Ina Boyle (1889-1967)

Albion · December 10, 2022, 04:15:46 PM

Few now remember Ina [Selina] Boyle, but she was a significant Irish composer, travelling from Ireland to London regularly to study with Vaughan Williams. There is a splendid Dutton disc including her Symphony No.1 and Violin Concerto. Here is a folder of broadcasts including two otherwise-unrecorded works: "Five Gaelic Hymns" (1923-24) and Symphony No.2, "The Dream of the Rood" (1930). This is music that should be better known and recognised...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/nb5ioq3ercr8b/Boyle,+Ina+(1889-1967)

calyptorhynchus · December 10, 2022, 05:54:30 PM

Thanks for this Albion, I tried to see if I could stream her Symphony No.2 from Irish radio when it was broadcast earlier this year, but it wasn't available.

Very good idea to post items from your archive on 'this side'.

Scion7 · December 10, 2022, 06:31:52 PM

" In the spring of 1928 Boyle came to London for a brief period of study with Vaughan Williams. She continued to have occasional composition lessons from him until the late 1930s, when the outbreak of war doubtless put a stop to her visits to London. Possibly under the influence of Vaughan Williams, she turned to writing music for dance in the early 1930s. Her Virgilian Suite (1930-1), a ballet based on Virgil's Ecologues, was to have been performed by the Carmargo Society in 1933. The Society folded before they were able to perform the work but not before Boyle had designed the costumes and the set. "

" One of her last works was an opera, Maudlin of Paplewick (1964-6), for which she wrote her own libretto based on Ben Jonson's The Sad Shepherd and which she finished in 1966, the year before her death from cancer at the age of 78. " - from The Pandora Guide

I quite like the Violin Concerto and the piece for harp.

Albion · December 11, 2022, 05:03:31 AM

Quote from: calyptorhynchus on December 10, 2022, 05:54:30 PMThanks for this Albion, I tried to see if I could stream her Symphony No.2 from Irish radio when it was broadcast earlier this year, but it wasn't available.

Very good idea to post items from your archive on 'this side'.

You're very welcome, I'm always more than happy to spread the word! Here is my current catalogue - https://www.mediafire.com/file/1x10x0qpq43jgmj/British_and_Irish_Music_Catalogue_2022.odt/file

vandermolen · December 11, 2022, 05:48:48 AM

This CD is not to be missed!

Albion · December 11, 2022, 06:02:19 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on December 11, 2022, 05:48:48 AMThis CD is not to be missed!

Indeed, it's a really lovely and beautifully performed disc. Unfortunately, as I don't have an SACD player I can't access the final track "Colin Clout" (SACD only)...

Albion · December 11, 2022, 06:21:15 AM

I've just added to the folder an MP3 of another lovely, albeit, brief work: Phantasy for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (1926). This was the world premiere given on 22nd November 2021. There is so much of her music that is still unexplored, let alone performed...

Irons · December 13, 2022, 07:05:04 AM

I have previously posted this clip on the forum and have no problem repeating myself as it is so beautiful.

https://youtu.be/QBFdkuO2ABU

relm1 · December 13, 2022, 04:55:22 PM

Quote from: Albion on December 11, 2022, 05:03:31 AMYou're very welcome, I'm always more than happy to spread the word! Here is my current catalogue - https://www.mediafire.com/file/1x10x0qpq43jgmj/British_and_Irish_Music_Catalogue_2022.odt/file

Thank you for posting this. I've not been familiar with this composer but everything I've heard is so beautiful.

Albion · December 13, 2022, 05:21:21 PM

Quote from: relm1 on December 13, 2022, 04:55:22 PMThank you for posting this. I've not been familiar with this composer but everything I've heard is so beautiful.

Most welcome. Vaughan Williams was hugely impressed by her talent and encouraged her to persevere in the face of total indifference. Her music often has a melancholy, wistful character (the first movement of the violin concerto is unbelievably gorgeous and reminds me of F.S. Kelly's "Elegy In Memoriam Rupert Brooke", 1915, which has been recorded by Dutton and is equally moving) but she could inject power when required. The orchestration is immaculate, the themes are compelling and memorable - frankly, what's not to love? The Gaelic Hymns are wonderful: if you like the Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor, they'll float your boat...

Albion · December 13, 2022, 05:46:20 PM

As I recently updated it, I have had to recopy the link to my catalogue -

https://www.mediafire.com/file/7zzjqu9hvoa699n/British_and_Irish_Music_Catalogue_2022.odt/file

Members are welcome to ask for any items of interest. The easiest way is to pop over and join MFE and then send me a personal message...

https://musicforeveryone.createaforum.com/index.php

Irons · December 14, 2022, 12:01:54 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on December 11, 2022, 05:48:48 AMThis CD is not to be missed!

Played the CD last night. Struck by excellence of the opening track. "Overture for Orchestra" is far more interesting then the title suggests.

Pohjolas Daughter · December 14, 2022, 02:29:50 AM

Quote from: Irons on December 13, 2022, 07:05:04 AMI have previously posted this clip on the forum and have no problem repeating myself as it is so beautiful.

https://youtu.be/QBFdkuO2ABU

Lovely. I found the texts to it but was unable to find a translation for the (what I'm assuming is) Irish Gaelic "deirín dé". Does anyone here know what that means? The texts are here (along with some biographical info on her): https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/5849

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · December 14, 2022, 03:15:02 AM

Listened to her Sleep Song, as I had just mentioned, followed by her first symphony (thanks to youtube). Rather melancholy and harkening to days of yore but quite enjoyable. At first listen, I didn't really catch any particular melodies running through it [but also was working on my first cup of coffee to be honest]. Made me think of Butterworth and a bit of Vaughan Williams and of a certain era and tinged with nostalgia.

PD

Irons · December 14, 2022, 06:35:42 AM

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on December 14, 2022, 02:29:50 AMLovely. I found the texts to it but was unable to find a translation for the (what I'm assuming is) Irish Gaelic "deirín dé". Does anyone here know what that means? The texts are here (along with some biographical info on her): https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/5849

PD

Where is aligreto when you want him?

I agree PD with your assessment of Ina Boyle. She is not the greatest thing since sliced bread but deserves greater recognition of which many British composers receive.

calyptorhynchus · November 09, 2024, 12:15:56 PM

To return to the Dutton disc of her orchestral music of some years ago; there was a bonus track on that SACD only playable on SACD players, which Dutton churlishly refused to release on their website as a download for non SACD player owners.

This was Colin Clout. I have finally been able to listen to it and it's a pity it's effectively unavailable as it a wonderful piece: as good or better than the rest of the music on the disc. It's a very chilly pastoral piece about eight minutes long, reminiscent of Holst's works in this vein, such as Egdon Heath.

An annoying situation, here you have a very high quality piece by a lesser-known composer, recorded, but only a minority of the small number of people who buy the CD can hear it. Meanwhile it discourages other companies from recording it because it's already been recorded.