Arnold Bax did not compose a great deal of music for unaccompanied chorus, yet the few works he did write are invariably well produced and effective for both singers and audiences alike. A brief study of Graham Parlett’s essential Catalogue reveals six works that could be classified as being for unaccompanied chorus. The earliest of these is the present Mater ora filium of 1921. The following year saw the desolate ‘This Worldes Joie’ written to a 14th century text. The short ‘carol’ entitled ‘The Boar’s Head’ was composed in 1923 for, and dedicated...
Monday, July 29, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
I was perusing some early editions of The Gramophone magazine the other day. I was surprised to read that at July 1927 there was only a single work by the Arnold Bax currently available on record – the choral piece ‘Mater ora filium’. This work which was composed in 1921 was composed for unaccompanied double choir (SSAATTBB) and was based on an old carol discovered in the library of Balliol College, Oxford. David Parlett has written that this music was inspired after the composer heard a performance of Byrd’s Mass for five voices. The musicologist,...
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Gordon CROSSE (b. 1937) ‘Brief Encounter’, for oboe d’amore, recorder and strings (2009) Concerto for viola and strings with horn (2009) Fantasia on ‘Ca’ the Yowes’, for recorder, harp and strings (2009) John MANDUELL (b.1928) Flutes Concerto, for flautist, harp, strings and percussion (2000) Double Concerto for oboe, cor anglais, strings and percussion (1985/2012) Michael Cox (flute) Richard Simpson (oboe/oboe d’amore) Alison Teale (cor anglais) John Turner (recorder) Matthew Jones (viola) Timothy Jackson (French horn) Anna Christensen (harp,...
Saturday, July 20, 2013
This is one of man tributes paid to Sir Charles Villiers Stanford shortly after his death on 29 March 1924, It need no editorial comment. I had but one term of close contact at College with him. The things I remember most vividly in his teaching were: that the ground-plan of each movement had to be perfect; that he ‘sensed’ it in a wonderful way if any measurement was wrong; that he did not repair the disproportion there and then except so far as the ground-plan was concerned. He would go to the piano and hammer out the necessary scheme with...
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
William Alwyn’s attractive suite ‘Hunter’s Moon’ was seemingly composed in the early 1920s but was not published by Associated Board until 1932/33. In many ways these are quite definitely for 'teaching' purposes; they were originally conceived as examination pieces. However, that is not to disparage them. No one would claim that this is great music and no one will expect to see many fingerprints of the composer that was to emerge in the post-war...
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Six Songs of Gerard Manley Hopkins (?):Hurrahing in Harvest [2:49] Spring [2:37] Pied Beauty [1:34] Thee, God, I come from [2:28] As kingfishers catch fire [2:24] The Windhover [2:33]Eight Seasonal Anthems (2005):Noel Nouvelet (text by composer based on John XII: 24) [4:07] Behold, the herald's voice is calling (Johann G. Olearius) [4:37] Crown him, Lord of Lords (Thomas Kelly) [3:21] God's word is our great heritage (Nikolai Grundwig) [2:39] Baptised...
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Whisky Galore (1949) is one of the great classic films made by Ealing Studios in the post war years. It was unusual in that much of it was shot on location on the Isle of Barra in the Western Isles of Scotland. The screenplay, by Angus MacPhail was based on Sir Compton Mackenzie’s book of the same title however there were a number of simplifications of the story to make it suitable for the screen. The story concerns the adventures of...
Monday, July 8, 2013
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958) Service in D minor “Christ’s Hospital” (1938)John SANDERS (1933–2003) The Firmament (2000) Paul SPICER (b.1952) Let not your heart be troubled (2011) Sir Henry WALFORD DAVIES (1869–1941) Short Requiem in D major [1915] Regent REGCD389 I will nail my colours to the mast. I am a ‘card carrying’ member of the Prayer Book Society. However, like most members, I am not a Cranmer Bigot. There is an important...
Friday, July 5, 2013
George Lloyd(1913-1998)The Vigil of Venus - for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1980)Carolyn James, soprano; Thomas Booth, tenor; The Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera, conducted by George Lloyd.The British Music Collection Decca 473-437I have always struggled with the music of George Lloyd. Let me explain. It is not that I do not like it. I find much of it attractive, enjoyable, interesting and moving. I certainly appreciate his...
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
It has been many years since I enjoyed a cocktail in the Dorchester Hotel. I seem to recall that the price was hardly ‘budget.’ Today’s prices are around £16 per cocktail. But then there is the caché of the place, not to mention the possibility of seeing one of the great and good parading through the main atrium or one of the bars. Peter Yorke’s attractive miniature reminded me of this experience. I am not too sure when the piece was composed, but...
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