Granville Bantock (1868-1946)

[The new erato]

Very good price on this at www.europadisc.co.uk

[vandermolen]

I think there's still another 6 weeks or so before it gets distributed to the US. I wonder what the MSRP will be. I suspect it will not be very cheap.

How much of it utilizes the chorus?

Most of it uses the chorus although there are some orchestral interludes and an atmospheric and haunting orchestral Prelude. I managed to get a copy for £25 (MDT) in the UK. It is nothing like Alan Hovhaness's "The Rubiyat"!

[tjguitar]

Most of it uses the chorus although there are some orchestral interludes and an atmospheric and haunting orchestral Prelude. I managed to get a copy for £25 (MDT) in the UK. It is nothing like Alan Hovhaness's "The Rubiyat"!

I think I have the Prelude on one of the Hyperion Bantock CDs.



Amazon.com is showing a $49.98 MSRP, Oct 23 release date.

[head-case]

That's v exciting news. Bantock is a significant figure, undesrevedly neglected. The Pagan, Hebriddean and celtic symphonies are great works, as is Symphony 3 "The Cyprian Goddess"

Having heard a few discs from the hyperion series I came the conclusion that Bantok is deservedly neglected.  The obsession with the "exotic" to me smacks of typical British colonialism, and I found his works more full of bombast than music.

[vandermolen]

Having heard a few discs from the hyperion series I came the conclusion that Bantok is deservedly neglected.  The obsession with the "exotic" to me smacks of typical British colonialism, and I found his works more full of bombast than music.

I can see why you think that but I believe that the Celtic, Hebriddean and Pagan symphonies are fine, atmospheric and, in the case of the Celtic, moving works which deserve greater exposure.

[sound67]

The obsession with the "exotic" to me smacks of typical British colonialism

A political argument. Awww, well ...

... and I found his works more full of bombast than music.

With reference to the works listed above, this is definitely wrong.

[vandermolen]

"Bantock was noted for his liberal views, and is reputed to have been the first British academic to have attended a faculty meeting dressed in corduroys!" (Lewis Foreman-notes for Hyperion CD Thalaba the Destroyer).

[sound67]

"Bantock was noted for his liberal views, and is reputed to have been the first British academic to have attended a faculty meeting dressed in corduroys!" (Lewis Foreman-notes for Hyperion CD Thalaba the Destroyer).

Indeed so. BTW, the last-mentioned work is one of the weakest in Bantock's oeuvre.

[Hector]

Having heard a few discs from the hyperion series I came the conclusion that Bantok is deservedly neglected.  The obsession with the "exotic" to me smacks of typical British colonialism, and I found his works more full of bombast than music.

You should try listening without your head in a case

As for the new Chandos, it is three expensive CDs and will have to wait. Christmas, perhaps.

[head-case]

I can see why you think that but I believe that the Celtic, Hebriddean and Pagan symphonies are fine, atmospheric and, in the case of the Celtic, moving works which deserve greater exposure.

Actually, you have reminded me that I did find the Celtic pleasant and authentic in feel.  It is the "oriental" works that strike me as typically British colonial condescension.

[vandermolen]

Actually, you have reminded me that I did find the Celtic pleasant and authentic in feel.  It is the "oriental" works that strike me as typically British colonial condescension.

I think that Bantock was fascinated by the Arab world and learnt Persian and Arabic as far as I know. When he died, a book in Persian was found by his bedside. Bantock was apparently liberal in his beliefs and it may be that he had a genuine fascination with that part of the world (presumably a significant contrast to Birmingham, where Bantock was based in the UK!) which went beyond "British colonial condescension" This is not to say that such a fascination does not involve an element of condescension but maybe that does not tell us the whole story.

[sound67]

It is the "oriental" works that strike me as typically British colonial condescension.

Don't be so narrowminded as to drag in supposed political beliefs into matters they have nothing to do with - namely musical enjoyment.

[Lethevich]

[My first ever "God, that post I made ages ago was embarassing, I'll delete it", and hopefully my last.]

[head-case]

Don't be so narrowminded as to drag in supposed political beliefs into matters they have nothing to do with - namely musical enjoyment.

If the musical enjoyment were working the social objection would be moot.  Bantock strikes me as Elgar with a thin veneer of oriental ludeness and sensuality.

[Grazioso]

It is the "oriental" works that strike me as typically British colonial condescension.

Orientalism and colonialism are both far more complex subjects than you seem to imply--indeed, there's a cottage industry of scholarship on those topics if you choose to read up on them--so I'd be careful of sloppily tarring a large group of people with that particular brush.

[sound67]

Bantock strikes me as Elgar with a thin veneer of oriental ludeness and sensuality.

Doesn't sound bad at all. 

BTW: The "social" point is ALWAYS a moot point when it comes to art.

[The new erato]

Hyperions Bantock releases have now been issued as an 6CD budget box.

[tjguitar]

Hyperions Bantock releases have now been issued as an 6CD budget box.

I havent seen anything about this on hyperions site?


nevermind I found it:


$75 US
£43 UK

http://www.amazon.com/Orchestral-Music-Bantock/dp/B000VR055C

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orchestral-Music-Bantock/dp/B000VR055C

[The new erato]

Lesson:ALWAYS read the newpre release listings at mdt.co.uk....they are quite comprehensive, and speedily updated (som you may have to scan through them every few day until they are finalized).

[tjguitar]

Lesson:ALWAYS read the newpre release listings at mdt.co.uk....they are quite comprehensive, and speedily updated (som you may have to scan through them every few day until they are finalized).

when I click view more info about that release it takes me to a 404.