British Composers: Your Favorite Recordings

[Lethevich]

@ Barak - Truscott is notable for being the most Marco Polo of all Marco Polo-recorded composers. Essentially, you only need one disc of his music (the one recorded on that label), because a) it seemingly covers his best compositions b) he didn't manage to complete much else It is striking music and worth listening to if you find cheaply.

[vandermolen]

@ Barak - Truscott is notable for being the most Marco Polo of all Marco Polo-recorded composers. Essentially, you only need one disc of his music (the one recorded on that label), because a) it seemingly covers his best compositions b) he didn't manage to complete much else It is striking music and worth listening to if you find cheaply.

Marco Polo also produced a disc of Truscott's chamber music but it is the one with the fine Nielsen/Brian type Symphony and the moving Elegy which is IMHO an essential purchase.

[Lilas Pastia]

Thanks, Lethe and Vandermolen - I'll try to get my hands on some Truscott.

Jeffrey, you'll be pleased to hear that Sainton's Moby Dick gets threee thumbs up in this article.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks, Lethe and Vandermolen - I'll try to get my hands on some Truscott.

You do that, André. He is very good,

[offbeat]

This is my favourite Delius recording by a long way.......

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

This is my favourite Delius recording by a long way.......

Erm... why? And I ask that as a confirmed Delian.

[Lilas Pastia]

Delius is one of my favourite composers. But I take exception to A Mass of Life, which I find very indigeste.

[Bunny]

My favorites
The Tallis Scholars: Thomas Tallis - Spem in Allium
Phantasm: Henry Purcell - Complete Fantasies for Viols

 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Delius is one of my favourite composers. But I take exception to A Mass of Life, which I find very indigeste.

It took me a while to like it, but now I do. Which performance(s) do you know? I prefer the Groves. I found it on Usenet years ago, rather awful sonically (LP transfer), but still very beautiful and convincing.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Someone mentioned Gould's Byrd/Gibbons disc above, and it reminded me of this disc, which I got last year and was definitely among my best purchases.

Leonhardt plays Byrd



I don't know if Byrd was the first great keyboard composer, but he was certainly one of them, and this disc is outstanding all the way through. The great Leonhardt at his best. My only quibble is that it's kinda short (c. 52 minutes).

Also, it sounds so good it makes me overcome my aversion to the harpsichord 

Closer to our own time, I find the complete symphony sets of Malcolm Arnold (Naxos) and Robert Simpson (Hyperion) to be essential.

[vandermolen]

Thanks, Lethe and Vandermolen - I'll try to get my hands on some Truscott.

Jeffrey, you'll be pleased to hear that Sainton's Moby Dick gets threee thumbs up in this article.

Andre - yes indeed. Sainton's 'Nadir' is a great favourite of mine. I with that the American Music Guide was available here.

[Bunny]

My favorite Lark Ascending, played by Hilary Hahn.

[offbeat]

Erm... why? And I ask that as a confirmed Delian.

Hi Jezetha - well i think with a work like North Country Sketches its very easy to make it sound ordinary but for me Beecham catches the mood of this work perfectly despite the rather murky sound being an old recording - I  just love Appalachia here  also and both works fills me with nostalgia - to be fair i have not heard many other versions so maybe im biased - do you have any favourites of these works ?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Hello, Offbeat! I only know Sir Charles Groves's interpretation of the North Country Sketches, so I can't compare. And as I have it on cassette only and no player anymore, I can't re-acquaint myself with it at the moment... As for Appalachia (wonderful piece, varied and strong!)  I know the Hickox and the Barbirolli. I prefer Barbirolli.

[Lilas Pastia]

It took me a while to like it, but now I do. Which performance(s) do you know? I prefer the Groves. I found it on Usenet years ago, rather awful sonically (LP transfer), but still very beautiful and convincing.

The Beecham Columbia. Sounds awful. To my ears the composer's most prominent champion does not succeed in making me like it. I have a dozen or so Delius discs, but Mass of Life sticks out like a sore thumb  .

[Lethevich]

The Beecham Columbia. Sounds awful. To my ears the composer's most prominent champion does not succeed in making me like it.

Same - the whole Beecham Delius series on Naxos was like nails on a blackboard to me. Certain composers styles are doubly damaged by ancient sound quality...

[vandermolen]

Greatly admire an interesting Lyrita CD with First Symphonies of John Joubert (b 1927) and William Mathias (1934-1992). The Joubert curiously was released as a 'single' previously by Lyrita, but the coupling is inspired. Both symphonies are darkly eloquent and gripped my attention throughout. The Mathias has a beautfully atmospheric slow movement and a great redemptive tune towards the end which I find very moving (sadly he died relatively young) and the Joubert is memorable and powerful. These two composers represent IMHO amongst the best of mid-20th century British music.

A photo of the CD may appear below, or may not as, so far, every attempt of mine to post a CD image using the new system has gone horribly wrong.
[asin]B003ERHL9O[/asin]

[vandermolen]

Success at last 

[The new erato]

Success at last 

Wish you had failed though. My retina has problems getting over that cover.

[vandermolen]

Wish you had failed though. My retina has problems getting over that cover.

I see what you mean!