Charles O'Brien (1882-1968) - forgotten Scot

Started by Scion7, October 29, 2022, 09:21:22 AM

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Scion7

An obscure composer - no Grove entry.

Charles O'Brien was born in Eastbourne, England to Edinburgh parents while they were on holiday in the Sussex town, on the 6th October 1882.
O'Brien received his musical education first from his father; and then from Thomas Henry Collinson who was the organist at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and conductor of the Edinburgh Choral Union. Charles followed up this education with a Bachelor of Music degree from Oxford and a Doctorate from Trinity College, Dublin. He was also mentored in composition by Greenock composer Hamish MacCunn.
O'Brien worked in Edinburgh as an organist, conductor, pianist and music teacher. Following Collinson, he became the conductor of the Edinburgh Choral Union. He became the Director of Music at the Royal Blind School and later the Music Master of St. Serf's School in the city.
Like his mentor MacCunn, O'Brien had a romantic style and his works were steeped in Scottish themes. For example, his overture Ellangowan was inspired by the Sir Walter Scott novel Guy Mannering and its setting.
Charles O'Brien died on the 27th June 1968.


There is a nice release on Toccata of two piano trios, his music being very much in the late Romantic mode.
Apparently, his grandson is promoting his music to the company and persuaded them to release several discs worth of material circa 2009-2017,
but it seems to have come to an end.

I can't find a complete works list anywhere.

For now, one must look at the Toccata Classics discography on this composer.

  Orchestral
========================

Berceuse  (1898)
Mazurka  (1898)
Suite Humoristique, Op.8  (1904)
The Minstrel's Curse: Concert Overture, Op.7  (1905)
To Spring: Concert Overture, Op.4  (1906)
Ellangowan: Concert Overture, Op.12  (1909)
Symphony in f, Op.23  (1922)
Waltz Suite, Op.26  (1928)
Scottish Scenes, Op.17  (1915, orch. 1929)

  Chamber
=================

2 Waltzes for Piano Trio  (1928)
Sonata for Piano Trio No.1, Op.27 in Bb  (perf. 1940)
Sonata for Piano Trio No.2 in c  (perf. 1940)
Clarinet Sonata  (ca. 1940)

  Piano
=========================

Arabesque, Op.11  (1906)
Daffodils, Op.13  (1910)
Piano Sonata in e, Op.14  (1910)
Scottish Scenes, Op.17  (1915)
Scottish Scenes, Op.21  (1917)
2 Rhapsodies, Op.22  (1918)
Deux Valses, Op.25  (1928)
Four Waltzes, Op.26  (1928)
Three Grandchildren Waltzes  (1963)
Barcarolle, Op.8b  (1965)
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Scion7

I suspect there is a significant amount of chamber compositions from this bloke,
but where to find out?

When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."