Unsung Composers

The Web Site => Suggestions & Problems => Topic started by: jerfilm on Thursday 28 October 2010, 23:39

Title: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 28 October 2010, 23:39
I wish there were an official Thread for introducing oneself – I would like to know more about the rest of you and how you fit into the musical world.  But since there isn't, I guess I'll just introduce myself here and let the chips fall where they will.

I'll be 75 in a couple of months.  I play piano and organ; neither of them terribly well any more since my eyesight does not allow me to see all of the staff at once.  Bummer.  And I have been collecting classical music since I was about 8.  Lots of old 78s; like 10 inch excerpts from the finale of Brahm's 1st.   I've computerized my collection of almost 11,000 works by 2183 composers.  Very few duplicate works although there are the inevitable "buy this one and get yet another copy of that.....".   My interest is mainly in 19th and early 20th century compositions – I am not in to so-called contemporary stuff – I don't understand it and have been tempted to walk out of any number of concerts.  Unfortunately, of course, these are always cleverly  programmed into the center of a concert – and there's always something you want to hear at the end.     I've been in to the "unsung" category most of my life- how lucky we are in recent years to have such a plethora of recorded performances.......  We have been season subscribers of one sort or another to the Minnesota Orchestra season for over 50 years and have been guarantors of the orchestra for over half of that time.  Oh yes, I've lived all of my life in a city of 10,000 about an hour south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

At the risk of being ostracized by someone who has never downloaded, listened to, viewed, copied or shared a piece which might have been copyrighted, I'd like to make a comment or two about YouTube.  This group put me on to the performance there of the Goltermann Cello Concerto #4 and I was frustrated that I could not download it.  That situation is now alleviated in a simple and inexpensive way.  Movavi  Flash Converter.  It will download and save not only full videos but will also separate the audio portion and save it as an audio file in a variety of formats.  All for about the price of one CD. (US$19.95) 

I recently uploaded the Violin Concerto in d, opus 7 of Ernst Fabritius (1842-1899) and while I'm sure many of you have this lovely concerto, here are the links for the two sections for any who might be interested: (they are not public):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThKC1ywOXQ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bCD34x25bA
There are another 301 violin concertos behind that one that could be there.  Or 1234 piano concertos. It seems like YouTube might be a good place to exchange performances,  Although I'm always looking for someone who'd like to swap some CDs   My email address is jerfilm@aol.com.   Thanks for listening to an old guy ramble.

Jerry
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: thalbergmad on Tuesday 02 November 2010, 23:58
Welcome my friend.

That must have been an incredible task to digitalise all of your 78's. I have only a small collection, but have vowed to digitalise them one day. I had considered one of those MP3 turntables but thought them rather expensive. I would be interested if you could enlighten me as to the equipment you used.

I still have my grandmothers old record player in my shed and I love to go and play some 78's on it. The spring groans a little when I wind it up, but I guess I too will groan a little if I make it to 100.

Regretully,  I left my "Faust" in my car for 10 years and when i examined the records, they were about as flat as the Alps. Those will not be digitalised.

Thal
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 04 November 2010, 15:15
Thal, sadly I have not digitized but a handful of 78s.  And they were mostly popular bands and songs from the '20s.  I love that era and have a collection, also, of silent films on VHS and DVDs from that period.

I haven't the ambition or probably the time to digitize much of anything.  If someone comes along and wants a copy of something on tape or cassette, I will do that but otherwise the task is too daunting from someone my age. 

I did have an Edison machine that I bought in pristine condition for $5 back inthe 1950s along with a small collection of the thick records but gave that to my son some years ago. 

The other thing I have found to be rewarding - I have a Technics digital piano (Technics Grand Piano sound was sampled from the Steinway Grand and is very convincing).  This instrument will play MIDI files of course and several folks around the world have invented devices to convert reproducing piano rolls to very convincing MIDI files.  Several sites offer them FREE for the downloading and you can hear most of the most famous pianists of the last 19th and early 20th centurys.  Also many of the composers that we all love - Saint-Saens, D'Albert, Ravel, Gershwin, Mahler, Grieg, the list goes on and on.  Here is my favorite site:  http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/archive.htm.  Terry Smythe lives in Winnepeg......

Jerry
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: Callipygian on Wednesday 05 October 2011, 14:09
Dear music friends,

I concur that there should be a sub-forum for personal introductions. Not only would I be very interested to hear about your lives and musical backgrounds, but it could also really add to the possibilities of this community. It is already amazing to be able to share and discuss unknown and wonderful music with these select few others who share my passion, but I'm sure many of us are connected to music in more than one way, as professional musician, conductor, musicologist or amateur host or organisor of concerts, or have special connections to record labels or recording studios. If we know each other better, we can use our combined potential more effectively to obtain records, influence labels to release recordings of our favorite unsung composers, organize concerts, approach musicians to add certain pieces to their repertoire etc.

As for myself, I am 25 year old Dutch doctoral student in quantitative sociology (currently studying in Leuven, Belgium) and also have a degree in American cultural studies. As an amateur pianist I discovered the beauty of classical (and jazz) music and started collecting classical music ever since the Brilliant Classics releases allowed me and my small budget to do so! Since a few years, I have become increasingly interested in unknown composers, especially from the former USSR and the Baltic states. Although I like many kinds of music (classical, jazz, metal, some drum n bass etc.) from many periods, I mainly listen to late Romantic and early modern repertoire. My long-time favorite composers include Ravel, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Chopin and Liszt and some recent, lesser known, additions to the list include Gabunia, Ivanovs, Evlakhov, Stanchinsky and Skorik.

I don't play the piano a lot anymore, but I do like to offer other young pianists a chance to perform and attract a young audience to classical concerts. In Nijmegen, I have organized lunch concerts on the university campus and as member of an art foundation, I contributed to an ongoing series of concerts for which we attract young piano talent, interview them, make a flashy movie out of it to show the audience, have a stand-up comedian to present the concert, stimulate interaction between audience and pianist, offer special programs to secondary art schools to attract a young audience, in short, do everything we can to support young performers, attract new audiences and challenge traditional performance forms. I have also hosted several concerts and written program notes.

As a new member of this community, I primarily hope to learn new music, share music with you and discuss all things music. I also sincerely hope that we can cooperate to make unknown classical music more accessible, stimulate recordings and organize or promote performances of unsung classical gems. This is just one of my many hobbies (literature, chess, video games etc.), so I might not have the biggest music collection or the most elaborate encyclopedic knowledge of classical music, but I'll try to be a useful addition to the Unsung Composers group!

Best,

Viktor
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: Dundonnell on Wednesday 05 October 2011, 15:38
Responding to the very sensible suggestion in Callipygian's extremely interesting post-

I have absolutely no musical training or ability. I cannot play an instrument or even read a musical score :( I grew up however surrounded by classical music. My Grandfather was a church organist-at one time organist of Hamilton Parish Church in Scotland. He and my grandmother were in St. Petersburg sometime before World War One and he recalled the Easter celebrations of Tsarist Russia. I remember him telling me that he was given a rough time between 1914 and 1918 for playing any music written by German or Austrian composers :o

My Father both sang in a church choir and was the timpanist of an amateur orchestra which did a lot of charity concerts during the Second World War. He used to recall the stress involved in the opening drum rolls in 'Finlandia' ;D He visited Finland in 1937 and, on the ship sailing there, met Field Marshal Mannerheim(the future Finnish President), who was returning from the coronation of King George VI. Mannerheim offered to arrange for my father to visit Sibelius at his home 'Ainola' near Jarvenpaa. My understanding though is that my father simply did not have enough time to accept the invitation :(

His idea of listening to music at home was to sit in his study, usually in total darkness with no talking allowed during the piece. I vividly remember, for example, sitting there as a boy and listening in awe and amazement to Richard Strauss's 'Four Last Songs' with the tears streaming down my face :)

As a teenager at school in Edinburgh my great claim to fame  ;D ;D is that I was the person who first told  my good friend Malcolm MacDonald about the existence of this strange chap called Havergal Brian who had written a gigantic symphony called 'The Gothic'. We then spent the next two or three years talking about Brian, writing letters to the newspapers about him. That was and is the limit of my contribution. Malcolm, on the other hand, has become the great HB expert..... :)

I have had a profound love of orchestral and choral music for 50 years now and have collected first LPs, then tape-recordings and now cds for many years. My cd collection is pretty extensive and there can be comparatively few orchestral works on cd of the late 19th century and 20th century(at least up to Schoenberg ;D) that I do not possess-I don't often go beyond a couple of cds of the same piece. No doubt I could be categorized an obsessed completist-certainly as far as the symphonic repertoire is concerned ;D

If I was forced into that strange exercise of naming favourite composers I would probably have to nominate Brahms, Vaughan Williams, Nielsen, Sibelius, Rubbra, Holst, Shostakovich but if there is another British, Scandinavian, American symphony to be bought then I jump at every such opportunity.

I am a retired Head of History at a Scottish secondary school.

Delighted now to have joined this Forum and, particularly, to take advantage of the wonderful music which is on offer here. I hope very soon to be able to share my really rather vast taped collection with others. I still have not fully uncovered all the rare works buried away within it ;D
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: Lord Hereford on Saturday 08 October 2011, 15:59
Since this seems to be the unofficial introductions thread, here I go:

I'm 29, live in Wales and have been listening to classical music for as long as I can remember, but in the last few years have been actively trying to broaden my tastes by exploring lesser known composers. If I had to pick a favourite composer, it would be Brahms, and at the moment my favourite "unsung" composer is Havergal Brian. In fact I admit the only reason I registered here originally was to download some otherwise unavailable HB symphonies, but the forum interested me enough to want to stick around. I also play the piano (to a VERY amateur level  :-[) and (attempt to) compose.
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: Dundonnell on Saturday 08 October 2011, 16:07
So you are not actually Robin, 19th Viscount Hereford ;D ;D

(since he is 36.)
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Saturday 08 October 2011, 22:59
[Perhaps jerfilm could rename this thread and call it The Introduction Thread (or something like that)...]

Another Dutchman here. I am 50, live in Delft, and I am a writer and freelance editor. Classical music has been my passion since my early teens. Though I admire Bach and love many things by Haydn and Mozart, music for me starts with Beethoven. I have a predilection for orchestral music and Wagnerian opera, though you can wake me up for Pelléas et Mélisande. I have a special love of British music and Havergal Brian is my 'soulmate composer', since discovering Malcolm MacDonald's 'The symphonies of Havergal Brian, vol. 1' at the Amsterdam Central Library in 1977 (our very own Dundonnell is, I am proud to say, a good friend of mine). When I was 22 I took piano and singing lessons, simply to get closer to music. It taught me a lot, though I haven't turned into a Pollini or Fischer-Dieskau. I like reading along in the score, when listening to music. I like this forum a lot, it's very focussed.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 10:55
This forum has been a real bonus - especially for being able to link up with fellow-enthusiasts for the more dusty corners of British music. It was a pleasure to meet Gareth earlier this year on our foray into fortress- De Wolfe in a quest to discover which Bowen scores in particular they had 'misplaced' (quite a number as it turned out). It was also a pleasure (for me, probably not for him) to accost Johan at the Albert Hall in July (this is not as seedy as it sounds).

;)

I am a pianist in Nottingham (originally from Oldham in Lancashire) and work both in inner-city Primary Schools and as an accompanist. I also sing in two chamber choirs in the East Midlands.

My interest in 'unsung' British music began quite early on - I think the catalyst was discovering two vocal scores by Alexander Mackenzie in a local second-hand shop at the age of about 13 (for the record The Story of Sayid and The Dream of Jubal). Not only was I intrigued by these wonderful objects themselves (in their dark maroon and gilt standard Novello octavo issue), but when I turned to the back there was page after page of publications listed for composers I had never (until then) heard of. I was immediately fascinated and this led me on to want to discover more and more about these musicians, and collect more and more scores (from several now-defunct specialist second-hand music shops that once existed as oases in the cultural desert). The dual interests of music and books eventually led to degrees in both music and librarianship, but the (in my experience) unrelieved tedium of the latter as a career choice led me back to practical music making. As is evident from several posts, I like lists and catalogues and rooting-out information...

:o

- oh, I like a low-maintenance garden and I drink and smoke far too much (plan to self for day-off today - Fricker, plant bulbs, Jones, toddle up the road to peruse discounts in Tesco's wine aisle, episode of Sherlock Holmes early evening [Jeremy Brett], have something to eat, Arnell, stagger upstairs semi-conscious with the horrible anticipation of work tomorrow morning) ...

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJ_rD3mfft96xJyNs8xsYybigHa-IsslVW3Sn8wEKAEz_fdVOiLw)

... hmmm, another seemingly unsolvable case, Watson - just what did they do with Bowen's 3rd Symphony...

::)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Monday 10 October 2011, 12:07
Quote from: Albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 10:55
It was also a pleasure (for me, probably not for him) to accost Johan at the Albert Hall in July (this is not as seedy as it sounds).

Haha. No, it was a big and very pleasant surprise. A pity you couldn't accompany us Brianites to the pub.

Quote(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJ_rD3mfft96xJyNs8xsYybigHa-IsslVW3Sn8wEKAEz_fdVOiLw)

Another Holmes/Brett fan here.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Lionel Harrsion on Monday 10 October 2011, 13:26
Quote from: J.Z. Herrenberg on Monday 10 October 2011, 12:07

Another Holmes/Brett fan here.

Surely all right-thinking persons are Holmes/Brett fans.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Monday 10 October 2011, 13:31
Read your post with much interest, Albion.  Made me remember a dear, old friend that lived in Oldham and worked in a record shop, maybe EMI, in Manchester.  James Hargreaves- lived with his brother Tom.  Met in London for a day of record shop hopping in 1973 and then some years later we met him in Rochdale and spent a couple of days being show around in the lovely Lancashire countryside.  Oh, yes, and at The Black Lad, was it??  Jim has been deceased for some years now.......

Long ways from Minnesota.

Sorry to ramble.  Thanks for reminding me of him.

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 10 October 2011, 15:26
Yes, very interesting to read about your interest in musical scores. I have discovered some scores of British music in my attic. I shall send you a pm about them :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 16:15
Quote from: Dundonnell on Monday 10 October 2011, 15:26your interest in musical scores.

At one time the collection was much more extensive than it is today, but for reasons of space I had a cull a couple of years ago when I came to the (unusually for me) fairly rational conclusion that I didn't really need the choral works of Ebenezer Prout (although The Red Cross Knight has it's attractions), Alfred Gaul and .....

::)

But this still leaves (amongst other things) virtually complete runs of the published choral music of Macfarren, J.F. Barnett, Sullivan, Mackenzie, Parry, Stanford, Cowen, Corder, Bantock, MacCunn, Walford Davies, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Rootham, Coleridge-Taylor, Holbrooke, Boughton, Dyson and Rubbra, plus oddments such as Benedict (The Legend of St Cecilia and St Peter), Pierson (Jerusalem) and Cyril Scott (Nativity Hymn and La Belle Dame sans Merci).

Also operas by Loder (The Night Dancers and Raymond and Agnes), Macfarren (Robin Hood, The Soldier's Legacy, She Stoops to Conquer and Helvellyn), Mackenzie (Colomba, The Troubadour, The Cricket on the Hearth and The Eve of St John), Goring Thomas (Esmeralda, Nadeshda and The Golden Web), Cowen (Pauline, Thorgrim and Harold), Stanford (The Veiled Prophet, The Canterbury Pilgrims, Savonarola [one of only 50 privately-printed copies], Much Ado about Nothing, The Critic and The Travelling Companion), Corder (Nordisa), Smyth (The Wreckers and The Boatswain's Mate), Holbrooke (The Children of Don, Dylan, Bronwen and The Wizard) and Boughton (The Immortal Hour, Bethlehem, Alkestis and The Queen of Cornwall).

;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 16:51
Quote from: Albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 10:55plan to self for day-off today - Fricker, plant bulbs, Jones, toddle up the road to peruse discounts in Tesco's wine aisle, episode of Sherlock Holmes early evening [Jeremy Brett], have something to eat, Arnell, stagger upstairs semi-conscious with the horrible anticipation of work tomorrow morning

Four down, four to go ... The Solitary Cyclist I think.

;)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Monday 10 October 2011, 16:52
Quote from: Albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 16:51
Quote from: Albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 10:55plan to self for day-off today - Fricker, plant bulbs, Jones, toddle up the road to peruse discounts in Tesco's wine aisle, episode of Sherlock Holmes early evening [Jeremy Brett], have something to eat, Arnell, stagger upstairs semi-conscious with the horrible anticipation of work tomorrow morning

Four down, four to go ... The Solitary Cyclist I think.

;)

Good story/episode!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 10 October 2011, 16:58
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YcLjITjpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

I accrued so much debt on my credit card...

:'(

that the kind people at MBNA sent me a £30 HMV voucher (something about 'rewards').

;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 03:36
I am in two minds over this thread! On one hand, it is interesting to have one's curiosity satisfied as to who sits behind all the mysterious monikers and more or less erudite messages but, on the other, it can break the spell of the imagination which imbues them with fanciful personal qualities. It's risky -  rather like changing from silent movies to talkies, and facing the possibility that the handsome hero with the seductive voice actually sounds like Gracie Fields!

We have only a few contributions, but already some of my illusions have been shattered. Still – here goes!

I was born in 1949, grew up in North Lancashire, England, and came to Australia in 1989 with my wife and children. I have been an academic for about 30 years, and still work half-time as a Professor at the local university. My wife and I run a B&B on a rural property in tropical Queensland. I have a vast collection of CDs, records, cassettes, r2r tapes and digital music, which has suffered from countless international and domestic removals, and the associated climatic changes. When I retire (for the second time) at the end of 2012, I intend to finish digitizing it all, and listen to as much as I can fit into my waking days... whilst I sort out my neglected stamp collection and drool over pictures of the steam locomotives of my youth!

I can't read music, and forgot all musical theory after failing to get beyond nursery rhymes on piano and violin as a child, but I've always loved music of almost every kind. My least favourite types of classical music would be opera and song, and 'modern', atonal music. I'm a romantic, and I generally prefer music which has an explicit key and time signature, with a recognisable structure - a beginning, middle and ending! As to favourite music , therefore, I suppose that overall – setting aside specific favourite works – I'd choose JSB, Beethoven, Mahler, Elgar and Prokofiev. But, there are many British, Scandinavian and "Russian" composers vying for a place on that list.... notably RVW, Sibelius and Shostakovich. Of my limited knowledge of the "unsungs" I would currently name Langgaard and Rangstrom as among my favourites.

And definitely Brett's Holmes, despite my childhood watching Basil & Nigel!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 04:38
Again...interesting, nay fascinating :) Delighted you took the plunge ;D

However.....I am just a little perturbed at "some of my illusions have been shattered" :). You write that your "imagination which imbues them with fanciful personal qualities" and "the handsome hero with the seductive voice actually sounds like Gracie Fields" ;D

As one of those rash enough to risk the possibility that he would 'shatter illusions' can I assure you that I do not pretend to any personal qualities beyond a genuine and whole-hearted enthusiasm for the music I know and love and an insatiable desire to discover as many new composers of orchestral and choral music as I can find. One of the great joys of membership of a forum such as this is the opportunity to share such enthusiasm, to suggest composers and their music to others and to learn from them of music one has not yet discovered.

Oh....and in no way shape or form could I possibly be confused with Gracie Fields....and I can't sing anyway ;D ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 04:42
Quote from: semloh on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 03:36the handsome hero with the seductive voice actually sounds like Gracie Fields!

"All together now -

Christmas is comin', Christmas is comin'
Christmas is comin' again
But that never thrills me, the thought of it chills me
I tell you it fills me with pain
It makes me remember a Christmas gone by
When I was extremely upset
A night in December, an evening that I
Would very much rather forget
For I took me harp to a party but nobody asked me to play
The others were jolly and 'earty but I wasn't feelin' so gay
They might have said play us a tune we can sing
But somehow I don't think they noticed the thing
I took me harp to a party but nobody asked me to play
So I took the darned thing away

They asked Mrs Morgan to play her mouth-organ
And somebody else did a dance
They Let Mrs Carter perform a sonata
But I wasn't given a chance
A north country person called Sandy McPherson
Played bagpipes and took off his coat
While both the Miss Fawcetts bust out of their corsets
In trying to take a top note
But I took me harp to a party, nobody asked me to play
The others were jolly and 'earty but I wasn't feelin' so gay
I felt so ashamed at not strikin' a note
That I tried to hide the thing under me coat
I took me harp to a party but nobody asked me to play
So I took the darned thing away

They sang Home Sweet Home and The Banks of Loch Lomond
And All the King's Horses, then Trees
While nephews and nieces kept playin' their pieces
And spreadin' their jam on the keys
A daughter called Lena, played her concertina
We all played ridiculous games
'Til old Mr Dyer, set his whiskers on fire
And a fire engine played on the flames
But I took me harp to a party but nobody asked me to play
So I took the darned thing away!"


- and I'd been up all night practising the Krumpholz Op.10 Sonata.

>:(
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 05:08
Ah, Albion, one of my favourite Gracie songs - no doubt the one that, because of frequently singing it to myself at work, has caused my colleagues to think of me as slighlty eccentric!
;D

Dundonnell - I reserve the right to remain silent regarding the shattered illusions, in fear of incriminating myself! Suffice it to say that my respect for all contributors to the thread remains intact! :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 14:29
 :) :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: giles.enders on Friday 14 October 2011, 12:52
I have noticed that many of the 'blogs' on this site are picked up by Google.  Do you want the world to know about yourself?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Friday 14 October 2011, 16:41
Quote from: giles.enders on Friday 14 October 2011, 12:52I have noticed that many of the 'blogs' on this site are picked up by Google.  Do you want the world to know about yourself?

If anybody outside the forum (or even within it) is remotely interested, good luck to them.

(http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/joebelanger/joebelanger0909/joebelanger090900021/5529866-a-nosey-man-pressed-his-face-against-a-laptop-screen-being-nosey-and-meddlesome--image-was-shot-agai.jpg)

:)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Callipygian on Friday 14 October 2011, 18:49
Quote from: Albion on Friday 14 October 2011, 16:41
Quote from: giles.enders on Friday 14 October 2011, 12:52I have noticed that many of the 'blogs' on this site are picked up by Google.  Do you want the world to know about yourself?

If anybody outside the forum (or even within it) is remotely interested, good luck to them.

(http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/joebelanger/joebelanger0909/joebelanger090900021/5529866-a-nosey-man-pressed-his-face-against-a-laptop-screen-being-nosey-and-meddlesome--image-was-shot-agai.jpg)

:)

If this were a facebook post, I'd press the 'like' button ;). If there is one weird hobby that is absolutely harmless to be open about on the web, it's unsung classical composers..noone cares, it's politically neutral, no thorny public issues are involved and the most it will suggest to a curious co-worker or employer googling you is that you are a slightly, well, unusual person as far as your passions go, which will probably confirm the impression they got from you at work anyway =)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: britishcomposer on Friday 14 October 2011, 19:49
BTW, the more time I spend with UC  - instead of other sites - the less spam I receive...
A sure sign for the low attraction of this site!  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Paul Barasi on Friday 14 October 2011, 20:31
None of the music composed by Sherlock Holmes has been recorded or even found. His work is known to have included:

Cocaine Suite: variations on a theme by Elgar
Bacarolle for Violin"The Hoffman"
Scarlett etude
The Scandalous Bohemian Rhapsody
Gloria from the Scott Mass
Baker Street Waltzes
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Lionel Harrsion on Friday 14 October 2011, 20:36
Quote from: Paul Barasi on Friday 14 October 2011, 20:31
None of the music composed by Sherlock Holmes has been recorded or even found. His work is known to have included:

Cocaine Suite: variations on a theme by Elgar
Bacarolle for Violin"The Hoffman"
Scarlett etude
The Scandalous Bohemian Rhapsody
Gloria from the Scott Mass
Baker Street Waltzes
...not to mention the Carbuncle Blues!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Friday 14 October 2011, 21:08
Or the posthumous Symphonic Poem, Dr. Watson's Pipedreams......
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Friday 14 October 2011, 22:53
Talking of which, Aus TV is just about to start a re-run of the Brett 'Holmeses' .... nicely in time for my post-op. recuperation! 8)

But, b]Giles Enders[/b] has made a serious point. Forgive me for teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs, but it is important to understand that every word placed on the internet must be regarded as appearing on the front page of the world's daily newspapers. Never divulge anything or express views that you don't want everyone to know about, and beware of straying into sensitive topics. As Albion says, we avoid such topics and mostly stick to our "harmless" unsung composers, but I want to add that in my own experience the most dangerous ground to walk on is humour - one can easily be sucked into saying things that are best not said - it is as easy to offend as to amuse. Hopefully, we are all wise enough to avoid that trap. :)

Apologies, if I sound like a schoolmaster! ::) It's because I am ;D - well sort of! ::)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Friday 14 October 2011, 23:02
Quote from: Dundonnell on Tuesday 11 October 2011, 04:38
Oh....and in no way shape or form could I possibly be confused with Gracie Fields....and I can't sing anyway ;D ;D

Crikey, Dundonnell - I have just been assailed by an image of a large man, wearing a kilt, doing a bad impersonation of Gracie Fields, with a strong Scottish accent -  "Aye laddie, a'took ma'wee harp tae a party, and they wouldna let me play!!"  :o :o
Dear, oh dear! I obviously need to listen to more music by way of therapy! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Friday 14 October 2011, 23:36
May I politely but very firmly disabuse you of the thought processes behind that image :)

I am not large.    I have never worn a kilt.   And, finally, my accent-as, I regret to say, you will discover if you listen to my spoken introduction to a (very ;D) few of the British compositions I shall be uploading soon-is most decidedly not archetypically Scottish but rather resembles that sometimes characterised as 'Edinburgh middle-class' or, pejoratively, "Morningside" ;D ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Saturday 15 October 2011, 00:03
That all comes as a great relief!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Saturday 15 October 2011, 10:30
This member can vouch for the accuracy of Dundonnell's self-description.  8)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: giles.enders on Saturday 15 October 2011, 10:42
What has all this to do with 'suggestions', it reads like a bad script.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Saturday 15 October 2011, 11:32
Quote from: giles.enders on Saturday 15 October 2011, 10:42it reads like a bad script.

Admittedly, it doesn't quite scale the heights of George and Mildred in its heyday, but then so much in life falls short of the ideal.

::)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: JimL on Saturday 15 October 2011, 20:29
I can't imagine a more thorough introduction than that, Colin!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: vandermolen on Sunday 16 October 2011, 19:10
Defector (sort of) from GMG Forum - born 1955 - obsessed with neglected composers. At my wedding my brother made a speech in which he said that my new wife was 'doomed to years of listening to music by deservedly neglected composers' - a commentator on another forum commented that my brother could simply have stopped after the word 'doomed' (she may well agree). Like Dunnodell, whom I have had the great pleasure (genuinely) of meeting twice (once albeit rather briefly at the Gothic Symphony prom). Another great pleasure was meeting 'Herrenberg' twice too. I am a history teacher - although sadly not retired - hence I have limited time to connect with the music groups. I have written some notes for CD booklets (Miaskovsky/Vaughan Williams/Shostakovich/Prokofiev/Walton) but am otherwise unmusical I love cats and walking in the countryside. Support Chelsea (not 'fair weather supporter') Trained as a counsellor (Gestalt) a few years ago to take me out of my 'comfort zone' which it did.

Very nice to be here and much appreciate the connection.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 17 October 2011, 01:04
Quote from: vandermolen on Sunday 16 October 2011, 19:10
Defector (sort of) from GMG Forum - born 1955 - obsessed with neglected composers. At my wedding my brother made a speech in which he said that my new wife was 'doomed to years of listening to music by deservedly neglected composers' - a commentator on another forum commented that my brother could simply have stopped after the word 'doomed' (she may well agree). Like Dunnodell, whom I have had the great pleasure (genuinely) of meeting twice (once albeit rather briefly at the Gothic Symphony prom). Another great pleasure was meeting 'Herrenberg' twice too. I am a history teacher - although sadly not retired - hence I have limited time to connect with the music groups. I have written some notes for CD booklets (Miaskovsky/Vaughan Williams/Shostakovich/Prokofiev/Walton) but am otherwise unmusical I love cats and walking in the countryside. Support Chelsea (not 'fair weather supporter') Trained as a counsellor (Gestalt) a few years ago to take me out of my 'comfort zone' which it did.

Very nice to be here and much appreciate the connection.

Delighted to see you here more often, Jeffrey :)   (even if I am translated into 'Dunnodell' ;D.....incidentally, the username 'Dundonnell' relates to a tiny village in Wester Ross, North West Scotland, from which I embarked on an epic three day cross-country walk through the Dundonnell Forest 15 years ago or so :))

I do have to say that the members here are a lot more "switched-on" to our type of music than in another place ;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Monday 17 October 2011, 07:18
vandermolen - thanks for that background. I know from my occasional visits that you cut an impressive figure at GMG, passionate about the music, but always reasonable and extremely knowledgeable, so it's good to have you here with the unsungs! :)

Am I right in recalling that you especially like the big romantic and neo-romantic symphonists - like Miaskovsky?

Despite supporting Chelsea, I suspect that you live in Surrey or Sussex, maybe, rather than in London - or is that one of my illusions waiting to be shattered? ;D
In any case, if you are a secondary school teacher, in my eyes you are a hero!  8)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: vandermolen on Monday 17 October 2011, 21:47
Quote from: Dundonnell on Monday 17 October 2011, 01:04
Quote from: vandermolen on Sunday 16 October 2011, 19:10
Defector (sort of) from GMG Forum - born 1955 - obsessed with neglected composers. At my wedding my brother made a speech in which he said that my new wife was 'doomed to years of listening to music by deservedly neglected composers' - a commentator on another forum commented that my brother could simply have stopped after the word 'doomed' (she may well agree). Like Dunnodell, whom I have had the great pleasure (genuinely) of meeting twice (once albeit rather briefly at the Gothic Symphony prom). Another great pleasure was meeting 'Herrenberg' twice too. I am a history teacher - although sadly not retired - hence I have limited time to connect with the music groups. I have written some notes for CD booklets (Miaskovsky/Vaughan Williams/Shostakovich/Prokofiev/Walton) but am otherwise unmusical I love cats and walking in the countryside. Support Chelsea (not 'fair weather supporter') Trained as a counsellor (Gestalt) a few years ago to take me out of my 'comfort zone' which it did.

Very nice to be here and much appreciate the connection.

Delighted to see you here more often, Jeffrey :)   (even if I am translated into 'Dunnodell' ;D.....incidentally, the username 'Dundonnell' relates to a tiny village in Wester Ross, North West Scotland, from which I embarked on an epic three day cross-country walk through the Dundonnell Forest 15 years ago or so :))

I do have to say that the members here are a lot more "switched-on" to our type of music than in another place ;D

Delighted to see you too Colin  :). Sorry about Dundonnell mis-spelling - I am usually communicating in a rush before being ushured off the lap top for someone to get on with 'more important' things (what could be more important than this?  8))

All best to you

Jeffrey
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: vandermolen on Monday 17 October 2011, 21:53
Quote from: semloh on Monday 17 October 2011, 07:18
vandermolen - thanks for that background. I know from my occasional visits that you cut an impressive figure at GMG, passionate about the music, but always reasonable and extremely knowledgeable, so it's good to have you here with the unsungs! :)

Am I right in recalling that you especially like the big romantic and neo-romantic symphonists - like Miaskovsky?

Despite supporting Chelsea, I suspect that you live in Surrey or Sussex, maybe, rather than in London - or is that one of my illusions waiting to be shattered? ;D
In any case, if you are a secondary school teacher, in my eyes you are a hero!  8)

Hello Semloh,
Many thanks for the nice comments and it is good to be here.  Yes, Miaskovsky is one of my very favourite composers (was listening to the very underrated 26th Symphony yesterday - tonight it is David Matthews Symphony No 6 (another fine work)).  I do indeed live in East Sussex but was brought up in Earl's Court (hence the Chelsea connection!) I teach in an independent school - so hardly 'heroic' - but the pressures are different.
thanks again
Jeffrey
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: britishcomposer on Monday 17 October 2011, 21:59
Oh, nice to find someone who likes David Matthews! :D
To my mind he's is one of the great living (British) symphonists and it's fascinating to witness the ongoing creation of a fascinating symphonic cycle.
I listened to the premier performances of Nos. 6 and 7 and recorded the others from BBC broadcasts as well - unfortunately no recording of No. 5 seems to exists.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 17 October 2011, 22:05
Quote from: britishcomposer on Monday 17 October 2011, 21:59
Oh, nice to find someone who likes David Matthews! :D
To my mind he's is one of the great living (British) symphonists and it's fascinating to witness the ongoing creation of a fascinating symphonic cycle.
I listened to the premier performances of Nos. 6 and 7 and recorded the others from BBC broadcasts as well - unfortunately no recording of No. 5 seems to exists.

Oh yes it does :)  Dutton Epoch CDLX 7222: Symphonies Nos. 1, 3 and 5: BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Martyn Brabbins.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: vandermolen on Monday 17 October 2011, 22:06
Quote from: britishcomposer on Monday 17 October 2011, 21:59
Oh, nice to find someone who likes David Matthews! :D
To my mind he's is one of the great living (British) symphonists and it's fascinating to witness the ongoing creation of a fascinating symphonic cycle.
I listened to the premier performances of Nos. 6 and 7 and recorded the others from BBC broadcasts as well - unfortunately no recording of No. 5 seems to exists.

Oddly enough I had a nice reply to my fan email to David Matthews yesterday. He said that Symphony No 7 is being recorded soon but that they are looking for a filler for the CD. Symphony No 6 is terrific.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: britishcomposer on Monday 17 October 2011, 22:09
Ah yes, I had forgotten that Dutton had embarked on a Matthews cycle! :D
As usual: when I have my broadcast recordings I don't care about any CD releases - except when extraordinary dear to me. (Just to save some money. ;))
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 17 October 2011, 22:10
....and thanks very much for the Pickard Piano Concerto upload :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 17 October 2011, 22:19
For couplings for the David Matthews Symphony No.7-

Why not........the Piano Concerto of 2010-20 minutes long- and the Sinfonia of 1996-10 minutes long.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Tuesday 18 October 2011, 09:28
Quote from: vandermolen on Sunday 16 October 2011, 19:10
Another great pleasure was meeting 'Herrenberg' twice too.


And a mutual pleasure it was, Jeffrey. Nice 'seeing' you here!
Title: Re: An Introduction
Post by: semloh on Monday 24 October 2011, 09:06
Quote from: jerfilm on Thursday 04 November 2010, 15:15
Thal, sadly I have not digitized but a handful of 78s.  And they were mostly popular bands and songs from the '20s.  I love that era and have a collection, also, of silent films on VHS and DVDs from that period.  ....
Jerry

I really enjoyed reading about you, Jerry, and pleased you started this thread.  :)

Like you, I'm also a fan of dancebands  ;D   I'm a (now passive) member of the American dancebands Yahoo e-list, and just love the flair and inventiveness of those musicians. This makes me a real sucker for cross-over compositions that combine classical and danceband/jazz idioms - whether its classical works utilizing popular styles or vice-versa. I love them ;D ;D
The Naxos CD Skyscrapers - Symphonic Jazz offers some of the less common classical American examples from largely "unsung" composers.

Although I don't care much for old movies, I do have quite a video collection of silent (and immediately post-silent!) comedies, and I'm not sure if that coincides with your interests.  The sight of Laurel & Hardy's car disappearing into what seemed a harmless puddle never fails to make me almost hysterical! My wife thinks my reaction is quite ridiculuous ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: kolaboy on Tuesday 25 October 2011, 00:22
Hi everyone.
I'm an artist (painter), born in 1960, who lives in western North Carolina. My interest in music (and painting) has spanned the entirety of my life. As a youth I was housebound due to various health issues, and as a result I pretty much read everything I could get my hands on - especially regarding the creators of music. I'm guessing I was the only teenage boy in Statesville who had a 4x5 foot poster of Niels Gade on his bedroom wall (self-made, of course) next to one of Suzi Quatro.
Anyway, a lot of these "peripheral" names are almost like distant relatives in my mind, and to finally live in an age where it is becoming possible to actually hear some of their works is beyond amazing.
Ironically, I've not painted many pieces directly related to specific composers (apart from a portrait of J.S. Bach's forgotten son Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach. You gotta root for the underdog, you know).

Well, apologies for the ear bending. Just wanted to say "Hello", and to thank you all for making this such a great place to visit  :)

Danny
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: kitmills on Sunday 30 October 2011, 06:46
I'm a full-time self-employed musician in Washington state, mid-30's, majored in composition a decade ago, and juggle careers in private drum teaching (bread-and-butter, and generally enjoyable), performing (drumset or orchestral, less about income than feeling like I'm using my playing skills), and composing (love/hate but am compelled to do, tiny yet absurdly gratifying royalty checks).  Perhaps I'm a bit of a freak as a drummer who loves--and knows--classical music.  I've gotten plenty of confused looks over the years from fellow musicians when I've suggested alternate chords or better counterpoint between different parts.

I'm a big fan of Vaughan Williams, Holst, and most of their generation, and was recently turned on to Geirr Tveitt and others (I have a strong Norwegian heritage) by a friend who's touring the U. S. and doing residencies in North America as a Norwegian Cultural Artist.  Following a link from the Scandia Symphony in New York brought me here in search of Johann Svendsen's cello concerto, and while I can't come often, I keep coming back here.  This is a great site!  One question: if I qualify as an unsung composer can I have my own thread and at least one or two unquenchable evangelists of my music?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: JimL on Sunday 30 October 2011, 19:29
If your music is tonal and in a Romantic (or Neo-Romantic) style, I would say yes.  If you're a dodecaphonist or atonalist, I, personally have nothing against it, but I can't vouch for the powers-that-be.  If a large number of your works enter the standard repertoire: no!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Sunday 30 October 2011, 22:34
Kitmills (or amy I call you Kit?), you are very welcome to try us out with a couple of pieces and I'm sure that you'll get a kindly, but objective hearing. Evangelists are harder to come by!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: kitmills on Thursday 03 November 2011, 03:55
JimL - apart from a few symphonies I wrote under the name of Beethoven that seem to be consistently performed, I don't have anything in the current repertoire.

Mark - thanks for your kind note.  You may call me Kit, and of course, I don't seriously expect to enlist evangelists until I've either written music that merits evangelism, or 'til I've created a massive press machine that generates me-related hype ("The Justin Bieber of the Classical World!  Now in 3-D!").  The invitation to cast a piece or two upon the forum waters is thoughtful of you, but I will have to think of how best to do that...I have an almost comical history of inevitable technical failure at premieres, and thus only one or two pieces recorded decently. 

Hmm...well, you could try this download: http://www.c-alanpublications.com/mp3/18variations-full.mp3   (http://www.c-alanpublications.com/mp3/18variations-full.mp3)

Entitled 18 Variations on an Original Romantic Theme, I wrote this piece for five-octave marimba (xylophone-like instrument, but mellower, for those who don't know) a couple of years ago for a marimba society that requested a virtuosic piece reminiscent of Liszt or Rachmaninov.  The .mp3 is a MIDI file of sampled marimba, so it sounds pretty good, but there are some weird spastic moments and abnormally fast or slow tempi that definitely weren't in the score!  Whenever I have a few spare thousands of dollars to buy my own instrument, I'll be sure to record a real performance to share.  [Note: This isn't probably my most representative work, but then, I dabble in everything.]

If this needs to be posted elsewhere, please do so.  Nor is it my intention to storm onto this forum site and hog all the space with my stuff.  There are unsung composers whose praises deserve to be sung far more than mine!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Jimfin on Thursday 03 November 2011, 10:08
Well, I only found this site today, but I might as well introduce myself. I'm a 40-year-old teacher living in Japan, so here I have virtually no friends with any knowledge of British music. I have been a big fan since I was in my teens, at that time Elgar, Sullivan, Vaughan Williams and Havergal Brian dominated, but I have branched out to anyone starting from about Cipriani Potter up to about 1960, with a slightly reduced interest in more recent people. One of the fun things about being into this music for so long is seeing works that one has waited to hear for twenty years come out, an experience one cannot have if one is into pop (as you don't know the work existed beforehand) or mainstream (as 200 different recordings already exist). Currently basking in the joy of Robin Hood, McEwen and the new Dutton releases.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 03 November 2011, 11:49
You're very welcome, Jim.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 03 November 2011, 12:35
I suppose I'd better add my own pencil self-portrait:

I live in the Cotswolds in the UK. Growing up in an entirely unmusical household, I "discovered" music at university in Cardiff in the very early 70s, where I read chemistry (which has been of no use to me since the day I left as my career was in public transport!). I happened to have a friend there who played in the Welsh National Youth Orchestra and asked him about the fine music being used over the closing credits of a TV adaptation of "Ivanhoe". It turned out to be the finale of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. I bought an LP (Barenboim & the NY Phil.) and was hooked. Being a logical, scientifically-trained soul I bought all the Tchaikovsky symphonies (including the newly issued Bogatyryev reconstruction of "No.7" - what did I know?). I then went on to sample other symphonies written by composers living around Tchaikovsky's time and so within a few weeks I bought the pioneering Bernard Herrmann recording of Raff's No.5 Lenore. I absolutely loved it, went back to the shop to buy more Raff (as I had done with Dvorak, Schumann, Mendelssohn etc), only to be told that there was none. So began what has turned into a forty-odd year curiosity about unjustly neglected composers and Raff in particular. At my 60th birthday party (very recently!) my poor wife, who has had to live with my Raff-obsession all these years, described him to the assembled throng as "Mark's imaginary friend"!  On the internet, the evidence is my web site on Raff (www.raff.org (http://www.raff.org)), out of which grew UnsungComposers, when the old Raff Forum was killed off by hackers a few years ago.

I read music well enough to enjoy singing in a reasonably well respected local choir, but not well enough to understand anything more complicated than a vocal score. Over the years I've come to love most musical genres (the notable exception is lieder, which is still work in progress) but stylistically I'm most comfortable with determinedly tonal music written in the 19th and 20th centuries and I'm with Rossini - for me melody is the keystone. I respond to music primarily with my heart and the head comes a poor second.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 03 November 2011, 13:02
Ah, Mark.......your profile sent me scurrying to the basement to retrieve a box of colored slides taken in and around Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway - in another lifetime, of course.  What a lovely place to live. 

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Thursday 03 November 2011, 22:20
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Thursday 03 November 2011, 12:35
I suppose I'd better add my own pencil self-portrait: ...............

Thanks, Mark - at last we know who you are! :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: mikehopf on Wednesday 09 November 2011, 22:26
It might come as a surprise to many of you who are puzzled by my pseudonym " mikehopf", but my real name is... wait for it... Mike Hopf.

I won't bore you with my personal details except to say that I am an ex-Pom, now proudly Australian.

I have been an active , if over-enthusiastic, collector of music by unsung composers for over 40 years; primarily obtaining most of my rarities from former tape-partners in the 1970s & 1980s and spending most of my leisure time in exotic places browsing through secondhand record shops.

These other collectors have included such luminaries as Mike Herman (USA); Klaus Tischendorf ( Germany); Bernard Borne ( France); and Richard Noble ( England). Are any other fellow members still in contact with any of these gentlemen?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 10 November 2011, 08:40
Hi Mike, remember me? I still hear from Klaus from time to time. He recently published a very fine thematic catalogue (http://www.amazon.de/Norbert-Burgm%C3%BCller-Thematisch-Bibliographisches-Klaus-Tischendorf/dp/3936655634) of Norbert Burgmüller's music.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: dax on Monday 14 November 2011, 09:28
I feel rather out of place here by admitting that I'm a musician, 62 and resident in London.
I discovered this message board only recently having posted much at r3ok and sporadically at GMG, so it's good to see that interesting posters such as Vandermolen, Dundonnel and J.Z.Herrenberg are here also.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Thursday 17 November 2011, 16:20
Welcome, dax!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mykulh on Thursday 17 November 2011, 17:11
Hi Mike,
  It's time to get in touch again as too many years have passed by and we have some catching up to do. Thanks for mentioning me among your "luminaries." E-mail me at mherman@mindspring.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mike
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Thursday 17 November 2011, 18:48
Good to see a couple of other young'uns on the list.  :D

I'm 27, and I live in the Washington, DC suburbs.  In my daily life I am a functionary (as are so many others in this town).  I'm also known as "that classical freak", I think.  (Who knew displaying a picture of Amy Beach in your cube could cause so much consternation?)  I grew up with classical music all around; I've been going to concerts, and the opera, for as long as I can remember, and have been a choral singer since middle school, with a few years' break after college.  (For those who feel guilty about not being able to read music, don't feel too bad about it; I'm still not secure with sight-reading, and I've been singing for most of my life.)

I actually ended up here while doing a search for information on a Turkmen composer (which one, I can't remember at the moment).  And then got sucked in by the incredible selection of things by people I've always heard about, but whose music is as yet a mystery to me.  I downloaded the Ina Boyle violin concerto last night, and was gobsmacked by how gorgeous it was...I actually listened through it twice before bed.

My interests are, to say the least, eclectic, but hew mainly towards American (especially pre-1950 - thanks for the Mary Carr Moore, too) and British of the Vaughan Williams era.  (Speaking of Moore...one of my dreams is to someday resurrect her first opera Narcissa, and get it performed once or twice.  I can think of plenty worse things to put on the boards, judging by that concerto.)

I don't have much of my owo to offer, as my collection is mainly CDs, but I have some Slovenian discis whose copyright I'll need to check, but which appear to be unavailable outside of Ljubljana.  Other than that, there's always the Library of Congress...
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Thursday 17 November 2011, 19:11
Some of us are still 'young in heart', dear lad ;D ;D

The Ina Boyle is utterly gorgeous, isn't it :) :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Thursday 17 November 2011, 19:55
Quote from: Dundonnell on Thursday 17 November 2011, 19:11
Some of us are still 'young in heart', dear lad ;D ;D

The Ina Boyle is utterly gorgeous, isn't it :) :)

Stunning.  I wonder if she's going to be on Dutton's list any time soon.  (I also must confess, I wouldn't mind finding a copy of one of her choral pieces - it would be fun to show around my choir, if nothing else.)

All of these wonderful BBC broadcast bits remind me of the good old days when my local NPR station would play some things worth hearing.  (I still have fond memories of discovering Peter Schickele's second piano quintet and Elmer Bernstein's guitar concerto thanks to Performance Today.)  Nowadays all I get on the local radio is classical top-40.  I swear, they play Scheherazade at least every other night.

Which explains why I'm listening to Dorothy Howell after dinner instead. :-)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Tartini on Thursday 17 November 2011, 20:56
Tartini here. Or actually Peter from Stockholm, Sweden. I share all your people's passion on this stimulating forum for unjustly forgotten music. I thought, after forty years of listening and collecting, that there were no more to discover. But I was wrong. New discoveries never cease, as it seems. Would like to thank for all the great music that is available here for listening. Without your contributions, I had probably missed the amazing music of such unsung composers like Raichev, Juzeliunas and Mukhatov. Unsung Composers is also a rich source of much knowledge. I'm impressed. Thanks all!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Jimfin on Thursday 17 November 2011, 21:22
A tiny bit of Ina Boyle ('The Magic Harp', all nine minutes of it) appeared on one of the latest Dutton releases 'Dan Godfrey Encores', one of the more interesting pieces on there. It was the first time I'd heard any of hers, though I'd vaguely heard of her, as being cousin to Charles Wood. I shall check out that concerto soon (when I've waded through the masses of delights I'm finding on here).
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Thursday 17 November 2011, 22:03
Quote from: Jimfin on Thursday 17 November 2011, 21:22
A tiny bit of Ina Boyle ('The Magic Harp', all nine minutes of it) appeared on one of the latest Dutton releases 'Dan Godfrey Encores', one of the more interesting pieces on there. It was the first time I'd heard any of hers, though I'd vaguely heard of her, as being cousin to Charles Wood. I shall check out that concerto soon (when I've waded through the masses of delights I'm finding on here).

I noticed that the last time I drooled over their site.  Thankfully, finding it here has saved me having to order the CD.  :D

Ah, who'm I kidding?  It'll probably show up on my shelf sooner or later, next to the Carwithen and the Guirne Creith...
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Holger on Friday 09 December 2011, 21:43
It's maybe a good time to introduce myself as well.

I'm 25 and I live in Germany, the next bigger city is Bielefeld. In fact, I'm a math student at Bielefeld University and currently working on my diploma thesis but that's a bigger issue which will still need some time.

I have been collecting music for years now - my interest arouse at the age of nine, I think. I play the cello and the piano. Russian and Soviet music has certainly been a key field of interest for me since I discovered Myaskovsky's symphonies at the age of 15 or so. I am trying to get recordings of every Soviet symphony issued by Melodiya as far as listed by Mike Herman, and I have already made substantial progress in this project.

Other fields of interest are Eastern European music, Scandinavian music and German music, in particular from the German Democratic Republic. In general, I am much interested in 20th century symphonism. I'm really fond of rarities and I do believe there is so much great music which still awaits to be discovered. I have been exchanging music with other collectors as well as buying LPs myself for quite some time now, which is why I do have quite an amount of rarities in my collection.

This forum has proved to be a marvellous place where I could already pick up a large amount of very interesting pieces. It's fine to be here.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: BFerrell on Friday 09 December 2011, 22:08
Old, grouchy and a self-described "expert" on anything Finnish.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: shamokin88 on Saturday 10 December 2011, 00:30
This is Shamokin88. I am 70, a Philadelphian by birth and by choice. My understanding is that passwords and user names should be hard to figure out. Shamokin88 is arbitrary - Shamokin is a town upstate in the hard coal mining area of northeastern Pennsylvania. I have no connections with it, although I have been there. There is a huge slag mountain on the edge of town, and I have a sympathy for places where people have worked very hard and struggled to maintain community for themselves even as history seems to pass them by and they have nothing to show for their efforts. The 88 is completely arbitrary but easy to remember.

I've done many things, copy editor and proofreader, a welfare caseworker, a kind of ombudsman for an insurance company, and in my later working years a fundraiser for a Quaker agency here in Philadelphia - I'm a Quaker. I served on the governing board of Friends House Moscow for eight years and attended some marvelous concerts, mostly at the Composers Union.

Thirty-five years ago I came to know Jerfilm in Minnesota and tapped into his generous cache of Melodiyas. This site has connected us once more.

I started going to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts with my grandparents during the early 1950s. I heard Beecham, Barbirolli, Villa-Lobos, Mitropoulos, Szigeti, met Stravinsky and Shostakovitch. My big issue was wanting to hear things that I could not hear - there were no recordings. So replying to a classified advertisement I came to know Lewis Foreman. His suggestion: get a tape recorder. That was in 1966.

Fair to say nothing has been the same since.

What I have sought for many years has been, frankly, a venue wherein I could share the results of my good fortune with others. Until I came upon this site I could not do that. Being 70 I have to put technical questions to my son Sam [25] but he has faithfully answered my pleas for help: Dad, it should be intuitive. Thanks, but you may benefit from his advice.

Who mattered along the way? Mahler, Scriabin. Vaughan Williams, Nielsen, Loeffler, Glazounov, Malipiero,
Hanson, Harris, Schoenberg, Messiaen, Martinu.

Seems good to me.

Blessings to everyone.

Edward
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Saturday 10 December 2011, 00:40
I have just noticed that you uploaded Hilding Rosenberg's "In candidum" last Saturday for which many thanks :)

We have spoken privately by email.....but all I shall add is that you are doing a wonderful job in all senses of that description :) :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Saturday 10 December 2011, 01:42
Quote from: shamokin88 on Saturday 10 December 2011, 00:30
This is Shamokin88. ........

Blessings to everyone.


And to you, Edward! Good to hear all about who's behind the password!

And thank you for all those rare and amazing American uploads!
:)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Nunc Dimittis on Thursday 29 December 2011, 22:44
Hello all.  My name is Eric.  I used to post sporadically over at GMG.  I am in my late 40s and currently live in Sacramento, California.  I only recently returned to the US after living for three years in Japan. 

My musical journey really took off when I discovered the music of Bax when I was in college.    Other composers whose music I like are Miaskovsky, Alwyn, Diamond, Mennin, Pettersson, Lars-Erik Larsson, Koppel, and Villa Lobos.

Thank you to those here that have taken the time to upload such wonderful music. Listened to Gipps' Symphony No. 4 last night.  I used to make digital transfers of some of my LPs (mostly of recordings on the Lyrita label, but they are all now available in official versions) or from the BBC.  I have a few other digitized recordings that I would like to share that I do not think are available commercially or here.  They are,

Carlos Chavez, Violin Concerto, with Szeryng, violin; Composer conducting.
Cyril Scott, Violin Concerto, with Charlier, violin; Brabbins, Cond.  This is from a live broadcast on the BBC.  The same forces released a version on Chandos, but I do not believe this is the same recording.  If it is, someone please let me know so I won't upload it.
Nikolai Rakov, Violin concerto No.2, with O. Kagan, violin; Järvi, Cond.
Otar Taktakishvili, Violin concerto in F minor (No. 1) with L. Issakadze, violin; Composer conducting
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Friday 30 December 2011, 07:20
Welcome, Mr Dimittis. Or may I call you Nunc?  ;)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Nunc Dimittis on Friday 30 December 2011, 15:29
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Friday 30 December 2011, 07:20
Welcome, Mr Dimittis. Or may I call you Nunc?  ;)

You may call me Nunc for now.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Friday 30 December 2011, 16:24
Quote from: Nunc Dimittis on Friday 30 December 2011, 15:29
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Friday 30 December 2011, 07:20
Welcome, Mr Dimittis. Or may I call you Nunc?  ;)

You may call me Nunc for now.

I have to ask...do you have a cat called Magnifi?

(Sorry.)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: violinconcerto on Friday 30 December 2011, 17:26
Quote from: Nunc Dimittis on Thursday 29 December 2011, 22:44
Hello all.  My name is Eric.  [...] I have a few other digitized recordings that I would like to share that I do not think are available commercially or here.  They are,

Carlos Chavez, Violin Concerto, with Szeryng, violin; Composer conducting.
Cyril Scott, Violin Concerto, with Charlier, violin; Brabbins, Cond.  This is from a live broadcast on the BBC.  The same forces released a version on Chandos, but I do not believe this is the same recording.  If it is, someone please let me know so I won't upload it.
Nikolai Rakov, Violin concerto No.2, with O. Kagan, violin; Järvi, Cond.
Otar Taktakishvili, Violin concerto in F minor (No. 1) with L. Issakadze, violin; Composer conducting

I see you obviously prefer violin concertos... that sounds interesting!  ;D
Or was this offer of 4 violin concertos just a fluke?

Best,
Tobias

Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Nunc Dimittis on Friday 30 December 2011, 19:10
Quote from: violinconcerto on Friday 30 December 2011, 17:26
Quote from: Nunc Dimittis on Thursday 29 December 2011, 22:44
Hello all.  My name is Eric.  [...] I have a few other digitized recordings that I would like to share that I do not think are available commercially or here.  They are,

Carlos Chavez, Violin Concerto, with Szeryng, violin; Composer conducting.
Cyril Scott, Violin Concerto, with Charlier, violin; Brabbins, Cond.  This is from a live broadcast on the BBC.  The same forces released a version on Chandos, but I do not believe this is the same recording.  If it is, someone please let me know so I won't upload it.
Nikolai Rakov, Violin concerto No.2, with O. Kagan, violin; Järvi, Cond.
Otar Taktakishvili, Violin concerto in F minor (No. 1) with L. Issakadze, violin; Composer conducting

I see you obviously prefer violin concertos... that sounds interesting!  ;D
Or was this offer of 4 violin concertos just a fluke?

Best,
Tobias

It is just a fluke.  Many of the other classical recordings that I digitized have slowly become available in official releases. 
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: violinconcerto on Friday 30 December 2011, 20:42
Quote from: Nunc Dimittis on Thursday 29 December 2011, 22:44
I have a few other digitized recordings that I would like to share that I do not think are available commercially or here.  They are,

Carlos Chavez, Violin Concerto, with Szeryng, violin; Composer conducting.
Cyril Scott, Violin Concerto, with Charlier, violin; Brabbins, Cond.  This is from a live broadcast on the BBC.  The same forces released a version on Chandos, but I do not believe this is the same recording.  If it is, someone please let me know so I won't upload it.
Nikolai Rakov, Violin concerto No.2, with O. Kagan, violin; Järvi, Cond.
Otar Taktakishvili, Violin concerto in F minor (No. 1) with L. Issakadze, violin; Composer conducting

A pity that it is a fluke, anyway I don't want to spoil the party, but all mentioned pieces in these performances are commercially available! You can check here: www.violinconcerto.de (http://www.violinconcerto.de)

Best,
Tobias
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Greg K on Saturday 31 December 2011, 04:05
Quote from: violinconcerto on Friday 30 December 2011, 20:42
Quote from: Nunc Dimittis on Thursday 29 December 2011, 22:44
I have a few other digitized recordings that I would like to share that I do not think are available commercially or here.  They are,

Carlos Chavez, Violin Concerto, with Szeryng, violin; Composer conducting.
Cyril Scott, Violin Concerto, with Charlier, violin; Brabbins, Cond.  This is from a live broadcast on the BBC.  The same forces released a version on Chandos, but I do not believe this is the same recording.  If it is, someone please let me know so I won't upload it.
Nikolai Rakov, Violin concerto No.2, with O. Kagan, violin; Järvi, Cond.
Otar Taktakishvili, Violin concerto in F minor (No. 1) with L. Issakadze, violin; Composer conducting

A pity that it is a fluke, anyway I don't want to spoil the party, but all mentioned pieces in these performances are commercially available! You can check here: www.violinconcerto.de (http://www.violinconcerto.de)

Best,
Tobias

Tobias,

You mean Taktak's F minor Concerto with Issakadze has been reissued on commercial CD?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: violinconcerto on Saturday 31 December 2011, 11:24
Quote from: Greg K on Saturday 31 December 2011, 04:05


You mean Taktak's F minor Concerto with Issakadze has been reissued on commercial CD?


No, but I thought a commercially released LP recording does also mean "commercially available"? Just check a few records dealer and you will surely find such an LP - it isn't quite rare.

Best,
Tobias
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Saturday 31 December 2011, 12:05
That is not my understanding of the Download rules as outlined at the beginning of that section.

A considerable amount of music which has been uploaded for the use of members of this site comes from "old LPs". Some of these LPs may still be "in circulation" in the sense that one might find copies of them for sale by some dealer or other somewhere in the world.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Sunday 01 January 2012, 09:58
We are trying to strike a balance between the twin aims of making available otherwise unobtainable recordings whilst keeping the site free of copyright infringement allegations. It's like hitting a moving target because copyright law is a mess; inconsistent and variable between countries. So, for recordings which have been available at some stage commercially, we aim to keep within the spirit of copyright protection by drawing a (purely arbitrary, I'll accept) distinction between recordings which have been available on CD (or as downloads) and older recordings. It's not perfect, it's not without inconsistencies but it is a workable and defensible policy.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Dundonnell on Sunday 01 January 2012, 15:32
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Sunday 01 January 2012, 09:58
We are trying to strike a balance between the twin aims of making available otherwise unobtainable recordings whilst keeping the site free of copyright infringement allegations. It's like hitting a moving target because copyright law is a mess; inconsistent and variable between countries. So, for recordings which have been available at some stage commercially, we aim to keep within the spirit of copyright protection by drawing a (purely arbitrary, I'll accept) distinction between recordings which have been available on CD (or as downloads) and older recordings. It's not perfect, it's not without inconsistencies but it is a workable and defensible policy.

"workable and defensible", as you say....and eminently sensible and appropriate :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 02 January 2012, 15:53
Quote from: violinconcerto on Saturday 31 December 2011, 11:24
Quote from: Greg K on Saturday 31 December 2011, 04:05


You mean Taktak's F minor Concerto with Issakadze has been reissued on commercial CD?


No, but I thought a commercially released LP recording does also mean "commercially available"? Just check a few records dealer and you will surely find such an LP - it isn't quite rare.

Best,
Tobias

Quote from: Dundonnell on Saturday 31 December 2011, 12:05That is not my understanding of the Download rules as outlined at the beginning of that section.

A considerable amount of music which has been uploaded for the use of members of this site comes from "old LPs". Some of these LPs may still be "in circulation" in the sense that one might find copies of them for sale by some dealer or other somewhere in the world.

The primary purpose of the downloads section is to preserve important recordings (either with regard to repertoire or interpretation) in the absence of their current commercial availability.

For recordings issued on LP, if that LP has been subsequently deleted and the identical performance has not been transferred to legitimately-licensed and in-print CD, then that recording is effectively not commercially available. The existence or availability of second-hand copies of the original LP I would (personally) regard as irrelevant.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: thalbergmad on Monday 02 January 2012, 19:25
Quote from: Albion on Monday 02 January 2012, 15:53

For recordings issued on LP, if that LP has been subsequently deleted and the identical performance has not been transferred to legitimately-licensed and in-print CD, then that recording is effectively not commercially available. The existence or availability of second-hand copies of the original LP I would (personally) regard as irrelevant.

Does that mean I can upload me Mrs Mill greatest hits in the British thread? ;D

Thal
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Monday 02 January 2012, 19:46
Quote from: thalbergmad on Monday 02 January 2012, 19:25

Does that mean I can upload me Mrs Mill greatest hits in the British thread? ;D

Thal

Gosh!! I do admire your courage! I've never met anyone who freely admits that they own a copy of a Mrs Mills LP.  You are clearly a rare kind of individual and maybe you should tell us more about yourself...
;D
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: albion on Monday 02 January 2012, 22:41
Quote from: thalbergmad on Monday 02 January 2012, 19:25Does that mean I can upload me Mrs Mill greatest hits in the British thread? ;D

Thal

Hi Thal, of course you can - I understand that your collection is unrivalled in its taste and scope ...

(http://bingomcdingo.com/mrsmills.jpg)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvKZWbcHnI/AAAAAAAACFw/i4y9BvHpn1A/s400/Come+to+my+party.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvKlobcl6I/AAAAAAAACF4/_ngQ8Xy5DLk/s400/Look+Mum+No+Hands.jpg)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvQ6iniw2I/AAAAAAAACGg/AmqItaXP3xU/s400/everybody%27s+welcome.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvQR1XkDMI/AAAAAAAACGQ/TOez8FwNWyU/s400/millsKnees.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvK9l5FkMI/AAAAAAAACGA/rmI6nYPMwiQ/s400/mrsmillsparty.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jX9QklC3G4E/SyvQqksJebI/AAAAAAAACGY/SWUikf4aQ0g/s400/mrs+mills+beachj.jpg)

... this lady certainly knew how to party (is that a diamond-encrusted chicken drumstick?), and in the process somehow managed to avoid the baited snares of serialism.

;)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Miles R. on Monday 02 January 2012, 22:46
Hello. I just discovered this site a few days ago. I have not yet explored it very thoroughly, but I thought that it looked as though I would eventually want to make some posts, so I have registered.

Some may be curious about how I was led here. It happened like this: A few weeks ago, I started to listen to some of the pieces on the YouTube channel "Unsung Masterworks (http://www.youtube.com/user/GoldieG89)" by GoldieG89. I was struck by the fact that there seemed to be some composers of considerable accomplishment who were completely unknown to me, notably Joachim Raff and Hans Huber, as well as ones of whom I had heard but whose music I had never sought out, such as Anton Rubinstein. I was led to this site when I happened to click on a link in an endnote in the Wikipedia article "Hans Huber (composer) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Huber_%28composer%29)" (it seems that there are other Swiss and German men of note of the same name).

I started listening to classical music around age 12 but did not become a musician of any kind until I took up singing in my twenties. (I am now 50.) Up to that time, I had had little interest in vocal music, and certainly no interest in opera. Both of those dispositions changed to such an extent that for many years I hardly listened at all to non-vocal music. Lately, though, my old interest in orchestral music has revived, though I find it more interesting to seek out unfamiliar compositions than to listen to, say, the symphonies and concertos of Beethoven and Brahms again.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Monday 02 January 2012, 23:13
Welcome, Miles and I'm especially pleased that it was Joachim Raff (see www.raff.org (http://www.raff.org)) who helped lead you here...
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Gerhard Griesel on Tuesday 03 January 2012, 21:00
My name is Gerhard Griesel, from South Africa. Although I do not post very often, I enjoy this forum tremendously. It is costing me quite a lot of money, though, in the sense that I often buy CDs of unsung composers mentioned here. I am an education official by trade, now nearing retirement age. As a youngster my parents made me take piano lessons for a few years, but I had no talent whatsoever, and can only imagine what my teachers must have endured. I did enjoy listening to classical music from a very early age, though. While being a conscript in the army way back in the sixties, I one day walked into a record shop while waiting for a train, and heard Poulenc's concerto for organ & strings. That was a defining moment. I also realised that there was a lot more classical music out there than the bits one would hear on the radio. As a young teacher raising a family, I could not afford to buy records or CDs, but once the kids were off our hands, there was a bit more money. My father had grown very hard of hearing in his later years, so I decided that before this were to happen to me, I want to hear all I can while I still can! I have a medium-sized collection of CDs now, almost all confined to the Romantic Period.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 08 January 2012, 16:44
Quote from: thalbergmad on Monday 02 January 2012, 19:25
Does that mean I can upload me Mrs Mill greatest hits in the British thread? ;D
Thal

Is that a roundabout way of telling us your age?  ;)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: regriba on Monday 16 January 2012, 22:58
I joined the forum about a fortnight ago so it might be time to introduce myself. I'm Danish, in my mid-forties. I'm not a professional musician but play the piano on an amateur basis. I've been interested in unsung composers since my "conversion" to classical music in my mid-teens.

I've been following the forum for quite some time, since it was part of raff.org. But I am afraid I have been somewhat intimidated by the seemingly unlimited knowledge of everybody here. I've finally taken the plunge, however, hoping I might perhaps be able to contribute a little on Scandinavian and other Nordic music, which I do know a little about.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 11:23
You're very welcome. The last thing which anybody should feel is intimidated - heck, sometimes people even take me seriously!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: regriba on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 15:16
Thanks for the welcome. I'm already feeling bolder ...  :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 15:37
Quote from: regriba on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 15:16
Thanks for the welcome. I'm already feeling bolder ...  :)

Hey, if I don't have any compunctions talking out of my hat, you'll be fine.  ;D

Welcome!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 15:41
And some us who count as "seniors" ramble alot.  My mom's grandparents were all born in Denmark.

See what I mean??

Welcome to this wonderful forum.

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Elroel on Monday 09 April 2012, 13:38
Hello you all,

I never thougth there was anybody who had the same taste of music I have. I, always, was certain that my love for the unknown composer was a private obsession. But here I find many more "obsessed" ones.
I inherited love for music from my mother, who was a member of a choral society, singing also the solo parts.
I was born in 1943, in The Netherlands, and listen to classical music since 1955, the moment I was presented with a record with Bach's 3td Suite coupled by Mozert's 5th Violin Concerto.
A fair part of my pocket money has been spent on bying records, since.
In later years I travelled several times to London to buy records, for friends (and myself of course).

I am strictly a music listener (lover) and collector of music.
Among the composers I love most, is Havergal Brian (thanks to this forum I completed my collection of the the symphonies). I'm not so interested in music earlier than Beethoven's (with exceptions of course) and although I like many modern compositions, I have possibly not the intelligence, nor the technically knowledge, to listen to the so-called avant-garde.
I' m busy digitizing my old records so I can pay you back for the music I downloaded so far.






Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Monday 09 April 2012, 14:10
Good to find out about you Elroel.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Christo on Saturday 14 April 2012, 10:02
Hi Elroel,

There are quite a lot of 'our kind' around here, even a couple of fellow Dutchmen with similar weird preferences. THE expert and Havergal Brian enthusiast is of course Johan Herrenberg, but there are more Dutchmen who share his enthusiasm. Johan and me actually met in London in 1995 in the course of a Havergal Brian festival organized by the Havergal Brian Society and have continued to meet since then. Some of us were active on another forum, but nowadays this one is the place to be.

I myself became an enthusiast for especially British and Scandinavion music in my teens, in the 1970s, and that's still my main focus. Composers like Vaughan Williams, Holst, Brian, Berkeley, Cooke, Bate, Arnold, Nielsen, Holmboe, Tubin and dozens more. I "discovered" most of them on Lyrita and other LPs available in a public library in Zwolle when I was sixteen and continued exploring with the help of the Amsterdam public library (Prinsengracht) as a student, often hiring LPs that I discovered twenty years later to have shared (unknowingly) with Johan Herrenberg (same age, similar preferences, also living in Amsterdam in the 1980s).

Great to meet you here! BW, Christo (Johan Snel)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: darkmatter on Sunday 15 April 2012, 00:09
Yes was introduced to this site by a close friend who is here as suffolkcoastal
Some real gems here and hope to broaden my appreciation of the more obscure composers particularly 20th Cen American music  :)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 15 April 2012, 20:11
You are, of course, very welcome.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on Wednesday 02 May 2012, 00:25
Quote from: Elroel on Monday 09 April 2012, 13:38
I was born in 1943, in The Netherlands, and listen to classical music since 1955, the moment I was presented with a record with Bach's 3td Suite coupled by Mozert's 5th Violin Concerto.
A fair part of my pocket money has been spent on bying records, since.
In later years I travelled several times to London to buy records, for friends (and myself of course).

I am strictly a music listener (lover) and collector of music.
Among the composers I love most, is Havergal Brian (thanks to this forum I completed my collection of the the symphonies). I'm not so interested in music earlier than Beethoven's (with exceptions of course) and although I like many modern compositions, I have possibly not the intelligence, nor the technically knowledge, to listen to the so-called avant-garde.
I' m busy digitizing my old records so I can pay you back for the music I downloaded so far.

Quote from: Christo on Saturday 14 April 2012, 10:02
Hi Elroel,

There are quite a lot of 'our kind' around here, even a couple of fellow Dutchmen with similar weird preferences. THE expert and Havergal Brian enthusiast is of course Johan Herrenberg, but there are more Dutchmen who share his enthusiasm. Johan and me actually met in London in 1995 in the course of a Havergal Brian festival organized by the Havergal Brian Society and have continued to meet since then. Some of us were active on another forum, but nowadays this one is the place to be.

I myself became an enthusiast for especially British and Scandinavion music in my teens, in the 1970s, and that's still my main focus. Composers like Vaughan Williams, Holst, Brian, Berkeley, Cooke, Bate, Arnold, Nielsen, Holmboe, Tubin and dozens more. I "discovered" most of them on Lyrita and other LPs available in a public library in Zwolle when I was sixteen and continued exploring with the help of the Amsterdam public library (Prinsengracht) as a student, often hiring LPs that I discovered twenty years later to have shared (unknowingly) with Johan Herrenberg (same age, similar preferences, also living in Amsterdam in the 1980s).

Great to meet you here! BW, Christo (Johan Snel)

Hello, Elroel!

Quite extraordinary to find another Dutchman who, unbeknownst to Johan and myself, loves Havergal Brian's music! Welcome to UC. Could you tell us how you discovered Brian's music? I encountered the name 'Havergal Brian' in that Amsterdam library Johan mentioned, in 1977, on the spine of vol. 1 of Malcolm MacDonald's seminal study... The rest is history.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: ElliotViola on Thursday 24 May 2012, 12:42
Hey all,

I am a 17 year old Viola player and Composer, looking to find new music to influence my style of writing, and possibly get some feedback on some of my work! I am aiming to write in the gaps into the Viola repertoire throughout my life, as there are massive holes in the Classical and Romantic repertory- I'm currently having my work published by OLC Barcelona Music and am always writing more inbetween being told to study my A-Levels.

I live in Brighton, in the UK and attend the Royal College Junior Department on Saturdays, and Christ's Hospital School otherwise (any old Blues on here?)

I like the idea of a forum for "unsung composers", I'm hoping I fit this because nobody wants to sing my choral piece ;)

Seriously though, I love hearing new music. My favourite composers are Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Bartok (and I'm quite partial to Skryabin as well). I really like Rebecca Clarke too, don't know if she's been heard of on here...?

Anyway, looking forward to the discussion :)

Elliot
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 24 May 2012, 16:24
Welcome to UC, Elliot.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: EdwardHan on Wednesday 30 May 2012, 21:31
Hey all:

I'm born in southeastern China, and living in a small town in north New Jersey, US now. My main interests are late 19th and early 20th century music, especially Russian and Soviet, Scandinavian and German music, and to some extent Vaughn Williams era in Britain. Generally I prefer chamber music than symphonism, maybe for I'm a piano player.

I grew up in an environment almost totally absent of classical music, and it's hard to image, even for me, that how can I develop such an interest. I discovered the field of unsung composers mostly by myself, since I got rid of some of the famous works. I tried to promote the idea in China, but it didn't go well at all, since most Chinese classical music fans, if there is any, care performers much more than composers. Then I studied in Indiana University, where one of the best music school in the world locates. I took some music course there and after that, I have to say it's quite a fortune for me to join such a great forum, particularly for the downloads. I'm thinking of earning a music degree in the future.

I don't have a lot of things for share since most of my collections are CDs, but I really looking forward for discussion. And I'll be quite happy to know and meet any friends here that live around New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Wednesday 30 May 2012, 21:47
Welcome, Edward.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Jimfin on Wednesday 30 May 2012, 22:41
Welcome Edward! It's nice to see someone else with an Asian connection, though I am the opposite, born in England but now living in Japan.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: phoenixmusic1 on Thursday 26 July 2012, 19:40
Hi,

I've been lurking around this forum for a little while now so thought I should introduce myself!

My name's Peter and I'm 21 years old. I've just finished an undergraduate degree in music and will be starting a postgraduate degree in September. My main interest is in 19th and 20th century British music so I've found the British Music Broadcasts downloads on here incredibly helpful and interesting. I hope I'll be able to contribute some useful comments myself occasionally, as well as reading other people's! I'm particularly interested in the composer Cyril Scott as my undergraduate dissertation was about his music.

Peter.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 26 July 2012, 20:30
Hey, welcome Peter.   So glad to see young folks interested in the classics.  My daughter and step daughter were both music majors, the former doing her graduate work in Music Therapy at KU. 

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 26 July 2012, 20:54
Indeed. Welcome, Peter!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: febnyc on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 00:56
Gee - many impressive bios.  A worthy lot, to be sure.

I was born in September, 1940, in New York City.

My working life was in the reinsurance business, always located in the Wall Street area of the Big Apple.  For a number of years, from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s I was CEO of an American subsidiary company of Pearl Assurance (any Brits remember "Cover Yourself with Pearl" adverts around town?).  I made countless trips to London - to the headquarters building in High Holborn (now an exclusive hotel) - and had the good fortune to know much of Great Britain during those sojourns.

I retired in 1997, at age 56, after the last 16 years employment in charge of a US company owned by a large outfit in Munich, Germany.  I made six trips annually to the Continent during those years.  Now, after 15 years away from the battlegrounds (I had a daily two-hour trip each way between home and office) I continue to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside in rural Westchester County, about 50 miles NNE of NYC.

I have two married children and four grandkids, all of whom live in New Jersey - about 75 miles from my wife and me.

My CD collection totals about 3,000 - about 60% dedicated to composers who would qualify for this forum.

I have very much valued the information gleaned here at UC.  The breadth of knowledge is impressive, as are the instant "heads-ups" about new releases.  As a result my wallet is lighter and my "want list" very full.  Long may this site thrive!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 04:43
Welcome, febnyc.   As a retired CEO of a small property and casualty company in Minnesota, I understand a bit about the reinsurance business.  And I share your love of peace and quiet and romantic era music.

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 07:55
Thanks for the background, febnyc. My grandfather was for many years a door-knocking salesman and collector for "The Pearl" here in the UK.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 14:12
G'day Mike!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: febnyc on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 15:09
Hi Jerry and Mark - thanks for your comments.

Jerry, we share a similar vocational background and you probably are one of the scant few who know anything about the reinsurance business!

Mark:  The Pearl has quite a history and your grandfather was part of the early days of the penny-a-week policy sales.  It was a shame when this grand company was bought up by the Australians and, in essence, ceased to exist.  Gosh! I remember in late 1970s watching the Chairman (Sir Geoffrey Kitchen by name) swoop into the interior courtyard of that mighty HQ building in High Holborn, in a long black Daimler, with flags flying.  Those were the glory days.  Today he probably would be thrashed in the public square for his upper-class ostentation.   ::)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Amphissa on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 19:26
I know nothing about the insurance business, but I do know the environs you inhabit. I worked on 5th Avenue and lived on upper east side until I moved to a little village called Valley Cottage, just across the Tappan Zee from you. I used to make regular skips over to Zachy's where my wine was stored and flew in/out of the Westchester airport.

And, of course, visited Rachmaninoff's gravesite several times at Kensico in Valhalla.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Grh on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 19:59
Hello all
I am an archaeologist by trade and have arrived late in life to classical (awful term) music.  My preferences overlap with the focus of this group, in that I am always open to new sounds.  I listen regularly to Alfred Schnittke, Shostakovich, Hans Henze, Per Norgard, Kalevi Aho, Philip Glass, and (currently) a bevy of modern French composers (Dalbavie and Dusapin are at the top).  I fully realize that these are not composers featured herein.  I am not troubled by the apparent inconsistency in music presented and discussed.  For example, I could never imagine R. Gliere and Roger Sessions in the same room, although both are unsung.  I appreciate the availability of downloads as the current music-availability world is abridged.   
Best regards
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: minacciosa on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 20:31
Thanks to my colleague Karl Miller, I learned about this site a few months ago and it has since become a compulsion for me. I'm a conductor and violinist (and sometime composer) domiciled in Michigan, but working around. I've made recordings that some of you may have. Interestingly, I've never considered myself an expert on American music, but thanks to my reading Baker's Biographical Dictionary just about cover to cover while growing up, I've been able to expand the recorded catalogue with some worthy composers who were unjustly allowed to become unsung. I plan to do more. Much more if at all possible. I'm a huge supporter of British music, and though I've been privileged to perform some I have yet to record any. (You can find a couple of my fiddle performances of Bax and Bridge on YouTube.) As you can tell from my handle, I consider Nikolai Medtner to be a canonic composer. This list of my favorite composers is too long to post, but I can say that many, many of you here share my particular enthusiasms.

This site is a great place. I don't usually out myself on music sites, but the spirit invested in UC is so completely in harmony with the true spirit of music-making that I feel a great kinship with everyone here. We're all seeking the same thing: finding the ultimate sublime beauty in the world that is music, and sharing it. UC is one aspect of proof that musical beauty resides in far more places than those that have become well known. Case in point: currently listening to Eugene Goossens opera Don Juan de Manara. Again. I played the composer's violin version recently, and the audience was rapt. Thank you all so much; keep on doing what you do.
All best,
JMW
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: febnyc on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 21:31
Quote from: Amphissa on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 19:26
I know nothing about the insurance business, but I do know the environs you inhabit. I worked on 5th Avenue and lived on upper east side until I moved to a little village called Valley Cottage, just across the Tappan Zee from you. I used to make regular skips over to Zachy's where my wine was stored and flew in/out of the Westchester airport.

And, of course, visited Rachmaninoff's gravesite several times at Kensico in Valhalla.

Well, a neighbor.  Thanks for the note and greetings to you.

I am in South Salem, about 45 minutes from you, and even closer to Zachy's!  ;)

(I did, in between stints in Westchester County, reside for eight years on 89th and West End Avenue - where, one day, in front of my apartment building I met the famous Professor Peter Schickele, and I was located two blocks from the building in which Rachmaninoff lived during his years in America.)

Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 14:53
Quote from: febnyc on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 21:31
(I did, in between stints in Westchester County, reside for eight years on 89th and West End Avenue - where, one day, in front of my apartment building I met the famous Professor Peter Schickele, and I was located two blocks from the building in which Rachmaninoff lived during his years in America.)

Not to get too far off the subject, here, but my father actually used to work with Prof. Schickele's college roommate.  (The "whoever he is" of The Short-Tempered Clavier?  That's the one.)  Lovely fellow, though I have met him but once.

(Speaking of - would one consider Schickele under the revised purview of this forum?  Date-wise, surely not...but he's an absolute neo-Romantic if he's anything, to me.  And far, far less sung than he should be.)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 15:48
I always happy to hear one of Prof. Schickele's PDQ discoveries!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: febnyc on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 18:11
The good Professor, besides being an expert on the life and misadventures of P. D. Q. Bach, of course was a composer in his own right.

I have a Centaur CD of some of Peter Schickele's chamber music and, indeed, in my opinion it would qualify for acceptance on this forum.  There is a late-romantic tinge to it and, if you listen very closely you might hear echoes of PDQ's style itself!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: TerraEpon on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 19:07
Was? Still alive last I checked and stuff like the clarinet quintet is certainly firmly in the neo-romantic bent, though other works are a bit more modernistic in the Gershwin-influence way.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 19:11
OK, we're way off-topic here...
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: matesic on Tuesday 04 December 2012, 19:06
OK, but if anyone says anything unkind I'll clam up.
I'm a retired clinical scientist who got hooked on playing string quartets at school c.1965. Since retirement I've been digging around the UK music colleges and other libraries for unpublished manuscripts and neglected scores. On IMSLP I've published performing editions of quartets by Macfarren, Wood, Bishop and Ellerton, but some interesting pieces by Percy Hilder Miles (1878-1922) in the RAM Library are copyright until 2039, or until someone decides who his rightful heir is (we're working on it). I asked for permission to do the same for Stanford and Gibbs, many of whose quartets are still in ms, but got an old-fashioned response presumably because the turf is already staked out. I've also been producing one-man-band renditions of any promising string pieces I can find. I'm firmly of the opinion that c.1880-1920 is a forgotten golden age of string chamber music. I won't list all my unsung favourites, but the 5 string quartets of Ewald Straesser are all up there.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: petershott@btinternet.com on Tuesday 04 December 2012, 22:27
Oh, but please don't clam up! From your profile of yourself I'd say you would be an invaluable member of this forum. Keep the posts coming!.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Gauk on Sunday 03 March 2013, 20:48
I have been using the pseudonym Gauk on and off since I was an undergrad ... obviously referring to the conductor Alexander Gauk, but it also has echos of the Scots word "gowk", a fool  :D

I have been chasing obscure repertoire for the last 40 years, so this should be a good home! Professionally, I'm a research scientist living in Scotland.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Monday 04 March 2013, 21:59
Are you a Scot by birth, Gauk? And, whereabouts in Scotland do you live? After 40 years of chasing obscure repertoire, I wonder what your favourites are and whether Scottish composers are of particular interest. Quite a number have featured here at UC.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: arpeggio on Monday 04 March 2013, 23:16
I'm an enthusiast regarding, in particular, piano transcriptions. Also looking into underrated piano works on the fringes of the repertory, and an interest in semi-forgotten piano concerti. Though I'm an amateur pianist (albeit one who takes professional lessons), I'm an occasional concert performer and like to do my best to promote obscure music.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: thalbergmad on Tuesday 05 March 2013, 08:11
Nice to see you here old chap.

Transcriptions rarely get a mention here when compared with other genres.

Thal
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Gauk on Tuesday 05 March 2013, 23:46
Quote from: semloh on Monday 04 March 2013, 21:59
Are you a Scot by birth, Gauk? And, whereabouts in Scotland do you live? After 40 years of chasing obscure repertoire, I wonder what your favourites are and whether Scottish composers are of particular interest. Quite a number have featured here at UC.

No, but I am by adoption, having spent most of my life here. There was a time when I moved in musical circles and knew many of the contemporary Scottish composers quite well. But my favourite has to be the greatly under-rated McEwen, ever since hearing some of his string quartets played at Glasgow University. Interesting to see the music of Eric Chisholm appearing on CD now, as well. Then there is MacCunn!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: motiaan on Tuesday 18 June 2013, 22:04
Hi from Wuppertal, Germany. I am an engineer, turning 50 in a few months, and always looking for something new to hear. My preferences lie with instrumental music, from piano solo to concertos and symphonies. I like operas, but only live (the other vocal genres are not for me). So I hope to explore many different composers's works.

Cheers, Helli
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerry.buszek on Tuesday 30 July 2013, 05:28
It has been very entertaining to read some of the comments of fellow members. So, I would like to put my 2 cents worth of information on myself. I have been a member approximately 2 years. I check out articles about every 2 weeks but about 2 months I completed a project of "burning" 87 cd's with downloads of some of the items that were downloaded on this web site. I was pleasantly amazed at the wonderful works that have been downloaded and appreciate all the work other members have done to help listeners like me enjoy the music of some great unsung composers like. Anyway, I am 71 years old, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan (USA) but currently reside in the Kansas City area. I play drums, percussion, guitar and some piano. I can read music and have several ministure scores. My music collection consists of about 11,000 records, cd's, casettes, reel-to-reel tapes, 78 & 45 rpm discs. The only thing I never collected was 8-track tapes (thank goodness!). I enjoy music from the former Soviet Union of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries (Glazunov, Gliere, the "Kuchka", etc.) I have several older Melodiya lp's that I wish I could download, such as Rimsky-Korsakov's Mazurka on Polish Themes in C Major for Violin & Orch    (1888) that I have never come across anywhere else. I was a member of the Glazunov Society and have a copy of a Glazunov biography written by a member in English. Regretfully I understand this Society no longer is in existence. I moved from Omaha to Kansas City area and forgot to notiofy the Society, but read in a note from a member in Unsung Composers that the Society no longer exists. I hope other members place a posting here and would like to talk via e-mail with some members now that I am retired. I would be willing to trade cd's or burn some compositions onto a cd with some of my collections. I have all my recordings listed on my computer, a la the Schwann Catalogue (something else no longer in existence). My e-mail is detroit7810@hotmail.com. Thank you for your patience if you have this far and I hope this web site continues forever.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 30 July 2013, 08:45
Great to hear from you in such detail, Jerry.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: britishcomposer on Tuesday 30 July 2013, 17:32
Welcome, Jerry!
You may be interested to know that Rimsky's Mazurka has been uploaded by a YouTuber:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJiqna6LCOk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJiqna6LCOk)
Anyway, as it comes from an LP it cannot been uploaded here, that's a principle of the UC forum.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 01 August 2013, 00:06
Yes, welcome.  I sent you a private email.

Jerry
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Archimus on Monday 13 January 2014, 16:09
I spotted this site only the other day and was really pleased that there should be a forum for discussing these beautiful things which, for one reason or another, lie undiscovered, unappreciated or forgotten.

I'm an architect, but most of my friends are in some way involved in music, either composing, conducting, playing or singing (or even administrating).  I became interested in "serious" (i.e. not pop) music before anyone told me I wasn't supposed to like it, and have been following my ears ever since.

Consequently, over the years I've built up an enormous collection of first performances, rarities and exquisite things, and it gives me huge amount of pleasure - you all know the feeling!

Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Leafshimmer on Sunday 29 June 2014, 21:55
Dear all,

I am new here and am trying to learn how to navigate this forum.  This particular post may simply fall into a big black hole but I'll give it a shot anyway.

My name is Steve Shutt and I am about to turn 56 years old.  I was first turned onto many of the composers here by my late friend Marc Bernier.  I still remember Marc bringing a 12 inch 78 rpm recording of Leila Megane performing two selections from Bantock's "Songs of Egypt" (alas, with a rather feeble orchestral accompaniment) and being enchanted.  Other significant listening experiences included the Martha Verbit album of Cyril Scott's Piano Sonata and Poems, the Lyrita recording of John Ogdon performing the Scott Piano Concertos, tape recorded redactions of Claire Croiza performing selected songs by Pierre de Breville, an LP transcription I found on a visit to NYC of Reynaldo Hahn singing and performing his own music (several songs sung by the unforgettable Ninon Vallin), another tape recording of an LP of Quilter songs as performed by Alexander Young, and the incredible recording conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham of Bantock's marvelous "Fifine at the Fair."  Many other revelatory sharing of recordings followed, too many to note within the space of what is meant to be a short intro.

I think of myself very much as a fan and an amateur of these composers.  I think Cyril Scott in some of his books best outlined some of the features that makes the music so outstandingly beautiful, powerful, and enduring.  Josef Holbrooke's book on Modern British composers published I believe circa 1930 gives some valuable insights into the artistic mood of the period in England.  Although I am an ardent Anglophile, I also appreciate some French, American, and German composers of the period... and Australia is represented, of course, by Percy Grainger.

I am trying to access the British Music Broadcasts archive.  I have tried searching the site in a variety of ways but my searches keep yielding no results, apart from a thread that discusses the BMB archive and various downloads.   Did the archive have to be deleted due to copyright concerns?  I am particularly keen to hear the file with the excerpts of Scott's opera THE ALCHEMIST.  I was unaware that any of it had been recorded.  At some point in the early Bronze Age I had a go at looking through a copy of the published score in the Library of Congress.

I wonder whether other Scott radio broadcasts I have read about, such as THE HOURGLASS SUITE and THE MYSTIC ODE, might show up here at some point.

Best wishes to all,

Steve Shutt (aka Leafshimmer)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Sunday 29 June 2014, 22:12
Welcome to UC, Steve.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: britishcomposer on Sunday 29 June 2014, 22:47
Steve, the archive has moved.
You can access the contents after signing up at the Art-Music Forum:
http://artmusic.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,506.0.html (http://artmusic.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,506.0.html)
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Leafshimmer on Sunday 29 June 2014, 23:23
Many thanks, British Composer!

Best,

Steve
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Monday 30 June 2014, 08:03
Just for clarification: the BMB archive has moved to the site above, but the rest of UC's archive of recordings is still here at UC (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/board,6.0.html) itself.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Monday 30 June 2014, 16:02
An inappropriate and unneceesary aside - I can't help but laugh - there are still folks over at Art Music who can't resist taking snide shots at us here at UC.  But let a new download appear on our site, and (surprise) a reference or even a link appears magically.   Perhaps, the download fairy is at work.....heehee....

J
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 30 June 2014, 16:12
The Art Music Forum is an excellent resource. It's good that those interested in later music have a place where they can debate the subject. It's just not for us at UC.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: jerfilm on Monday 30 June 2014, 23:51
No argument there, Alan.  I pop in from time to time becuz once in a great while, something from our remit shows up.  Not often, mind you.  But I'm always saddened how some folks just can't let go......
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 01 July 2014, 07:26
Still, rise above it, eh?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: ReDoLe on Friday 10 July 2015, 15:59
Dear all,
my name is René, I'm 46, living in Leipzig and have been working in the music retail business for many years. For nearly 12 years I was owner of a record store specializing in classical music but unfortunately had to close the store (for obvious reasons ...) three years ago.
I'm following this forum since the times of Raff.org and got lots of useful and interesting information about (mostly) unfairly neglected composers. Many thanks to all involved, it's good to see that I'm not alone in appreciating music of all kinds outshined by the "great Masters".
My first encounter with classical music was in school and soon I sat listening to the radio as often as possible. I grew up in Hamburg and in the 80s the NDR had a decent classical channel with complete works being broadcast nearly all day long. When I began reading books on music I wondered why composers I liked immediately (e.g. Spohr or Hummel) were considered to be of secondary importance and others I didn't get into got longish reviews and praises. So I tried to keep my ears open and over the years I encountered wonderful music of all ages, sung or unsung. I mainly focus on 19th and early 20th century music from europe and abroad (symphonies and concertos for all kinds of instruments) but in the last years my admiration for baroque and more recent (tonal) music grew steadily. Since I'm singing in various choirs for some years, choral music is another great interest.
After a long time of reading only, I now decided to sign in, hoping I can add some information and suggestions, too.
Best wishes
René
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Friday 10 July 2015, 17:04
Welcome to UC, René.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Wieland on Wednesday 09 March 2016, 12:14
Hi
I just registered and thought it might by useful for you to know who did.
I am 62 and work in the academic world as a professor. From early on, music played an important part in my life, first it was rock music, later I developed a taste for classical music after discovering Mahlers Resurrection symphony. My taste is broad from Bach to Haydn to contemporary music. I understand that only my special  interest in music of the romantic era is of interest here in this forum. About 35 years ago I came across the Lenore symphony of Joachim Raff on the famous vinyl LP conducted by Bernard Hermann and was wondering why that piece was less popular than many other symphonies that I thought were not half as good. That started my interest in unsung composers. My favourite genres are symphonies, violin concertos and especially string quartets. By browsing through your site I got the impression that string quartets are underrepresented here. So I might be able to add something to this topic if there is interest.
I am living in Stuttgart/Germany, I am not able to read music but besides collecting records and CDs I regularly visit classical music performances, e.g. a concert of Argerich/Maisky tonight.

Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Wednesday 09 March 2016, 14:15
Thanks, and welcome to UC!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Friday 25 March 2016, 23:11
Yes, welcome to UC, Professor!

It's quite amazing what impact that LP of Raff's Lenore had, especially in encouraging listeners to look beyond the familiar composers.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Ebubu on Friday 15 April 2016, 18:57
Hello to all,
Discovered this great forum by chance, while googling "Die Königin von Saba", about the about-to-be-issued recording on CPO.

I'm a 53 year old music lover presently living in Lyon, even though most of my professional activities now make me spend most of my time in Paris, and most of my "vacation activities" take me all over Europe and Asia.
I've started the piano as an amateur at age 7, and been playing off and on (rather more off than on, actually), and always fan on exploring "unsung" repertoire, wishing everyday that programmers and decision-makers in the music bizness would take more "risks"...
My professional activities have always been related to music, but mostly on the administrative / management side.  After 4 years spent in Eugene, Oregon, USA, completing a Master's in Performing Arts management, I got involved there with the Oregon Bach Festival, the Eugene Opera (chorus), and various on campus music and theater activities.  I sang in several choirs as an amateur singer, both in Eugene and in Paris, then spent 13 years as Chorus Manager at the Lyon Opera.  I'm now a free-lance ("intermittent") stage manager / stage hand, desperetaly trying to align contracts, and getting busy mostly at the Paris Opera, now, and in other local houses.
My interests are quite varied, around opera and lyrical repertoire (from operetta to musical), piano repertoire (including things I'll never dream on even trying to play), and choral repertoire.  I've been exploring the unsung French repertoire, and still much, much, much remains to be discovered, especially in the lyric repertoire.
Through a network of crazy friends like me (and you), I can put my hands on a lot of rare recordings of French music (French radio archives) which, for the most part, have never been issued on any medium.  So if you have any wishes on that field, feel free to ask, and I will tell you if that has even been recorded or not, and if I can put my hands on the desired recording.
Looking forward to discover new things with you, and to share as well what I can.
Eric
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 16 April 2016, 09:40
Thanks, Eric. You are very welcome here!!
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: NickFuller on Sunday 16 April 2017, 09:29
Hello!

I'm a freelance writer in my early 30s, and, like most people of my age, obsessed with obscure 19th century opera.

I've written for Australia's Limelight magazine, and about French opera (Massenet, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Reyer and, most recently, Herold) for MusicWeb International.

And I see that this is a den of Brett/Holmes fans.  Capital!

Nick
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: mikehopf on Monday 17 April 2017, 10:49
Hi Nick

Is that Augusta, Sherlock or our fellow Aussie Semloh?

Who is Brett?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Monday 17 April 2017, 20:33
I suspect Nick is referring to Jeremy Brett and his exquisite portrayal of my famous grandfather, Sherlock Holmes, in the TV series.  :) 
But I'm not sure why.
Nick?
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: NickFuller on Saturday 22 April 2017, 04:33
Elementary, my dear semloh!  (And honoured to meet a scion of the house of Holmes.  Holmes, sweet Holmes.)

The first couple of pages of this thread (a tangled skein?) wander into a discussion about Holmes and Brett.
Title: Re: Introduce yourself here.....
Post by: semloh on Saturday 22 April 2017, 23:30
Ah - not quite a three pipe problem, after all!