George Lloyd

[relm1]

Although "Iernin" and "John Socman" have both been broadcast and are available in some form or another what we really need now is "The Serf". There is absolutely NO excuse for this composer to be neglected, so hopefully the conjunction of Albany and Lyrita may present some good results...

 

Agreed.  Consistently fine works - none of them are of low quality and I've heard so much of his and enjoyed it all.

[Brian]

I have just received a very positive email reply from Albany, to the effect that they have now reached an agreement with Lyrita to repackage and re-release their George Lloyd recordings...

 

...also, new recordings are mentioned.

Dreams do come true!

[Harry]

When will Albany have the sense to issue all of their George Lloyd recordings in a single affordable box? This policy would make it a mandatory purchase. I see that "Iernin" is now $51! They should just shove it all together, coupling works to save on the number of discs, and flog it far and wide...

 

I have just received a very positive email reply from Albany, to the effect that they have now reached an agreement with Lyrita to repackage and re-release their George Lloyd recordings...

 

...also, new recordings are mentioned.

Wow, that is absolute good news. A few of the discs I have with his music, are bronzing, being made at the PDO plant. I look forward to the new re-releases. Smashing good news.      

[Brian]

I have just received a very positive email reply from Albany, to the effect that they have now reached an agreement with Lyrita to repackage and re-release their George Lloyd recordings...

 

...also, new recordings are mentioned.

Hang on - just had a thought - was it clear who the "their" is in that sentence? Are they reissuing the Lyrita recordings, or the Albany ones?

Trying to figure out why Albany might need permission from Lyrita to re-release its own recordings, if that is indeed what is meant.

[Albion]

Hang on - just had a thought - was it clear who the "their" is in that sentence? Are they reissuing the Lyrita recordings, or the Albany ones?

Trying to figure out why Albany might need permission from Lyrita to re-release its own recordings, if that is indeed what is meant.

Nope, the "their" refers to Albany: Albany are assigning their Lloyd recordings to Lyrita for a repackaged set. Here is the email reply that I received to my suggestion that ALL the George Lloyd recordings should be assembled into a convenient form -

I certainly agree. We have just reached an agreement with Lyrita who is going to be handling all George Lloyd recordings. They have great plans for reissuing, plus new recordings so you should keep an eye out for their announcements.

Best wishes and thank you for your interest.

Susan Bush
Albany Records
915 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207

[foxandpeng]

I am completely convinced, simply on the evidence of George Lloyd's symphonies, that greatness is in no way connected to popularity, influence, reputation or frequency of air play.

Hearing symphonies 4 - 7 unhurriedly again today on Lyrita, I am deeply certain that Lloyd was a great composer. Some of the music I have heard this week has been good, some very good, and more. Lloyd lifts and sets that bar more than simply another notch.

Oh, my goodness.

[Albion]

I am completely convinced, simply on the evidence of George Lloyd's symphonies, that greatness is in no way connected to popularity, influence, reputation or frequency of air play.

Hearing symphonies 4 - 7 unhurriedly again today on Lyrita, I am deeply certain that Lloyd was a great composer. Some of the music I have heard this week has been good, some very good, and more. Lloyd lifts and sets that bar more than simply another notch.

Oh, my goodness.

George Lloyd was a bloody genius in every genre that he essayed (but for which he gets so little credit): his sure sense of symphonic form spilled over into his operas and choral works, and his orchestration was always immaculate, impeccably judged and frequently virtuosic. Plus, he could write memorable melodies in a century largely bereft of them. This new initiative between Albany and Lyrita should ensure that this astounding legacy is made more widely available (I've been in touch privately with Wyastone who hold the Lyrita label, and the prospects are very good indeed)...

 

[Albion]

For those who don't know Lloyd's splendid opera "John Socman" (1951), which was commissioned along with Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" for the Festival of Britain and then sidelined to tour the provinces, here it is in the complete 1982 BBC broadcast conducted by Edward Downes. Lloyd's love for Puccini is evident (which is all to the good, since it means that he actually writes tunes)...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/fedxn99do6co6/Lloyd+-+John+Socman+(1951)

 

[Harry]

I am completely convinced, simply on the evidence of George Lloyd's symphonies, that greatness is in no way connected to popularity, influence, reputation or frequency of air play.

Hearing symphonies 4 - 7 unhurriedly again today on Lyrita, I am deeply certain that Lloyd was a great composer. Some of the music I have heard this week has been good, some very good, and more. Lloyd lifts and sets that bar more than simply another notch.

Oh, my goodness.

What you wrote is what I also feel about Lloyds music. Great to hear it evokes the same emotions. Get well soon my friend!

[Roasted Swan]

For those who don't know Lloyd's splendid opera "John Socman" (1951), which was commissioned along with Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" for the Festival of Britain and then sidelined to tour the provinces, here it is in the complete 1982 BBC broadcast conducted by Edward Downes. Lloyd's love for Puccini is evident (which is all to the good, since it means that he actually writes tunes)...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/fedxn99do6co6/Lloyd+-+John+Socman+(1951)

 

Albion - thankyou as ever for sharing these riches, not just for the composer/music but also to remind us all how fine conductors such as Edward Downes was - one of that old-school of people who wasn't flashy but just a really fine musician.

[foxandpeng]

What you wrote is what I also feel about Lloyds music. Great to hear it evokes the same emotions. Get well soon my friend!

Thank you, Harry. Feeling daily stronger, I think. Not what I had planned for March 2023! Home soon, with any luck.

Lloyd is magnificent.

[relm1]

For those who don't know Lloyd's splendid opera "John Socman" (1951), which was commissioned along with Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" for the Festival of Britain and then sidelined to tour the provinces, here it is in the complete 1982 BBC broadcast conducted by Edward Downes. Lloyd's love for Puccini is evident (which is all to the good, since it means that he actually writes tunes)...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/fedxn99do6co6/Lloyd+-+John+Socman+(1951)

 

Thanks!  I think that was the opera of his I was missing.

[Albion]

Thank you, Harry. Feeling daily stronger, I think. Not what I had planned for March 2023! Home soon, with any luck.

Lloyd is magnificent.

Very best wishes! And hopefully we'll get to see the Lloyd catalogue sorted...

 

[Albion]

Albion - thankyou as ever for sharing these riches, not just for the composer/music but also to remind us all how fine conductors such as Edward Downes was - one of that old-school of people who wasn't flashy but just a really fine musician.

Edward Downes was an absolute treasure (in the mould of Boult, Groves, Handley and Hickox) across a huge range of repertoire from Verdi to Boughton and Lloyd. It was such a tragedy (to music) when he and his wife were compelled to go to Dignitas in order to end their suffering...

  

[Harry]

Edward Downes was an absolute treasure (in the mould of Boult, Groves, Handley and Hickox) across a huge range of repertoire from Verdi to Boughton and Lloyd. It was such a tragedy (to music) when he and his wife were compelled to go to Dignitas in order to end their suffering...

  

Blimey, I did not know!!! I am a great admirer of Downes art, and have many records of him.  I read about this in an article of the Guardian.

[kyjo]

Has anyone ever heard The Vigil of Venus? I'm curious about this work.

Yes, I just listened to it for the first time about a month ago! As others have mentioned, it's not quite on the level of the masterful A Symphonic Mass written around the same time and there are a few movements that don't show Lloyd at his most inspired (especially the one a cappella choral movement). That said, second-tier Lloyd is still hugely enjoyable, and there is plenty of exciting, brilliantly orchestrated, and melodious music to be found in the work. The most impressive section of the work is the extensive finale, which builds up to a rousing conclusion filled with Lloyd's characteristically colorful (but never overdone) percussion writing.

[kyjo]

I have just received a very positive email reply from Albany, to the effect that they have now reached an agreement with Lyrita to repackage and re-release their George Lloyd recordings...

 

...also, new recordings are mentioned.

That is fantastic news, thank you for sharing!! Hopefully this will result in a new wave of interest in the music of this magnificent composer.

[kyjo]

I am completely convinced, simply on the evidence of George Lloyd's symphonies, that greatness is in no way connected to popularity, influence, reputation or frequency of air play.

Hearing symphonies 4 - 7 unhurriedly again today on Lyrita, I am deeply certain that Lloyd was a great composer. Some of the music I have heard this week has been good, some very good, and more. Lloyd lifts and sets that bar more than simply another notch.

Oh, my goodness.

I could not agree more, Danny! Lloyd's music has a special communicative power to myself and several others who've had the fortune of discovering it. His musical language is deeply personal and instantly recognizable in its wonderfully accessible marriage of Romantic emotion and drama with 20th century (tonal) harmony and brilliant orchestration techniques. And perhaps most importantly, he had the uncanny ability to write long strings of indelibly memorable tunes/ideas within the context of a cohesive symphonic argument. Whilst his Symphonies nos. 4-8, 11, and A Symphonic Mass represent the absolute cream of the Lloydian crop IMO, there isn't a single work I know by him that doesn't provide me with immense pleasure and satisfaction (except for perhaps his 10th Symphony for brass band ). Okay, I'll stop gushing now!

[kyjo]

For those who don't know Lloyd's splendid opera "John Socman" (1951), which was commissioned along with Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" for the Festival of Britain and then sidelined to tour the provinces, here it is in the complete 1982 BBC broadcast conducted by Edward Downes. Lloyd's love for Puccini is evident (which is all to the good, since it means that he actually writes tunes)...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/fedxn99do6co6/Lloyd+-+John+Socman+(1951)

 

Thank you so much for this! I've been wanting to hear this opera. Considering how great of a melodist Lloyd was, I have high expectations for how he handled the operatic form!

[Albion]

Thank you so much for this! I've been wanting to hear this opera. Considering how great of a melodist Lloyd was, I have high expectations for how he handled the operatic form!

You are very welcome, and I don't think that you'll be disappointed: Act 2 is a real stand-out stunner. If only we had a complete recording of "The Serf", which I am currently lobbying for...

 

If this is of interest, here are the details:

John Socman (1951)
Lois McDonall, sop (Sybil); Ann Howard, mezzo (The Glee-Maiden); Anthony Rolfe Johnson, ten (Richard); Raimund Herincx, bar (John Socman); Geoffrey Shaw, bass (Warner/Farmer); John Winfield, ten (Brother Tom); Brian Burrows, tenor (First Farmer's Son/Timothy);
Michael Pearce, bar (Second Farmer's Son/Innkeeper); Tom McDonnell, bar (Gower/Sir Hugh Mannay); Norman Welsby, bass (Mawle)/ Manchester Cathedral Choir/ BBC Northern Singers/ BBC Northern SO/ Edward Downes (br. 7/2/1982)