The British Composers Thread

[Maestro267]

Ethel Smyth isn't "celebrating" a particular anniversary (as far as I can tell) which makes her significant inclusion here all the more impressive.

[Roy Bland]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/will-stop-writing-brilliant-women-music-history/


Ina Boyle's 2nd symphony (World Premiere)
Friday, September 30, 2022
7:00 PM  8:00 PM
National concert hall (map)
The RTE National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Brophy, will be performing the world premiere of Ina Boyle's 2nd Symphony at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. The work has been in manuscript since Ina composed it in 1929-30, and has been typeset for this occassion by Sarah Burn.

[Roasted Swan]

I listened to John Wilson's Prom on the BBC Sounds app.  His "style" is definitely coalescing around super-virtuosic rather driven performances.  My sense from this Prom was that the Bax was well-played but nothing special - at the fast end of the performing range but nothing too extreme, the Enigma was just too fast too often if well played but that the Walton Partita fits this approach and playing style like a glove.  So is Wilson looking to make himself some kind of latter-day George Szell?

[vandermolen]

I thought that Tintagel was v good but was less impressed with the performance of Walton's Partita (I mush prefer Szell). Didn't listen to the Elgar.

[Irons]

Must admit that on occasions I find the lives of British composers from the first half of the 20c as interesting as the music they wrote, in some cases more so. Which is I realise a back-handed compliment. When ordering the Lyrita CD of William Busch I thought it likely he would fall in that category due to his small output and total neglect of what he did compose. Far from it! It is too easy to fall into hyperbole, so I will leave it that I enjoyed the Busch Cello Concerto very much and thought it a work of real worth which stands shoulder to shoulder with similar works by Finzi and Moeran.
The Piano Concerto is not so immediately attractive being less lyrical and more strong boned but I firmly believe repeated listens will prove more then worthwhile.
A word about the recording, the balance between cello and orchestra is nigh on perfect. The pen picture of Busch in the notes by John Amis who was one of the last to see William Busch alive are worth the price of the CD alone.
Highly recommended for anybody with slightest of interest of English music of the period.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Must admit that on occasions I find the lives of British composers from the first half of the 20c as interesting as the music they wrote, in some cases more so. Which is I realise a back-handed compliment. When ordering the Lyrita CD of William Busch I thought it likely he would fall in that category due to his small output and total neglect of what he did compose. Far from it! It is too easy to fall into hyperbole, so I will leave it that I enjoyed the Busch Cello Concerto very much and thought it a work of real worth which stands shoulder to shoulder with similar works by Finzi and Moeran.
The Piano Concerto is not so immediately attractive being less lyrical and more strong boned but I firmly believe repeated listens will prove more then worthwhile.
A word about the recording, the balance between cello and orchestra is nigh on perfect. The pen picture of Busch in the notes by John Amis who was one of the last to see William Busch alive are worth the price of the CD alone.
Highly recommended for anybody with slightest of interest of English music of the period.

I haven't heard of him before; I do love a good cello concerto, so I'll see if I can sample it online.

Found the first movement here (I think that the other ones are nearby too):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygjNYWcSlVM

PD

[Irons]

I haven't heard of him before; I do love a good cello concerto, so I'll see if I can sample it online.

Found the first movement here (I think that the other ones are nearby too):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygjNYWcSlVM

PD

What do you think of the opening, PD?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

What do you think of the opening, PD?

I liked it.  Solo cello initially...sounding sad and wistful--to me anyway.

Just finished the first movement.  Second up shortly.

PD

[Roasted Swan]

Must admit that on occasions I find the lives of British composers from the first half of the 20c as interesting as the music they wrote, in some cases more so. Which is I realise a back-handed compliment. When ordering the Lyrita CD of William Busch I thought it likely he would fall in that category due to his small output and total neglect of what he did compose. Far from it! It is too easy to fall into hyperbole, so I will leave it that I enjoyed the Busch Cello Concerto very much and thought it a work of real worth which stands shoulder to shoulder with similar works by Finzi and Moeran.
The Piano Concerto is not so immediately attractive being less lyrical and more strong boned but I firmly believe repeated listens will prove more then worthwhile.
A word about the recording, the balance between cello and orchestra is nigh on perfect. The pen picture of Busch in the notes by John Amis who was one of the last to see William Busch alive are worth the price of the CD alone.
Highly recommended for anybody with slightest of interest of English music of the period.

100% agree - a very fine pair of works in typically excellent Lyrita performances.  One thing to add - William Busch's son was Nicholas Busch for many years the (great) principal horn of the New Philharmonia (playing the big horn part on Barbirolli's famed Mahler 5) and latterly the LPO.  Listen to many of the great LPO discs of the 70's & 80's & 90's (I think?) and it will be Busch leading the horns!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh interesting, Swan!

PD

[calyptorhynchus]

100% agree - a very fine pair of works in typically excellent Lyrita performances.  One thing to add - William Busch's son was Nicholas Busch for many years the (great) principal horn of the New Philharmonia (playing the big horn part on Barbirolli's famed Mahler 5) and latterly the LPO.  Listen to many of the great LPO discs of the 70's & 80's & 90's (I think?) and it will be Busch leading the horns!

Interesting how musical talent crops up in later generations.

[Irons]

100% agree - a very fine pair of works in typically excellent Lyrita performances.  One thing to add - William Busch's son was Nicholas Busch for many years the (great) principal horn of the New Philharmonia (playing the big horn part on Barbirolli's famed Mahler 5) and latterly the LPO.  Listen to many of the great LPO discs of the 70's & 80's & 90's (I think?) and it will be Busch leading the horns!

That Nicholas Busch led a successful career in music is not only good to hear but poignant. His father rushing back to look after his son led to his tragic death.

Nicholas' sister writes a longish piece covering her father's life which is available on MusicWeb.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/nov03/William_Busch.htm

[vandermolen]

BBC Radio 3 has been broadcasting a lot of sombre/tranquil music since the Queen died yesterday. Listening in has been moving at times. This afternoon works composed by 'Masters of the Queen's Musick' were featured, highlights, for me, being 'Blue' from Arthur Bliss's 'A Colour Symphony' and the very moving finale of Malcolm Williamson's Violin Concerto (Menuhin/Boult). I also enjoyed a complete broadcast of Vaughan Williams's 5th Symphony (BBC SO/Andrew Davis) and a moving score by Gerald Finzi.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

BBC Radio 3 has been broadcasting a lot of sombre/tranquil music since the Queen died yesterday. Listening in has been moving at times. This afternoon works composed by 'Masters of the Queen's Musick' were featured, highlights, for me, being 'Blue' from Arthur Bliss's 'A Colour Symphony' and the very moving finale of Malcolm Williamson's Violin Concerto (Menuhin/Boult). I also enjoyed a complete broadcast of Vaughan Williams's 5th Symphony (BBC SO/Andrew Davis) and a moving score by Gerald Finzi.

I don't know all of the works, but it sounds like they were trying hard to provide thoughtful recordings.  You mention "a moving score by Gerald Finzi"....what was that?



PD

[calyptorhynchus]

BBC Radio 3 has been broadcasting a lot of sombre/tranquil music since the Queen died yesterday. Listening in has been moving at times. This afternoon works composed by 'Masters of the Queen's Musick' were featured, highlights, for me, being 'Blue' from Arthur Bliss's 'A Colour Symphony' and the very moving finale of Malcolm Williamson's Violin Concerto (Menuhin/Boult). I also enjoyed a complete broadcast of Vaughan Williams's 5th Symphony (BBC SO/Andrew Davis) and a moving score by Gerald Finzi.

The elegiac mood is one British composers do so well. One disc I have been listening to in the last few hours has been The Queen's Goodnight by Charivari Agréable. This shows that the elegiac was something that Elizabethan composers were also good at.

[vandermolen]

I don't know all of the works, but it sounds like they were trying hard to provide thoughtful recordings.  You mention "a moving score by Gerald Finzi"....what was that?



PD

'Fear no more the heat of the sun' from this album PD

Yes, the focus has been on 'music for reflection' which seems right.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

'Fear no more the heat of the sun' from this album PD

Yes, the focus has been on 'music for reflection' which seems right.

Thanks!

From the thread regarding the Queen's death, who do you think could make worthy compositions for King Charles inauguration?

PD

[vandermolen]

Thanks!

From the thread regarding the Queen's death, who do you think could make worthy compositions for King Charles inauguration?

PD

Maybe James MacMillan PD. No one else comes to mind. I think that they should perform Bliss's 'Processional' which was performed at her Coronation. I find it rather moving and feel that it would be suitable for the other end of HM's Reign.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Maybe James MacMillan PD. No one else comes to mind. I think that they should perform Bliss's 'Processional' which was performed at her Coronation. I find it rather moving and feel that it would be suitable for the other end of HM's Reign.

I'll have to find that Bliss piece online (I don't know it).  Good thought about JM!

PD

[Maestro267]

Or the Master of the King's Musick herself, Judith Weir.