Tobias Matthay 1858-1945. He had a number of famous pupils including, Cohen , Craxton, Hess and Sharrer. He seems to be better known for his teaching than his compositions. He composed two piano concertos. Have these been performed in living memory?
are we including the concert-piece op.23 (pub. by Ricordi in 2-piano reduction in 1909, at IMSLP) here or is that something else? anyhow, will look into it. you may want to email the American Matthay Organization (homepage at http://matthay.org (http://matthay.org)) to see if they have any information maybe?...
The op.23 has been performed 5 times at the Proms, from 28 August 1909 to 15 October 1925, by the way. In living memory for a very stretched definition (a 90-odd-year-old going to the concert at age 10) but not I am guessing what the expression means...
Many of Matthay's manuscripts are now in the Royal Academy of Music library, having been purchased at Sotheby's on 30th November 2006, including the following -
Scherzo in D minor, for Orchestra (1873)
Ouverture (1874)
Symphony in A minor (1874)
Piano Concerto in D minor (1874)
Scherzo, for Orchestra (1875)
Concert Overture (1877)
Symphony (1878)
Concert Overture, Reminiscences of Country Life (1879)
Hero and Leander, Scena for Contralto and Orchestra (1879)
Introduction and Allegro [Symphonic Overture, In Summer] (1880)
Andante, for Orchestra (1881)
Concert Piece for Piano and Orchestra in D minor (1881)
Symphonic Overture, In May (1883)
Concert Piece for Piano and Orchestra in A minor (1895)
(http://www.matthay.org/tobs.jpg)
He started early, didn't he?! Wonder what the music is like?
hrm. at a guess- a guess, I say- Concert Piece for Piano and Orchestra in A minor might be at least a first version of opus 23 (which a biography?? I forget now? I really need to check- something I saw online and thought trustworthy...- -- said was revised by the composer thoroughly until just before publication in 1905. The name and key are right, which is no proof of course.
Quote from: giles.enders on Tuesday 14 June 2011, 13:30
Tobias Matthay 1858-1945. He had a number of famous pupils including, Cohen , Craxton, Hess and Sharrer. He seems to be better known for his teaching than his compositions. He composed two piano concertos. Have these been performed in living memory?
His famous pupils included York Bowen as well, of course, beloved of many of us here!
Tobias Augustus Matthay Born 19.2.1858 in Clapham, London Died 14.12.1945 at High Marley Manor, Nr. Haslemere
He was the son of a Professor of Languages also named Tobias. Tobias entered The Royal Academy in 1871 and studied under Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sterndale Bennett and Ebenezer Prout and for piano with Durrell and Walter Macfarren. In 1893 he married Jessie Kennedy.
In 1900 he founded his own piano school in London and later there was also a branch in Liverpool. Among an illustrious list of pupils were; Bowen, Cohen, Curzon, Hess, Joyce, Langrish, Lympany, and Scharrer. He is often referred to as the greatest British piano teacher.
In 1905 along with Frederick Corder and John Blackwood McEwan, he founded The Society of British Composers.
Interestingly probate for his will was given to Myra Hess and Vivian Langrish.
Orchestral
Symphony in A minor 1874
Symphony 1878
Concert overture 1874
Concert overture in C 1877
Concert overture 'Reminiscences of Country Life' 1879
Symphonic overture 'In Summer' (introduction and allegro) 1880
Symphonic overture 'In May' 1883
Piano Concerto A minor 1874
Concert piece in D minor for piano and orchestra Op.23 1881 (There is also a two piano version) pub. by Ricordi & Co
Concert piece in A minor for piano and orchestra 1895 pub. by Ricordi & Co
Scherzo in D for orchestra 1875
Andante in E for orchestra 1881
'Doubts' for small orchestra
Cadenza for Beethoven's piano concerto No.1 pub. by Augener
Chamber
Piano Quartet in F 1876
Piano Quartet in C, 1 movement Op.20 1906 pub. by Cary
Piano Trio in F
Ballade for violin and piano
'A Pamphlet' for violin and piano Op.2 pub. by Edition Chanot
Romances in E anf for violin and piano
Ballade for cello and piano Op.40 1936
Ballade and fantasia for cello and piano
Piano
Four Novelette in F minor Op.1 pub. by Forsyth
Nocturne in D flat major Op.3 pub. by Edwin Ashdown
Homage to Chopin Op.4 pub. by Forsyth
Seventeen variations on an original theme in C Op.5 pub. by Forsyth
Autumn Song Op.6 1884 pub. by Forsyth
In Springtime - three thought pictures; Larghetto Op7/1 ?7/2 ? 7/3 1885 pub. by Forsyth
A Summer Day Dream Op.8 pub. by Anglo-French Music
A Waltz-Whim Op.9 1888 pub. by Ascherberg
In Winter; Silhouette Op.10 1888 pub. by Ascherberg
Moods of a moment 10 pieces Op.11 pub. by Ascherberg also orchestrated for small orchestra.
Love-Phases; Doubts, avowal, response. Op.12 pub. by Joseph Williams
Mono-Themes: Confidences and Confessions, 6 pieces Op.13 pub. by Forsyth
Lyrics: A presentiment, Des Midchens Klage, Secret a deux, Bei gutem humour, sing-song, pleading, peace. Op.14 pub. by Paterson & sons
Scottish dances and melodies: The braes o'Tullymet, The Drummer, The braes o'Mar, The de,il among the tailors. Op.15 pub. by Paterson
Studies in form of of a suite: Prelude, intermezzo in E, bravurra. Op.16 pub. by Ricordi & Co 1887
Elves - impromptu Op.17 1911 pub. by Weekes
Con Imitazione - preambulo Op.18 1900 pub. by Weekes & Co.
Romanesque Op.19 pub by Weekes & Co.
Toccata- Storm Clouds Op.21 pub. by Anglo-French Music
Stray Fancies: Album leaf, dirge. Op.22 pub. by Anglo-French Music
From my sketchbook books 1 & 2: Vitality, May morning, May day, Solitude, Terpiscore. Op.24 1914 pub. by Anglo-French Music
Mono-Themes: By my Fireside 5 pieces Op.25 1914 pub. by Joseph Williams
From my sketch book Op.26 pub. by Anglo-French Music
A Mood-Phantasy Op.27 1916 pub. by Anglo-French Music and Joseph Williams
Thirty-one Variations and derivations on an original theme Op.28 pub. by Augener
Five cameos for miniature players: Distant horns, rising, dancing, pranks, impertuosity. Op.29 pub. by Anglo-French Music
On Surrey Hills: Twilight hills, On holiday, Night shadows, Wind sprites. Op.30 pub. by Anglo-French Music
Three romantic pieces: Ballade, duetto, a la mazurka. Op.31
Summer Twilights Op.32
Three lyric studies: A portrait, Gnatts and Gnomes, Air debonair. Op.33
Toccata in F -moto perpetuo Op.34
Playthings for little players; ten little studies Op.35
Toccatina in D- Study in double noted Op.36
First solo book: Chimes, The Wheelbarrow, On daddy's knee, Big Ben, The Bear, A Humming song, Gliding, The Rattle, Pirates, Dolly's cradle song. Op.37
Playthings for players young and old Op.38
Ballade in A minor Op.39 1926
Stray Fancies: A June day, In the folkestune mood, Humming song. Op.41
Seven historiettes in the form of a suite Op.43 1941
Playthings: A miniature suite for young and old Op.44
Five miniatures Op.45
Booklet of toys for young and old Op.46
Cadenza on Beethoven's piano concerto No.1
Song
The Rose Message words by T P Nunn 1876 pub. by Weekes & Co.
Bright be the place in thy soul words by Byron 1878 pub. by Leonard
Eventide words by J Enderssohn
A Rover's life for me words by E Oxenford 1879 pub. by Leonard
There be none of Beauty's daughters words by Byron 1880 pub. by Marriott & Williams
The Spring beneath the willow tree words by J Enderssohn 1880 pub. by Leonard
The fairy's serenade - part song 1883
The gentle eventide 1901 pub. by Dunkley
There's nae lark loves the lift pub. by Ricordi
Vocal
Hero and Leander - scena for contralto and orchestra 1879
Tobias had a sister Dorothea born 1870, who was a music teacher
Well done, Giles. He wrote a devil of a lot of orchestral music whilst still in his teens and twenties. I wonder what it sounds like?
Much of the orchestral music is held at the Royal Academy. I have asked one of their professors to look at it when they have time and give an opinion.
Thanks very much. My breath isn't bated, to be honest, but my interest is piqued!
I like the 2 major works of his I've skimmed @ IMSLP (the concert-piece - in reduction - and the piano quartet) even though the former is a reduction... :) But yes, it would be nice to hear some of the major works too.
Hi,
some very few short piano pieces are on youtube, but I have not listened to them so far:
On Surrey Hills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4w6wI8ys6c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4w6wI8ys6c)
Prelude And Arpeggio Op. 16: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgYWRtUzFV4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgYWRtUzFV4)
Vitality , No. 1 Of 'from My Sketchbook' Op. 24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Qp1QJMDMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Qp1QJMDMM)
A Portrait, (From Three Lyric Studies) Op. 33 No. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsn29PIxTr8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsn29PIxTr8)
Prelude & Bravura: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8BgDdk5uQQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8BgDdk5uQQ)
Thanks for these links. I have hyperlinked them for ease of access; if friends could do this themselves, I would be most appreciative.
This looks interesting too and relevant to this thread??- Eunice Norton's The Teaching of Tobias Matthay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsrhTLP4i_k) (part of a longer video) from the Eunice Norton archive on YouTube.
There's also a Matthay Collection (http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/19399) at the University of Maryland, besides resources already mentioned.