Cyril Scott

Started by tjguitar, May 03, 2007, 09:08:19 PM

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J.Z. Herrenberg

#60
April 19, 2012, 05:57:51 AM
To answer cilgwyn's question - I put the conclusion of Thomas Hardy's poem 'The Convergence of the Twain' on Facebook on 15 April, the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which that poem describes. And then Colin reacted, saying that Cyril Scott had written a tone-poem about it... And the rest is - listening.  ;D
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

vandermolen

#61
April 19, 2012, 09:03:22 AM
Johan - how did you get on with Scott's Piano Concerto No 1?
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

J.Z. Herrenberg

#62
April 19, 2012, 03:46:39 PM
Very well, Jeffrey! Colourful work, I loved it. Scott certainly is his own man here. I read on Musicweb that Brabbins takes the middle movement much faster than Herrmann, not unexpectedly. I wonder what sort of difference that makes: does the music come to a gorgeous standstill? The orchestration is also very original. All in all, Scott is certainly a composer who finds favour with me!
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

Dundonnell

#63
April 19, 2012, 04:04:26 PM
For a complete catalogue of Cyril Scott's orchestral and choral music see the Composer Reference section on 'Unsung Composers' :)

(I now have exactly 100 Composer Catalogues up on that site: 65 British and 35 American ;D)

vandermolen

#64
April 19, 2012, 10:13:13 PM
Quote from: J.Z. Herrenberg on April 19, 2012, 03:46:39 PM
Very well, Jeffrey! Colourful work, I loved it. Scott certainly is his own man here. I read on Musicweb that Brabbins takes the middle movement much faster than Herrmann, not unexpectedly. I wonder what sort of difference that makes: does the music come to a gorgeous standstill? The orchestration is also very original. All in all, Scott is certainly a composer who finds favour with me!

I think that the Bernard Herrmann/John Ogdon CD has a special quality to it - very poetic and dream like + great cover painting of Scott. I am biased as it was my intro to Scott on LP taken out (many times) from the High Street Kensington Music Library in the early 1970s.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#65
April 20, 2012, 12:11:23 AM Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 08:46:24 AM by vandermolen
There's a nice extract from the notes accompanying the Chandos CD featuring Piano Concerto No. 1 etc:

I [Lewis Foreman] remember attending the revival of the concerto at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1969 in the presence of the composer.  In a wonderfully touching moment the old man was seen with his equally aged friend the viola player Lionel Tertis, the two in their faded velvet smoking jackets, like glorious survivors of a golden age.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

J.Z. Herrenberg

#66
April 20, 2012, 12:44:16 AM
Yes, nice quote, Jeffrey!


Quote from: Dundonnell on April 19, 2012, 04:04:26 PM
For a complete catalogue of Cyril Scott's orchestral and choral music see the Composer Reference section on 'Unsung Composers' :)

(I now have exactly 100 Composer Catalogues up on that site: 65 British and 35 American ;D )


You have been busy. Can the UC server contain it all?!  ;D  Will take a look.
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

#67
April 20, 2012, 08:08:46 AM
Regarding the Fourth Symphony. It's not mature Sibelius,I know ;D,but I actually find this symphony quite tautly constructed (for Scott!). Far from meandering,I find myself quite impressed by the way he brings that sombre theme back in the final movement. When I listen to it,usually late at night (which seems appropriate for the music of an occultist) I find the way Scott resolves this symphony very satisfying. Also,Scotts orchestration is so wonderful I can honestly forgive him for a little meandering,here and there.
A wonderful piece of music;although,having said that,you do need to be in the right sort of mood. It's sad that it has been neglected for such a long time. To the unconvinced,I really would suggest giving it another go;albeit,late at night,with the lights turned low! ;D

vandermolen

#68
April 20, 2012, 08:49:08 AM
Played 'Neptune' in the car today - loved it; a long time since I've heard it. It reminded me of Bax and Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony Epilogue at one point.  Still, it remains a strinkingly original work and powerfully atmospheric.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#69
April 20, 2012, 12:32:34 PM
For all its diffuseness of ideas, Scott's music has a haunting quality which makes one want to return to it.
(Penguin Record Guide 2008)

I'd go along with this.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

cilgwyn

#70
April 21, 2012, 06:44:38 AM Last Edit: April 21, 2012, 06:46:33 AM by cilgwyn
I certainly do! And nice to see the Cyril Scott thread has finally reached 'page 4'!
Anyone tried his books? They seem to have remained in print,even while his music was neglected!

J.Z. Herrenberg

#71
April 21, 2012, 01:55:00 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on 20-04-2012, 18:49:08
Played 'Neptune' in the car today - loved it; a long time since I've heard it. It reminded me of Bax and Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony Epilogue at one point.  Still, it remains a strinkingly original work and powerfully atmospheric.



Great minds etc. As I wrote earlier:
"In the fourth movement of Neptune, Allegro agitato, there is a string passage (from 1'29'' onward) that is a clear premonition of RVW's Sixth Symphony, the second and final movements"...
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

J.Z. Herrenberg

#72
April 24, 2012, 05:19:45 AM



Piano Concerto No. 2 has still to be 'cracked', but No. 1 and Early One Morning are ravishing.
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

#73
April 24, 2012, 06:08:15 AM Last Edit: April 24, 2012, 12:03:59 PM by cilgwyn
Apologies to all,for last nights rambling posts! :-[ Yes,I must admit I programmed in No2 last night & I didn't really get anywhere too much! ;D :( At the same time,maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. No4,which has been described by Vandermolen,amongst others,as 'meandering' (or was it,'rambling'? Same thing,really!)does,at least to my ears,have some themes that I can follow. My problem with No2 is that it just doesn't seem to have any melodic profile. A strange,occult,mysterious atmosphere,(albeit,very astringent!) but that's about all! :(
  I wonder if his book 'Bone of Contention' (?) holds any answers? Maybe Scott needs an advocate of the calibre of MM,to reveal his secrets?

Maybe,not?!!!

J.Z. Herrenberg

#74
April 25, 2012, 01:32:51 PM
Update: obsessed by Piano Concerto No. 1 (Ogdon/Herrmann)...
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

#75
April 25, 2012, 02:24:17 PM
Sounds serious,Johan?!!! :o ;D

J.Z. Herrenberg

#76
April 25, 2012, 02:26:23 PM
It's a pleasant affliction...  ;D
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

#77
April 27, 2012, 09:18:09 AM Last Edit: April 27, 2012, 11:04:33 AM by cilgwyn
Listening to Scotts First Piano Concerto,led me to listen to some other less well known Piano Concerto's. Apart from Tikhon Khrennikov's first three,which I really shouldn't say,are marvellous (I had them on repeat for hours),but my ears can't lie to me,even if he was a rotter!!! :Sorry! I only wish I could hate them!!! :( Frederic Devreese's four came next. Like Arnold,he is inspired by popular influences. Everytime I listen to them I find it hard to understand why they aren't better known! Marvellous,and Blumenthal's playing is stunning! Next to the Bate concerto,on the recently released Dutton,I can't think of anyone,apart from Gershwin,of course,who has assimilated popular & classical idioms in a Piano Concerto,so effectively. The wonderful First Piano Concerto is available as part of a 2cd set,on the Cypres label.

Back to Scott! :o ;D

cilgwyn

#78
August 06, 2012, 11:44:08 AM Last Edit: August 06, 2012, 01:28:58 PM by cilgwyn
I recently bought the Dutton cd of Scott's String quartets. I have now got around to listening to them properly,after an initial cursory spin,when the cd arrived,just to make sure it worked!
I have programmed Scotts First so I can listen to it on it's own. I am very impressed by what I am listening to & it strikes me as one of the best British string quartets,or at least,one of the most interesting. Scott always seemed more focused when he was composing instrumental or chamber music. If you find some of his music meanders a little too much,or too chromatic & mystical for you're taste,this is one of his most cohesive works. No spooky musing here,Scott just gets on with it. I particularly like those curious 'slithery' harmonies. An interesting and ear teasing effect. Not bad at all! Like it,like it!!! :) One of his best!

cilgwyn

#79
September 09, 2013, 05:29:43 AM
Quote from: Don on May 03, 2007, 09:20:04 PM
I have about 10 Scott cds, so I guess I qualify as a fan.  I find his music very interesting and recommend the Chandos orchestral series (3 discs so far) and the piano discs on Dutton (four volumes to date).

There is one Scott disc I've had trouble getting into - string quartets on Dutton.  More ascerbic than his norm, and I keep trying.
OOh,I like that one! ;D
I finally completed my collection of the complete piano works of Cyril Scott with Vol 3 about a month ago. Unfortunately,Dutton have deleted it,at least temporarily,so when a seller offered it at a reasonable price I just had to buy it!
After listening to all five volumes I would now be quite happy to place Scott amongst the most important & interesting British composers of music for this instrument.

I am now revisiting the Chandos cds of his orchestral music. Strangely enough,I am having no problems with the music this time around. Scott's orchestration positively glitters. A bit like an occult mix of Scriabin,Delius and Debussy;but with a more improvisatory feel to it. If you can immerse yourself in the flow and not worry about thematic developement and structure I think this music actually works very well.


Others may disagree,of course! ;D
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