I return to this site after a long absence to alert members to a project I have been working on for a while, that is about to come to the first stages of fruition...
William Henry Reed (1876-1942) has not been much performed since his death in 1942, and there is currently only one disc of his music available - Dutton's recording of his works for violin.
For some time my string quartet, Cirrus, and I have been working on the idea of making a disc of some of his works for string quartet, and I am happy to say we are nearly there.
Only Reed's Quartet no. 5, which placed in the 1915 Cobbett Prize, was ever published, but the score and parts of his Fourth, and a couple of smaller works, are held in MS in the RCM Library. I have now edited the Fourth and have nearly finished one smaller piece, Legende, and we hope to go into the studio in mid February to put down the Fifth and these two pieces.
It's remarkably good stuff - written by a man not only with a deep and practical knowledge of string technique, but also a remarkably good ear for timbre and sound. The writing ranges from the most delicate to an Elgarian fullness. Harmonically and stylistically Elgar is there, of course, but also I would say some French influence and some similarity to VW and Bridge, Reed's near contemporaries. There is seriousness, whimsy, passion and sensitivity.
I hope this may arouse some interest.
This is exceptionally interesting news. Please keep us informed of your progress.
I certainly shall! I hope also to publish the results of my editing labours in some form eventually. Getting up close and personal with manuscripts is something I thought I'd put behind me 40 years ago when I opted for conservatoire instead of university - it's been one of the most fascinating experiences of my professional life.
It certainly arouses mine so I'll await the CD with frenzied excitement (well, eager anticipation). I tackled the fifth quartet a number of years ago but it wasn't much fun playing from the score which is all they have on IMSLP. If you've discovered or created a set of parts it would be much appreciated if you're willing to upload them.
The Cirrus Quartet:
https://www.cirrusstringquartet.com/theplayers
Alas, with regard to parts of Reed 5 all I have is my own - we sourced our set, I believe, from the library in Cambridge U, and the other players, of course, have their parts. But there are parts in the BL IIRC. I really ought to go and scan them. When I feel confident enough about the work I've done on 4 and the Legende I'll see about it - but, to be honest, I might try and sell a few copies of them; they are the product of many hours' work. Though I appreciate that's not a popular position to take, these days. That's a decision I've not yet taken.
World Cat lists sets of parts at RCM, University of Cambridge Library, Trinity College Dublin and University of Columbia Library, as well as BL.
I suspect scanning library material and uploading it to IMSLP would bring down the full wrath of the law, or at least the disapproval of the librarian. One day (actually more like one month) I may get around to transcribing my score of Billy Reed 5 to create parts and then upload them. Charles Wood's 8 quartets were in a similar state semi-limbo since all but two of them were only printed and published as scores, manuscript parts available for hire from OUP and now probably long gone. At least transcribing those scores was a lot easier than deciphering manuscripts.
Well, as I said above but perhaps did not make clear, our set of parts were copied from the ones in Uni of Cam, or so I believe. And they're long out of copyright. So it ought to be possible to scan and upload them, and I might ask our cellist (whose parts they are) if I can do so. But that'll obvs be after the recording. I do agree that the music should be out there - otherwise, I wouldn't be doing this at all!
No problem with the copyright but a question of property. I may be wrong but you may find the library only allows copying of their material for "personal" use. Not that they stand to gain anything by prohibiting dissemination, but in my experience librarians like to stick to the letter of the law.
Thanks for that clarification. I understand.
What I DO have, and will explore perhaps a little further, is scans of a manuscript set of parts of Quartet 5. These were taken from the RCM Archive about 15 years ago, for the person who then, many years later, passed them on to me. I will contact the RCM to see how they feel with my disseminating them. I have promised them sets of the scores and parts I have made for Quartet 4 and the Legende, so they may be favourably disposed. But, bearing in mind what you have said, I will approach them with respect. Again, this would be after the recording takes place.
I do have a set of parts for the 5th Quartet, in A minor, which Croydon Public Libraries were discarding some 30 years ago, and which I was lucky enough to obtain with much other "redundant" material at that time! I do not have the ability to scan this, but I am happy to help in any way that i can for anyone interested.
Thanks Martin, I'll PM you
This composer is new to me. Thanks for the introduction. I like what I am hearing.
Just found a 1923 review of the "Legende" we will be recording: "like all Mr. Reed's work, it shows a refined and sensitive quality of musical thought and considerable ingenuity in quartet-writing." Which is absolutely true.
I'm delighted to announce that MPR's world premiere recording of string quartets by that Unsung Composer William Henry 'Billy' Reed is available NOW to buy PRE-RELEASE from my website at www.mikepurtonrecording.com . There are mp3 audio samples available here to enjoy. This is absolutely gorgeous music, by Elgar's close friend, the former Leader of the London Symphony Orchestra 'Billy' Reed. Produced by me with superlative sound from Tony Faulkner, this was recorded with the excellent Cirrus String Quartet in the fine acoustic of The Pamoja Hall, The Space, Sevenoaks School in Kent, which was designed by Arup Acoustics and is like a smaller version of Snape Maltings. We have recorded String Quartets nos 4 and 5 plus the two movement Legende. If you enjoy music by Elgar or indeed RVW, you will love this, it's warm, romantic and beautifully crafted music, demonstrating Reed's innate empathy for stringed instruments. Thoroughly enjoyable.
While you are on my website, please look at (audio samples also available) Volume 1 of Chamber Music by Percy Hilder Miles, teacher of Rebecca Clarke - vVolume 2 to follow soon! This was featured very favourable recently on BBC Radio 3 Record Review and on Petroc Trelawney's show. Please support new releases by purchasing CDs and downloads (downloads to be available soon) but don't stream. We small labels receive 0.037p per track streamed and if people don't purchase from us we can't afford new releases.
Mr. Purton:
Thank you for supporting the Unsungs, in this case W. H. Reed.
I have the Dutton recording of his lovely works for violin & piano and now look forward to hearing his SQs. (When to be released?)
And, coincidentally, just a couple of hours ago I took the wrapping off your Percy Hilder Miles disc, dropped it into my player and found myself with 70-or-so minutes of truly enjoyable - totally new to me, as well - chamber music. Well done!
Thanks, Mike. It's always a good day when we hear from you about a new release.
Thanks Mark and our friend from Stamford US for your kind remarks, it's very satisfying when people enjoy our recordings, let's hope we can afford to continue! We do have a few more releases lined up soon, including a second Percy Hilder Miles CD, featuring his Piano Sonata plus other piano works and his Clarinet Quintet with John Bradbury, Principal Clarinet with the BBC Phil and the Cirrus String Quartet. There will then be a Clarinet and Piano CD also with John Bradbury (which includes much little known British music), accompanied by Ian Buckle and last but not least a CD of music for strings and piano of music by Fred Hartley the doyen of British light music composers.
Quote from: MikePurton on Tuesday 27 September 2022, 20:21We have recorded String Quartets nos 4 and 5 plus the two movement Legende. If you enjoy music by Elgar or indeed RVW, you will love this, it's warm, romantic and beautifully crafted music, demonstrating Reed's innate empathy for stringed instruments. Thoroughly enjoyable.
What is expected release date? Thanks.
I am happy to announce that the recording is out, and sounds pretty good though I say so myself. Those who may be interested can find it here:
http://www.mikepurtonrecording.com/shop/eon3kmm6zlzwn3itk0hi1p7r0vjbur
My Quartet also had the privilege in June of recording the Clarinet Quintet of Percy Hilder Miles, with the great John Bradbury on clarinet, again for Mike Purton. That ought also to be out before the end of the year, or soon into the start of next. I've been listening back to the edits, and let me tell you this is an ASTONISHINGLY good piece of music!
Great review here:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Oct/Reed-quartets-MPR114.htm
The one in E-flat from 1904 (don't remember if Miles wrote more than one, offhand...)? Yes.
Quote from: eschiss1 on Friday 07 October 2022, 01:00The one in E-flat from 1904 (don't remember if Miles wrote more than one, offhand...)? Yes.
The very same. It took a while to grow on me, but I am now truly a fan. We are thinking about trying to get a London concert organised where we can play both Reed and Miles.
CD duly ordered. Really looking forward to hearing these string quartets.
Arrived super-quick - thanks! Am listening to SQ4, which is full of incident and keeps you on your toes as to where the musical argument is going. I don't really know anything quite like it: it's more advanced than Elgar, spikier and less 'sentimental', if you know what I mean. This is music to get to grips with; I am sure it'll reward repeated listens.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Monday 10 October 2022, 21:50Arrived super-quick - thanks! Am listening to SQ4, which is full of incident and keeps you on your toes as to where the musical argument is going. I don't really know anything quite like it: it's more advanced than Elgar, spikier and less 'sentimental', if you know what I mean. This is music to get to grips with; I am sure it'll reward repeated listens.
That was exactly what drew us: the feeling that, despite clear debts to other composers, the voice was none the less totally individual. I hope you continue to enjoy it. We're playing it in the West Country (Beaminster) this coming Saturday, together with the Elgar Quintet which makes for interesting comparisons, and again the following Saturday in Hoddesdon. If anyone is in the area!
The music is quite simply fab-u-lous (to quote a certain C R-H!)
Quote from: Alan Howe on Tuesday 11 October 2022, 18:21The music is quite simply fab-u-lous (to quote a certain C R-H!)
As I mentioned at the start of the thread, the 4th Quartet (like the Legende) was in manuscript. There was a set of professional hand-written parts, but the parts and the score did not always match, and so I was obliged to edit. Which meant, among other things, playing the thing into my computer program to generate new score and parts. I invite you to imagine my emotions when I put the program into playback mode and heard the music back, the first time it had sounded aloud for eighty years, and realised how good it was and what I had. I shall never forget that feeling.
I have now merged the various threads on Reed's String Quartets 4 & 5.
For general information on Reed see: https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,8625.msg91568.html#new