British Music

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The following broadcast is now available -

Frederick Delius (1862-1934) - Violin Concerto (1916) played by Hugh Bean with the RLPO under Charles Groves

Many thanks to calico for this addition to the archive.

Aha! One of my favourite VCs... !

[Dundonnell]

I would just like you to know, Johan, that I have just counted 30 orchestral and choral works by Delius that I taped in the 1970s

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I would just like you to know, Johan, that I have just counted 30 orchestral and choral works by Delius that I taped in the 1970s

Poor you! Lucky us! 

[Dundonnell]

I would just like you to know, Johan, that I have just counted 30 orchestral and choral works by Delius that I taped in the 1970s

Poor you! Lucky us! 

It is hard for me, at only a cursory glance, to tell how many of these are broadcasts of live performances as opposed to broadcasts of LPs(I am no Delius expert, as you know ) but Sir Charles Groves('Paris'), Norman Del Mar('Life's Dance') and Lawrence Foster('Arabesk') feature as conductors of some of them.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I would just like you to know, Johan, that I have just counted 30 orchestral and choral works by Delius that I taped in the 1970s

Poor you! Lucky us! 

It is hard for me, at only a cursory glance, to tell how many of these are broadcasts of live performances as opposed to broadcasts of LPs(I am no Delius expert, as you know ) but Sir Charles Groves('Paris'), Norman Del Mar('Life's Dance') and Lawrence Foster('Arabesk') feature as conductors of some of them.

I have an EMI cassette from the '80s, 'Groves conducts Delius', and if I'm not mistaken 'Paris' features on that (can't check, it's in storage)..

[Dundonnell]

I am just about to send seven pieces by Derek Bourgeois to Albion for uploading to the British Music Collection.

These are the composer's Symphony No.2;  Tuba Concerto;  Concerto for Three Trombones, Strings and Percussion;  Symphonic Variations;  Dance Variations;  Orchestral Fantasy "The Globe"  and "Triumphal March" for tenor, chorus and orchestra.

Full details(where known) will be in the usual place within the BM folder. I regret that the recording of the Tuba Concerto is pretty dim and that the last 3 minutes of the 24 minute long Symphonic Variations are missing (Incidentally, the Tuba Concerto must be the longest tuba concerto ever written: 43 minutes )

Although these are the last items of non-commercially recorded works from my British music collection they are rather important and interesting. Bourgeois has some claim to be possibly the most scandalously ignored living British composer.

http://www.derekbourgeois.com/index.htm

He has written the quite unbelievably large number of 67 Symphonies-which puts him on a par, I think, with Alan Hovhaness-with more to come no doubt Yet he is virtually completely ignored outside of the Brass Music fraternity.

If you give any of his music a listen however...and I hope you will....then you will find a composer of substance, writing attractive and colourful music in a pretty accessible idiom.

[Ser Amantio di Nicolao]

I have say, thank you, thank you, for the Ina Boyle and the Dorothy Howell.  I listened to Boyle's violin concerto twice last night - it's really gotten under my skin.  I've long known both names from various and sundry encyclopedias, and it was nice to finally put some music in place to go with them.  Next up, some more of the Maconchy.  And perhaps some Cipriani Potter, if I have the time tonight.

[calico]

mikehopf, all these look fascinating but I would particularly love to hear:


WHITTACKER: The Lyke-Wake Dirge

P.CORDER: 9 Preludes for Piano


Thanks for the Somervell & Coleridge-Taylor posted yesterday.

[albion]

Significant additions -

Derek Bourgeois (b.1941) - Symphonic Variations, Op.19 (1964); Symphony No.2, Op.27 (1968); Orchestral Fantasy, The Globe, Op.29 (1969); Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra, Op.38 (1973); Dance Variations for Small Orchestra, Op.50 (1976); Concerto for Three Trombones, Strings and Percussion, Op.56 (1977); Triumphal March, op.59 (1978)

The significance lies in the fact that it signals the end of the primary phase of Dondonnell's programme to upload his collection of otherwise-unrecorded British music (around 150 items), assiduously taped during the 1970s and early 1980s. I can, with all honesty, say that it has been a real pleasure to collaborate with him in bringing these performances to wider circulation.

Many thanks, Colin.

[Holger]

I do agree in thanking Colin for all the musical treasures he shared with us!

I hope to find time for uploading the remaining Mathias works I promised soon. After that, I intend to add a few more pieces to the archives, for example I think I can still add some Fricker pieces and I also want to share Geddes' Symphony No. 2 which is probably a bit more accessible than the First.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thirded. 

[Dundonnell]

Thanks   A labour of love, I assure you............it is just fantastic that the music on these old tapes can live again through the marvels of modern technology

Holger........some more Fricker, that sounds intriguing   And, yes, the Maxwell Geddes 1st is pretty hard going

My thanks too to John(Albion) for his enormous help and continued encouragement in getting the uploads posted on here and- in the early stages- his fantastic contribution in amplifying a large number of the files The speed with which he was able to get the links onto the site is quite remarkable.

It might be helpful if I compiled a summary list of the major works uploaded since the midpoint review I did a fortnight ago.  I shall attend to that as soon as possible.

Next up............significant recordings of other British music

[albion]

it is just fantastic that the music on these old tapes can live again through the marvels of modern technology ...

It might be helpful if I compiled a summary list of the major works

To indicate the sheer scale of this project, and to save Colin the task, here is an inventory of his contributions:

Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) - Suite of Ancient Dances, Op.58 (1895); Shamus O'Brien, Op.61 (1895) – Overture; Phaudrig Crohoore, Op.62 (1896)

Hamish MacCunn (1868-1916) - The Lay of the Last Minstrel, Op.7 (1888)

Havergal Brian (1876-1972) - Symphony No.3 in C# minor (1931-32); Violin Concerto (1935); Agamemnon (1957); Symphony No.20 (1962)

Hans Gál (1890-1987) - Concertino for Cello and String Orchestra (1965)

Arthur Benjamin (1893-1960) - Concertino for Piano and Orchestra (1928); Concerto quasi una fantasia (1949); Harmonica Concerto (1953)

Eugene Goossens (1893-1962) - By the Tarn, Op.15 No.1 (1919)

Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) - Flute Concerto No.1 (1951); Pro Corda Suite (1977)

Maurice Jacobson (1896-1976) - The Hound of Heaven (1953)

Arthur Duff (1899-1956) - Irish Suite for Strings (1940)

Alan Bush (1900-1995) - Dance Overture, Op.12 (1935); Symphony No.3, Byron, with baritone solo and mixed chorus, Op.53 (1959-60); Variations, Nocturne and Finale on an Old English Sea Song for Piano and Orchestra, Op.60 (1962)

Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986) - Missa à 3 (Missa brevis), Op.98 (1958); Canzona for St Cecilia, Op.158 (1981)

Ian Whyte (1901-1961) - Tone Poem, Edinburgh (1945)

Ralph Walter Wood (1902-1987) - Symphony No.3 (1966)

Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989) - Nocturne, Op.25 (1946); Signs in the Dark for Mixed Chorus and Strings, Op.69 (1967); Magnificat, Op. 71 (1968); Windsor Variations for Chamber Orchestra, Op.75 (1969); Dialogue for Cello and Chamber Orchestra, Op.79 (1970)

Alan Rawsthorne (1905-1971) - Carmen Vitale (1963)

Francis Chagrin (1905-1972) - Symphony No.1 (1959)

Mátyás Seiber (1905-1960) - Fantasia Concertante for Violin and String Orchestra(1943-44)

Christian Darnton (1905-1981) - Concerto for Orchestra (1970-74)

Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987) - Requiem for a Dog: Blackberry Fold (1973)

Arnold Cooke (1906-2005) - Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra (1954); Violin Concerto (1958); Symphony No.4 in E flat (1974); Symphony No.5 in G (1978-79)

Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994) - Dramatic Monologue, Ariadne (1970); Three Poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1970); Genesis (1973)

William Wordsworth (1908-1988) - Overture, Conflict, Op.86 (1969)

Robin Orr (1909-2006) - Overture, The Prospect of Whitby (1948); Symphony No.2 (1971); Symphony No.3 (1978)

Arwel Hughes (1909-1988) - Symphony (1971)

Frederick May (1911-1985) - Scherzo (1933); Sunlight and Shadow(1955)

Franz Reizenstein (1911-1968) - Voices of Night, Op.27 (1951)

Phyllis Tate (1911-1987) - Secular Requiem, The Phoenix and the Turtle (1967)

Daniel Jones (1912-1993) - Tone Poem, Cloud Messenger (1943); Symphony No.3 (1951); St Peter (1962); Violin Concerto (1966); Choral Suite, Hear the Voice of the Ancient Bard (1977); Suite, Salute to Dylan Thomas (1978); Symphony No.10 (1981)

Cedric Thorpe Davie (1913-1983) - Symphony in C major (1945); By the River (1951); March, Royal Mile (1953)

George Lloyd (1913-1998) - Symphony No.6 (1956)

Ian Parrott (b.1916) - Cello Concerto (1961)

Brian Boydell (1917-2000) - Elegy and Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings (1955); Symphonic Inscapes (1969)

Peter Racine Fricker (1920-1990) - Prelude, Elegy and Finale for String Orchestra, Op.10 (1949); Concertante No.1 for Cor Anglais and Strings, Op.13 (1950); Viola Concerto, Op.18 (1951-53); Piano Concerto, Op.19 (1952-54); Musick's Empire, Op.27 (1956); The Vision of Judgement, Op.29 (1957-58); Toccata for Piano and Orchestra, Op.33 (1959); O longs désirs, Op.39 (1963); Symphony No.4, Op.43 (1964-66); Concertante No.4 for Flute, Oboe, Violin and Strings, Op.52 (1968); Introitus, Op.66 (1972); Symphony No.5 for organ and orchestra, Op.74 (1975-76); Laudi Concertati for Organ and Orchestra, Op.80 (1979)

Adrian Cruft (1921-1987) - Overture, Tamburlaine (1962)

Gerard Victory (1921-1995) - Piano Concerto No.2 (1972); Sailing to Byzantium (1975)

Iain Hamilton (1922-2000) - Overture, Bartholomew Fair, Op.17 (1952); Symphonic Variations, Op.19 (1953); Scottish Dances, Op.32 (1956); Overture, 1912, Op.38 (1958)

Arthur Butterworth (b.1923) - Italian Journey, Op.34 (1966); Organ Concerto, Op.33 (1973)

Stephen Dodgson (b.1924) - Bassoon Concerto (1969); Guitar Concerto No.2 (1972); Magnificat (1975)

Gerard Schurmann (b.1924) - Piano Concerto (1973)

Anthony Milner (1925-2002) - The Water and the Fire, Op.16 (1961); Midway, Op.31 (1974); Symphony No.2 for soprano, tenor, chorus and orchestra, Op.35 (1977-78)

George McIlwham (b.1926) - Cir Mhor, A Symphonic Poem for the Island of Arran (1952)

Wilfred Josephs (1927-1997) - Symphony No.1, Op.9 (1955, rev. 1957-58, 1974-75); Aelian Dances, Op.35 (1961); Symphony No.3, Philadelphia, Op.59 (1967); Symphony No.5, Pastoral, Op.75 (1970-71); Symphony No.7, Winter, Op.96 (1976)

Francis Routh (b.1927) - Cello Concerto (1973)

Thomas Wilson (1927-2001) - Variations for Orchestra (1960); Carmina Sacra (1964); Symphony No.2 (1965); Concerto for Orchestra (1967); Touchstone, A Portrait for Orchestra (1967); Threnody, The Charcoal Burner (1970); Sequentiae Passionis (1971)

Graham Whettam (1927-2007) - Sinfonia contra timore (1962); Sinfonietta stravagante (1964)

Gareth Walters (b.1928) - Divertimento for String Orchestra (1959); Sinfonia Breve (1964)

Alun Hoddinott (1929-2008) - Folk Song Suite (1962); Concerto Grosso No.1, Op.41 (1965); Piano Concerto No.3, Op.44 (1966); Organ Concerto, Op.51 (1967); The Hawk is Set Free, Op.72 No.5 (1970); Landscapes for orchestra, Op. 86 (1975); Violin Concerto No.2, Mistral (1995)

Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988) - Concerto for Viola, Harp, Timpani and Strings, Op.15 (1952); Passacaglia, Chorale and Fugue for orchestra, Op.18 (1957); Piano Concerto No.2, Op.37 (1960); Dance Overture, Op.60 (1971)

Donald Hunt (b.1930) - Te Deum (1971)

Anthony Hedges (b.1931) - Variations on a theme of Rameau for chamber orchestra, Op.34 (1969); Symphony No.1, Op.57 (1975)

Malcolm Lipkin (b.1932) - Mosaics for Chamber Orchestra (1966); Violin Concerto No.2 (1962)

Seoirse Bodley (b. 1933) - Music for Strings(1952)

David Ellis (b.1933) - Elegy (1966); Symphony No.1 (1973)

William Mathias (1934-1992) - Serenade for Small Orchestra, Op.18 (1961)

Nicholas Maw (1935-2009) - Sinfonia for Chamber Orchestra (1966)

Richard Rodney Bennett (b.1936) - Aubade, In Memory of John Hollingsworth (1964); Symphony No.2 (1968); Concerto for Orchestra (1973); Actaeon (Metamorphosis I) for Horn and Orchestra (1977); Concerto for Double-Bass and Small Orchestra (1978)

Gordon Crosse (b.1937) - For the Unfallen, Op.9 (1963); Ceremony, Op.19 (1966); Violin Concerto No.2, Op.26 (1969); Play Ground, Op.41 (1977)

Patric Standford (b.1939) - Symphony No.1, The Seasons (1972)

John McCabe (b. 1939) - Variations on a Theme of Karl Amadeus Hartmann (1964); Concertante for Harpsichord and Chamber Ensemble (1965); Violin Concerto No.2 (1980)

Derek Bourgeois (b.1941) - Symphonic Variations, Op.19 (1964); Symphony No.2, Op.27 (1968); Orchestral Fantasy, The Globe, Op.29 (1969); Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra, Op.38 (1973); Dance Variations for Small Orchestra, Op.50 (1976); Concerto for Three Trombones, Strings and Percussion, Op.56 (1977); Triumphal March, op.59 (1978)

John Maxwell Geddes (b.1941) - Symphony No.1 (1975)

John Purser (b.1942) - Intrada for Strings, Op.17 (1966)

[Dundonnell]

Oh.. my sainted aunt(hope that's polite enough for this forum )

Many, many thanks John for compiling this list. It does indeed save me the trouble

I have been uploading three cracking pieces tonight:

Richard Arnell's Symphony No.5: this is the revival performance of the work played by the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Carewe
from July 1st 1977,  the Arnell expert David Wright claims that Martin Yates on Dutton "cannot hold a candle to Carewe". Unfair I think, but you can judge for yourselves.

Robert Simpson's Symphony No.2 conducted by the great Portugese conductor Alvaro Cassuto with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, and
Robert Simpson's Symphony No.6 in its first performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Charles Groves from 8th April 1980.

These are performances fully worthy of preservation

[semloh]

it is just fantastic that the music on these old tapes can live again through the marvels of modern technology ...

It might be helpful if I compiled a summary list of the major works

To indicate the sheer scale of this project, and to save Colin the task, here is an inventory of his contributions: ..........

I am sure that everyone using this forum would like to express their thanks to Colin and to Albion, for their sterling effort. This has involved a lot of hard work and not a little stress, all fuelled by Colin's desire to share his recordings and spark the same passion that he obviously has for this music. As a result we have access to an amazing fund of rare recordings that money can't buy.

Thank you for your generosity, Colin.