The First Holbrooke-Hammond Concert 28 September 1946: The Second Half

A few days ago I posted about a concert programme I had found in a second hand bookshop. I gave an overview of the first half of that performance.  Arthur Hammond conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and the soprano soloist was Mary Cherry. The raison-d’être of the concert was the promotion of the music of Josef Holbrooke (1878-1958)The second half opened with Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine from Richard Wagner’s Gotterdammerung. It was...

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No. 2 of Two Biographies of Maurice Greene:

The second biography of Dr. Maurice Greene is taken from the second edition of Grove (edited by J. A. Fuller-Maitland and published in 1916). It was written by the great scholar William Henry Haddow, so in spite of the dated nature of the essay and the somewhat long and complex sentences, it is still a good account of the composer’s life. For any scholarly purposes I would naturally refer the reader to the current Grove which is available online...

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The First Holbrooke Hammond Concert 28 September 1946: The First Half

I found a programme in a London second-hand bookshop the other day.  It was for the first concert in the Holbrooke-Hammond Concert series given on Saturday September 28 1946.  The venue was the Kingsway Hall in London. The evenings soloists was the soprano Mary Cherry, and the orchestra was the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arthur Hammond. The original cost of the programme was ‘SIXPENCE’: I paid £2. However, as a document it is...

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No. 1 of Two Biographies of Maurice Greene:

I was asked by a correspondent for a few more details about Maurice Green. Strangely, there does not appear to be a standard biography of the composer, however his name does crop up in a wide variety of musical history books. I have chosen the short portrait in Ernest Walkers once ubiquitous A History of Music in England, first published in 1907 and subsequently revised in 1923 and 1952. Another biographical essay will follow in a later post. I have presented the text without notes. However, for an extensive modern portrait, I suggest the reader...

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Handel and Dr. Maurice Greene: A Rare Anecdote

I have recently been reviewing a fine CD of Dr. Maurice Greene’s (c.1695 -1755) Amoretti for tenor and continuo: it will appear on MusicWeb International and in this ‘blog’ in due course. Meanwhile I have found this short anecdote about Handel and Greene.  The reader has to bear in mind two things. Firstly, that Greene was so impressed by Handel’s ability as an organist that he offered to be his organ-blower at St Pauls’ Cathedral – a job that...

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David Jennings: Piano Music on Divine Art

David JENNINGS (b.1972)Piano Sonata, Op.1 (1988/95) Sonatina No.1 Op.2 No.1 (1980’s) Sonatina No.2 Op.2 No.2 (1980’s) Sonatina No.3 Op.2 No.3 (1980’s) Prelude and Fugue Op.6 (1992/99) Three Lyrical Pieces, Op.17 (2010) Miniature Suite, Op.18 (2010)  ‘Harvest Moon’ Suite, Op.19 (2009-10) James Willshire (piano)DIVINE ART dda25110 When I first received this CD I dreaded that is might be another example of music inspired (if that is the word) by...

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Sir Arthur Sullivan conducts his own music in Monte Carlo: March 5 1893

My recent post about the concert of English music conducted by Sir Arthur Sullivan in Monte Carlo raised a number of questions. Firstly, it would be interesting to know the details of the composer’s regular visits to the Riviera. Secondly, nothing seems to be noted about the orchestra or the audience. For example, was this band a ‘scratch’ outfit or was it the The Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra or musicians associated with the ballet or opera? ...

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Sir Arthur Sullivan conducts in Monte Carlo, 1893

I recently came across this syndicated note about a concert held in Monte Carlo on March 19 1893:- 'The Daily News has received some particulars of the English concert given at Monte Carlo a few days since under the direction of Sir Arthur Sullivan. The programme was drawn up by Sir Arthur himself, and, with the exception of the finale from Sterndale Bennett’s Symphony [1], it consisted exclusively of the works of living British composers. It began...

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Michael Allis: British Music and Literary Context: Artistic Connections in the Long Nineteenth Century

Music in Britain, 1600-1900 Seriesby Michael Allis, The Boydell Press, WoodbridgeISBN: 9781843837305£60.00 HardcoverThe basic ‘thesis’ of this book is a refutation of the impression that British composers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century lacked literary credentials.  I must admit that it is not something that I had ever considered a problem. For example, even the briefest of studies of the dozen or so volumes of Hubert Parry’s...

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1963-2013 – Great British Music reaching their Half-Centenary

1963 was an impressive a year for new works by a whole variety of composers.  Havergal Brian, aged 87 presented his 21st Symphony to the world. It is hard to believe that there were still another 11 to come before the composer’s death in 1973.  A sprightly Arthur Bliss (72) was composing important works including the Belmont Variations for Brass Band.  Amongst the older (middle aged!) generation of composers still active were Gordon Jacob, Roberto Gerhard and Alan Bush.  Gerhard produced his great choral work The Plague in this...

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