There has been a good deal of comment recently on the re-emergence of the Lyrita label and the wonderful music previously available only on LP now being issued on CD. I have however been listening again to a Lyrita CD-SRCD 207-released over 15 years ago now with William Wordsworth's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies played by the LPO conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite.
In my opinion, Wordsworth merits a thread of his own. He was a direct descendant of the famous poet's brother, Christopher and studied under Sir Donald Tovey in Edinburgh. In 1961 he left his home in Surrey and moved to Invernesshire in Scotland where he remained until his death. Wordsworth helped form the Society of Scottish Composers and became its Hon. President.
Wordsworth was a prolific symphonist with eight numbered symphonies. Although Barbirolli turned the 2nd down for the Cheltenham Festival he did accept the 3rd and not only premiered it at the 1953 festival but conducted it eight times that year. The 4th symphony was premiered by Barbirolli at the 1954 Edinburgh Festival and the 5th by Boult. The 6th symphony is a choral symphony. Apparently Vaughan Williams admired Wordsworth's huge Oratorio "Dies Domini".
I don't know whether anyone else has heard the Lyrita CD but I have always been impressed by both these symphonies-especially the 2nd. There is a Nordic seriousness about the music which is somewhat Sibelian but Wordsworth also reminds me at times of Edmund Rubbra and William Alwyn. Unfortunately, it is many many years ago since I heard any other Wordsworth in BBC Scotland radio broadcasts and he appears to have been almost completely forgotten today despite the welcome revival of interest in music by composers like Richard Arnell.
Anyone who likes Rubbra or Alwyn or Arnell or who-like myself-has a lot of time for Nordic symphonies might like to seek out this disc. The symphonies do-in my opinion-well reward the listener.
I have that CD - in fact I was listening to it the other day. I'm trying to think of something to say about it, but it hasn't really impressed itself on my memory that much - fine, fluent music, certainly, but nothing that really grabbed me by the throat, so to speak. However, a rider I often want to add - this isn't meant as a criticism of the composer or the music, whose quality was evident. More a criticism of myself as a listener, for not 'getting' the music, or at least not finding a way to enter it fully. More listens required, I think.
Quote from: lukeottevanger on December 04, 2007, 10:39:13 AM
I have that CD - in fact I was listening to it the other day. I'm trying to think of something to say about it, but it hasn't really impressed itself on my memory that much - fine, fluent music, certainly, but nothing that really grabbed me by the throat, so to speak. However, a rider I often want to add - this isn't meant as a criticism of the composer or the music, whose quality was evident. More a criticism of myself as a listener, for not 'getting' the music, or at least not finding a way to enter it fully. More listens required, I think.
I largely agree with this. I have had the CD for some time and have played it a couple of times but, to be frank, it did not grab me in the way that Arnell's 2-5th symphonies have, almost immediately. But, I will give it another go.
I enjoyed these symphonies. Considering he wrote all those symphonies, some sinfoniettas, 6 string quartets and works for various ensembles and soloists, one wonders at his neglect.
I would have to agree that the Wordsworth symphonies do not "grab one by the throat" but I do also agree with the description of "fine, fluent" music. There is certainly more of an immediacy in the music of Arnell or Alwyn which is why I made the comparison with Rubbra.
Wordsworth is obviously not as fine a composer as Rubbra and his music does not sound much like Rubbra but it is-I think-serious but accessible music which is worth hearing.
Wordsworth comes from the same generation as Rubbra, Walton, Lennox Berkeley, Rawsthorne, Alwyn, Tippett, Frankel and Arnold Cooke. He seems to me easier to assimilate than Tippett or Frankel and every bit as natural a symphonist as Berkeley or Rawsthorne(which is actually a little like faint praise since I am not sure whether either was actually a natural symphonist!).
Anyway...I have made my pitch for Wordsworth! I am extremely doubtful whether anyone has any plans to make more of his music available to us-sadly!
For some reason I decided to listen to the 2nd again this evening. I'm (predictably) starting to find more in the work. The close of the first movement is rather beautiful, placid but uneasy at moments.
I do hope one of the labels decides to record more of Wordsworth's Symphonies.
Glad to hear that you are finding more in Wordsworth's music!
As I tried to say above, I think that he was a serious composer of genuine merit and certainly worthy of more exposure. My comparison with Rubbra was deliberate-not, as I said, because the music necessarily sounds like Rubbra's but because it repays further listening. The appeal is perhaps not immediate but it is music which grows in stature with study.
Despite the wonderful efforts of record companies like Lyrita, Chandos, Dutton etc there are still glaring gaps in the discography of 20th century British music. It always sounds so ungrateful to complain and ask for more given that a decade or two ago it appeared inconceivable that we would have such a choice in selecting complete or almost complete sets of music by Alwyn, Arnold, Bax, Frankel, Lloyd, Rawsthorne, Rubbra, Scott, and Simpson. I was disappointed however that Chandos gave us only a truncated selection of Sir Lennox Berkely's orchestral music and I still wait for the attention due to composers like Cooke, Fricker, Hamilton, Jones, Milner and Wordsworth.
Sounds like his music could be nicely paired with that of Samuel Taylor-Coleridge.
An excellent article on Wordsworth by Paul Conway has appeared on Musicweb-
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Jan09/Wordsworth_Conway.htm
Reading it I am more than ever convinced that this is a composer seriously in need of re-discovery! Maybe Dutton should move on to Wordsworth once they have finished with Arnell. :)
I have the Lyrita CD but did not make much of it before. I will listen again and post later.
GO ON!
Give the 2nd Symphony a try!
Tell you what...I shall be convinced by the Madetoja 2nd if you are convinced by the Wordsworth. Deal?
(Oh...and read the article, if you have time!)
The slow movement of no 2 was included on a Gramophone sampler in the early 90-ies (could it have been one of the runnerups for record of the year or something like that?) and I've always found it extraordinarily beautiful. My knowledge of WW stops there, however.
Initially did not make much of an impression on me. Sort of gray, conventional and reticent, somewhat how the composer was portrayed in the excellent article. I will dust it off and give another listen.
Would love to hear the more unconventional later symphonies, but not holding my breath that will be soon.
Quote from: Dundonnell on January 07, 2009, 08:06:17 AM
GO ON!
Give the 2nd Symphony a try!
Tell you what...I shall be convinced by the Madetoja 2nd if you are convinced by the Wordsworth. Deal?
(Oh...and read the article, if you have time!)
OK OK, calm down, will listen tonight ;D
Trying to remain calm and measured ;D
I am listening to the 2nd symphony again to try to determine how "gray, conventional and reticent" it actually might sound. Maybe it is because I am a 'dour Scot' or 'conventional and reticent' myself by nature but this is music which appeals to me. (Wordsworth, of course, was a Scot by adoption!)
I return to my comparisons with Rubbra and-I now feel-that I may have underplayed the similarities between the 2nd and some Rubbra or maybe the 2nd is just Wordworth's most Rubbraesque symphony? Of course it doesn't 'grab you' but neither does Rubbra! It is not music to half-listen to...not that I am suggesting that those who have listened have not given it full attention already ;D It is music to immerse oneself in. When I do that I find a nobility of utterance which is very impressive and reminds me again and again of my beloved Rubbra :) The first movement grows with a steady pace and has a brooding contemplative air. The presto second movement sparkles and glistens(albeit in a 'restrained' fashion) while the splendid Brucknerian slow movement is undoubtedly the heart of the work.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/mar04/wordsworth.htm
Sorry if I am becoming a Wordsworth bore ;D
I am giving the Wordsworth disc a spin as I write. Better than I remembered, I got it when Lyrita came back on the scene a while back and it may have gotten lost in the shuffle as I listened to the bounty.
Yes, this is music that takes a while to express itself, a bit introverted, and I still say a bit gray (that is not always bad) but I can see that it is worth listening too again. I will press on.
I am quite enjoying the inventive slow movement of the 3rd. Almost Shostakovichian (Is that a word??) with its threadbare melodies and interesting use of the solo celesta.
Thanks for giving Wordsworth another try :) I am encouraged that you are perhaps finding a little more in the 2nd symphony :)
There are a number of British composers whose music is characterised by reticence and introspection(a national trait??). Understatement?
Certainly not music to set Wordsworth's beloved Highland heather on fire but none the worse for being more meditative, restrained, contemplative.
Oh......sorry...I did not mean to post again until after further reactions ::)
Quote from: Dundonnell on January 07, 2009, 08:06:17 AM
GO ON!
Give the 2nd Symphony a try!
Tell you what...I shall be convinced by the Madetoja 2nd if you are convinced by the Wordsworth. Deal?
(Oh...and read the article, if you have time!)
It was a bit late last night (having listened to Alan Bush's Second Symphony through twice) by the time I got round to Wordsworth's Second Symphony, but my attention was held throughout and I enjoyed this more than I recall having done so before. It is a sombre, searching and eloquent score which, I suspect, needs repeated listening to give up its secrets. Rubbra was certainly the other composer who came to mind at times. I will certainly be returning to Wordsworth's Second Symphony.
:) :) :)
Can't say fairer than that ;D
Quote from: vandermolen on January 09, 2009, 03:26:09 PM
It was a bit late last night (having listened to Alan Bush's Second Symphony through twice) by the time I got round to Wordsworth's Second Symphony, but my attention was held throughout and I enjoyed this more than I recall having done so before. It is a sombre, searching and eloquent score which, I suspect, needs repeated listening to give up its secrets. Rubbra was certainly the other composer who came to mind at times. I will certainly be returning to Wordsworth's Second Symphony.
Oh please, no!!! :-X :-\ :-[ :'(
I've always been able to completely
ignore Wordsworth and
not - I repeat: NOT - order for the Lyrita cd. You're not going to tell I was
wrong all the time? And how can I play Wordsworth at all, given the fact that I bought three wonderful Lyrita cd's with Rubbra symphonies last month - and didn't even find time to play
these?
Why? Don't you have any mercy with a poor working father of two little kids? ;) ;)
Quote from: Christo on January 09, 2009, 11:54:56 PM
Oh please, no!!! :-X :-\ :-[ :'(
I've always been able to completely ignore Wordsworth and not - I repeat: NOT - order for the Lyrita cd. You're not going to tell I was wrong all the time? And how can I play Wordsworth at all, given the fact that I bought three wonderful Lyrita cd's with Rubbra symphonies last month - and didn't even find time to play these?
Why? Don't you have any mercy with a poor working father of two little kids? ;) ;)
Yes, I am going to tell you that you were wrong all the time ;D
Since joining this forum I have (a) listened to a lot of my cds which had been stacked neatly on my shelves but had not been listened to for a long time
and (b) bought a lot of new cds.......all because of the recommendations of enthusiastic members here :)
The least I can do is to repay the compliment ;D ;D
Well. I succumbed - and at least the Second is a fine symphony indeed: ;) :)
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2004/Mar04/wordsworth.jpg)
And Congratulations on your 1000th Post :)
Quote from: Dundonnell on February 08, 2009, 08:59:35 AM
And Congratulations on your 1000th Post :)
:-X :-\ I missed it. :-\ And that after at least 200 recent postings without much substance, just in order to get to the Magic Number. ;) 0:)
Well, playing Wordsworth again, I start liking him more and more. :)
Quote from: Christo on February 08, 2009, 08:28:44 AM
Well. I succumbed - and at least the Second is a fine symphony indeed: ;) :)
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2004/Mar04/wordsworth.jpg)
So did I and it is. Listening, one word came to mind "epic". Not your typical British symphony. Although I agree with Dundonnell and Jeffrey in that there are similarities with Rubbra. Not British, or Germanic either but I would say more Russian. I haven't reread my post on the 5th String Quartet but I think I mentioned Shostakovich in relation to that work and I had the same thoughts with this symphony. I was expecting, especially after reading the CD notes, of the work being somewhat disjointed but I didn't find this one bit. The symphony sounded magnificent through my system - I own large speakers, Wordsworth uses percussion sparingly but with great effect. A wonderful symphony by "an unjustly neglected" composer (if there is one composer that fits that phrase then it is William Wordsworth!)
Quote from: Irons on April 29, 2019, 11:52:21 PM
So did I and it is. Listening, one word came to mind "epic". Not your typical British symphony. Although I agree with Dundonnell and Jeffrey in that there are similarities with Rubbra. Not British, or Germanic either but I would say more Russian. I haven't reread my post on the 5th String Quartet but I think I mentioned Shostakovich in relation to that work and I had the same thoughts with this symphony. I was expecting, especially after reading the CD notes, of the work being somewhat disjointed but I didn't find this one bit. The symphony sounded magnificent through my system - I own large speakers, Wordsworth uses percussion sparingly but with great effect. A wonderful symphony by "an unjustly neglected" composer (if there is one composer that fits that phrase then it is William Wordsworth!)
Very interested to hear your views, with which I very much agree.
Recently made a very favorable first acquaintance with Wordsworth's Fourth Symphony from this new Toccata release:
[asin]B07C5SJSNH[/asin]
I had previously tried a bit of Wordsworth's 2nd Symphony on Lyrita, which seemed like a worthy work but a bit too "grey" for my taste. The 4th appealed to me quite a bit more. Wordsworth's ideas and orchestration are sometimes starkly (late-) Sibelian and other time more individual and colorful (note the prominent use of xylophone). I found the threatening, march-like section that occupies the center of the one-movement work to be particularly gripping and memorable.
Quote from: kyjo on July 25, 2019, 07:26:46 PM
Recently made a very favorable first acquaintance with Wordsworth's Fourth Symphony from this new Toccata release:
[asin]B07C5SJSNH[/asin]
I had previously tried a bit of Wordsworth's 2nd Symphony on Lyrita, which seemed like a worthy work but a bit too "grey" for my taste. The 4th appealed to me quite a bit more. Wordsworth's ideas and orchestration are sometimes starkly (late-) Sibelian and other time more individual and colorful (note the prominent use of xylophone). I found the threatening, march-like section that occupies the center of the one-movement work to be particularly gripping and memorable.
Interesting Kyle. I must look out for No.4. I didn't like No.2 at first but it has grown on me over the years.
The symphonies 3 and 5 delighted me recently. Just hear the 1st movement from the 5th: mindblowing, quiet, intriguing, the composer with his own voice. As poetic as the works of his most famous relative. 1 y 2 were turgid (though not necessarily too bad), with no direction to these ears, above all the 1st, and in mono audio, didn't help much either. 4 was pretty good (remember the 'Arabesque-like' main theme), No. 8 so-so, maybe too solemn and with few action, just didn't catch me. If you are gonna start listening to them, 3 and 5 are the suggested choices.
I finally heard Wordsworth's Symphony No. 7 "Cosmos", a work I've longed to hear for decades. Thanks to https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-four/ (https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-four/), I finally heard it. A very fine album! It reminded me of the score to the 1960 Canadian documentary, Universe, which was a precursor to Stanley Kubrick's 2001 from a few years later. The narrator would voice HAL in 2001 (and 2010) and it featured the same special effects artist, Douglas Trumbull who would also helm Star Trek The Motion Picture as well!
Universe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gIN4hGOdI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gIN4hGOdI)
Quote from: relm1 on February 12, 2022, 05:22:45 PM
I finally heard Wordsworth's Symphony No. 7 "Cosmos", a work I've longed to hear for decades. Thanks to https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-four/ (https://toccataclassics.com/product/william-wordsworth-orchestral-music-volume-four/), I finally heard it. A very fine album! It reminded me of the score to the 1960 Canadian documentary, Universe, which was a precursor to Stanley Kubrick's 2001 from a few years later. The narrator would voice HAL in 2001 (and 2010) and it featured the same special effects artist, Douglas Trumbull who would also helm Star Trek The Motion Picture as well!
Universe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gIN4hGOdI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gIN4hGOdI)
Ah yes! Douglas Rain who died a while back. Still waiting for the 'Cosmos' Symphony to arrive.
This morning I deliberately set out to listen to something I hadn't heard in a while, so dusted this off:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODExNzQzNC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MzAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NDIzMDM5MjJ9)
I bought it a few years ago and listened to it once or maybe twice, didn't make a huge impression on me at the time though remember quite liking it. Unfortunately it then got lost in the pile and I forgot about it until today. This time I enjoyed it a lot more than I remember, especially the 5th. It will probably need a few more listens to fully give up its secrets, so I will certainly be returning to it! It also made me want to hear more Wordsworth, so have put the other Lyrita CD with symphonies 2 & 3 on my wish list.
Quote from: Mountain Goat on October 01, 2022, 07:35:42 AM
This morning I deliberately set out to listen to something I hadn't heard in a while, so dusted this off:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODExNzQzNC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MzAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NDIzMDM5MjJ9)
I bought it a few years ago and listened to it once or maybe twice, didn't make a huge impression on me at the time though remember quite liking it. Unfortunately it then got lost in the pile and I forgot about it until today. This time I enjoyed it a lot more than I remember, especially the 5th. It will probably need a few more listens to fully give up its secrets, so I will certainly be returning to it! It also made me want to hear more Wordsworth, so have put the other Lyrita CD with symphonies 2 & 3 on my wish list.
No.2 is a fine work as is No.7 'Cosmos'.
I'm not always impressed by Wordsworth (I tried his Cello Concerto recently and found it quite dour), but I think his Fourth Symphony (1953) is a rather magnificent work:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91tGsDBFqhL._SY355_.jpg)
https://youtu.be/VhzG7judqU4
In one movement lasting 23 minutes (but in multiple well-defined sections), it's a rigorously crafted and dramatically compelling work which simply sweeps the listener up in its concise narrative. In particular, the central march-like section (in 5/4 time!) is thrilling in its driving inevitability. The final section takes the character of a Scottish jig and blows it up to truly symphonic proportions. This is "serious" music that doesn't succumb to Romantic pastoralism on one hand, but neither does it go down the path of over-intellectual or confrontational writing. Just really satisfying stuff!
Quote from: kyjo on July 20, 2023, 08:28:52 PMI'm not always impressed by Wordsworth (I tried his Cello Concerto recently and found it quite dour), but I think his Fourth Symphony (1953) is a rather magnificent work:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91tGsDBFqhL._SY355_.jpg)
https://youtu.be/VhzG7judqU4
In one movement lasting 23 minutes (but in multiple well-defined sections), it's a rigorously crafted and dramatically compelling work which simply sweeps the listener up in its concise narrative. In particular, the central march-like section (in 5/4 time!) is thrilling in its driving inevitability. The final section takes the character of a Scottish jig and blows it up to truly symphonic proportions. This is "serious" music that doesn't succumb to Romantic pastoralism on one hand, but neither does it go down the path of over-intellectual or confrontational writing. Just really satisfying stuff!
I agree he is a composer that doesn't always hit the spot. I have symphonies 1,2,3 & 5 but not 4. I will seek to give it a listen.
Not for the first time I am guilty of banging on about a piece with a most unpromising title -
Three Wordsworth Songs for High Voice and String Quartet in three movements: Westminster Bridge, Daffodils and On Calais Beach I am struck by the understated emotion of the work.