10 favourite British Composers

Started by ComposerOfAvantGarde, July 19, 2016, 08:06:15 PM

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Symphonic Addict

Quote from: kyjo on September 07, 2021, 06:58:17 AM
Isn't he Irish? ;)

I meant from British Isles, and that includes Ireland.  8)
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

Symphonic Addict

Quote from: VonStupp on September 09, 2021, 03:33:12 PM
Benjamin Britten
George Dyson
Gustav Holst
Edward Elgar
Ralph Vaughan Williams
William Walton
Herbert Howells
John Foulds
William Mathias
Cornelius Cardew

Dyson, Foulds and Cardew (whom I don't know yet) are "sleepers" as certain chubby guy would claim about unexpected composers.   ;D
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

Pohjolas Daughter

#142
Quote from: VonStupp on September 09, 2021, 03:33:12 PM
Benjamin Britten
George Dyson
Gustav Holst
Edward Elgar
Ralph Vaughan Williams
William Walton
Herbert Howells
John Foulds
William Mathias
Cornelius Cardew

I was an early-music-o-phile as a young man, but I don't get to the Renaissance and Baroque Eras much anymore. I do, however, have preferences from these fellows after eons of singing and playing their music, so PLEASE excuse my cheat:
Henry Purcell
Thomas Tallis
William Byrd
John Dowland
Thomas Weelkes
Orlando Gibbons
Thomas Morley
John Tave(r)ner (I forget which is which, but the older one)
Christopher Tye
John Farmer

Hi VS,

I had to google too as I have a strong "tendency" to forget which one of the JTs is the early music composer vs. the more recent one; the one with the "r" is the early music one.  Perhaps try thinking of old taverns to associate it with the earlier composer?

Well, I'd love to hear of some of your favorite works by them--some of whom in particular I know very little about (including some of their best known and liked works)....like John Dowland, Weelkes, Gibbons, Morely, Taverner, Tye and Farmer!  ::)  Like you, I don't often dive into early music though I do have a bit of it here and there, so could use some pointing direction-wise.  :)

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

DaveF

Quote from: Jo498 on July 20, 2016, 02:26:03 AM
Locke, Blow or Boyce...

Interesting in that one mention of William Boyce from 5 years ago is, as far as I can see, the only appearance on anyone's list of a composer born, or mainly active in, the 18th century.  Apart from Handel, and he was German (runs for cover...).  Likewise, no-one who did most of their significant work in the 19th century makes an appearance.  This is probably no more than a reflection of the good taste of GMG members, but would nobody think of including Parry, Stanford, Sullivan, Samuel Wesley (the "English Mozart"), Arne or Croft?  Not sure any of them would make it onto my list, but thought it worth pointing out.
"All the world is birthday cake" - George Harrison

vandermolen

Quote from: VonStupp on September 09, 2021, 03:33:12 PM
Benjamin Britten
George Dyson
Gustav Holst
Edward Elgar
Ralph Vaughan Williams
William Walton
Herbert Howells
John Foulds
William Mathias
Cornelius Cardew

I was an early-music-o-phile as a young man, but I don't get to the Renaissance and Baroque Eras much anymore. I do, however, have preferences from these fellows after eons of singing and playing their music, so PLEASE excuse my cheat:
Henry Purcell
Thomas Tallis
William Byrd
John Dowland
Thomas Weelkes
Orlando Gibbons
Thomas Morley
John Tave(r)ner (I forget which is which, but the older one)
Christopher Tye
John Farmer
I regret leaving Dyson and Foulds off my own list - Foulds in particular.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

VonStupp

#145
Sorry all, my work schedule prevents me from chiming in most weekdays, but there is no time like the present.

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 09, 2021, 06:26:49 PM
Dyson, Foulds and Cardew (whom I don't know yet) are "sleepers" as certain chubby guy would claim about unexpected composers.   ;D

Dyson is a personal preference for sure, but for a choral music lover, his oratorios speak to me strongly, as does Fould's Requiem.

As to Cornelius Cardew, an avant-garde composer, his music has made an memorable impression on me in performance, the best place to experience experimental music in my eyes. I don't know if his music would translate as strongly for me as much on record.

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on September 10, 2021, 01:39:59 AM
Hi VS,

Well, I'd love to hear of some of your favorite works by them--some of whom in particular I know very little about (including some of their best known and liked works)....like John Dowland, Weelkes, Gibbons, Morely, Taverner, Tye and Farmer!  ::)  Like you, I don't often dive into early music though I do have a bit of it here and there, so could use some pointing direction-wise.  :)

PD

I have reams of madrigals, motets, masses, songs, and other works of these fellows, but a rare few recordings. I am charmed by the strong pleasure some GMG members derive from early-music recordings, but at the moment, I am not drawn to listen to that era at length, which could certainly change. So I guess for me, my list is purely derived from performance rather than recordings, so I would be a poor judge.

Quote from: vandermolen on September 11, 2021, 03:32:01 AM
I regret leaving Dyson and Foulds off my own list - Foulds in particular.

It is tough, with the strong pull of Holst, VW, Elgar, and Walton, among others, to include those we enjoy off-the-beaten path. Luckily, lists can change depending on one's mood  ;)

Quote from: DaveF on September 11, 2021, 12:07:14 AM
Interesting in that one mention of William Boyce from 5 years ago is, as far as I can see, the only appearance on anyone's list of a composer born, or mainly active in, the 18th century.  Apart from Handel, and he was German (runs for cover...).  Likewise, no-one who did most of their significant work in the 19th century makes an appearance.  This is probably no more than a reflection of the good taste of GMG members, but would nobody think of including Parry, Stanford, Sullivan, Samuel Wesley (the "English Mozart"), Arne or Croft?  Not sure any of them would make it onto my list, but thought it worth pointing out.

It is interesting. I don't think I could put Parry, Stanford, or Sullivan on my list either, despite enjoying some items from them, particularly Stanford's motets. Thomas Arne never even crossed my mind, but I would definitely need to explore more of Croft, Wesley, and Boyce.
"All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff."

kyjo

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 09, 2021, 06:26:49 PM
Dyson, Foulds and Cardew (whom I don't know yet) are "sleepers" as certain chubby guy would claim about unexpected composers.   ;D

"A certain chubby guy" :laugh: :laugh:
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Symphonic Addict

A new list (in order of preferences):

Vaughan Williams
Arnold
Walton
Alwyn
Bax
Elgar
Rubbra
Britten
Tippett
Delius
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

Biffo

A list (not in order of preference):

Vaughan Williams
Bax
Elgar
Delius
Purcell
Tallis
The Eton Choirbook - cheating slightly but many of the contributors are known by only one work

Composers not sure about -

Byrd
Britten (mainly his early stuff)
Alwyn - keep revisiting his stuff but still unsure
Rubbra - mixed feelings, prefer his chamber works over his symphonies
Sullivan - modified rapture



foxandpeng

Updated list with new arrivals. No order.

Lloyd
Tippett
Simpson
Maconchy
Bax
RVW
Arnold
Rubbra
Sawyers
Peter Maxwell Davies


Gál, David Matthews, Arnell all dropping out for now. Alwyn and Brian still not edging any closer. Lipkin and Bryars, Daniel Jones, Colin Matthews, Matthew Taylor, Alan Rawsthorne, Searle, Wordsworth... all still making their pitch.

Britten, Walton, Elgar et al? Who the flip knows?
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people ... then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbour — such is my idea of happiness"

Tolstoy

vandermolen

Newish list:

RVW
Bax
Bliss
Walton
Arnell
Rubbra
Rawsthorne
Bate
Hadley
Sainton
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Lisztianwagner

In no particular order:

Gustav Holst
Edward Elgar
Granville Bantock
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Arnold Bax
Benjamin Britten
William Alwyn
Frederick Delius
Michael Tippett
Robert Simpson
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler

LKB

Vaughan Williams
Dowland
Holst
Britten
Delius
Elgar
Butterworth
Parry
Ravenscroft
Walton
Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen...

Toh

Total vote count (the most recent list from each participant):

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) ************************** x26
Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) ******************** x20
Edward Elgar (1857–1934) ******************* x19
Gustav Holst (1874–1934) ***************** x17
William Walton (1902–1983) **************** x16
Arnold Bax (1883–1953) ************ x12
William Alwyn (1905–1965) ********** x10
Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006) ********** x10
Frederick Delius (1862–1934) ********** x10
William Byrd (c. 1539 or 1543–1623) ********* x9
John Dowland (1563–1626) ********* x9
Thomas Tallis (c. 1505–1585) ******** x8
Michael Tippett (1905–1998) ******** x8
Henry Purcell (1659–1695) ******* x7
Edmund Rubbra (1901–1986) ******* x7
Havergal Brian (1876–1972) ****** x6
Arthur Bliss (1891–1975) ***** x5
Ernest John Moeran (1894–1950) ***** x5
Gerald Finzi (1901–1956) **** x4
George Lloyd (1913–1998) **** x4
Richard Barrett (born 1959) *** x3
Harrison Birtwistle (born 1934) *** x3
Brian Ferneyhough (born 1943) *** x3
Michael Finnissy (born 1946) *** x3
Robert Simpson (1921–1997) *** x3
Granville Bantock (1868–1946) ** x2
Stanley Bate (1911–1959) ** x2
Frank Bridge (1879–1941) ** x2
George Butterworth (1885–1916) ** x2
John Dunstable (c. 1390–1453) ** x2
Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) ** x2
Richard Harvey (born 1953) ** x2
John Ireland (1879–1962) ** x2
Daniel Jones (1912–1993) ** x2
Elizabeth Maconchy (1907–1994) ** x2
William Mathias (1934–1992) ** x2
Hubert Parry (1848–1918) ** x2
Thomas Ravenscroft (1558-1635) ** x2
Rebecca Saunders (born 1967) ** x2
Richard Arnell (1917–2009) *
Thomas Adès (born 1971) *
Natasha Barrett (born 1972) *
Richard Rodney Bennett (1936–2012) *
Lennox Berkeley (1903–1989) *
John Blow (1649–1708) *
Derek Bourgeois (1941–2017) *
York Bowen (1884–1961) *
Charlotte Bray (born 1982) *
John Bull (1562 or 1563–1628) *
Cornelius Cardew (1936–1981) *
Erik Chisholm (1904–1965) *
Anna Clyne (born 1980) *
Eric Coates (1886–1957) *
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912) *
Chris Cutler (born 1947) *
Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016) *
James Dillon (born 1950) *
George Dyson (1883–1964) *
Robert Fayrfax (1464–1521) *
John Foulds (1880–1939) *
Christopher Fox (born 1955) *
Walter Frye (-1474) *
Alexander Goehr (born 1932) *
Eugene Aynsley Goossens (1893–1962) *
Helen Grime (born 1981) *
Patrick Hadley (1899–1973) *
Jonty Harrison (born 1952) *
Jonathan Harvey (1939–2012) *
Alun Hoddinott (1929–2008) *
Tim Hodgkinson (born 1949) *
Herbert Howells (1892–1983) *
Oliver Knussen (1952–2018) *
Graham Lambkin (born 1973) *
Ivan Moody (born 1980) *
Thomas Morley (1557–1602) *
Ivor Novello (1893–1951) *
Michael Nyman (born 1944) *
Luke Ottevanger *
John Pickard (born 1963) *
Alan Rawsthorne (1905–1971) *
Keith Rowe (born 1940) *
Philip Sainton (1891–1967) *
Diana Salazar *
Philip Sawyers (born 1951) *
Ronald Stevenson (1928–2015) *
James Weeks (born 1978) *

Luke

OK, here's mine. And as I was on a decade+ of sabbatical when this thread was begun, I'm voting twice :P 


1 Tippett
2 Elgar
3 Vaughan Williams
4 Ireland
5 Brian
6 Foulds
7 Bryars
8 Ireland
9 Finzi
10 Gurney
11 Dillon
12 Finnissy
13 Maxwell Davies
14 Howells
15 Rubbra
16 Benjamin
17 Stevenson
18 Chisholm
19 Britten
20 Harvey

Can Benjamin and Britten count as one?  ;)  ;D  Then I can get Birtwistle on there, too

vandermolen

Quote from: Luke on June 14, 2023, 10:12:37 AMOK, here's mine. And as I was on a decade+ of sabbatical when this thread was begun, I'm voting twice :P 


1 Tippett
2 Elgar
3 Vaughan Williams
4 Ireland
5 Brian
6 Foulds
7 Bryars
8 Ireland
9 Finzi
10 Gurney
11 Dillon
12 Finnissy
13 Maxwell Davies
14 Howells
15 Rubbra
16 Benjamin
17 Stevenson
18 Chisholm
19 Britten
20 Harvey

Can Benjamin and Britten count as one?  ;)  ;D  Then I can get Birtwistle on there, too
You've included Ireland twice.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Luke

Quote from: vandermolen on June 14, 2023, 10:23:16 AMYou've included Ireland twice.

North and South. Plus I really like him

Luke

OK, thanks to eagle-eyed Jeffrey, I can have them all. Revised thusly:

1 Tippett
2 Elgar
3 Vaughan Williams
4 Ireland
5 Brian
6 Foulds
7 Bryars
8 Birtwistle
9 Finzi
10 Gurney
11 Dillon
12 Finnissy
13 Maxwell Davies
14 Howells
15 Rubbra
16 Benjamin
17 Stevenson
18 Chisholm
19 Britten
20 Harvey


Added to my mistake in the Mystery Scores quiz yesterday, I think I should be worrying about my mind. But in my defense, it's a busy time of year.... ;D

Brian

Quote from: Toh on June 14, 2023, 08:11:46 AMTotal vote count (the most recent list from each participant):
Wow, nobody has voted for Sullivan??

vandermolen

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).