Robert Ernest Bryson 1867-1942

[giles.enders]

Robert Ernest Bryson  Born Glasgow  31.3.1867  Died St. Briavels, Gloucester. 20.4.1942
He made a living as a member of the Liverpool Cotton Association.  His master of composition was Dr. W H Hunt.  "His work is in no sense that of an amateur, being distinguished by greatness of purpose and fine technique, his forms are classical in outline and his texture is elaborately contrapuntal"  Grove.  He remained unmarried and resided with his three unmarried siblings.  At the time of his death he resided at; Yew Tree Cottage, East Street in Briavels. His executors were the Midland bank and the estate was valued at £15,290. A comfortable some for the period.

Orchestral

Symphony No.1 In D  pub. by Breitkopf & Hartal
Sumphony No.2 in C major 
'Voices'  A study for Orchestra   1910  Premiered at London Promenade Concerts
'Idylls of a Summer's Day 
Vaila for strings   pub. by Breitkopf & Hartel

Chamber

Adagio Cantabile, trio for piano, violin and harmonium  1895
String quartet No.1
String quartet No.2
Violin sonata

Piano

Sonata
Fanfare for an adventure  1921

Organ

Fantasia overture  1883
Introduction and symphonic finale   pub. by J H Larway
Poem for organ   pub. by Joseph Williams
Rhapsody for organ  pub. by Joseph Williams
Prelude and fugue
Processional fantasia  1893
Six pieces for organ  Op.26: Prelude, Quasi pastorale, March in Bflat, Berceuse, Carol in C minor, Allegro decisd in D major.  pub. by E Donajowski 1898
Sequence of seven miniatures   pub. by Schott & Co
Organ sonata
Six church preludes  pub. by Novello, Ewer & Co  1892

Song

The Angler words by Ian Duncan Colvin   pub. by J Curwen & Sons
What the people tell   pub. by Stainer & Bell
Nae sae bad as is micht hae been!   words by Ian Duncan Colvin   pub. by J H Larway
Remembrance    pub. by J H Larway
The Silent Town  words by Richard Dehmel    pub. by Stainer & Bell
So the year's done with  words by Robert Browning   pub. by OUP
A Song of long ago  words by R Meyrick   pub. by Weeks & Co

The Last Harvest song cycle for voice and orchestra

Choral

The Cloak, the boat and the shoes.  words by W B Yeates
Dream Taps  for chorus and side drum  words by Walt Whitman   pub. by J Curwen & Sons
Canzonetta in two parts for female voices  words by I F Mosse   pub. by Stainer & Bell
Simple as a Daisy, chorus for mens voices , from Poems in praise of practically nothing, by Samuel Hoffenstein   pub. by Stainer & Bell 1914
The Stranger  for baritone, chorus and orchestra  words by R Baines   pub. by Stainer & Bell
Most glorious Lord of Life - anthem  words by Edmund Spencer  pub. by Stainer & Bell
Easter hymn  words by Edmund Spencer

Opera

The Lepar's Flute  words by Ian Duncan Colvin   pub. by Goodwin and Tabb  1926 - performed in Glasgow & London.

[Gareth Vaughan]

I have done a little research on Bryson recently and it does not look like the 2nd Symphony was published at all, and the work's whereabouts are currently unknown. Jurgen Schaarwachter prepared a new edition of the score of No. 1 but cannot locate No. 2, which he says was definitely not published by B&H. This is a great pity because it does appear that Bryson's music is worth performing.

[giles.enders]

Bit of ephemera, the house where he died is grade 11 listed and is currently on the market.