Cyril Rootham (1875-1938)

[vandermolen]

This is a very exciting new release - for me anyway. Anyone who likes VW, Bliss etc should love the First Symphony on an earlier release. Rootham was the teacher of Bliss:
[asin]B010BEMQ06[/asin]
[asin]B000R3BRAW[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

Nice choice of artwork for the jewel case. Let us know what you think of this release. It has created great excitement at the AMF,with some pre-orders,already. And what other goodies have Lyrita got in store from us from Itter's vast 'off air' archive,I wonder? This is the kind of project music lovers of the less familiar and beaten track have been waiting years for!!! Commendable,to put it mildly!!

[cilgwyn]

I managed to grab the uploads of these works from the AMF before they were removed. I will be making some cdr-s of them as soon as I have some,having used my last batch up!! I am trying to save at the moment so I am afraid I must resist for a while!! How does No 2 compare to No 1,I wonder? I like Rootham's first,but I must admit I was not convinced by some parts of it. The first movement seems like a series of climaxes without the truly memorable or motifs of a VW symphony (for example). It seems to find itself in the second movement. I must have another go! I am a big fan of the Moeran,though;and the Dyson seemingly grows on me,on each encounter. Not that I can hum that one;but such colourful,lush orchestration. I can't think of another British symphony like it,really!

[vandermolen]

I managed to grab the uploads of these works from the AMF before they were removed. I will be making some cdr-s of them as soon as I have some,having used my last batch up!! I am trying to save at the moment so I am afraid I must resist for a while!! How does No 2 compare to No 1,I wonder? I like Rootham's first,but I must admit I was not convinced by some parts of it. The first movement seems like a series of climaxes without the truly memorable or motifs of a VW symphony (for example). It seems to find itself in the second movement. I must have another go! I am a big fan of the Moeran,though;and the Dyson seemingly grows on me,on each encounter. Not that I can hum that one;but such colourful,lush orchestration. I can't think of another British symphony like it,really!

I will post on it as soon as I have heard it. I have a download of it which I liked although it is different to No.1. I also like that Dyson Symphony very much and find the end of 'Quo Vadis' to be incredibly moving.

[Albion]

Apart from some fleeting channel drop-out during the symphony this is about as good as it gets. In one release we have two of Rootham's most impressive and personal works.

In addition to the first symphony also on Lyrita, try to get hold of this splendid reissue, originally released in 1987 and subsequently as part of EMI's British Composers series:





http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/Jan08/Rootham_5059232.htm

[vandermolen]

Apart from some fleeting channel drop-out during the symphony this is about as good as it gets. In one release we have two of Rootham's most impressive and personal works.

In addition to the first symphony also on Lyrita, try to get hold of this splendid reissue, originally released in 1987 and subsequently as part of EMI's British Composers series:





http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/Jan08/Rootham_5059232.htm

I agree that EMI CD is a fantastic disc. It was also the last new release I ever bought on LP in 1987.

[cilgwyn]

I've just bought the new Lyrita Rootham release via the Musicweb website. I just came upon the Musicweb Message Board and 'Dundonnell',amongst others was discussing the new release. The Boss of the site pointed out that the new cd set was available for £11.75 post free,via Musicweb and that was it!!! I must admit,I do feel one needs to support a release like this.Not that they're going to go down without me,of course....but as that gruesome dinosaur Tesco's slogan goes.......!!  I have now found all the Rootham downloads on my external drive. I've got the First symphony on there,and most,if not all,of the emi recordings;the cd of which is pretty pricey now!! As soon as I get some cdr's I will make a cdr,minus the Holbrooke and Bantock items;so I can concentrate on Rootham! I might miss the rather eye catching Lyrita artwork,with those birds!! Oh well.....I think I can cope!
I saw your comments about the earlier Rootham cd on Amazon. I actually like some of Holbrooke's music......but I'm greedy,and I want ALL Holbrooke cds! 'The Birds of Rhiannon' is rather nice imho,but not one of his strongest works. I DO think,however,that it works allot  better coupled with orchestral works from his 'Cauldron of Annwn' cycle (as per,the not exactly brilliantly performed or recorded Marco Polo cd). A new cd of these works,including 'The Wild Fowl' would be a definite pre-order,here,and would display Holbrooke's darkly gothic,late romantic muse at it's best (Come on Chandos/Dutton/Cpo!!)

[vandermolen]

I've just bought the new Lyrita Rootham release via the Musicweb website. I just came upon the Musicweb Message Board and 'Dundonnell',amongst others was discussing the new release. The Boss of the site pointed out that the new cd set was available for £11.75 post free,via Musicweb and that was it!!! I must admit,I do feel one needs to support a release like this.Not that they're going to go down without me,of course....but as that gruesome dinosaur Tesco's slogan goes.......!!  I have now found all the Rootham downloads on my external drive. I've got the First symphony on there,and most,if not all,of the emi recordings;the cd of which is pretty pricey now!! As soon as I get some cdr's I will make a cdr,minus the Holbrooke and Bantock items;so I can concentrate on Rootham! I might miss the rather eye catching Lyrita artwork,with those birds!! Oh well.....I think I can cope!
I saw your comments about the earlier Rootham cd on Amazon. I actually like some of Holbrooke's music......but I'm greedy,and I want ALL Holbrooke cds! 'The Birds of Rhiannon' is rather nice imho,but not one of his strongest works. I DO think,however,that it works allot  better coupled with orchestral works from his 'Cauldron of Annwn' cycle (as per,the not exactly brilliantly performed or recorded Marco Polo cd). A new cd of these works,including 'The Wild Fowl' would be a definite pre-order,here,and would display Holbrooke's darkly gothic,late romantic muse at it's best (Come on Chandos/Dutton/Cpo!!)

Many thanks. I didn't realise that the new CD was actually a double album. I have just listened to Symphony 2 twice and found it wonderful. It is a more tranquil, quieter work than the bracing first symphony. However, Rootham's was progressively very ill and then dying when he wrote the Symphony 2. I have to say that I found the very end of the work, when it seems to enter some kind of ethereal/spiritual world, incredibly moving and teared-up as I was listening to it. By this time he couldn't speak or write and had only just enough time to dictate the last parts of the orchestration to his friend and former pupil Patrick Hadley (Rootham had conducted the premier of Hadley's wonderful 'The Trees so High' which is one of my favourite works). Anyway, on to 'Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity'!

[cilgwyn]

By chance,I've just been listening to the Handley/Sainton 'twofer'! He sounds quite different to VW,doesn't he? I think Moeran is a closer comparison.....but without the Irish affinities/harmonies. I also like the Sainton pieces. 'The Island' is a glorious tone poem. Very film-ic. I always find it strangely sad. The flush & promise of youth.....yet,his subsequent career not living up to expectations. I like the other pieces too;and 'The Island' makes a nice curtain raiser before the melancholy of the Hadley work! It sets you up. A good pairing imho. Generally speaking I am a stickler for single composer cd's;with the exception of what Beecham used to refer to as 'lollipops';but this combi works!!
I like 'The Hills' on emi.too!

[vandermolen]

By chance,I've just been listening to the Handley/Sainton 'twofer'! He sounds quite different to VW,doesn't he? I think Moeran is a closer comparison.....but without the Irish affinities/harmonies. I also like the Sainton pieces. 'The Island' is a glorious tone poem. Very film-ic. I always find it strangely sad. The flush & promise of youth.....yet,his subsequent career not living up to expectations. I like the other pieces too;and 'The Island' makes a nice curtain raiser before the melancholy of the Hadley work! It sets you up. A good pairing imho. Generally speaking I am a stickler for single composer cd's;with the exception of what Beecham used to refer to as 'lollipops';but this combi works!!
I like 'The Hills' on emi.too!

That Chandos twofer is one of the best. I have that and the Lyrita version of The Trees so High. Sainton's 'Nadir' is terrific and movingly defiant in the way in hammers out 'V for Victory' at the end. I love works where despair turns into defiance and this is one of my favourites. Apparently it was a response to witnessing the death of a child in a bombing raid on Bristol during the war. Do you know Sainton's score for the film 'Moby Dick' on Marco Polo? As you like the fine tone poem 'The Island' you should like that work too as it is very evocative sea music.

[DanielR]

Thank you, Lyrita!

This Lyrita release is a real joy to me.  I want to contribute a fragment of the programme note written by my father (Jasper Rootham, CBR's son) for the performance of "Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity" on 28 November 1962 in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, conducted by David Willcocks:

  "This work was composed between 1925 and 1928, though the composer had it in mind for some time before that. The combination of Christian belief, classical form and avid acceptance of beauty in any shape, which the young Milton put into the Nativity Ode, faced Rootham with a stiff technical problem of contriving a musical structure which would suit, and perhaps even adorn this profusion. [...]  Rootham used to think that this was his best work, although he never lived to hear his own Second Symphony, written in the shadow of death, performed. At any rate, in the Nativity Ode Rootham had scope for what he liked best and was probably best at, namely the setting of words to music, whether for soloists or for chorus."

If anyone would like a PDF of the full programme notes for that entire 1962 concert, just email me through the rootham.org website.

And let's not get get too hung up about CBR being "near death" while finishing the 2nd Symphony. Just read Patrick Hadley's sparkling obituary / tribute here:
  http://rootham.org/obituary.html

Happily,
Dan Rootham

[vandermolen]

Thank you, Lyrita!

This Lyrita release is a real joy to me.  I want to contribute a fragment of the programme note written by my father (Jasper Rootham, CBR's son) for the performance of "Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity" on 28 November 1962 in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, conducted by David Willcocks:

  "This work was composed between 1925 and 1928, though the composer had it in mind for some time before that. The combination of Christian belief, classical form and avid acceptance of beauty in any shape, which the young Milton put into the Nativity Ode, faced Rootham with a stiff technical problem of contriving a musical structure which would suit, and perhaps even adorn this profusion. [...]  Rootham used to think that this was his best work, although he never lived to hear his own Second Symphony, written in the shadow of death, performed. At any rate, in the Nativity Ode Rootham had scope for what he liked best and was probably best at, namely the setting of words to music, whether for soloists or for chorus."

If anyone would like a PDF of the full programme notes for that entire 1962 concert, just email me through the rootham.org website.

And let's not get get too hung up about CBR being "near death" while finishing the 2nd Symphony. Just read Patrick Hadley's sparkling obituary / tribute here:
  http://rootham.org/obituary.html

Happily,
Dan Rootham

Dan, I take the point in your last sentence and many thanks for posting the fine tribute by Patrick Hadley (another great composer). I was really interested to know that your grandfather conducted the first performance of 'The Trees so High' and the first British performance of Honegger's 'King David'. I am now really enjoying the 'Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity'. I am very pleased that we have Rootham's grandson contributing to this thread. Jeffrey. 

[cilgwyn]

Good to know he kept his sense of humour! Thank you for your contribution to this thread,Daniel.
I'm looking forward to the new Lyrita cd,which I ordered from Musicweb last week. Unfortunately,no sign of it yet . I was told it had been posted. I shall wait a few more days then email the sender!
That said,I have the downloads of the broadcast,and I might just make some cd-rs. The trouble is,the cd will probably turn up as soon as I've made them! Okay! Can't wait! I'll do a cd-r of No's 1 & 2 (will they fit on one?!! ).

[cilgwyn]

Yes,they fit! Of course,I should point out,in the circumstances;the Lyrita recording was a paid download & I am awaiting the Lyrita 2cd set. I do believe in supporting the original artists when possible. In between,off air recordings are the only way! Whoever uploaded the recording of the Second Symphony,to the AMF,obviously had a good tape recorder! Wonderful,glorious music.....I'm really enjoying this. I also have the dowload of the emi cd,minus 'The Psalm of Adonis'. Amazon,craftily,make you download the entire cd if you want that. I recall downloading a few tracks,then ending up buying the remainder. The trouble is I'd to pay again to download that short piece!! The emi cd is very pricey s/h at the moment!

[Albion]

An excellent site with a useful work-list and some great images of CBR -

http://rootham.org/index.html

[cilgwyn]

Still waiting for the Lyrita Rootham 2cd set! Maybe tomorrow?!!

[vandermolen]

Still waiting for the Lyrita Rootham 2cd set! Maybe tomorrow?!!

Well, 'City in the West' should be with you at least. 

[Albion]

Reviewed very positively on musicweb -

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Jul/Rootham_sy2_REAM2118.htm

[cilgwyn]

Indded! It would be nice if my order from Musicweb would arrive!!

[vandermolen]

Indded! It would be nice if my order from Musicweb would arrive!!

What about the EMI disc?