William Alwyn

[aligreto]

Continuing my exploration of the music of Alwyn:





Autumn Legend: I found this to be a powerful and richly scored piece of music. I particularly like the tone of the work. The inert lyricism of the music is also very appealing and compelling.

Pastoral Fantasia: I like the contemplative tone of this work. Yes it is pastoral and lyrical but there is a depth to it that is not necessarily apparent on the surface, initially. There is a strong sense of poignancy to it. There is aso a subdued but ardent voice here which ultimately proclaims itself towards the conclusion of the piece.

Tragic Interlude: There is a wonderful atmosphere as well as a fine tension and the occasional drama in this work. Yes, it is pastoral and lyrical but there is also a sense of the pathetique about it.

Lyra Angelica: I am not usually given to Harp Concertos but this is definitely one of the best that I have come across. I like the musical language and the relatively sparse use of the instrument in the first movement. There is a dreamlike quality to the music, particularly in the second movement where the harp is prominent, but in a collaborative way with the orchestra. The Final movement is a wonderfully engaging piece of symphonic writing, melodically and harmonically rich and full. This is magnificent, enchanting and engrossing music.

[Irons]

Continuing my exploration of the music of Alwyn:





Autumn Legend: I found this to be a powerful and richly scored piece of music. I particularly like the tone of the work. The inert lyricism of the music is also very appealing and compelling.

Pastoral Fantasia: I like the contemplative tone of this work. Yes it is pastoral and lyrical but there is a depth to it that is not necessarily apparent on the surface, initially. There is a strong sense of poignancy to it. There is aso a subdued but ardent voice here which ultimately proclaims itself towards the conclusion of the piece.

Tragic Interlude: There is a wonderful atmosphere as well as a fine tension and the occasional drama in this work. Yes, it is pastoral and lyrical but there is also a sense of the pathetique about it.

Lyra Angelica: I am not usually given to Harp Concertos but this is definitely one of the best that I have come across. I like the musical language and the relatively sparse use of the instrument in the first movement. There is a dreamlike quality to the music, particularly in the second movement where the harp is prominent, but in a collaborative way with the orchestra. The Final movement is a wonderfully engaging piece of symphonic writing, melodically and harmonically rich and full. This is magnificent, enchanting and engrossing music.

An excellent Alwyn series from Chandos including many premiere recordings. I like the cover art too.

[vandermolen]

An excellent Alwyn series from Chandos including many premiere recordings. I like the cover art too.

+1; those are Alwyn's paintings on the covers of the Chandos series.

[Irons]

+1; those are Alwyn's paintings on the covers of the Chandos series.

Did not realise that, Jeffrey.

[aligreto]

+1; those are Alwyn's paintings on the covers of the Chandos series.

I did not realize that either 

A multi talented artist then.

[vandermolen]

I did not realize that either 

A multi talented artist then.

And the notes are by his wife!

[aligreto]

And the notes are by his wife!

Wonderful!
I have it as a download and was not privy to all of that information.

[Irons]

And the notes are by his wife!

That is interesting, Jeffrey. I immediately thought Doreen Carwithen but checking my Alwyn CD notes the author is in fact Mary Alwyn. So he was married twice. Doreen, 17 years younger then him, curtailed more then a promising career as a composer to be William Alwyn's amanuensis and then his (2nd) wife.

[Roasted Swan]

That is interesting, Jeffrey. I immediately thought Doreen Carwithen but checking my Alwyn CD notes the author is in fact Mary Alwyn. So he was married twice. Doreen, 17 years younger then him, curtailed more then a promising career as a composer to be William Alwyn's amanuensis and then his (2nd) wife.

A friend of mine is related to the Alwyn's.  I know few if any details but I seem to recall enduring bad blood over the manner of the move from Mrs Alwyn 1 to Mrs Alwyn 2 (apologies for sounding like a right old gossip!).  A touch of the Hopeless Hancocks perhaps......

[Big David]

Currently listening to Alwyn's 5th symphony, from the Lyrita British Symphonies box.  The performance is by the LPO, conducted by Alwyn.  It's rather good.  I don't have any other Alwyn in my collection and will explore further.

[vandermolen]

That is interesting, Jeffrey. I immediately thought Doreen Carwithen but checking my Alwyn CD notes the author is in fact Mary Alwyn. So he was married twice. Doreen, 17 years younger then him, curtailed more then a promising career as a composer to be William Alwyn's amanuensis and then his (2nd) wife.

Doreen Carwithen and Mary Alwyn are the same person (you may know all this already) - I don't know much about Alwyn's first wife but I have a biography about him so should check.

[vandermolen]

A friend of mine is related to the Alwyn's.  I know few if any details but I seem to recall enduring bad blood over the manner of the move from Mrs Alwyn 1 to Mrs Alwyn 2 (apologies for sounding like a right old gossip!).  A touch of the Hopeless Hancocks perhaps......

I have a feeling that he left his first wife for his 'assistant' (remind you of anyone in the news recently?) Oh yes, I see that it did! 

[Irons]

A friend of mine is related to the Alwyn's.  I know few if any details but I seem to recall enduring bad blood over the manner of the move from Mrs Alwyn 1 to Mrs Alwyn 2 (apologies for sounding like a right old gossip!).  A touch of the Hopeless Hancocks perhaps......

Funnily enough Hancock entered my mind too - which isn't the best of thoughts. I believe No.2 was a student of Alwyn's and he wasn't the first or last by any means who moved for a younger model.

[vandermolen]

Funnily enough Hancock entered my mind too - which isn't the best of thoughts. I believe No.2 was a student of Alwyn's and he wasn't the first or last by any means who moved for a younger model.

Yes, very true. Martinu, for example.

[Irons]

Doreen Carwithen and Mary Alwyn are the same person (you may know all this already) - I don't know much about Alwyn's first wife but I have a biography about him so should check.

Oh, I did not. Why the (christian) name change? I thought it unusual for an estranged wife to write programme notes. Wiki my usual font of information has next to nothing on Alwyn's personal life.

[vandermolen]

Currently listening to Alwyn's 5th symphony, from the Lyrita British Symphonies box.  The performance is by the LPO, conducted by Alwyn.  It's rather good.  I don't have any other Alwyn in my collection and will explore further.

I wrote a fan letter to Alwyn (C/O Lyrita) after hearing him conduct his 5th symphony on the radio c.1980 - he sent a really nice letter back.

I like all of his symphonies very much.

The greatest I think is No.2 (which was Alwyn's own favourite of the five).

[vandermolen]

Oh, I did not. Why the (christian) name change? I thought it unusual for an estranged wife to write programme notes. Wiki my usual font of information has next to nothing on Alwyn's personal life.

She was quite an interesting composer as well (there are some nice recordings on Chandos). Doreen Carwithen was the name that she chose as a composer, as she did not want to be confused as a composer with William, also she did not want to think that her music only attracted attention because of her husband.

If you like Alwyn's music this should appeal - a very enjoyable CD. The same CD can be found with a different cover image (of Doreen painted by WA I think) and there is an enjoyable Chandos CD of chamber music as well:

[Irons]

She was quite an interesting composer as well (there are some nice recordings on Chandos). Doreen Carwithen was the name that she chose as a composer, as she did not want to be confused as a composer with William, also she did not want to think that her music only attracted attention because of her husband.

Thanks for explanation. I rate Doreen Carwithen highly as a composer.

Oddly the Wiki page for Carwithen is accurate  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doreen_Carwithen

and the one for Alwyn is not  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alwyn

[Irons]

If you like Alwyn's music this should appeal - a very enjoyable CD. The same CD can be found with a different cover image (of Doreen painted by WA I think) and there is an enjoyable Chandos CD of chamber music as well:

I have that CD, Jeffrey. A favourite, also -

[vandermolen]

Thanks for explanation. I rate Doreen Carwithen highly as a composer.

Oddly the Wiki page for Carwithen is accurate  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doreen_Carwithen

and the one for Alwyn is not  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alwyn

Interesting Lol - I see that WA's great grandson Joe Alwyn (actor and musician) is in a relationship with the American singer Taylor Swift. I wonder what his great grandfather would have thought of her music? 

That Somm CD looks interesting.

Of course I have no interest in celebrity gossip you understand!