British Composers' Catalogues: Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

In case any members of this site may be interested-

I posted some sample copies of these catalogues four weeks or so ago on here. The samples were for Arnold Cooke, Peter Racine Fricker, Iain Hamilton, Humphrey Searle and William Wordsworth

Over the past month I have compiled full catalogues of the Orchestral and Choral Music of 60 British composers (ranging from William Alwyn and Richard Arnell to Thomas Wilson and William Wordsworth). These catalogues are my best attempt at complete lists of all the orchestral compositions and of those choral/vocal works with orchestral accompaniment. They include the duration of each work, where known, and the current cd availability by record company.

The choice of composer, unashamedly, reflects my personal tastes but excludes the best known British composers (Elgar, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Bax, Tippett, Walton, Britten) whose works are most widely known. To follow will be catalogues for Malcolm Arnold, Havergal Brian, Frank Bridge and Gerald Finzi and for around ten more British composers whose most active period of composition was in the late 19th century (people like Parry, Stanford, Sullivan etc.)

As a reference source I hope these catalogues will have an ongoing reference value. They are currently available to both members and non-members of the 'Unsung Composers' forum.

[some guy]

The choice of composer, unashamedly, reflects my personal tastes....

Yeah, that's what I'd like to see. A little shame.

Probably shameful of me. But this may help explain some of my past responses to you.

(I don't insist on it. Indeed, how could I? I promise that I wouldn't insist on it even if I could!!)

[mc ukrneal]

In case any members of this site may be interested-

I posted some sample copies of these catalogues four weeks or so ago on here. The samples were for Arnold Cooke, Peter Racine Fricker, Iain Hamilton, Humphrey Searle and William Wordsworth

Over the past month I have compiled full catalogues of the Orchestral and Choral Music of 60 British composers (ranging from William Alwyn and Richard Arnell to Thomas Wilson and William Wordsworth). These catalogues are my best attempt at complete lists of all the orchestral compositions and of those choral/vocal works with orchestral accompaniment. They include the duration of each work, where known, and the current cd availability by record company.

The choice of composer, unashamedly, reflects my personal tastes but excludes the best known British composers (Elgar, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Bax, Tippett, Walton, Britten) whose works are most widely known. To follow will be catalogues for Malcolm Arnold, Havergal Brian, Frank Bridge and Gerald Finzi and for around ten more British composers whose most active period of composition was in the late 19th century (people like Parry, Stanford, Sullivan etc.)

As a reference source I hope these catalogues will have an ongoing reference value. They are currently available to both members and non-members of the 'Unsung Composers' forum.

Very interesting. Will take a looksie!

[Dundonnell]

I have been absent from this forum for many months

The reason is that I have devoted virtually every day and almost all my waking time to to adding to my list of Catalogues of the Orchestral Music of (mainly 20th century) Composers.

Earlier tonight I completed my 601st and last catalogue(Sir John Tavener). No.600 was Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The first 300 of these are archived on the "Unsung Composers" Website but-since I was summarily expelled from that website because my tastes were too modern for those who run the site (this observation should, at least, bring a wry smile, to one member on here )- all of the catalogues are now online at composers.gulabin.com

As such I hope that the catalogues will be of some ongoing use and value as a reference tool for others. I derived enormous pleasure and fun in compiling them.

I hope now to be able to return to making some small contribution again on here

[vandermolen]

I have been absent from this forum for many months

The reason is that I have devoted virtually every day and almost all my waking time to to adding to my list of Catalogues of the Orchestral Music of (mainly 20th century) Composers.

Earlier tonight I completed my 601st and last catalogue(Sir John Tavener). No.600 was Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The first 300 of these are archived on the "Unsung Composers" Website but-since I was summarily expelled from that website because my tastes were too modern for those who run the site (this observation should, at least, bring a wry smile, to one member on here )- all of the catalogues are now online at composers.gulabin.com

As such I hope that the catalogues will be of some ongoing use and value as a reference tool for others. I derived enormous pleasure and fun in compiling them.

I hope now to be able to return to making some small contribution again on here

Great to see you back here Colin.  I have missed your contributions.

[Dundonnell]

Thank you, Jeffrey

[some guy]

The first 300 of these are archived on the "Unsung Composers" Website but-since I was summarily expelled from that website because my tastes were too modern for those who run the site (this observation should, at least, bring a wry smile, to one member on here )- all of the catalogues are now online at composers.gulabin.com

Indeed it did! I've passed by the Unsung site myself. It's no place for music lovers.

Anyway, Colin, I've missed you, too. Surely you know that it's not just people who agree with you and share your tastes who are your friends.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, it's to see Colin back in the saddle again!

[mc ukrneal]

I have been absent from this forum for many months

The reason is that I have devoted virtually every day and almost all my waking time to to adding to my list of Catalogues of the Orchestral Music of (mainly 20th century) Composers.

Earlier tonight I completed my 601st and last catalogue(Sir John Tavener). No.600 was Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The first 300 of these are archived on the "Unsung Composers" Website but-since I was summarily expelled from that website because my tastes were too modern for those who run the site (this observation should, at least, bring a wry smile, to one member on here )- all of the catalogues are now online at composers.gulabin.com

As such I hope that the catalogues will be of some ongoing use and value as a reference tool for others. I derived enormous pleasure and fun in compiling them.

I hope now to be able to return to making some small contribution again on here

I have found these quite interesting. Cogratulations on the big six zero.....zero!

[cilgwyn]

I have been absent from this forum for many months

The reason is that I have devoted virtually every day and almost all my waking time to to adding to my list of Catalogues of the Orchestral Music of (mainly 20th century) Composers.

Earlier tonight I completed my 601st and last catalogue(Sir John Tavener). No.600 was Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The first 300 of these are archived on the "Unsung Composers" Website but-since I was summarily expelled from that website because my tastes were too modern for those who run the site (this observation should, at least, bring a wry smile, to one member on here )- all of the catalogues are now online at composers.gulabin.com

As such I hope that the catalogues will be of some ongoing use and value as a reference tool for others. I derived enormous pleasure and fun in compiling them.

I hope now to be able to return to making some small contribution again on here

Welcome back 'stranger'!

[mahler10th]

Wow.  I had a look at the catalogue(s) link, and no wonder we haven't seen you for a while!  Your work is most admirable, extremely comprehensive, and should be an essential reference for anyone in the research or practice of Classical Music.  You have even cited approximate timings for each entry, which is super useful and not readily available elsewhere.  Great work, much respect.  This is bookmarked for my own reference.

http://composers.gulabin.com/

[Lisztianwagner]

How great, excellent job, Colin! I'm particularly keen to see the complete list of Holst's compositions, there's much more in his music besides The Planets.

[cilgwyn]

I've used the catalogue several times already. With my,at times, slothful pc it's going to save me allot of time! Thank you Dundonnell.
Hopefully some of you're interesting 'threads' before long?!!

[North Star]

Wow.  I had a look at the catalogue(s) link, and no wonder we haven't seen you for a while!  Your work is most admirable, extremely comprehensive, and should be an essential reference for anyone in the research or practice of Classical Music.  You have even cited approximate timings for each entry, which is super useful and not readily available elsewhere.  Great work, much respect.  This is bookmarked for my own reference.

http://composers.gulabin.com/

Looks awesome, Colin!
Kalevi ('Kalvei') Aho is misspelled, though.

[North Star]

Browsing through, great to see Leevi Madetoja, Väinö Raitio and Uuno Klami there. Now, if only most Raitio recordings weren't OOP...

[Dundonnell]

Looks awesome, Colin!
Kalevi ('Kalvei') Aho is misspelled, though.

Thank you for that   I shall amend the typo at once

Thanks for all of these very kind comments/observations I appreciate them very much

I always welcome corrections, additions, amendments or constructive criticism

My original post in March is now well out of date The project just grew and grew until, towards the end, I found myself cataloguing composers like Ernst Krenek and Hans Werner Henze

To those of you-and there will be MANY-who say (as happened repeatedly elsewhere ) why only the orchestral works My answer is simple. I happen to be passionately interested in orchestral and orchestral/choral music. I have no interest in chamber or instrumental music

No doubt the catalogues would be more useful if they included ALL of a composer's output. But to do that for 600+ composers would have taken me years and would have involved me in work from which I would not have derived much enjoyment. I share what I HAVE done. If you don't find it useful, then go elsewhere. If you want information I don't provide then do your own research. If you want a catalogue of a composer I haven't covered then either (a) suggest his or her name to me or (b) check them out for yourself

I realise that may sound abrupt or even rude and I intend no such thing but I was under no obligation to share the fruits of my research and derive no financial gain from doing so

[cilgwyn]

Would you do a catalogue of instrumental & chamber works for a million pounds? Seriously,I really can't see why anyone would have a problem with you're focus on orchestral & choral music! I DO personally like some chamber & instrumental music (& opera),but I actually think it would over complicate what you are doing & anyway,like you,I DO have a preference for orchestral music,although,not so much choral.......although,it all depends!
At any rate,it's great to have you back........even if you don't like atonal music!! (But each to his own,I say! We all like different things! )

[Dundonnell]

If you are in a position to offer a retired school teacher like myself £1 million I shall embark on cataloguing chamber and instrumental music at once

All I can add to your other comments is that I have met some odd people over the last year Their love of music seems to be combined with a desire to use any and every opportunity to attack and insult other music-lovers

Regarding atonal music As I said, I carefully catalogued all of the orchestral music of Ernst Krenek. He is an important figure in 20th century music. I have all of the cds available of his orchestral output (just as I have all of Schoenberg;s orchestral music on cd ). It is not music that happens to appeal much to me but I recognise the genius of a composer like Schoenberg, just as a realise the genius of great artists whose paintings I would not hang on my walls(even with cligwyn's £1 million ).  Just because I don't happpen to find it personally appealing does NOT mean that it is not Great music or that people should not sing its praises at every opportunity they can get.

That is a sincerely held and honestly expressed view. If you don't happen to believe that I mean what I say it then I cannot provide any further proof of my sincerity

[cilgwyn]

  I have a feeling you won't be compiling chamber/instrumental catalogues,any time soon!!
  Regarding,atonal music. Actually,I'm not keen on it either;but I really don't mind if anyone else does. Each to his own,I say. It's just not my 'cup of tea',that's all!
Why people have to squabble over something like that I really don't know. I remember the old,now defunct, Radio 3 Message Board. The constant bickering & snide remarks eventually drove me out. And all I did was say something positive about Robert Simpson!!

[Mirror Image]

I'm not a fan of atonal music either but I do enjoy many works of the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, and many of the composers that come from this school of composition). For me, this is about the only atonal music I can tolerate. I do have to be in the right mindset for it though. This isn't music that screams out "Play me! Play me!" But, like Colin, I believe I have accumulated many of the atonal 'masterpieces' to consider them an important aspect of my collection. Some people, who haven't done any research about this music, will buy a CD and sell it immediately because they don't like what they hear. Not me. I keep it around, especially if it was historically an important work. There was one composer, however, that I could not tolerate and that was Schnittke, but I did enjoy one of his works: Peer Gynt.