British Composers 1850-1950

[Reverie]

This is a blog-site I've recently started which contains samples from British orchestral music which has, over the years, fallen into obvivion. Most pages are incomplete to date but obviously these will become available once they have content; it takes a lot of time - research/locating scores/typesetting the notes etc..

Composers include Harvey Lohr, Percy Sherwood, Ernest Bryson, John Lodge Ellerton, Benjamin Dale, R.O. Morris and many more.

For those interested the link is:

https://britishcomposers1850-1950.blogspot.com

[Alan Howe]

Thanks very much for informing us about this - a thoroughly worthwhile enterprise.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Indeed, a tremendous enterprise and very much needed. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance. I will try to provide you with what information I have on sources and archives, etc. but it will take me a little time to get it together.

[Alan Howe]

I wonder what you might be able to glean from this website?

[Martin Eastick]

A most worthwhile project. There is still so much to be done regarding mid-late 19th century British repertoire, and a quick glance at the names of those composers already mentioned reinforce the real need for such a resource as this! Interestingly enough, I was only thinking recently about mentioning Harvey Lohr, remembering that the RAM had the mss of at least a couple of piano concertos which I feel sure should be worthy of further examination and eventual revival - certainly on the strength of the extracts of the symphonies posted! I discovered these by chance whilst investigating the RAM's holding of the mss of Francis Bache's piano concertos etc., which have recently been mentioned here! The John Francis Barnett piano concerto is another must (I have a copy of the cued piano part which was kindly provided by Cambridge University) - although this requires orchestral reconstruction!

[Reverie]

The usual problem when researching this era are the lost/missing scores. Robert at the RCM is proving to be very helpful, and the RAM, albeit quite slow usually respond. University libraries have been useful too. If anyone has a score or two hidden away and can get a few pages sent it would be most helpful.

[Alan Howe]

Would this be of any use to you regarding Percy Sherwood?>>
https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,2677.msg31294.html#msg31294

[Gareth Vaughan]

Somewhere I have a photocopy of the score and - I think - the parts of Learmont Drysdale's Tam O'Shanter overture. I will try to locate it.

[Elgar4Ever]

Samuel Coleridge Taylor is not forgotten, but sadly not performed in concert halls often enough. But there are many very fine performances on disc. But I can understand why he is included in this British Composers book. He needs the exposure.

[promusician]

I have been searching for William Henry Holmes orchestral works, mostly in manuscript, but still missing his symphonies and piano concerto 'Jubilee'. British Library, R.A.M., R.C.M. don't have either. Any hints where to look for? Or I need to accept the fact that they are lost.

[Reverie]

Sent you a PM