Havergal Brian.

[cilgwyn]

Well put,Johann;and a reminder that some of my posts really could benefit from the concision of some of Brian's later symphonies!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

We all love you for your word cascades, cilgwyn. It's the Welshman in you - hwyl...

[vandermolen]

BBC Music Magazine (September) conducted (no pun intended) a survey of 151 of 'the world's leading conductors' to ascertain the 20 greatest symphonies of all time. No real surprises but there was a section devoted to '10 Unusual Symphonic Choices' and, guess what, Brian's 'Gothic Symphony' was one of the ten, selected, unsurprisingly perhaps by Martyn Brabbins:

'Two orchestras, ten choirs, four soloists, a scarecrow [?] and a thunder machine are required for Brian's epic 'Gothic Symphony'. This mammoth work is often surprisingly delicate, eloquent solos offer a welcome contrast to the gargantuan full ensemble.'

I was also pleased to see Pettersson's 7th Symphony, Lyatoshinsky's 3rd Symphony and Sumera's 2nd Symphony included in this section.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks, Jeffrey!

[PerfectWagnerite]

BBC Music Magazine (September) conducted (no pun intended) a survey of 151 of 'the world's leading conductors' to ascertain the 20 greatest symphonies of all time. No real surprises but there was a section devoted to '10 Unusual Symphonic Choices' and, guess what, Brian's 'Gothic Symphony' was one of the ten, selected, unsurprisingly perhaps by Martyn Brabbins:

'Two orchestras, ten choirs, four soloists, a scarecrow [?] and a thunder machine are required for Brian's epic 'Gothic Symphony'. This mammoth work is often surprisingly delicate, eloquent solos offer a welcome contrast to the gargantuan full ensemble.'

I was also pleased to see Pettersson's 7th Symphony, Lyatoshinsky's 3rd Symphony and Sumera's 2nd Symphony included in this section.

Where did Tournemire's 7th rank?

[vandermolen]

Where did Tournemire's 7th rank?

Sadly not featured. Nor was Klaus Egge's 1st Symphony 

[PerfectWagnerite]

Sadly not featured. Nor was Klaus Egge's 1st Symphony 

interesting piece, opens like Sibelius' 4th.

[vandermolen]

interesting piece, opens like Sibelius' 4th.

Never thought of that but you are absolutely right.

[André]

Very interesting. I don't think that today's "unusual symphonic choices" are the same ones that would have come up 50 years ago (symphonies written after 1966), nor that they would be the same 30 years hence.

So, JEFFREY, it falls upon you to start that new thread with your "unusual symphonic choices" - let's keep that post 1916. 

[vandermolen]

Very interesting. I don't think that today's "unusual symphonic choices" are the same ones that would have come up 50 years ago (symphonies written after 1966), nor that they would be the same 30 years hence.

So, JEFFREY, it falls upon you to start that new thread with your "unusual symphonic choices" - let's keep that post 1916. 

Your wish is my command good friend
See 'The Polling Station'.

[Contemporaryclassical]

His Gothic Symphony is a masterpiece, haven't heard much else besides that and symphonies 19 - 23. What else would you suggest?

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Symphony no. 8 seems to be fairly popular. Welcome to GMG by the way.

[pjme]

'Two orchestras, ten choirs, four soloists, a scarecrow [?] and a thunder machine are required for Brian's epic 'Gothic Symphony'. This mammoth work is often surprisingly delicate, eloquent solos offer a welcome contrast to the gargantuan full ensemble.'

From : http://www.havergalbrian.org/percussion.htm


Other instruments
Brian's handling of the other untuned percussion instruments is fairly conventional, although once again the Gothic provides a prescribed in Part Two, as are a thunder machine (Brian did not want the tinny thunder sheet that so often occurs and is so ineffectual) and a 'bird scare' (i.e. a football rattle - called 'scare crow' on page 184 of the published score).   However, for the vast majority of his works, Brian employs a normal section in the usual manner.  Thunder and wind machines turn up in Symphony no 10, and an Indian tabla in English Suite No 4,but these are exceptions

I found no picture...

P.

[vandermolen]

From : http://www.havergalbrian.org/percussion.htm


Other instruments
Brian's handling of the other untuned percussion instruments is fairly conventional, although once again the Gothic provides a prescribed in Part Two, as are a thunder machine (Brian did not want the tinny thunder sheet that so often occurs and is so ineffectual) and a 'bird scare' (i.e. a football rattle - called 'scare crow' on page 184 of the published score).   However, for the vast majority of his works, Brian employs a normal section in the usual manner.  Thunder and wind machines turn up in Symphony no 10, and an Indian tabla in English Suite No 4,but these are exceptions

I found no picture...

P.

Thanks for explaining the 'scarecrow'. Couldn't understand it before.

[Karl Henning]

A football rattle: fascinating!  (And P.'s note highlights the risks of using a non-standard percussion device  )

[pjme]

The mystery continues..

Could it be this: see: http://www.littlegun.info/curios%20et%20antiquites/clockwork%20percussion%20bird%20scarer-03.JPG

or this ...http://www.oldgardentools.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/catablog/originals/Bird-Scarer--B.jpg


P.

[calyptorhynchus]

Long before soccer fans took football rattles into the stands with them, young boys were sent around the fields with a wooden rattle to scare away birds.

[Augustus]

Did we know Alex Walker is recording three more Brian symphonies for Naxos next month in Moscow?  His website says Nos. 8, 21 & 26.
http://www.alexanderwalker.org/
That will mean all 32 symphonies finally on CD by (presumably) some time next year.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Did we know Alex Walker is recording three more Brian symphonies for Naxos next month in Moscow?  His website says Nos. 8, 21 & 26.
http://www.alexanderwalker.org/
That will mean all 32 symphonies finally on CD by (presumably) some time next year.

Well spotted! And yes, this means that next year, almost 45 years after HB died on 28 November 1972, all the symphonies finally have seen the light of LP and CD.

[cilgwyn]

The HB Faust Faust is near to 90% of the target amountt! Well,not far to go!!