Gustav Holst: A Research and Information Guide Mary Christison Huismann

To many lovers of classical music Gustav Holst is the composer of just one work- The Planets: to coin a deprecatory phrase used on Classic FM, he is ‘a one hit wonder.’ Alas, even enthusiasts are probably familiar only with a small portion of his massive catalogue of music. In spite of the enormous popularity of his defining masterpiece, the vast majority of music-lovers know comparatively little about his life and work.  Unfortunately, Holst...

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Happy 150th Birthday, Fred Delius!

Today, 29th January, is the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Delius. I first discovered this composer back in the early 1970’s on a Decca Eclipse LP. Unlike many people, it was not the First Cuckoo that first impressed me, but the delicious A Song of Summer. This was played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Collins. Included on this album was The Walk to Paradise Garden, Brigg Fair and that ubiquitous...

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Proms 1951: An Old Programme

I always buy old concert programmes if I see them going reasonably cheaply in second-hand bookshops. The other night I found one dating from September 1951.  It makes fascinating reading and provides an interesting resource for anyone interested in performance history.In those day, the front cover, which was a kind of blue-green, proudly proclaimed that ‘The BBC Presents the Fifty-Seventh Season of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts ‘ And 1951...

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Peter Hope: Geordie Tunes

One short piece that caught my ear recently was the delightful Geordie Tunes for descant recorder and harpsichord by Peter Hope. They feature on a new CD of works by North Country composers released by Prima Facie. The work consists of five ‘straightforward’ arrangements of Northumberland tunes. I am afraid that I did not recognize the first three, however Peter Hope has kindly sent me this list:-The five ‘movements’ are based on ‘Go to Berwick,...

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Eric Coates: Television March

Eric Coates’ Television March is a work that has not often been recorded. There are some 15 versions of the Knightsbridge March from the London Suite listed in the Arkiv catalogue. I have found four for this work the march dotted around the ‘net. Not all will be easily available. To be fair, the Television March is not in the same class as some of the more famous pieces by Coates. It was composed during 1946 at a time when the composer was musing over the idea of writing an operetta.  The March was completed in May of that year...

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John Cranko: The Lady and the Fool / Pineapple Poll

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) The Lady and the Fool (arr. Charles Mackerras) (1954) Svetlana Beriosova, Ray Powell, Ronald Hynd, Royal Opera House Orchestra/Charles Mackerras Choreographed by John Cranko (1927-1973) Studio recording, transmitted 3 May 1959 Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900) Pineapple Poll (arr. Charles Mackerras) (1951) Merle Park, David Blair, Stanley Holden, Brenda Taylor, Gerd Larsen, cast of the Royal Ballet London...

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Robert Farnon: State Occasion

With the up and coming celebrations for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee it is a good time to reminisce about music that was written to celebrate other occasions in the Queen’s long and glorious reign. Apart from masterpieces like William Walton’s Orb & Sceptre March and Arthur Bliss’s Welcome to the Queen there are other occasional pieces such as the multi-composer a-cappella choral work A Garland for the Queen and Cedric Thorpe Davie’s Royal Mile:...

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The John Ireland Companion Edited by Lewis Foreman

The John Ireland Companion Edited by Lewis ForemanThe Boydell Press, hardback 74 b/w photographs,34 b/w illus. + musical examples: 568 pages. £40.00I have had to wait nearly 40 years for this book: it has been very well worth waiting for. I first came across John Ireland when I was still at school. One of the sixth-formers was performing the song ‘If there were dreams to sell’ as a part of his O-level music practical. Shortly after that, I discovered...

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Highlights from the European Brass Band Championships: 2011

Highlights from the European Brass Band Championships: 2011 DOYEN DOYCD285 This compilation of works played at the European Brass Band Championships 2011 in Montreux cannot fail to impress. There is music here for all tastes – from works especially composed for brass forces through to arrangements of well-known favourites by way of a few novelty pieces. Doyen has wisely left audience sounds and applause on these tracks and this adds greatly to the...

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Neville Cardus on William Walton & British Music

I recently found the following comments about William Walton in the ‘Autobiography’ of Neville Cardus. They are worth posting. In his day, Cardus was regarded as being equally important on the worlds of Music and Cricket. (See the extract from Wikipedia below). His thoughts concern the Symphony in B flat minor completed by Walton in 1935 and the lack of ‘passion’ in contemporary (1946) British music.  ‘As proof that I was not, as Manchester...

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