The British Composers Thread

[relm1]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on youtube

I hadn't heard of the composer before, and there doesn't seem to be much in the catalogue by him. Pity.

It's crazy how much new music Bryden Thomson did.  His name shows up all the time as the conductor of a composer who isn't that well known. 

[vandermolen]

From WAYLTN Thread:
Anthony Milner: Variations for Orchestra
I haven't listened to this for years (I had the LP).
The style is rather like Tippett and has a most moving opening (and closing) section. The Variations are more approachable than the Symphony but both works are worthwhile.
Here's a review:
https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Oct01/Milner.htm

[Maestro267]

Not long listened to Wordsworth's 3rd Symphony (LPO/Braithwaite) for the first time in quite a while. I remember it being one of my favourites from the Lyrita British Symphonies set. I should get around to picking up the rest of what's available of his.

[Irons]

Not long listened to Wordsworth's 3rd Symphony (LPO/Braithwaite) for the first time in quite a while. I remember it being one of my favourites from the Lyrita British Symphonies set. I should get around to picking up the rest of what's available of his.

A fine Lyrita CD of Symphonies 2&3 which kindly gifted to me by a forum friend. Don't be put off by the title Three Wordsworth Songs for High Voice and String Quartet highly evocative settings of 1/Westminster Bridge 2/Daffodils 3/On Calais Beach. I normally steer clear of vocal music but this is a gem.

[vandermolen]

Not long listened to Wordsworth's 3rd Symphony (LPO/Braithwaite) for the first time in quite a while. I remember it being one of my favourites from the Lyrita British Symphonies set. I should get around to picking up the rest of what's available of his.

I like 2 and 7 very much.

[Maestro267]

I forgot until today that Toccata has released a few volumes of orchestral music, so much so that I believe the only symphony we don't have a recording of is No. 6

[calyptorhynchus]

Hey everyone

I have just noticed that Presto Music has a big Chandos sale going on, savings on discs, bigger savings on downloads. Just thought I'd mention it here as Chandos has recorded so much British music 

If there's a Chandos album on your wish list, now is the time to buy it.

[Roasted Swan]

Hey everyone

I have just noticed that Presto Music has a big Chandos sale going on, savings on discs, bigger savings on downloads. Just thought I'd mention it here as Chandos has recorded so much British music 

If there's a Chandos album on your wish list, now is the time to buy it.

Chandos' "own" download store sale at the moment is even better value for downloads than Presto

https://www.chandos.net/Labels

[calyptorhynchus]

Chandos' "own" download store sale at the moment is even better value for downloads than Presto

https://www.chandos.net/Labels

Not British music, but I just downloaded a Marriage of Figaro sung in English for $11.95 (Aus) (£6 ?). How crazy is that, and it had a booklet with a libretto! I've sometimes bought a full price CD set of an opera, only to find it doesn't include a libretto.

[calyptorhynchus]

A new release of music  by VW, Holst, Hurlstone, Clarke and Ethel Barns. Mostly arrangements for violin and piano. However there is an arrangement of The Lark Ascending for violin and harp, which is worth getting the CD for alone!



The cover picture was taken in 1922. VW was 49 or 50, but he looks so young. Difficult to think of him as anything but old!

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on January 3rd 2025:



- Three pieces for violin and piano
- Passacaglia for violin and viola
- Memory for cello and piano
- Piano Quartet
- Suite for cello and piano
- Elegy for cello and piano

Yet another composer I haven't heard any note of. Looks enticing.

[Roasted Swan]

To be released on January 3rd 2025:



- Three pieces for violin and piano
- Passacaglia for violin and viola
- Memory for cello and piano
- Piano Quartet
- Suite for cello and piano
- Elegy for cello and piano

Yet another composer I haven't heard any note of. Looks enticing.

William Busch is really good.  The father of Nicholas Busch the great British horn player - many years principal in the New Philharmonia and then the LPO- plays all the big solos on the famous Barbirolli Mahler 5 for instance

[Irons]

Enticing indeed. I have an earlier William Busch recording of his Cello Concerto - unusual and arresting opening I recall. Not a great fan of piano concertos, after eventually listening to the PC coupling much to my surprise liked it a lot.

[Roasted Swan]

Enjoying this recent - very fitting - tribute to Andrew Davis.  Not strictly all British music as it includes some Debussy but the main works are a wonderful Hymn of Jesus (what a tremendous work!) and a very fine Tippett 4.  Not my personal favourite composer but one that Davis championed through-out so a good choice for this disc...

[Maestro267]

The above talk has inspired me to listen to William Busch's Piano Concerto, as it appears on the British Piano Concertos set. Sounds like a pretty robust work so far, in the first movement. Interestingly the central movement isn't slow, but marked Allegretto tranquillo.

[Roasted Swan]

A new release of music  by VW, Holst, Hurlstone, Clarke and Ethel Barns. Mostly arrangements for violin and piano. However there is an arrangement of The Lark Ascending for violin and harp, which is worth getting the CD for alone!



The cover picture was taken in 1922. VW was 49 or 50, but he looks so young. Difficult to think of him as anything but old!

Colourised photos are almost always awful - this one is a case in point - RVW looks like a cadavar reanimated by an undertaker.

[Symphonic Addict]

William Busch is really good.  The father of Nicholas Busch the great British horn player - many years principal in the New Philharmonia and then the LPO- plays all the big solos on the famous Barbirolli Mahler 5 for instance

Thank you!

[calyptorhynchus]

Colourised photos are almost always awful - this one is a case in point - RVW looks like a cadavar reanimated by an undertaker.

Ah, I had no idea! Explains the very solid colour of the hair. I'd be one of those people who fell for deepfakes all the time... if I ever went on social media.

[Roasted Swan]

Ah, I had no idea! Explains the very solid colour of the hair. I'd be one of those people who fell for deepfakes all the time... if I ever went on social media.

[Irons]

Much better.