Unsung Composers

The Music => Composers & Music => Topic started by: albion on Monday 23 April 2012, 10:41

Title: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: albion on Monday 23 April 2012, 10:41
Selina (usually shortened to Ina) Boyle studied with Vaughan Williams in 1928 and for the next ten years or so travelling periodically from Ireland to London for further tuition. Although she achieved some success in the early 1920s with The Magic Harp (published under the Carnegie Award scheme), little of her subsequent work was either published or performed and she ended her days as a eccentric recluse. On the basis of The Magic Harp and her splendid Violin Concerto, it appears that Boyle's music should be seriously investigated (the manuscripts are held in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin).

Two evocative appreciations of Ina Boyle (including one by Elizabeth Maconchy) are here - http://www.michaeljamiesonbristow.com/ina-boyle-1889-1967 (http://www.michaeljamiesonbristow.com/ina-boyle-1889-1967)

1913 - Elegy for cello and orchestra
1914 - Ireland, for baritone, chorus and orchestra
1916 - Soldiers at Peace, for chorus and orchestra
1919 - A Sea Poem, variations for orchestra
           The Magic Harp, orchestral rhapsody
1921 - Colin Clout, Pastoral for orchestra
1924-27 - Symphony No.1, Glencree (In the Wicklow Hills)
1926 - Phantasy for violin and chamber orchestra
1927 - Psalm for cello and orchestra
1929-30 - Symphony No.2, The Dream of the Rood
1930-31 - Virgilian Suite, ballet suite for small orchestra
1933-34 - Overture
1935 - Violin Concerto
1935-36 - The Dance of Death, a masque [ballet]
1938-39 - The Vision of Er, mimed drama [ballet]
1941 - Hellas, for soprano, chorus and orchestra
1942 - Wild Geese, sketch for small orchestra
1945 - The Prophet, for baritone and orchestra
1946-51 - Symphony No.3, From the Darkness, for contralto and orchestra
1953 - No coward soul is mine, for soprano and string orchestra
1964-66 - Maudlin of Paplewick, pastoral opera for solo voices and chamber orchestra

also -

Hymnal of Heavenly Love, for chorus and orchestra
Peace, peace, he is not dead, Elegy for chorus and orchestra


Commercial recording -

The Magic Harp, orchestral rhapsody (Dutton CDLX 7276)

Downloads -

The Magic Harp, orchestral rhapsody
Violin Concerto
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: Dundonnell on Monday 23 April 2012, 14:15
I hadn't registered that Ina Boyle composed three symphonies ;D
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: Jimfin on Monday 23 April 2012, 15:48
She was Charles Wood's cousin, I believe.
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: FBerwald on Sunday 17 May 2015, 09:35
I just listened to the Amazing Violin Concerto on youtube. Can Hyperion be persuaded to include this in their Romantic Violin Concerto series?
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Sunday 17 May 2015, 11:22
May I fervently urge you to write to Hyperion suggesting they do. Ina Boyle was IMHO a very fine composer and the VC is a beautiful work. I will write too, if you will.
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: FBerwald on Sunday 17 May 2015, 12:07
Sure. How do I go about it?
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Sunday 17 May 2015, 14:03
Write to Simon Perry at: Hyperion Records Limited
PO Box 25, London SE9 1AX

It might also be worth writing to Dutton: Michael J. Dutton, DUTTON VOCALION, PO Box 609, WATFORD, WD18 7YA, ENGLAND
Title: Re: Ina Boyle (1889-1967)
Post by: giles.enders on Tuesday 19 May 2015, 10:49
I have been hoping that a performance of 'Soldiers at Peace' might be performed next year.