtually empty for this very good kids orchestra. No (or poor) publicity was blamed for the fiasco. Shame.

[vandermolen]

Have ordered the Naxos Symphony 6 etc. Can't wait!