William Mathias was a Welsh composer, born in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, on 1 November 1934. His output includes 3 symphonies, concertos, tone poems, choral works both sacred and secular, and solo organ works.
I discovered his music when I chanced upon a performance of his 1984 Organ Concerto on a Welsh-language radio station about 4 years ago. It had me hooked for the entire work. I'd never heard a work for organ and such a colourful orchestra before. Sadly, there is not a recording currently available. I next came across his music about 2 years later when I found a recording of his 1st and 2nd Symphonies in a charity shop. I fell in love with the music immediately, especially the 2nd Symphony. The sound world is quite similar to Bax and Debussy.
Along with the likes of Daniel Jones, Grace Williams and Alun Hoddinott, I'm beginning to discover that Wales has a symphonic tradition of its own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxIJ7upP_c
Found this on YouTube. I hadn't heard this work before. Early impressions are great! My Mathias experience is limited, but I am familiar with some of the concertos. I heard the violin concerto at the Proms last year and I have heard two of the piano concertos. All great stuff. Immediately engaging music that has remained in my head.
Quote from: lescamil on August 01, 2015, 11:15:11 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxIJ7upP_c
Found this on YouTube. I hadn't heard this work before. Early impressions are great! My Mathias experience is limited, but I am familiar with some of the concertos. I heard the violin concerto at the Proms last year and I have heard two of the piano concertos. All great stuff. Immediately engaging music that has remained in my head.
That was excellent. Thanks for posting...I must explore more of his limited output.
I liked the First Symphony very much.
His choral-orchestral work Lux Aeterna was given a performance at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford this last week. It received its premiere at the 1982 Festival. I have the Chandos recording of this work and I really like it. Its scoring for three distinct ensembles, each with their own text, invites comparison with Britten's War Requiem.
I like all three of his symphonies! The Nimbus recordings are superb.
I have known about Mathias for about ten years, but was giving him a listen again recently. I have heard most of the orchestral or instrumental pieces that are recorded or available in the Albion archive of radio broadcasts.
I really like his music, the Symphonies and string quartets are great and there is a liveliness and invigorating quality about it all: it never wallows!
One gem from the radio recordings (good quality too) is Reflections on a Theme of Topkins. This is a series of loose variations, very fine ones, where the theme doesn't enter until the end (on a harpsichord). Well worth listening to.
The pieces I most regret not having good quality recordings of are the Concerto for Orchestra from the early 1960s and the Organ Concerto from the early 1980s. I hope the Itter recording allow more Mathias to be issued on disk.
An excellent Clarinet Concerto. I have it on this Argo Lp, and it seems to be available on a Lyrita CD.
(http://eil.com/images/main/William+Mathias+Laudi+Clarinet+Concerto+483390.jpg)
[asin] B000025ZJZ[/asin]
And that's not all! There's a new Michael Collins recording that looks intriguing:
[asin] B019SHQCL6[/asin]
Nice to hear that someone else enjoys his Second Symphony. I seem to recall one critic referring it to sounding like a Welsh version of Bax. A lazy comparison;but it does have that legendary quality. Unsurprisingly,with respect to it's inspiration. His First Symphony is full of wiry,propulsive energy. I'll have to listen to the third again. The Symphonies benefit from very good recordings and performances on those Nimbus cds. The fill-up items are very good too. I wouldn't mind hearing the earlier recording of the First,which is available on Lyrita,now. That would have been the one stocked by Welsh libraries back in the days of the Lp. Unfortunately I missed that one. I remember getting to know the Daniel Jones Fourth and Seventh that way! (THey were coupled on the same Lp).
Quote from: cilgwyn on August 16, 2016, 01:22:39 AM
Nice to hear that someone else enjoys his Second Symphony. I seem to recall one critic referring it to sounding like a Welsh version of Bax. A lazy comparison;but it does have that legendary quality. Unsurprisingly,with respect to it's inspiration. His First Symphony is full of wiry,propulsive energy. I'll have to listen to the third again. The Symphonies benefit from very good recordings and performances on those Nimbus cds. The fill-up items are very good too. I wouldn't mind hearing the earlier recording of the First,which is available on Lyrita,now. That would have been the one stocked by Welsh libraries back in the days of the Lp. Unfortunately I missed that one. I remember getting to know the Daniel Jones Fourth and Seventh that way! (THey were coupled on the same Lp).
I discovered them on those LPs too.
Quote from: Maestro267 on August 02, 2015, 01:50:08 PMHis choral-orchestral work Lux Aeterna was given a performance at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford this last week. It received its premiere at the 1982 Festival. I have the Chandos recording of this work and I really like it. Its scoring for three distinct ensembles, each with their own text, invites comparison with Britten's War Requiem.
Yes, Lux Aeterna, one of the finest oratoria I know. I cherish the Chandos CD recording, but I think I heard it first on LP not long after 1982. Could there have been a Lyrita recording of its premiere - or who else did it?
I am listening to this CD now:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61s4NPCq9eL._SL500_SY300_.jpg)
and it is excellent. Every work is interesting, melodic, and makes me wanting more!
I heard the performance of his third Piano concerto a few weeks ago,on Radio 3. I kept trying to think who the composer was. I was a bit surprised when the announcer said it was William Mathias. It was percussive in places,some parts of it were even jazzy with a brooding slow movement,which really grabbed me. I kept thinking it might be by an American composer,or even Bartok (you can tell how desperate I was!)!! Anyway,to cut a long story short,I was very impressed. I must admit I didn't think a Piano concerto by Mathias would be this good. The pianist was Llyr Williams,who is often on the Welsh language tv channel here. His performance was very exciting and kept my attention all the way through!! The biggest surprise was when I realised that this same concerto was on a Lyrita cd I had. I took it to a charity shop in the end because I thought the music on it was pleasant,but a bit samey. And there lies the problem.....for me,anyway! I think his First Symphony is particularly fine. And I like the others. Although the First is the best of the bunch! The trouble is....at his worst he does seem to have churned out stuff. Some of it,pleasant enough;but as per those works on that Lyrita cd;you only need so much! I also enjoyed listening to his First Piano concerto on Youtube. I coupled it,on a cd-r, with the third Piano concerto,and together they make a very satisfying pair!! Incidentally,I have listened to parts of the recording of the Piano concerto No 3 on the Lyrita cd,and the performance by Llyr Williams does seem to be the one that really does it for me! The slow movements are particularly fantastic. Brooding stillness that really draws you in!
Two more days on the R3 website to listen to this performance of his Piano Concerto No 3. I am adding this to the list of Mathias compositions I enjoy the most. In this performance,anyway! I used Audacity to record it (I'd have used ye olde cassette deck if I'd known!!! ::))
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08bbj1v (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08bbj1v)
Oops,Daverz! I think that Clarinet Concerto is one of the pieces I liked on that cd! I just felt some of the pieces weren't Mathias at his best!
I'm enjoying his First Piano Concerto now. This is the Youtube performance. It strikes me that Mathias writes particularly effectively for the piano. I love those slow movements. I think the First and third Piano concertos make a very good coupling.
I should be referring to the quiet reflective moments in these Piano concertos. I've been very busy for the last few hours. Wearing cordless headphones means you lose sight of the all essential display on the hi-fi! :-[ Hopefully,I can sit down now!! :( ;D Yes,I think these are Mathias at his best!
Mathias doesn't get discussed as much as other British composers here, but I've really enjoyed exploring his output recently. His compositional voice is unique and instantly recognizable - his works are notable for their very colorful orchestration, with particularly extensive and arresting use of the percussion (especially of the tuned variety). The composer whose style he's closest to is probably Tippett in his more atmospheric, "magical" works (e.g. the Piano Concerto), but Mathias generally uses dissonance more lightly than him. Perhaps his music lacks the "heart" of, say, Arnold or Lloyd, but it is all very engaging and accessible. All three of his symphonies are excellent - the 1st has a particularly gorgeous slow movement with prominent orchestral piano part, the 2nd (Summer Music) has a most magically mysterious opening and a riotously energetic finale, and 3rd is the darkest (yet still colorful) of the three. Also, his Harp Concerto is quite mesmerizing - one of the finest in the genre along with those by Ginastera, Gliere, and Jongen - and his Clarinet Concerto is great as well with an infectiously jazzy finale.
Just got the Lyrita recording of the Symphony No. 1
[asin]B003ERHL9O[/asin]
Beautiful work. The end sounds a bit like a Piston finale.
Followed up with the recording on Nimbus, which sounds like it might have been a good performance sabotaged by a Zeppelin hangar acoustic.
Quote from: Daverz on June 29, 2019, 11:05:10 PM
Just got the Lyrita recording of the Symphony No. 1
[asin]B003ERHL9O[/asin]
Beautiful work. The end sounds a bit like a Piston finale.
Followed up with the recording on Nimbus, which sounds like it might have been a good performance sabotaged by a Zeppelin hangar acoustic.
That's a very nice CD. Originally the Joubert was released by Lyrita as a 'single' but it's good that it's been coupled with the fine Mathias Symphony. I like both of those symphonies very much.
Quote from: Maestro267 on August 01, 2015, 11:32:05 AM
William Mathias was a Welsh composer, born in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, on 1 November 1934. His output includes 3 symphonies, concertos, tone poems, choral works both sacred and secular, and solo organ works.
I discovered his music when I chanced upon a performance of his 1984 Organ Concerto on a Welsh-language radio station about 4 years ago. It had me hooked for the entire work. I'd never heard a work for organ and such a colourful orchestra before. Sadly, there is not a recording currently available. I next came across his music about 2 years later when I found a recording of his 1st and 2nd Symphonies in a charity shop. I fell in love with the music immediately, especially the 2nd Symphony. The sound world is quite similar to Bax and Debussy.
Along with the likes of Daniel Jones, Grace Williams and Alun Hoddinott, I'm beginning to discover that Wales has a symphonic tradition of its own.
I yet have to 'connect' with Grace Williams' music, but the other composers mentioned have long been firm favourites.
The music of Mathias (symphonies, various concertos and choral music) is unfailingly ingratiating. His sense of form and proportions makes me think of Haydn. His melodic and orchestration talents never get the better of him. Everything blooms within proper bounds.
Quote from: Daverz on June 29, 2019, 11:05:10 PM
Just got the Lyrita recording of the Symphony No. 1
[asin]B003ERHL9O[/asin]
Beautiful work. The end sounds a bit like a Piston finale.
Followed up with the recording on Nimbus, which sounds like it might have been a good performance sabotaged by a Zeppelin hangar acoustic.
I rather like the idea of the Zeppelin hangar acoustic!
8)
Quote from: André on July 01, 2019, 04:37:31 AM
I yet have to 'connect' with Grace Williams' music, but the other composers mentioned have long been firm favourites.
The music of Mathias (symphonies, various concertos and choral music) is unfailingly ingratiating. His sense of form and proportions makes me think of Haydn. His melodic and orchestration talents never get the better of him. Everything blooms within proper bounds.
Keep trying,maybe?! I found some of her music a little,severe,at first! I've just been bowled over,by her Missa Cambrensis,though;after listening to the cd-r,I made,some time ago,of the (fairly) recent performance;which,alas,will never reach a planned,Lyrita,cd!! :( (Available for download,at the Art Music Forum,by the way,if anyone's interested,in very good sound quality?!)
Quote from: cilgwyn on July 06, 2019, 12:10:12 PM
Keep trying,maybe?! I found some of her music a little,severe,at first! I've just been bowled over,by her Missa Cambrensis,though;after listening to the cd-r,I made,some time ago,of the (fairly) recent performance;which,alas,will never reach a planned,Lyrita,cd!! :( (Available for download,at the Art Music Forum,by the way,if anyone's interested,in very good sound quality?!)
She is one of a number of Welsh composers whose music I find very appealing, including Daniel Jones (everything I have heard) Alun Hoddinott (selected works) and William Mathias (selected works).
Quote from: vandermolen on July 01, 2019, 09:05:41 AM
I rather like the idea of the Zeppelin hangar acoustic!
8)
So you're the one Nimbus was trying please. ??? (They've gotten much better in recent years.)
Quote from: Daverz on July 06, 2019, 02:50:21 PM
So you're the one Nimbus was trying please. ??? (They've gotten much better in recent years.)
:)
Quote from: kyjo on June 29, 2019, 09:42:46 PM
Mathias doesn't get discussed as much as other British composers here, but I've really enjoyed exploring his output recently. His compositional voice is unique and instantly recognizable - his works are notable for their very colorful orchestration, with particularly extensive and arresting use of the percussion (especially of the tuned variety). The composer whose style he's closest to is probably Tippett in his more atmospheric, "magical" works (e.g. the Piano Concerto), but Mathias generally uses dissonance more lightly than him. Perhaps his music lacks the "heart" of, say, Arnold or Lloyd, but it is all very engaging and accessible. All three of his symphonies are excellent - the 1st has a particularly gorgeous slow movement with prominent orchestral piano part, the 2nd (Summer Music) has a most magically mysterious opening and a riotously energetic finale, and 3rd is the darkest (yet still colorful) of the three. Also, his Harp Concerto is quite mesmerizing - one of the finest in the genre along with those by Ginastera, Gliere, and Jongen - and his Clarinet Concerto is great as well with an infectiously jazzy finale.
I took this - and other confessions here in reply - for an incentive to play the three symphonies again, after at least two decades. Hopefully today, and the glorious
Lux Aeterna afterwards. #manythanks ;)
(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_900/710357526022.jpg?1432728240)(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_900/710357534324.jpg?1427199737)(https://img.discogs.com/mxSD-_SUwKJhWmwC2itt58O60Nw=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-7422224-1513950236-5104.jpeg.jpg)
Quote from: Christo on July 08, 2019, 10:02:19 PM
I took this - and other confessions here in reply - for an incentive to play the three symphonies again, after at least two decades. Hopefully today, and the glorious Lux Aeterna afterwards. #manythanks ;)
I like No.1 very much but know little else. What should be my next port-of-call for Mathias?
Quote from: vandermolen on July 08, 2019, 10:05:18 PM
I like No.1 very much but know little else. What should be my next port-of-call for Mathias?
I'm not the one to ask - still have to dive into this composer. But do you happen to know this disc? Both Hoddinott's and Mathias 'Celtic', Welsh, and other dances are very competitve with the best by Malcolm Arnold. (And the Welsh Youth Orchestra sounding very professional).
(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_300/lyritasrcd334.jpg?1285153979)
Quote from: vandermolen on July 08, 2019, 10:05:18 PM
I like No.1 very much but know little else. What should be my next port-of-call for Mathias?
Don't you like his Piano Concertos? I think they're great! I remember catching one of them on the way to Tesco. On my pocket radio! (No DAB,a knob for tuning!). I kept thinking! What's that? What's that? I had some idea it might be an American composer,as there seemed to be some 'jazzy' rhythms. Or even,Ginastera,at one point!! It turned out to be his Piano Concerto No 3. I would thoroughly recommend the Somm cd. There's Lux Aeterna;which Christo recommends. I was really,'blown away',by that,as they say!! And then there's the Lyrita cd of choral works. I also think the Nimbus cd of his third symphony is very good. I would rate the third above his Second. Although,I like that! I'd go for the Piano Concertos and Lux Aeterna first,though,if it was me? But you aren't!!! ;D
Quote from: Christo on July 08, 2019, 10:17:52 PM
I'm not the one to ask - still have to dive into this composer. But do you happen to know this disc? Both Hoddinott's and Mathias 'Celtic', Welsh, and other dances are very competitve with the best by Malcolm Arnold. (And the Welsh Youth Orchestra sounding very professional).
(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_300/lyritasrcd334.jpg?1285153979)
Wonderful disc.
Quote from: Christo on July 08, 2019, 10:17:52 PM
I'm not the one to ask - still have to dive into this composer. But do you happen to know this disc? Both Hoddinott's and Mathias 'Celtic', Welsh, and other dances are very competitve with the best by Malcolm Arnold. (And the Welsh Youth Orchestra sounding very professional).
(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_300/lyritasrcd334.jpg?1285153979)
Yes, very nice disc which I only acquired recently.
Quote from: cilgwyn on July 09, 2019, 04:57:05 AM
Don't you like his Piano Concertos? I think they're great! I remember catching one of them on the way to Tesco. On my pocket radio! (No DAB,a knob for tuning!). I kept thinking! What's that? What's that? I had some idea it might be an American composer,as there seemed to be some 'jazzy' rhythms. Or even,Ginastera,at one point!! It turned out to be his Piano Concerto No 3. I would thoroughly recommend the Somm cd. There's Lux Aeterna;which Christo recommends. I was really,'blown away',by that,as they say!! And then there's the Lyrita cd of choral works. I also think the Nimbus cd of his third symphony is very good. I would rate the third above his Second. Although,I like that! I'd go for the Piano Concertos and Lux Aeterna first,though,if it was me? But you aren't!!! ;D
Ok, thanks very much cigwyn. I don't recall his piano concertos at all, so it will be No.3 next and Lux Aeterna.
Quote from: vandermolen on July 08, 2019, 10:05:18 PM
I like No.1 very much but know little else. What should be my next port-of-call for Mathias?
In addition to the other two symphonies I highly recommend the Harp Concerto. I don't know the piano concerti (yet).
Quote from: kyjo on July 14, 2019, 08:20:42 PM
In addition to the other two symphonies I highly recommend the Harp Concerto. I don't know the piano concerti (yet).
Thanks Kyle.
:)
(https://cdn.naxosmusiclibrary.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/MSVCD92005.jpg)
Superb. Simply superb pieces. I could consider them like the best string quartets from Wales (even over the Jones). It seemed that each quartet was better than the previous one, although I found the No. 2 more awesome and memorable. The 2nd movement is to die for, absolutely beautiful. Loved the gestures and sonorities on the whole work. The 1st quartet is in one movement and it's dark, somber, and always engrossing. The No. 3 possesses angst and also has quite arresting sonorities and a captivating development.
All in all, no dull moments at all. Definitely another disc that goes to my best revelations this year. The only bad thing is the rather weird cover art. ;D
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 24, 2020, 08:59:00 PM
(https://cdn.naxosmusiclibrary.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/MSVCD92005.jpg)
Superb. Simply superb pieces. I could consider them like the best string quartets from Wales (even over the Jones). It seemed that each quartet was better than the previous one, although I found the No. 2 more awesome and memorable. The 2nd movement is to die for, absolutely beautiful. Loved the gestures and sonorities on the whole work. The 1st quartet is in one movement and it's dark, somber, and always engrossing. The No. 3 possesses angst and also has quite arresting sonorities and a captivating development.
All in all, no dull moments at all. Definitely another disc that goes to my best revelations this year. The only bad thing is the rather weird cover art. ;D
Interesting Cesar. I should investigate more Mathias but love Symphony 1. Yes, the cover image is awful! It looks like an image of the composer printed from a photocopier which is running out of toner and needs a replacement cartridge.
Coincidentally, reading this while listening to the Nimbus disc with symph. No 3 on it.
Thanks for your post, Cesar. I've ordered the quartets (very reasonable price). :)
Quote from: vandermolen on September 24, 2020, 09:36:15 PM
Interesting Cesar. I should investigate more Mathias but love Symphony 1. Yes, the cover image is awful! It looks like an image of the composer printed from a photocopier which is running out of toner and needs a replacement cartridge.
Haha it had to be like that.
Quote from: André on September 25, 2020, 05:45:46 AM
Coincidentally, reading this while listening to the Nimbus disc with symph. No 3 on it.
Thanks for your post, Cesar. I've ordered the quartets (very reasonable price). :)
I hope you enjoy it, André, as much (or more) as I do.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 25, 2020, 11:39:29 AM
I hope you enjoy it, André, as much (or more) as I do.
Yes I did. Just posted comments in the WAYL2 thread.
P.S. The 'out of toner cartridge' comment is spot on. :D
I know it has nothing to do here, but I could not let this coincidence pass without mentioning it:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/712F11F1hYL._AC_SL500_.jpg)
This excellent series' main character is one DCI Mathias and is set in Aberysthwyth, Mid-Wales, with one episode featuring composer William Mathias's alma mater, University of Wales, Aberysthwyth. Recommended.
There. Now you know. ;D
Quote from: André on February 11, 2021, 05:48:44 PM
I know it has nothing to do here, but I could not let this coincidence pass without mentioning it:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/712F11F1hYL._AC_SL500_.jpg)
This excellent series' main character is one DCI Mathias and is set in Aberysthwyth, Mid-Wales, with one episode featuring composer William Mathias's alma mater, University of Wales, Aberysthwyth. Recommended.
There. Now you know. ;D
Will look out for it!
I struggle with that work, tbh. There's no variation in structure. Every movement is the same. A section with large choir and orchestra, B section with children's choir and small organ, C section with the soloists singing non-sacred text. Repeat for movt. 2, then repeat twice for movt. 3. At least the War Requiem keeps things interesting and is far more profound and successful at incorporating texts both sacred and secular.
Quote from: Maestro267 on February 12, 2021, 04:50:09 AM
I struggle with that work, tbh. There's no variation in structure. Every movement is the same. A section with large choir and orchestra, B section with children's choir and small organ, C section with the soloists singing non-sacred text. Repeat for movt. 2, then repeat twice for movt. 3. At least the War Requiem keeps things interesting and is far more profound and successful at incorporating texts both sacred and secular.
I have also found it difficult to enjoy that work as well. The First Symphony is my favourite work by Mathias.
Sadly, far as I am aware the violin concerto has not been recorded. Excellent piece with the opening two movements having a Waltonesque Mediterranean feel and fireworks final.
Premiere with Charles Groves conducting The Halle with the soloist Gyorgy Pauk.
https://youtu.be/fRxCwB0cQ2Q
Quote from: Irons on February 12, 2021, 07:54:42 AM
Sadly, far as I am aware the violin concerto has not been recorded. Excellent piece with the opening two movements having a Waltonesque Mediterranean feel and fireworks final.
Unfortunately so, despite a fantastic Proms revival in 2014. Surely it's easy enough to just release that. Get on it, labels. I reckon concert archives are gonna come in handy when we inevitably hit the point where Covid affects new releases, if we're not there already.
Re: the string quartets disc:
Quote from: André on February 11, 2021, 05:34:47 PM
Yes I did. Just posted comments in the WAYL2 thread.
Further listenings to this disc made me affirm even more strongly my opinion that the 2nd quartet is a bona fide masterpiece, esp. for its two middle movements - as striking and absorbing, respectively, as anything in the genre. The outer movements are very good too, but these middle movements are something else.
Quartet no 1 is almost as good. Cast in a single movement, its many moods are imperceptibly sewn together to create variety within a structural continuum. I had more trouble with the 3rd quartet. I will have to live with it a while longer to appreciate it.
Quote from: André on February 12, 2021, 12:17:53 PM
Rem the string quartets disc:
Further listenings to this disc made me affirm even more strongly my opinion that the 2nd quartet is a bona fide masterpiece, esp. for its two middle movements - as striking and absorbing, respectively, as anything in the genre. The outer movements are very good too, but these middle movements are something else.
Quartet no 1 is almost as good. Cast in a single movement, its many moods are imperceptibly sewn together to create variety within a structural continuum. I had more trouble with the 3rd quartet. I will have to live with it a while longer to appreciate it.
I did know you were gonna enjoy these works, André. Like you, I was drawn to the 2nd quartet the most. The slow movement (the 2nd one) is simply magnificent beyond words.
And you were right ! ;)
Quote from: Maestro267 on February 12, 2021, 10:52:16 AM
Unfortunately so, despite a fantastic Proms revival in 2014. Surely it's easy enough to just release that. Get on it, labels. I reckon concert archives are gonna come in handy when we inevitably hit the point where Covid affects new releases, if we're not there already.
A perfect "freebie" with BBC MM.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 12, 2021, 05:39:05 AM
I have also found it difficult to enjoy that work as well. The First Symphony is my favourite work by Mathias.
Just discovered I have a copy of the 1st Symphony. Will give a spin.
I heard the Third Symphony today for the first time and it totally won me over. All three movements are excellent and the Finale has a fantastic episode for brass instruments. The Nimbus audio is very good on Youtube. A nearly forgotten composer and it's really a shame. His first 2 symphonies also have many great qualities. I've yet to explore the vocal works and the concertos.
Quote from: Amfortas on January 27, 2022, 09:05:23 AM
I heard the Third Symphony today for the first time and it totally won me over. All three movements are excellent and the Finale has a fantastic episode for brass instruments. The Nimbus audio is very good on Youtube. A nearly forgotten composer and it's really a shame. His first 2 symphonies also have many great qualities. I've yet to explore the vocal works and the concertos.
Oh yes, the 3rd Symphony is a great - rather like an more "modern" version of Bax with its stirring sense of "legendary" atmosphere. As you say, the first two symphonies are great too and so are his concerti, above all the fantastical Harp Concerto. His music shares certain stylistic features with composers like Laszlo Lajtha and the earlier works of Dutilleux and Lutoslawski in the way he conjures up mysterious, nocturnal atmospheres, often through imaginative use of percussion. I've yet to hear his SQs which have been praised by André and Cesar.
One of the greatest Mathias CDs IMO. Now playing his Laudi. Composer's masterful sense of rhythm and atmosphere instantly stand out. A fascinating figure.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QAYo6W-VL._SX425_.jpg)
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 27, 2022, 05:11:25 PM
One of the greatest Mathias CDs IMO. Now playing his Laudi. Composer's masterful sense of rhythm and atmosphere instantly stand out. A fascinating figure.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QAYo6W-VL._SX425_.jpg)
Don't know that CD - will look out for it. Symphony No.1 is my favourite work by Mathias.
Quote from: vandermolen on June 27, 2022, 10:15:00 PM
Don't know that CD - will look out for it. Symphony No.1 is my favourite work by Mathias.
Do you know his 3rd Symphony, Jeffrey? I suspect you'd enjoy it very much. A dark, brooding, atmospheric, and exciting score with a hauntingly lyrical slow movement.
I listened to this yesterday and very much enjoyed it. Every work is diverse and very enjoyable, full of atmosphere, drama, and majestic. I want to hear more. Any recommendations? I was interested in hearing his Concerto for Orchestra but as far as I can see, it's never been recorded.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk4NjkyNS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MjcxOTk3Mzd9)
The 1st and 2nd Symphonies conducted by the composer on the same label, for sure.
Quote from: relm1 on January 29, 2023, 05:41:25 AMI listened to this yesterday and very much enjoyed it. Every work is diverse and very enjoyable, full of atmosphere, drama, and majestic. I want to hear more. Any recommendations? I was interested in hearing his Concerto for Orchestra but as far as I can see, it's never been recorded.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk4NjkyNS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MjcxOTk3Mzd9)
Any of the Lyrita discs are reliably fine......
Quote from: relm1 on January 29, 2023, 05:41:25 AMI listened to this yesterday and very much enjoyed it. Every work is diverse and very enjoyable, full of atmosphere, drama, and majestic. I want to hear more. Any recommendations? I was interested in hearing his Concerto for Orchestra but as far as I can see, it's never been recorded.
I've got loads of Mathias broadcasts. Here's the Concerto for Orchestra, Op.27 (1964)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/eqnhkx2jxl4az5s/Mathias_-_Concerto_for_Orchestra%252C_Op.27_%25281964%2529.rar/file
:)
Here's what I have apart from the commercial CDs -
Mathias, William (1934-1992)
Three Partsongs - Nos a Bore, Op.12 No.1 (1959)
Bryan Davies, piano/ Pendyrus Male Choir/ Glynne Jones (Qualiton LP)
Three Partsongs - Y Pren ar y Bryn, Op.12 No.3 (1959)
Bryan Davies, piano/ Pendyrus Male Choir/ Glynne Jones (Qualiton LP)
Dance Overture, Op.16 (1961)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 9/10/2010)
Serenade for Small Orchestra, Op.18 (1961)
BBC Northern Ireland O/ unknown conductor
Saint Teilo, Op.21 (1962)
Helen Watts, alto; Kenneth Bowen, ten; John Ogwyn, narrator/ Youth Choir of Tonyrefail/ Michael Smith, organ/ BBC Welsh Chorus/ BBC Welsh SO/ Owain Arwel Hughes
Concerto for Orchestra, Op.27 (1964)
RLPO/ Charles Groves
Litanies, Concertante Music for Orchestra, Op.37 (1967)
BBC SO/ Harry Newstone
Psalm 150, Op.44 (1969)
BBC National Chorus of Wales/ BBC NOW/ Adrian Partington (1/3/2007, br. 3/3/2008)
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Percussion, Op.56 (1971)
Gillian Weir, harpsichord/ City of London Sinfonia/ Richard Hickox
This Worlde's Joie, Op.67 (1974)
Janet Price, sop; Kenneth Bowen, ten; Michael Rippon, bar/ Dyfed Choir/ Fishguard Secondary School Choir/ BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (1/7/1987, br. 24/8/1987)
Clarinet Concerto, Op.68 (1975)
Michael Collins, clarinet/ Polish Chamber O, Warsaw/ Jerzy Maksymiuk
Dance Variations for Orchestra Op.72 (1976)
London Mozart Players/ William Mathias (br. 25/6/1978)
Melos for Flute, Harp, String Orchestra and Percussion, Op.73 (1976)
BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (br. 12/10/1989)
Reflections on a Theme of Tomkins, Op.86 (1981)
Gillian Weir, organ and harpsichord/ City of London Sinfonia/ Richard Hickox
Salvator mundi, A Carol Sequence for Women's Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Op.89 (1982)
Cheltenham Ladies College Choir/ London Mozart Players/ John Sanders
Organ Concerto, Op.91 (1984)
Gillian Weir, organ/ BBC Welsh SO/ Erich Bergel (br. 12/9/1984)
Anniversary Dances, Op.95 (1985)
BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (br. 6/5/1986)
World's Fire (1989)
Catherine Pierard, soprano; Simon Gay, counter ten; Angus Smith, tenor; Stephen Roberts; bar/ Richard Hickox Singers /
City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox
In Arcadia (1991)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 30/5/1992)
Violin Concerto (1991)
Gyorgy Pauk, violin/ Hallé O/ Charles Groves (16/1/1992)
Flute Concerto (1992)
William Bennett, flute/ Guildhall String Ensemble
Quote from: kyjo on June 28, 2022, 07:31:54 AMDo you know his 3rd Symphony, Jeffrey? I suspect you'd enjoy it very much. A dark, brooding, atmospheric, and exciting score with a hauntingly lyrical slow movement.
Replying late to this Kyle ::)
No I don't although I like the 1st Symphony very much - will look out for it. Many thanks for the recommendation.
Quote from: Albion on January 29, 2023, 04:23:22 PMI've got loads of Mathias broadcasts. Here's the Concerto for Orchestra, Op.27 (1964)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/eqnhkx2jxl4az5s/Mathias_-_Concerto_for_Orchestra%252C_Op.27_%25281964%2529.rar/file
:)
Here's what I have apart from the commercial CDs -
Mathias, William (1934-1992)
Three Partsongs - Nos a Bore, Op.12 No.1 (1959)
Bryan Davies, piano/ Pendyrus Male Choir/ Glynne Jones (Qualiton LP)
Three Partsongs - Y Pren ar y Bryn, Op.12 No.3 (1959)
Bryan Davies, piano/ Pendyrus Male Choir/ Glynne Jones (Qualiton LP)
Dance Overture, Op.16 (1961)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 9/10/2010)
Serenade for Small Orchestra, Op.18 (1961)
BBC Northern Ireland O/ unknown conductor
Saint Teilo, Op.21 (1962)
Helen Watts, alto; Kenneth Bowen, ten; John Ogwyn, narrator/ Youth Choir of Tonyrefail/ Michael Smith, organ/ BBC Welsh Chorus/ BBC Welsh SO/ Owain Arwel Hughes
Concerto for Orchestra, Op.27 (1964)
RLPO/ Charles Groves
Litanies, Concertante Music for Orchestra, Op.37 (1967)
BBC SO/ Harry Newstone
Psalm 150, Op.44 (1969)
BBC National Chorus of Wales/ BBC NOW/ Adrian Partington (1/3/2007, br. 3/3/2008)
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Percussion, Op.56 (1971)
Gillian Weir, harpsichord/ City of London Sinfonia/ Richard Hickox
This Worlde's Joie, Op.67 (1974)
Janet Price, sop; Kenneth Bowen, ten; Michael Rippon, bar/ Dyfed Choir/ Fishguard Secondary School Choir/ BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (1/7/1987, br. 24/8/1987)
Clarinet Concerto, Op.68 (1975)
Michael Collins, clarinet/ Polish Chamber O, Warsaw/ Jerzy Maksymiuk
Dance Variations for Orchestra Op.72 (1976)
London Mozart Players/ William Mathias (br. 25/6/1978)
Melos for Flute, Harp, String Orchestra and Percussion, Op.73 (1976)
BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (br. 12/10/1989)
Reflections on a Theme of Tomkins, Op.86 (1981)
Gillian Weir, organ and harpsichord/ City of London Sinfonia/ Richard Hickox
Salvator mundi, A Carol Sequence for Women's Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Op.89 (1982)
Cheltenham Ladies College Choir/ London Mozart Players/ John Sanders
Organ Concerto, Op.91 (1984)
Gillian Weir, organ/ BBC Welsh SO/ Erich Bergel (br. 12/9/1984)
Anniversary Dances, Op.95 (1985)
BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (br. 6/5/1986)
World's Fire (1989)
Catherine Pierard, soprano; Simon Gay, counter ten; Angus Smith, tenor; Stephen Roberts; bar/ Richard Hickox Singers /
City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox
In Arcadia (1991)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 30/5/1992)
Violin Concerto (1991)
Gyorgy Pauk, violin/ Hallé O/ Charles Groves (16/1/1992)
Flute Concerto (1992)
William Bennett, flute/ Guildhall String Ensemble
Impressive list! I look forward to hearing the Concerto for Orchestra this evening. Can I also get these:
This Worlde's Joie, Op.67 (1974)
Janet Price, sop; Kenneth Bowen, ten; Michael Rippon, bar/ Dyfed Choir/ Fishguard Secondary School Choir/ BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (1/7/1987, br. 24/8/1987)
Organ Concerto, Op.91 (1984)
Gillian Weir, organ/ BBC Welsh SO/ Erich Bergel (br. 12/9/1984)
In Arcadia (1991)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 30/5/1992)
Violin Concerto (1991)
Gyorgy Pauk, violin/ Hallé O/ Charles Groves (16/1/1992)
Flute Concerto (1992)
William Bennett, flute/ Guildhall String Ensemble
Thanks!
Quote from: relm1 on January 30, 2023, 06:02:56 AMImpressive list! I look forward to hearing the Concerto for Orchestra this evening. Can I also get these:
This Worlde's Joie, Op.67 (1974)
Janet Price, sop; Kenneth Bowen, ten; Michael Rippon, bar/ Dyfed Choir/ Fishguard Secondary School Choir/ BBC Welsh SO/ William Mathias (1/7/1987, br. 24/8/1987)
Organ Concerto, Op.91 (1984)
Gillian Weir, organ/ BBC Welsh SO/ Erich Bergel (br. 12/9/1984)
In Arcadia (1991)
BBC NOW/ Tadaaki Otaka (br. 30/5/1992)
Violin Concerto (1991)
Gyorgy Pauk, violin/ Hallé O/ Charles Groves (16/1/1992)
Flute Concerto (1992)
William Bennett, flute/ Guildhall String Ensemble
Thanks!
Just sent to you by PM, let me know if you got them...
:)
His Sinfonietta, Op. 34 is a most wonderful piece. In its short duration (not more than 13 minutes long), it packs some energetic and memorable music. The slow movement struck me like the highlight of the work, there's something magical and special that captivates the ear. On hearing this work I realize and confirm that he was a deft orchestrator, and his sense of rhythm is catchy. My only quibble is the very ending, which could be more elaborate.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QAYo6W-VL._SX425_.jpg)
I simply can't understand why such wonderful Welsh music is now completely ignored: Grace Williams, Daniel Jones, William Matthias, Alun Hoddinott...
::)
Quote from: Løvfald on April 18, 2023, 05:09:18 PMHis Sinfonietta, Op. 34 is a most wonderful piece. In its short duration (not more than 13 minutes long), it packs some energetic and memorable music. The slow movement struck me like the highlight of the work, there's something magical and special that captivates the ear. On hearing this work I realize and confirm that he was a deft orchestrator, and his sense of rhythm is catchy. My only quibble is the very ending, which could be more elaborate.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QAYo6W-VL._SX425_.jpg)
Quote from: Peter Power Pop on April 18, 2023, 08:06:09 PM
Good shout - Mathias gets the occasional positive mention on this forum but in the wider world the sense is he's an all but forgotten composer and in this world of ticking boxes I can't see that status mchanging any time soon sadly
EDIT: just spent this morning's dog walk listening to;
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QAYo6W-VL._AC_SX355_.jpg)
prompted by Peter Power Pop above. An excellent disc - typically vibrant Lyritya engineering and good playing from the various orchestras involved. Mathias definitely deserves to be heard. The "problem" is that he belongs to that group of British composers who stayed tonally centred and relatively traditional at a time when "new music" meant squeaky gate. There's a whole raft of them who were (and remain) marginalised for no good reason other than the fact that they were not ever cutting-edge (whatever that might mean). Additionally, although now his music might be rehabilitated on compositional grounds other non-musical criteria militate against him.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on April 18, 2023, 10:32:27 PMGood shout - Mathias gets the occasional positive mention on this forum but in the wider world the sense is he's an all but forgotten composer and in this world of ticking boxes I can't see that status changing any time soon sadly
I suspect, sadly, that he's ignored in the wider world because he's also ignored in Wales. I have complained, from time to time, that the BBCNOW is more adventurous on disc than in the concert hall - thinking of the recorded Rubbra, Leighton and Berkeley series, for example - but that's probably the same for any orchestra. In fact, we get some quite unusual repertoire in Cardiff concerts - in recent months I've heard, or am going to hear, Ligeti, BA Zimmermann, Szymanowski, Martinů, Thierry Pécou, but these are all noticeably non-Welsh.
Likewise, we've had an impressive range of chief conductors over the decades - Thomas Søndergård, Thierry Fischer, Richard Hickox, Mark Wigglesworth, Tadaaki Otaka - but again these are musicians with an international outlook rather than with a specifically Welsh agenda to promote.
It was not always thus - the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, as it was then, premiered most of Hoddinott's symphonies, but that was a cycle that didn't make it onto disc. Good music should of course be supra-national, but I suspect that if a nation's musical heritage is not promoted at home, then it will struggle in the wider world.
Quote from: DaveF on April 19, 2023, 12:37:18 AMI suspect, sadly, that he's ignored in the wider world because he's also ignored in Wales. I have complained, from time to time, that the BBCNOW is more adventurous on disc than in the concert hall - thinking of the recorded Rubbra, Leighton and Berkeley series, for example - but that's probably the same for any orchestra. In fact, we get some quite unusual repertoire in Cardiff concerts - in recent months I've heard, or am going to hear, Ligeti, BA Zimmermann, Szymanowski, Martinů, Thierry Pécou, but these are all noticeably non-Welsh.
Likewise, we've had an impressive range of chief conductors over the decades - Thomas Søndergård, Thierry Fischer, Richard Hickox, Mark Wigglesworth, Tadaaki Otaka - but again these are musicians with an international outlook rather than with a specifically Welsh agenda to promote.
It was not always thus - the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, as it was then, premiered most of Hoddinott's symphonies, but that was a cycle that didn't make it onto disc. Good music should of course be supra-national, but I suspect that if a nation's musical heritage is not promoted at home, then it will struggle in the wider world.
Spot-on - notable that all (most?) the Lyrita/Daniel Jones releases date from the era of BBC Welsh SO too - another very fine symphonist.
Quote from: Albion on April 18, 2023, 06:02:50 PMI simply can't understand why such wonderful Welsh music is now completely ignored: Grace Williams, Daniel Jones, William Matthias, Alun Hoddinott...
::)
Fun (true!) fact of the day.
NO symphony by Mathias, Hoddinott or Williams has
EVER been performed at the BBC Proms. Daniel Jones has had 2 performed - the most recent in
1959............
Classical music is struggling to stay afloat even with the popular warhorses so any performances of neglected music is even more unlikely in this day and age. Rough seas out there for us.
Quote from: Maestro267 on April 19, 2023, 05:33:39 AMClassical music is struggling to stay afloat even with the popular warhorses so any performances of neglected music is even more unlikely in this day and age. Rough seas out there for us.
Indeed. I've got tons of broadcasts by all these composers which should be commercially released and these are works that should be regularly PLAYED IN CONCERT. The Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff does
absolutely nothing to promote the composer that it was named after, they might as well have called it "Cardiff Concert Hall" for all that it promotes Welsh music...
::)
As long as they're recorded that's all that matters. Although to be recorded they usually have to be performed in concert at least once as that's how recordings are done these days.
Speaking from Mathias as that's the thread we're in and discussions of other composers should go in their respective threads, we did get a Proms performances of the Violin Concerto way back in 2014 that absolutely should be commercially released.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on April 19, 2023, 02:35:35 AMFun (true!) fact of the day. NO symphony by Mathias, Hoddinott or Williams has EVER been performed at the BBC Proms. Daniel Jones has had 2 performed - the most recent in 1959............
Not quite a symphony but we do have Grace Williams' Violin Concerto at this years Proms, announced today. Ask and ye shall receive, maybe?