Frederick Delius: In a Summer Garden

This was one of my earliest discoveries of Delius in particular, and English music in general. I remember buying the old Decca Eclipse (ECS 634) version of this piece played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Collins. This record was released in 1972 was a ‘re-mastering’ of original recordings made in 1953. It included a splendid evocation of Paris, The Song of a Great City and the more intimate Summer Night on the River. ...

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Dame Ethel Smyth: ‘Woman’s Music Scorned’

On January 10 1922 Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) wrote a letter-article for the Daily Mail. She had recently been created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her work as a composer, a suffragette and writer.  The content needs no gloss, save to say that Smyth’s music has not yet been recognised to any great degree. However, there are a number (19) of CDs currently featuring a good cross section...

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England’s Piano Sage: The Life and Teachings of Tobias Matthay Stephen Siek

Many years ago I discovered a copy of Tobias Matthay’s The Act of Touch in all its Diversity (London, 1903) and his Relaxation Studies…in Pianoforte Playing (London, 1908) in a second-hand bookshop. I recall flicking through these books looking for some inspiration to help me improve my piano playing. I was disappointed. It seemed to be all words and little music. I resolved to return to my Smallwood Tutor and whatever exercises...

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The Complete Organ Works of Herbert Sumsion -Volume 2

Herbert SUMSION (1899-1995) (Tracklisting at end of post)The proceedings open with a tantalising work. The ‘Prelude and Aria’ (1940) began life as an orchestral overture ‘In the Cotswolds’ which received its first performance at the Hereford Three Choirs Festival in 1930. The liner notes suggest that this work had some considerable personal significance for the composer as he frequently mentioned it as being part of his oeuvre. A number of the...

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Alun Hoddinott ‘Toccata alla Giga’ for Organ

Alun Hoddinott was one of the most significant Welsh/British composers of the second half of the twentieth century. His musical output was considerable and covered virtually every form and genre from opera to his ten symphonies. He was born in Bargoed, Glamorganshire on 11 August 1929. After an education at Gowerton Grammar School he went up to University College in Cardiff.  He was a founder member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales....

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Eileen Joyce: Cyril Scott’s Lotus Land for piano.

On 14th April 1937 Eileen Joyce made a recording of Cyril Scott’s (1879-1970) best known piano piece, ‘Lotus Land’ for Parlophone records. It was issued on a 12ʺ 78 rpm record (E11333) and was coupled with ‘Danse Negre’ by the same composer as well as the ‘Tarantelle’, which was reputedly by Harry Farjeon. It was priced 4/- (20p). Shortly after this session she went on tour in the English provinces.  ‘Lotus Land’ Op.47 No.1 was published...

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Some Early 20th Century British Violin Sonatas

I recently posted John Ireland’s reply to the letter by the violinist Marie Hall in the Daily Mail on January 20 1922. Hall had bemoaned the shortage of British violin sonatas: Ireland had mentioned a number by active British composers. I have listed all the works in the genre written by each composer however note that only those before1922 would have been known to John Ireland and should have been known to a violinist of the competence of Marie Hall.  With the exception of John Blackwood McEwen (four recorded only) all these sonatas are currently...

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William Lloyd Webber Centenary (11th March 1914)

When the musical achievement of Andrew Lloyd Webber in the world of West-end Musicals and his predilection to collect theatres and pre-Raphaelite paintings is considered, it is hard to realise that his grandfather -William's father- was in fact a self-employed plumber. William was born into a respectable but quite poor family on 11thMarch 1914 in London. Lloyd Webber senior was an organ enthusiast - it was his hobby to travel around the country inspecting...

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Hamish MacCunn (1868-1916): A Musical Life Jennifer L. Oates

Music in 19th Century BritainAshgate Publishing Company286ppISBN: 9780754661832£65:00 (Ashgate Webpage £58.50)Unusually, my first encounter with Hamish MacCunn was not with the ubiquitous overture The Land of the Mountain and the Flood. Many years ago I discovered an attractive Valse (from Two Dances for piano, 1912) by this composer who appeared to have a name straight out of Sir Walter Scott or John Buchan. At that time, I had been reading...

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