News
In this issue ...
Page Page Address for Communications 2 Elgar Society Medal 20 Keep in touch 2 Sir Neville Marriner : Letter from the Chairman 3 90th Birthday Concert 22 Another ‘Not the Editorial’ 5 Scener Fra Sagaen Om Kong Olav 23 An appeal from our Treasurer 6 Elgar’s solemn fanfare 25 From the Membership Secretary 7 This is what I do 26 Follow the Colours 8 Birthplace News 27 2014 AGM and AT Shaw lecture 9 Birthplace Events 29 Obituary – Margot Pearmond 14 From the Birthplace Archive 30 Obituary – JT Shaw 15 Elgar Fun(d) Raisers 32 Elgar Works 15 News in brief 33 Delius Society 16 Branch Reports 36 Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber : Letters to the Editor 49 – Malvern Forum 17 Branch Events 54 – Recording sessions 18 Dates for your Diary 56 Crossword 62
No. 53 – August 2014 Address for Communications
Contributions for the December 2014 issue of the Elgar Society News should be sent to both or either of the compilers:
Richard Smith Ernie Kay Tel: 01453 882091 Tel: 01684 567917 e–mail: [email protected] e–mail: [email protected] Sunny Ridge, Bourne Lane, 76 Graham Road, Brimscombe, Stroud, Malvern, Glos GL5 2RP Worcs, WR14 2HU
The latest date for submissions for the December issue is 25 October 2014. Keep in touch
Remember: you can keep up to date with the latest Elgarian news on:
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then, search for ‘Elgar’ or ‘Elgar Society’ or ‘Elgar Birthplace’.
If you have details of a concert containing a work by Elgar, please notify us by e–mail at: [email protected]
As we are less constrained by space on the Elgar website, wherever possible please remember to include :
– The starting time, full address of the venue and an enquiry telephone number; – Details of other works in the concert; and – The full names of all performers.
2 Elgar Society News Letter from the Chairman
Dear Friends
It was delightful to see so many friends at the Birthday weekend, and thank you to Helen Petchey for organizing the Cathedral tours, AGM, Council meeting and Shaw lecture – a passionate and enjoyable presentation by the conductor, Adrian Brown – and the West Midlands Branch and the Birthplace for the other events. It was particularly good to have the Cathedral Choir available for Evensong as well. I was saddened that Stuart Freed’s hospital stay meant he could not join us (and I am pleased and relieved that he is now making a full recovery at home) but I must pay tribute to Antonio Solimena for stepping in to take charge of the technical aspect of the AGM and lecture, and to Jan Freed for generously spending her time and culinary skills to entertain the Council to a delicious lunch at her home. The Council meeting there covered subscription income, Elgar in Performance, our President’s last concert, Introducing Elgar’s music to schools & involving young people, the A.T. Shaw history booklet, Membership cards and a possible Society event, nearly all of which require further details at our next meeting. I also, however, want to mention especially the Saturday evening concert. It is difficult to imagine a more authentic performance: held at Malvern Priory, sung by the Elgar Chorale under Donald Hunt (the former Worcester Cathedral Organist, Three Choirs Conductor and editor of the Complete Editions’ recent part–songs volume), and using the original two–violin and piano accompaniments (Noriko Tusaki, Josie Bedford–Davies and Malcolm Forbes–Peckham respectively), it provided an atmospheric and thoroughly enjoyable evening of beautifully sung performances of these often neglected yet significant parts of Elgar’s output. Interspersed with a couple of instrumental pieces, our journey led us not only “through a valley steep, Lovely in a lonely place”, but from “heights of the mountains to deeps of the ocean”, over the billowy sea and many a dusty mile to far flung destinations from Smyrna and Greece in the East to the Weary Wind of the West, from a love dwelling in a Northern Land to another one sleeping in Spain, from the hills of Dreamland to ten leagues beyond the wide world’s end. And the evening
No. 53 – August 2014 3 Letter from the Chairman
encompassed such weather!: snow, torrents in Summer, wild winds, blissful skies, thunderbolts, fire and night–dews on still waters. Still, if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? Donald gracefully accepted from John Norris, the Managing Director of the Complete Edition, a presentation copy of ‘his’ volume which itself is just one fitting tribute to Donald’s musicianship, scholarship and unflagging support of Elgar over many years, and we should all extend to him our ‘Salut d’Amour’ for all he has done. Thank you, Donald.
I am lucky enough to be able to record other, thoroughly enjoyable Society events, and there is space to mention just three. My wife and I very much enjoyed our trip to York in March to visit the Yorkshire Branch and attend John Norris’s lively and informative talk on the Complete Edition. Despite being early in the season, York looked as stunning as I remembered it from years ago, and I was delighted to meet our Yorkshire colleagues, who extended such a warm welcome. More recently, I received a similarly friendly welcome from the East Midlands branch in Leicester on the first anniversary of their rebirth. As it was also the exact centenary of the Sarajevo assassination that sparked off the First World War, I was appositely presenting a talk on Elgar’s musical and emotional response to the war. Mind you, as it came at the end of a week when Radio 3’s Composer of the Week featured Elgar and World War One, guaranteeing a worryingly well informed audience, and as the latter (and the former) also contained Barry Collett, the doyen of the subject, I was grateful for the indulgent welcome and their restraining themselves from expert heckling! Finally, it was a pleasure and privilege to attend a dinner generously hosted by Philip and Helen Petchey at the Oxford & Cambridge Club. The evening was both very enjoyable but equally poignant. We were there to present to Sheida, Sir Colin Davis’s widow, the Society’s Medal awarded to Sir Colin, who died before we could present it to him, but who was well aware of the esteem in which we all held him. Moreover, our President, Julian Lloyd Webber, was able to present the medal. He was accompanied by his wife, Jiaxin, and this was the first time we were able to discuss the untimely and precipitate end to his cello–playing career – such
4 Elgar Society News Letter from the Chairman
a shock to us all. However, I was considerably heartened to hear at first hand both that Julian wishes to remain our President and that he is determined to continue his contribution to music, and particularly music education, in this country. I am sure that his post–playing career will be equally distinguished and I look forward to the forthcoming CD of his conducting the English Chamber Orchestra – with plenty of Elgar! I am sorry I shall not be joining you at the Three Choirs Festival event and lunch in August, but I hope you enjoy fine weather and even finer music. Doubtless you will see there our temporary editors, Richard Smith and Ernie Kay, who have asked me to remind you that this is their third and final edition as ‘locum compilers’ of the Elgar News, and may I thank them for so ably and enthusiastically stepping into the breach. As to the future? For news of that, carry on reading….!
Another ‘Not the Editorial’ (from the stand–ins)
A year ago we took on the job of keeping the ‘Elgar News’ going while the search for a new permanent Editor (or Editors) continued. This we offered for a year and this edition, our third, fulfils our commitment. We now have two tentative approaches from members willing to consider taking on or sharing the task between them and they are being kept in touch with this issue as it progresses to final production to see what conclusions they draw. It would be unfair to reveal names at this stage but ‘watch this space’. We hope that there will be a shared succession as we have found the support that two have been able to give each other quite invaluable. We could also not have got very far without Ann Vernau and Ian Morgan as proof readers, Robert Gilbert as setter and John Price our firm of printers. Due to age and/or other commitments we are not prepared to take on Editorship as ‘our job’ but are very willing to give all the help we can to our successor(s),
No. 53 – August 2014 5 Not the Editorial
for as long as need be. In the last resort we may have to continue issue by issue – but with great reluctance. However, we firmly believe that the News must continue; a Society without a regular channel of information to members and potential members can quickly lose its way and once lost it is not easy to restart. Our second task, beyond keeping the show going, was to make certain changes that would clarify the intent of the News and clearly distinguish its rôle from that of the archival research publication, the Journal. To achieve this we set a pattern of noting down all those who ought to send reports and by what date; a ‘nil return’ was acceptable – silence was not! This has been generally accepted and we have not had complaints over our methods or indeed about the finished product. Members after all are fully entitled to know what is happening in all aspects of the Society’s work and, to a degree, at the Birthplace and in the wider Elgarian world. One or two new features about aspects of the valuable ground–work that is done by post holders have been introduced and we have looked at improving layout, print size, quality of paper etc. We hope that we have been able to set a pattern that will make more straightforward the job of those next in line. As you will notice, this issue of the News is printed on glossy paper with a thicker cover. We were surprised that there was so little difference in price between this format and that which has appeared previously. Please let us know what you think. If, as we suspect, you approve of the new format, we hope that it will continue – whoever edits the News! Richard Smith & Ernie Kay
An Appeal from our Treasurer
We have just heard from our Society Treasurer, Clive Weeks, that due to increasing business commitments, he feels that he cannot continue in this rôle. If anyone would care to take on the job, please let our Secretary, Helen Petchey know. As Clive says “This is an ideal job for an Elgar lover who is willing to take it on; technically straightforward and a good chance to get involved.”
6 Elgar Society News From the Membership Secretary
Thank you to all those who have paid their subs. There are, however, more than 50 members who have not amended their Standing Orders and have therefore underpaid. These various £5s amount to nearly £500. We, ie. Branch officers and/or me will be e–mailing or writing to those concerned to try, again, to collect what is due. Can I encourage members to try to recruit new members – one way is to take a bundle of Society leaflets to Elgar concerts you may be attending. Another is to persuade your local library – particularly if they have a music section – to display the leaflet. I have a large stock of the leaflets and will be pleased to send a batch to you upon request. They are not much use stuck in my cupboard! The leaflet is about to be re–issued (and may have been published by the time you read this) but, apart from my change of address, the content will be the same. David R Young (Hon. Membership Secretary).
THE ELGAR BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM CROWN EAST LANE, LOWER BROADHEATH, WORCESTER WR2 6RH (signposted off A44 Worcester–Leominster Road) Tel: 01905 333224 Fax: 01905 333426 e–mail: [email protected] Website: www.elgarmuseum.org OPEN EVERY DAY, 11AM TO 5PM (last admission 4.15 pm. Closed 24 December 2014 to 1 February 2015 inclusive) Elgar Society members admitted free Please pre–book parties of ten or more with Rachael Whyle Events leaflets available on request
No. 53 – August 2014 7 Follow the Colours
We welcome warmly the following new members of the Society
Miss Lynn Chapman of Winchester Mr Peter Freeman of London WC1 The Revd. Martin Gillham of Alnwick Ms Lesley Gorski of Droitwich Mr R J P Hows of York Ms Mary Hunter of Horley Mrs Patricia Ingledew of Longdon Heath Mr Robert Izatt of Dunfermline Mr Alan Jarvis & Mary Jarvis of Cowbridge The Revd. David & Mrs Jane Lawrence of Malvern Ms Pauline McFarland of London NW11 Mr Simon Molloy of London E8 Mr Christopher J Moore of Rainham Mrs Elizabeth Muir–Lewis of Eastbourne Mr Adrian D Munsey of London W1 Mr Stephen Pritchard of Luton Mr Jonathan Reed of Matlock Mrs Charlotte Reynolds & Mr C M Ellender of Herne Bay Mr Wolfgang–A Rittmeier of Germany Mr Edward Small of Lewisham Mr Doug Smith of Bristol Mrs Ann Steppel of Greenwich Mr Mike Taylor of Kippax Mr Christopher White of Ledbury Mr Christopher Willey & Ishbel Willey of York Mr David Wood of Filey Ms Amanda Woolley of Bushey Heath Dr Simon Wright & Juliet Wright of Moreton in Marsh
David R Young Hon. Membership Secretary.
8 Elgar Society News The 2014 AGM
The 2014 Annual General Meeting of the Elgar Society took place at St. George’s R.C. Church Hall, Worcester, on Saturday 7 June. The Chairman, Steven Halls, welcomed those present, expressing his regret that the Vice–Chairman, Stuart Freed, was absent owing to illness, and thanking Antonio Solimena for his assistance with the sound system. Apologies for absence were recorded, and the minutes of the 2013 A.G.M. were adopted. In his Annual Report the Chairman took stock of the Society’s achievements since his adoption of the rôle in 2008. He thanked the Council and the many volunteers who have worked hard on the Society’s behalf. The Society has presented a consistent image and continued to promote performances of Elgar’s music at home and abroad through the ‘Elgar in Performance’ scheme. The Birthplace Museum has been supported financially through the levy on subscriptions and the donation of Elgar Editions merchandise. The Journal and News have continued to flourish (though further volunteers are required to guarantee the future of the News). Both publications can now be delivered via EMail, and accessed on the Society Web Site. John Knowles has continued to maintain his remarkable Elgar discography. A number of CDs have been sponsored including Starlight Express with Sir Andrew Davis. More CDs will be released shortly, including a recording of the Arthur music, and a performance of Spirit of England conducted by John Wilson. We listened to an excerpt from the new recording of the Powick music conducted by Barry Collett, supported by the Society with funds from the Kay Trust and Elgar Works. The Treasurer advised us that the Society is still reliant on legacies to maintain the ‘Elgar in Performance’ scheme, and has suffered a deficit of £8000 over the last year. Branch funding has naturally increased due to the increase in the number of branches. We were reminded of the importance of Gift Aid and encouraged to sign up. The Trustees’ Annual Report for 2013 was approved, and the Independent Examiner, Andrew Benselin was re–appointed. The Membership Secretary advised that, over the last five years, 25% of new members taking advantage of the offer of one year’s free membership have re–subscribed. Initiatives are in place to improve our knowledge of the number of new members subscribing at the Birthplace Museum.
No. 53 – August 2014 9 The 2014 AGM
Judith Elkin, Chair of the Birthplace Management Committee, advised us of the latest news from the Birthplace Museum. She thanked the volunteers who have given so much of their own time, and thanked Dr Donald Hunt for giving his popular series of talks. Visitor numbers have been falling, and the departure of Worcestershire City Council from the adjoining wing had a serious financial impact. Projections show that the situation will become critical in 2016. As a result of these concerns, independent consultants were commissioned to study the financial status of the Birthplace Museum, and they have presented their interim report. They concluded that the Museum is efficiently run and offers an excellent experience to the visitor, though naturally almost entirely Elgar–oriented. The archive was described as excellent, though underutilised. More tourists need to be attracted, through ‘Visit England’ and their connection with David Mellor, Chairman of the Elgar Foundation. The independent consultants have been asked to prepare a ‘Phase 2’ report, presenting ways to improve the financial status of the Birthplace Museum. More special events and exhibitions may be organised, and marketing improvements will be sought. The displays may be rotated more regularly, since repeat visitors will expect to see something new. In conclusion, Judith expressed her thanks to the Society for their support, and expressed the hope that we can move forward together. The conductor Martyn Brabbins was elected a Vice–President of the Elgar Society, to general acclaim. Ernie Kay provided details of forthcoming events at the Three Choirs Festival. John Harcup expressed our sorrow on the premature retirement of our President, Julian Lloyd Webber, and reminded us of events taking place over the weekend including the popular visit to the tea room at Great Malvern station, the wreath laying at the Elgar graves, and Evensong (with the Cathedral Choir) on Sunday. Andrew Keener advised us that a Naxos recording with Julian Lloyd Webber will be released shortly. Gill Bradshaw (whose loving care of the Elgar graves is so appreciated) asked if the Society could run advertisements at the BBC Promenade concerts. Finally, Geoff Scargill requested our feedback on the possibility of organising a major Society event or symposium during the next two years. Robert Gilbert
10 Elgar Society News The AT Shaw lecture
The AT Shaw Lectures ware inaugurated in 1983, and were so named in honour of the founding member and long–term Chairman of the Elgar Society, ‘Bertie’ Shaw, who, with his wife Lydia, worked tirelessly on behalf of the Society in its early years. In another link with the Society’s past, this year’s lecturer, Adrian Brown, was a student of Sir Adrian Boult, our first President. Adrian’s subject was The Spirit of England, Elgar’s masterly wartime setting of the poetry of Laurence Binyon. We began by listening to a recording of Binyon’s own narration of ‘For the Fallen’ which sent shivers down our spines. It soon became apparent that Adrian could speak on his subject for much longer than the allotted timespan, and equally apparent that his audience would happily listen for much longer. In spite of the time constraints Adrian was able to remind us of the genesis of the piece, illustrating his knowledgable commentary with musical examples, with technical support from Antonio Solimena. Many ‘Elgarian’ (see the Letters page) fingerprints were pointed out to us and we were left with a renewed appreciation of this fine setting, plus an urgent desire to hear it again at the earliest opportunity. Robert Gilbert AGM Events
The splendid Saturday evening concert by the Elgar Chorale at Malvern Priory was introduced and conducted by Donald Hunt and saw the launch of the new Elgar Works volume of Elgar songs, part aided by the Kay Trust, several of which were sung in this much enjoyed event.
John Harcup organised the convivial Sunday coffee morning at Great Malvern station, which saw a bigger gathering than ever before for this by now customary part of the weekend.
Hilary Elgar laid the wreath at the Elgar Graves at St Wulstan’s after morning service there. We admired the re–cut lettering on the Elgar memorial and the floral care there of Gill and Geoff Bradshaw.
The afternoon Evensong at Worcester Cathedral had the participation of the Cathedral Choir in two Elgar works; Ernie Kay had the honour of laying the chaplet at the Elgar memorial window.
No. 53 – August 2014 11 AGM Events
Finally, the tea at the Birthplace had the cake provided by David and Anne Hughes – as well as Elgar wine. Pat Hurst and Ernie Kay were awarded the Society Certificate of Merit. Sadly, the weather was not kind so we could not have this traditional closing event of the weekend outdoors in the gardens. Ernie Kay
Left: John Harcup indicates the salient points of Great Malvern Station to visiting members. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
Right: Society Secretary, Helen Petchey, and Professor Bernard Porter from the Yorkshire Branch emerge from Lady Foley’s Tea Rooms at Great Malvern Station. Also in the picture are (from left to right) Wendy Hill, Geoff Scargill, Bernard Hill (with back to the camera), John Kelly and Pip Seccombe. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
Left: Philip (holding the wreath) and Helen Petchey near the Elgar grave at St. Wulstan’s. To the right of Helen is Gill Bradshaw who, with her husband Geoffrey, maintains the Elgar grave. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
12 Elgar Society News AGM Events
Left: “I didn’t realise that the full score of The Coronation Ode is this wide” comments John Harcup while Ernie Kay makes sure he captures the comment on film. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
Right: The conductor, Adrian Brown, with Hilary Elgar at the Elgar Grave during the wreath laying. [Photo: Helen Petchey].
Left: Ernie Kay lays the chaplet beneath the Elgar Memorial at Worcester Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
Right: Judith Elkin, Chair of the Elgar Birthplace Management Committee (left) chats to Hilary Elgar while Brenda Watson looks on. [Photo: Adrian Brown].
No. 53 – August 2014 13 Obituary – Margot Pearmond
In describing Margot, the word that immediately springs to mind is “formidable”. She was, indeed, always formidable. However, her many friends will also recall someone who was great fun to be with and, of course, who loved music. She was ideally qualified to become Treasurer of the Elgar Society, being a member of the Society who was also a high powered accountant. She kept the accounts of the Society and of Elgar Enterprises immaculately and gave the Council and Executive of the Society the benefit of her wise advice. The then members of the Executive will remember her short and pithy e–mails, often very forcefully expressed! But she was one of those of whom it is truly said that her bark was worse than her bite, and her excellent relations with her colleagues belied any thought that the cogent expression of her opinions had anything personal in it. But the word formidable attaches to something more than her rôle as Treasurer. During her term of office, she began to suffer from a progressive disease of the nervous system which, over time, completely took away her mobility. However she gave it battle! She attended Executive and Council Meetings in her specially adapted estate car, from which she proceeded to winch an electric wheelchair. This enabled her to carry on as Treasurer for some time. She last attended the birthday weekend in 2012 when she stayed, by herself at the Spa in Malvern, which is adapted to take wheelchairs. Sadly, the weekend was a bit of a disaster when the battery of the wheelchair failed: but she was determined to get to the concert at Malvern on the Saturday evening, and (with help) she did. It was good that she was able to enjoy a cruise in the Mediterranean last year with her brother. So the word formidable applies not just to her dealings with the Elgar Society but to the harsh challenge presented to her in the last years of her life. We salute the passing not just of someone whom we knew who served the Society well, but of a redoubtable and courageous lady. An abiding memory is of her attendance at the dinner in London to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Elgar’s birth. She was then able to travel by train and we had met her at Waterloo and she arrived at the Oxford and Cambridge Club by cab. But it was a wet Friday night, and when she came to leave, there was not a cab to be seen. Undaunted, she hailed a passing rickshaw and she and Phyllis Shipp were speedily if unconventionally conveyed to the station in good time for her train home. Philip Petchey
14 Elgar Society News Obituary – Timothy Shaw
Timothy Shaw, the last surviving son of the Elgar Society’s founder, A T Shaw, passed away at home in Gloucester on his 84th birthday 22 December 2013 after a long illness. He and his wife Nan were friends of the Society and Elgar Birthplace, and donated a collection of Elgar letters to the Birthplace in recent years. They were present at Henry Sandon’s talk on A T Shaw to the West Midlands Branch on 11 May, when Timothy braved his Parkinson’s Disease to say a few apt words after the talk. Michael Trott
Elgar Works
After the famine, the flood: as is often said, you wait an age for one, then three come along together. Thus it has been at Elgar Works. After the barren winter months spent waiting for the binders to acquire a fresh supply of covering material, we eventually took delivery of the delayed Overtures volume of the Completed Edition in late February. This was soon followed in early May by the next volume in the Collected Correspondence series – An Elgarian Who’s Who, reviewed in the accompanying issue of the Journal – and then, precisely five weeks later, by the next Complete Edition volume. The latter contains not only the part–songs familiar to us all but Elgar’s largely unknown arrangements of several for different vocal forces. The publication of the volume a few days ahead of the Society’s birthday weekend allowed copies to be presented to the volume’s editor Donald Hunt and sponsor Ernie Kay at a joyous concert in Malvern Priory on the evening of the Society’s AGM. The concert, organised by Donald to launch the volume, included not only a selection of the unknown arrangements, sung by the Elgar Chorale, but also the first public performance of Elgar’s Solemn Fanfare which, by public demand, the Chorale encored at the end of the concert. One suspects that it was the brevity rather than the quality of the Solemn Fanfare which stimulated requests for the encore because, at only three bars long, the first rendition was over before most of the audience realised what they were listening to.
No. 53 – August 2014 15 Elgar Works
The current flow of new volumes will not be sustained – at least we hope not because the production team is in need of a period of respite – but there are two further volumes just over the horizon. Darling Chuck, the next Collected Correspondence volume, comprising the full correspondence between Carice and her parents, has been written and proof–read and enters the production stages in July with a target publication date of late September. Again, possibly no more than five weeks later, we are aiming to publish, in November, a second edition of the Concertos volume. First published by Novello in 1987 but now long out of print, it is the first of the fourteen Novello volumes to be republished by Elgar Works, filling an important gap in the Edition’s completeness. But sadly, within the past few days, we have learned of the premature demise of Novello’s Gerontius volume. Although Music Sales still held healthy stocks of the volume when we were last advised some years ago, it has continued to sell well, and the stock has been exhausted far quicker than anticipated. While the editorial quality of this early volume left much to be desired, its passing has left us with another significant hole to fill, a task which will be as financially demanding as it will be editorially challenging. You win some, you lose some. John Norris Delius Society The Elgar Society has a reciprocal agreement with the Delius Society, whereby we offer each other’s members a reduced subscription of 50% for the first year of membership. Contact Vice—Chairman Michael Green: [email protected]. The London Branch meets six or seven times between September and March, usually at the New Cavendish Club, 44 Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7BS (www.newcavendishclub.co.uk). The Club is situated a short distance from Marble Arch Underground station. The meetings take the form of talks, interviews, recitals, and film shows. Delius is the usual theme, but one event per year is usually devoted to another composer or musician, generally one of his contemporaries. The meetings usually begin at 7.15pm, and last until 9.30 pm. The Midland Branch organises its own programme of meetings which are usually held in the Derby area at weekends.
16 Elgar Society News Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber : Malvern Forum, 2 May 2014 A concert by the Lloyd Webbers, husband and wife, is something guaranteed to have Elgarians flocking in. The 2 May event at Malvern Forum with the crack English Chamber Orchestra, led by Stephanie Gonley, looked however a little different as the cello featured in only a small part of the programme, with string orchestra works by Elgar and other English composers prominent. A few days before the event all became clear; Julian was giving up solo cello performance due to a herniated disc in his neck and this had to be his final concert in this rôle. The remaining tickets were sold as soon as the public announcement was made; the Forum was opened up to its fullest extent, seating 850.
The atmosphere in the Forum was electric and the artists ensured that expectations were lived up to and that this was an evening to remember. One big cello piece was played by the two Lloyd Webbers, a double concerto by Vivaldi featuring frequent swift passages that had the instruments chasing and vying with each other to our total delight. Howard Goodall’s And the Bridge is Love was a moving lyrical piece with a solo rôle for Julian; all the rest saw him as conductor. He drew fine interpretation and ensemble from his players, especially in the major Elgar pieces played – the Introduction and Allegro, Sospiri, the two Chansons and the Serenade for Strings. Short works by a panoply of 20th century English composers completed the programme – Vaughan Williams, Delius, Walton, Ireland and William Lloyd Webber, Julian’s father. The audience gave a deserved standing ovation. Julian, as President of the Elgar Society, was presented with mugs by Dr John Harcup, Chairman of the West Midlands Branch to recognise his support for English music. He wished Julian and his wife well. Julian made an impassioned plea on behalf of music teaching, and then it was all over. He will now certainly be even more active in his work for music education, as a conductor – no doubt we in Malvern will see more of him in this rôle, and in supporting his wife’s solo career. Malvern was privileged to have witnessed Julian’s finale as a cellist. Ernie Kay / John Harcup
No. 53 – August 2014 17 Julian Lloyd Webber : Recording sessions in Watford
Perhaps I should have drawn a stronger connection at the time. But here I was, enjoying food and a glass of wine or two at Julian’s Gloucestershire watering hole last year, discussing with him what seemed on the face of it to be simply the delightful prospect of another recording with this most relaxed and studio–wise of artists. After all, I’d produced a sizeable number of his sessions down the decades, and when he mentioned, almost in passing, his apprehension at a tour later in the year containing a brace of Shostakovich concerto performances (something about muscle pain…), I put this down to little more than a temporary concern. The fact that only one track on the planned CD was to feature Julian with a cello in his hands rang no particular alarms: the rest of the programme was to be music he had long understood and loved, and he was scheduled to direct it several times in concerts with the English Chamber Orchestra before we were to go into the studio with the same players. Rehearsals in the second week of April were watched over benevolently by both the young and the old Henry Wood from his window in the north wall of the Musicians’ Church in Holborn, and what struck me most was the collegial feeling of it all: no maestro– style proclamations or grandly–stated instructions, simply the quiet voice of someone who, as he stood batonless in front of these fine players, has lived with this music for a long time. For my part, these are works of which I never tire of producing in the recording studio: Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, Serenade for Strings and Sospiri; the two pieces for strings from Walton’s music for Henry V; the Prelude from Vaughan Williams’s Charterhouse Suite; Delius’s Two Aquarelles; the Minuet from Ireland’s A Downland Suite and – to use Sir Henry’s description of such things at the proms – a ‘novelty’ in the shape of an atmospheric little piece for strings, The Moon, by Julian’s father William. A short new work, And the Bridge is Love, written for Julian by Howard Goodall, was to be the sole piece for cello. Less than a fortnight later, and after all but one of the concerts, we were all to be found in the grandly–named Watford Coliseum (more reassuringly known to decades of record collectors as Watford Town Hall) to the north–west of London for the first of three days of sessions. Neither age nor the bank of removable seats
18 Elgar Society News Julian Lloyd Webber recordings to be seen nowadays in this famous recording venue has withered its beautiful acoustic, and for a colleague I had one of the best engineers in the business, Mike Hatch, to capture it. I had made life rather difficult for the ever–patient Pauline Gilbertson, the ECO’s General Manager, by suggesting the use of a harmonium for Sospiri (is this perhaps a recording ‘first’ even though the score specifies ‘harmonium (or organ)’, not the other way around?), so the least I could do when it arrived was to enjoy helping the delivery man slide it down from the van. It was a magnificent beast (a rarity in itself among specimens of this maligned instrument) made in 1903, French, substantial, polished, with silent pedals, everything beautifully restored – and in tune! John Alley, that experienced keyboard player in many orchestras, looked envious. I hope Elgarians will agree that the use of harmonium in Sospiri confers a gentle intimacy on the texture, avoiding the whiff of incense which I’ve always thought is a danger with the use of an organ.
Right: Andrew Keener [Photo: Joan Roche].
A good indication of how interested players are in the proceedings of a recording session often comes with the playbacks: how many will crowd in to the control room to listen? Our small ‘box’ was packed, and opinions were respectfully and productively exchanged, with much discussion about the pacing of Elgar’s Introduction into and through the opening pages of his Allegro (never an easy one to solve, this). Then suddenly, it seemed, we were at the end of Day 3 and everything was in the can.
Walking with Julian to the exit after everyone had gone home, I was struck by the familiarity of the sight beside me: tall, youthful man carrying his cello case horizontally (by contrast with many who strap it to their backs) and trailing a small ‘wheelie’ suitcase
No. 53 – August 2014 19 Julian Lloyd Webber recordings
behind him. I remarked on this much–photographed image, and his rueful agreement seemed enigmatic at the time. All was clear, of course, when a few days afterwards he phoned to tell me what he was to announce to the press later that afternoon. Then came the last ‘concert of the album’, as rock musicians say – appropriately in Malvern Theatres. It’s hard to believe that we won’t be hearing Julian’s Elgar – or any other – concerto from now on. It’s equally hard to imagine, though, that this resourceful and eloquent musician will be silent for long in one way or another.
(This recording is scheduled for release on Naxos in the autumn).
Andrew Keener
Elgar Society Medal
Sir Andrew Davis was presented with the Elgar Society Medal on stage at The Barbican on Saturday 12 April, just before conducting a performance of Elgar’s oratorio The Apostles given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
The medal is the Elgar Society’s highest honour and recognises performers, scholars and organisations who have contributed significantly to the wider appreciation of Elgar and his music over a period of a decade or more. Sir Andrew Davis joins a select assembly of recipients, including conductors Leonard Slatkin, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Tadaaki Otaka, Andrew Litton, Sakari Oramo and Vladimir Ashkenazy, musicologists Barry Collett, Michael Kennedy CBE and Jerrold Northrop Moore, and composer, writer and broadcaster Anthony Payne.
Making the presentation at The Barbican was Helen Petchey, Hon. Secretary of the Elgar Society, on behalf of the society’s Executive Committee. ‘The Elgar Society salutes Sir Andrew Davis for his contribution to Elgar’s rich legacy,’ said Helen. ‘He’s conducted numerous performances of Elgar works, notably the 1998 première of Anthony Payne’s realisation of Elgar’s Third Symphony, which was again with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.’
20 Elgar Society News Elgar Society Medal
Above: Andrew Davis receives the Elgar Society Medal from Helen Petchey on stage at The Barbican on Saturday 12 April. [Photo: Andrew Neill].
The medal citation, which was reproduced in the evening’s programme, also paid tribute to Sir Andrew’s acclaimed recordings of Elgar works, including rarities like the Crown of India masque and Starlight Express suites.
Jill O’Sullivan
Left: Sir Andrew Davis [Photo: Dario Acosta Photography].
No. 53 – August 2014 21 Sir Neville Marriner : 90th Birthday Concert
On 1 April 2014 Sir Neville Marriner celebrated his 90th birthday with a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. The orchestra was, of course, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. In the first half, Joshua Bell played and directed Saint–Saëns Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso Op.28 before Sir Neville appeared to conduct Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K466, with Murray Perahia playing. In the second half Sir Neville conducted Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme ‘Enigma’ Op.36 in which his son, Andrew (principal clarinet with the LSO) played. Following the concert, I went backstage to present Sir Neville with the Elgar Complete Edition volume of Music for String Orchestra. His son Andrew took photographs for me on my camera! Sir Neville wrote to me thanking the Society for his gift. He said ‘Enigma is very close to my heart!’ I think that we can all relate to that! Helen Petchey
Sir Neville Marriner being presented by Helen Petchey with the Elgar Complete Edition volume of Music for String Orchestra on his 90th birthday. [Photo: Andrew Marriner).
22 Elgar Society News Scener Fra Sagaen Om Kong Olav
Bergen, Norway – 15 May 2014 Emily Birsan, soprano; Barry Banka, tenor; Alan Opie, bass Bergen Philharmonic Choir; Edvard Grieg Choir; Collegium Musicum Choir; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor, Sir Andrew Davis On 1 June 1985, the then Chairman of the Society, Michael Pope, gave the second A T Shaw lecture in Malvern. His subject was Elgar’s Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf. Only two prime musical illustrations were available to Michael – these were two acoustic recordings: Tudor Davies’s cut version of ‘And King Olaf heard the Cry!’ and Elgar’s recording from 1921 of ‘A little bird in the air’. This paucity clearly supported the earlier decision of the Society’s Committee (as it was then) that had identified the need to record the one remaining large Choral work that, until then, had been neglected by the recording companies. We knew that Richard Hickox was about to record The Banner of St George and although many of us felt that Peter Glossop, in the EMI recording, was less than an ideal Caractacus we were certain we had to promote the idea of recording King Olaf to the recording industry. To cut a long story short, and with financial support across the membership of the Society, Tod Handley made his recording in December 1985. The story of all this can be read in the Society Journal of January 1987. Twenty–nine years on and we now have the prospect of another recording. Those of us with long memories may look back with wonder at the need to have a ‘whip round’ within the membership for the first King Olaf; a petition to EMI at the Birthplace for Sir Adrian Boult to record The Apostles and the time when every recording of Elgar’s music was greeted with excitement and even a little wonder. So, now, we have at least three commercial recordings of The Apostles, various Kingdoms and almost countless Gerontiuses. To all this will be added this forthcoming recording of Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf a work which is so important in Elgar’s development. From 1896 (with The Light of Life) it was the great breakthrough after the stepping stones of The Black Knight (1892) and Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands (1895). It was, by some margin, his biggest work.
No. 53 – August 2014 23 Scener Fra Sagaen Om Kong Olav
So what of this performance given in Norway with, largely, Norwegian forces, about one of their ancient Kings, but a man who was hopeless with women, and whose demise is largely brought on by his own stupidity? I have to report a standing ovation! Now this is not common: In some countries it is almost normal to stand at the end of a concert but not in Norway and certainly not in Bergen as I established afterwards. However, it was certainly deserved. The orchestra was outstanding as were the combined choruses singing in faultless English. That this was a labour of love was obvious from talking to Sir Andrew Davis afterwards. We talked about the commitment of all the performers, Elgar’s orchestration (at times wonderful at others a little thick) and the need to vary the tempo to avoid a charge of sameness. When Chandos issue their recording (to be made in June) listen out for the superb voice of Emily Birsan, a young American soprano with what I imagine is a glittering career ahead of her and the wonderful, honed tones of Alan Opie as, variously, a Skald, Ironbeard, and narrator. Our evening ended over a splendid meal in a restaurant over– looking Bergen’s harbour. The cast were there, as well as David Stewart the Canadian leader of the orchestra, the chorus master and orchestra manager. It was an evening when Americans, British, a Canadian a Dutchman and, of course, Norwegians all united by their love of music and astonishment at this neglected work by Sir Edward. Andrew Neill
Olaf arrives in Norway [from a drawing by Peter Nicholai Arbo].
24 Elgar Society News Elgar’s solemn fanfare
In August 1922, Ronald Cunliffe, the enterprising trainer of a boys’ choir in Todmorden, Yorkshire, wrote to the four leading British composers of the day, asking if they could each provide “a rally–cry, or slogan, or yodel, or what you will to call it” for the houses within the choir which he had named in their honour. Three – Bantock, Holst and Vaughan Williams – responded promptly, but not Elgar, for on 21 November Cunliffe wrote to him again, making a last appeal “for the cry which will out–do all the others in glory.” Cunliffe’s second appeal was clearly more successful for a third letter to Elgar on 26 December 1922 acknowledged receipt of his house–cry and referred to an attachment onto which Cunliffe had copied all four composers’ responses. While Cunliffe’s three letters to Elgar survive in the Elgar Birthplace archive, his replies to Cunliffe and the attachment to Cunliffe’s third letter to Elgar have long been lost, leaving us with no record of the rally–cry Elgar provided ... until now. While working in the Worcestershire Records Office, Martin Bird, General Editor of our uniform edition Edward Elgar : Collected Correspondence, chanced across a 50–year–old microfilm of original manuscripts held at the Birthplace and found it to contain not just Cunliffe’s three letters but the lost attachment recording all four composers’ rally cries. Elgar’s rally cry, which he called Solemn Fanfare, has now been published for the first time in the latest volume of the Elgar Complete Edition – that containing his Secular Part–songs and Unison Songs. It will receive its first public performance in the heart of Elgar Country at a concert at Malvern Priory on 7 June, given by the Elgar Chorale conducted by the volume’s editor Donald Hunt. Although Elgar’s rally cry is brief – a mere 3 bars in length – he exceeded Cunliffe’s request for something in unison, unaccompanied, preferably wordless…even so little as a couple of bars’ by also providing a 3–part version with the request that “if it is adopted by your boys I should like them to learn the three–part arrangement for ‘solemn’ occasions – matches, meetings, etc.” Bantock provided 4 bars, Vaughan Williams only 6 notes spread over 2 bars, adding “Will this do?”, while Holst’s offering to Cunliffe will be familiar to all: an instantly–recognisable 4 bars from his Planets Suite. John Norris
No. 53 – August 2014 25 This is what I do
Not a lot – now in my 80th year – however, I do look after what goes on the Yorkshire/NE Branch of the Society’s Website – with the very good help of the Society’s Vice–Chairman – Stuart Freed, who cares for the Website, since it went through a difficult technical stage. I also try to remember to write up details of the Branch for the News. I sometimes listen to Elgar CDs – probably Gerontius fairly often, which I always find inspiring. I think I prefer those conducted by Malcolm Sargent – mainly because his tenors have clear diction, which I find in modern interpretations (and not just of Elgar) is not always the case – although I particularly like the University of British Columbia’s version, recorded in 2001. From that you can guess I am no musician. Simply a keen listener. Occasionally, as a retired Anglican Parish Priest I get called on to take a Service, if the local vicar is away or ill. This I quite enjoy – there is an excellent American website – www.textweek.com which gives good ideas for sermons, prayers & the like. My hobby (as some of you will know) is film making. In 2004 I was privileged to make (with the assistance of a Committee) the Video used as an introduction to Elgar – which is still shown on occasions at the Birthplace. This took a year to produce, but was exciting and from research (which is always essential in any film making) I learnt more about Elgar and his music. Chris Bennett of the Birthplace was of particular help. This film won the Film & Video Institute’s North East Region’s Competition in 2005. The other thing that I definitely do, is all the shopping. My wife (Pip) who is a first rate person – very knowledgeable and an excellent “Voice–over” in quite a number of my films – does not enjoy shopping of any kind. Fortunately, I quite like it! I’ve made several short Elgarian Movies (as I belong to Doncaster Movie Makers) and we have several competitions every year. The last one I entered was the Music & Vision competition in 2013, with Sabbath Morning at Sea – which won. This was a five minute (maximum) competition, so I only included three verses of the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem. It also won the “Best use of Sound” trophy – which was more by luck than judgement – the right
26 Elgar Society News This is what I do
crescendo coinciding with the waves crashing. I was able to enlarge the visual shot, to give it more impact. My favourite short film is Instrumental Friend & Critic – which again was a winner (of the Word competition) some time back; the word was “Rum” which had to appear in the title and one of my Club friends thought of Instrumental. It’s about August Jaeger (Nimrod) and includes several special effects – which for once, appear to “work”. I’m now, hoping to make a film about a young local Paleontologist – Dean Lomax – who has just published Dinosaurs of the British Isles published by Siri Scientific Press at £33.00 but there is a discount to £29.99. Marc Seccombe (Secretary of the Yorkshire and North East Branch)
Birthplace Report Our full and varied events programme continues to be a success and so far we have enjoyed a whole host of events including 3D printing during Museums at Night, a look at Elgar’s recording career with Andrew Neill and Andrew Keener and celebrating Elgar’s birthday with the talented Hepplewhite Piano Trio. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust also paid us a visit at the end of May and it was lovely to see so many families exploring and sharing Elgar’s love of nature.
Looking ahead, on Friday 4 July at 7:30 pm we will be joined by Donald Hunt and friends to commemorate the First World War in “Some corner of a foreign field”. This event will look not only at the numerous poetic, musical and literary outpourings of the Great War but will also explore Elgar and his work during the conflict. Tickets are £8.50 and it is certain to be a fascinating evening. The evening is being supported by local restaurant Saffrons Bistro who are kindly supplying the complimentary interval refreshments.
Local artists David Birtwhistle and John Harris will be exhibiting their work once again at the Museum from 15 July to 3 September. It is wonderful to be able to welcome them back for their eleventh year at the Birthplace. All artwork will be for sale in the Carice Elgar Room and we hope that 2014 will be as successful a year in sales as last year.
No. 53 – August 2014 27 Birthplace News
In terms of the family events programme, every Wednesday at the Museum over the summer holiday period (23 July – 27 August) we will organise activities and craft days in the Carice Elgar Room with everything from kite making to storytelling. All of the activities are free but Museum admission does apply. There will also be a new trail for children over the summer where they will get the chance to create a Victorian–inspired scrapbook. The annual Elgar Society Birthday Weekend in Worcestershire is something we always look forward to and, as ever, it was lovely to be able to welcome back so many keen Elgarians to the Museum. The weather may not have been on our side but the Sunday afternoon tea at Lower Broadheath was still a fitting end to the weekend and it was a pleasure to host Lovells Vineyard for the first time with the Elgar branded wine. Last month BBC Radio 4 broadcast ‘Tales from the Stave’ which was about Elgar’s Salut d’amour and recorded at the Museum with contributions from Cathy Sloan and Chris Bennett. We very much enjoyed having Frances Fyfield, Rupert Marshall Luck, Lucy Parham and Ruth Rostron at the Museum and the programme has been very well received. It is still available on the BBC i–Player for those who have not been able to listen yet. We sadly said goodbye to our ‘Skills for the Future’ graduate trainee Lucy Maycock at the beginning of July following the end of her 15–month placement at the Museum. The work that Lucy has produced during her time at the Birthplace has been hugely beneficial in making us more attractive to families and this work will thankfully continue. However, all of us at the Museum will miss Lucy and wish her the very best in her new job at The Royal Museums Greenwich. At the end of July we will welcome our new graduate trainee, Lily Dean, who will continue the fantastic programme of family events and education work that Lucy began. Lily has previously worked at The Herbert Museum in Coventry and I’m sure that she will be a wonderful new addition to the team. It was wonderful to hear last month that we have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for a second year by TripAdvisor. There
28 Elgar Society News Birthplace News
are many reviews on TripAdvisor that complement the warm and friendly service visitors have received from our staff and volunteers and to have this recognised is fantastic. If you are not able to visit us in the coming months why not log on to the Museum’s on–line shopping pages and browse the ‘shelves’ from the comfort of your own home? For full details of our comprehensive range of CDs, books, sheet music and delightful souvenirs for the keen Elgarian, go to the Shop pages of our new website. Catherine Sloan (Museum Director) Birthplace Events
Tue 15 July to Wed 3 September 2014 The Birtwhistle and Harris Exhibition David Birtwhistle and John Harris will be returning to the Museum this summer and over the Three Choirs Festival period, to exhibit their paintings and prints for the eleventh year. All work is for sale. Free to Elgar Society Members otherwise Museum admission applies.
Tue 9 September 2014, 10.30 am From a Keats poem to painting & music: Elgar, Frank Bridge and Millais with Jenny Hughes Jenny studied at the Royal Academy of Music and has taught music in schools and Universities. She continues to perform both as a solo pianist and as an accompanist. She currently directs a staff choir at Belmarsh Prison. Tickets £6.00
Tue 14 October 2014, 10.30 am Sharing the Concert Platform with Donald Hunt In his long and illustrious career Donald Hunt has worked with scores of the world’s top musicians. Here he talks about his experiences with celebrated conductors and singers. Tickets £6.00 (continued overleaf)
No. 53 – August 2014 29 Birthplace Events
(continued from overleaf) Sun 2 November 2014, 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm Bonfires, Fireworks and Fawkes: A Seasonal Craft Workshop Join us for a drop–in afternoon of Bonfire Night themed crafts. Create your own Guy Fawkes or Elgar figure out of recycled materials, make a firework decoration and try your hand at creating a bonfire picture to take home. Free to Elgar Society Members, otherwise Museum admission applies; no additional charge for workshop Tue 11 November 2014, 10.30 am Elgar and the Great War: A Composer’s Road to Silence with Simon Baggs A talk on the life and works of Elgar during the years of the First World War, given by the musician Simon Baggs. The presentation will include live and recorded musical illustrations. Tickets £6.00 Tue 9 December 2014, 10.30 am Sir Edward Elgar’s Jokes and Japes with Dr John Harcup Dr John Harcup, Chairman of the West Midland Branch of the Elgar Society, reveals the humorous side of Elgar in this fascinating talk that draws our 2014 series to a close. Laughter guaranteed. Tickets £6.00
From the Birthplace Archive By 1920, Elgar had been at the top of his profession for twenty years, and was fêted all over the world. Consequently, he was often asked to endorse products. For this delve into the archive at The Elgar Birthplace Museum, I have chosen a particularly fine advert for HMV Gramophones and Records. Elgar had already conducted recordings of the ‘Cello Concerto, excerpts from the Violin Concerto, several miniatures and marches, The Wand of Youth, The Fringes of the Fleet and more, and was no doubt keen to do what he could to cement his relationship with HMV and further this new career as a recording artiste. Gramophone recordings were a new and very welcome source of
30 Elgar Society News From the Birthplace Archive income for Elgar, but he also saw the benefits of music becoming more widely available. The advert quotes Elgar as saying “I consider [the gramophone] to be of great educational value and am quite satisfied that the records of my own compositions conducted by me are remarkably faithful reproductions of the originals.
The rôle of the Gramophone as an educator was a topic he was to return to a few months later when he opened the new HMV headquarters in Oxford Street. The event was well covered by the press, especially HMV’s own magazine, The Voice. In a typically no holds barred speech, Elgar said “The days when the Gramophone was held to be nothing more than a scientific toy have gone by; now it takes its rightful position, and a very important position, in the world of music. That it has already a definite place in our musical life is revealed by the fact that our leading academies and colleges are making extended use of it for educational purposes.” And he concluded, “This is the age of self–advertisement and love of publicity; too many young persons satisfy their vanity and emphasise their parents’ simplicity by the exhibition of some useless diploma issued, for payment, by some useless concern… Now is the time to divert the stream of money and give English music the refreshing support it so much needs. A gramophone with a first–class selection of records should be placed in every school in the country, and this and many other good things might be done by the simple diversion of some of the diploma plunder”. Chris Bennett
No. 53 – August 2014 31 Elgar Fun(d) Raisers
We are still enjoying raising funds for the Elgar Birthplace, and have had success in gaining more lottery players, and persuading people to renew their membership for another year. Remember – for only Twelve Pounds for One Number for One Year, you’ll be able to take part in Four Draws, and stand a chance of winning £100, £50, £20 or £10. In addition to this, we have a Very Special Prize each May – which is the first draw of the year (a bit confusing methinks!). Our future events in 2014 are: September/October/November On Friday, 5 September 2014 we are holding our first Bridge Afternoon at Hanley Swan Village Hall, WR8 0EQ between 2 and 6 pm. Cost is £6 per head to include tea and homemade biscuits. There are valuable prizes to be won, plus a splendid raffle. Do let your bridge playing friends know. We are limited to 60 people and our “Director of Bridge” will be Michael Lane who runs various Bridge Clubs in the Malvern area. Do support us if you are near! On Friday, 24 October 2014 at 7 pm in the Carice Elgar Room at the Birthplace we hope to run our popular quiz. Again there will be valuable prizes, and tickets are £5 per head to include a light supper. Bring your own drinks, nibbles and glasses. In readiness for Christmas, we are holding a Festive Flower Demonstration on Friday, 21 November at 2 pm in the Carice Elgar Room. Again we will raffle the arrangements towards the end of the afternoon and the £5 ticket will include refreshments (maybe with a Christmassy flavour!) For more information about these events, please contact me on 01531 634333. Wendy H. Hill
32 Elgar Society News News in Brief
Elgar at Worcester Royal Grammar School
As some of you will know, Elgar taught at what is now Worcester Royal Grammar School. As part of an internal reorganisation, the RGS has named one of its houses “Elgar”. The West Midlands Branch is presently co–operating with the school to install a plaque commemorating Elgar’s tenure which, it is hoped, will be unveiled during the 2015 Birthday weekend. David Packman The Elgar £20 Note
The Bank of England estimates there are still about 80 million Edward Elgar £20 notes – an extraordinary £1.6bn–worth – out there somewhere, four years after they were withdrawn (BBC News item, 28 April 2014). I must confess that one of them is in my drawer, but that astounding figure is equivalent to every person in the UK having one note and some having two! Michael Trott Elgar and Banksy?
Some three months ago people passing the bus shelter in the centre of Malvern were surprised to see that Banksy style paintings of Elgar had appeared on its walls. These had been produced by local artists Lee Morris and Tom Brown as a “gift” to the community of Malvern. It took them over 100 hours to produce the stencils but only a night to paint the result on the walls. Although they did not get permission to do the work, the result has been welcomed by the local residents and plans now exist to refurbish the bus shelter and then re–apply the paintings. In addition to seeing their paintings in Malvern, a plan is now being developed for another painting to be commissioned from the same artists to be applied to the outside of the rear wall of the Carice Elgar Room in the grounds of the Elgar Museum. This will not impinge in any way upon the ambiance of the Birthplace cottage but will add immensely to the Jubilee garden area. The suggested subject is to be Elgar talking to children. Richard Smith
No. 53 – August 2014 33 News in brief
More grave concerns
At last, the work is going “full speed ahead” to refurbish the grave of George Robertson Sinclair (GRS of the Enigma Variations) at the cemetery in Westphalia Street, Hereford. The monumental masons are keeping to their original estimate of 7 years ago, and the Free Masons have agreed to make up any shortfall.
The work will be done by Autumn – as it is felt that another winter will cause more damage. We hope to have a formal unveiling and members will be notified. Wendy H. Hill
Ex Cathedra to move house
Birmingham Oratory will now no longer be the venue of choice of Ex Cathedra, the Birmingham Bach Choir and other major concert– giving organisations. The church authorities have decided not to continue to facilitate the use of the church for secular purposes “in order to conserve the sacred character of the building”. The Oratory was founded by Cardinal Newman and thus has many Elgar connections, including holding an original score of ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ donated by the composer. The Birmingham Festival Choral Society gave a splendid Centenary performance of this work there in 2000. Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post
Rev Michael Vockins
Rev Michael Vockins, honorary curate of Storridge, Mathon and Cradley for 26 years is retiring. He and his family have played host to many Elgarian visitors at their home at the composer’s country cottage, Birchwood. Michael has talked to many groups about Elgar and is well–known in the wider world as a long–serving Secretary of Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Ernie Kay
34 Elgar Society News News in brief
The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
The orchestra, under Yuri Simonov, gave a fine concert of works by Tchaikowsky and Shostakovitch at Symphony Hall Birmingham on 6 May … following on with a set of encores, the third of which, to our surprise, was an excellent Nimrod, played no doubt as a tribute to the hosts. Two more encores followed!
Radio 3 Composer of the Week
23 to 27 June – this much loved programme featured Donald Macleod exploring the life and music of Elgar during the First World War. Many lesser known Elgar works were played and discussed and many prominent people in the world of Elgar participated. Hope you heard at least some of this fascinating five hours – if not then perhaps IPlayer can help. Ernie Kay
‘Move over Mr Elgar’
The Guardian’s headline of 30 June over an article by Jessica Duchen on the appointment of the distinguished Scottish composer Judith Weir to succeed Peter Maxwell Davies as Master of the Queen’s Music. Both the outgoing and incoming Masters do much to keep the flag flying for classical music and music education. (It might though have said ‘Move over Sir Edward’ !). Ernie Kay (based on an article by Christopher Morley in the Birmingham Post)
No. 53 – August 2014 35 Branch Reports
EAST ANGLIAN: The East Anglian branch has met four times this spring and once again we have been delighted with the speakers who have come to shed more light on Edward Elgar and his music. Andrew Lyle talked to us in early March about Elgar’s work at the Powick asylum, liberally illustrated with excerpts from Barry Collett’s CD of the complete works for the asylum and commenting how these early themes often recurred in later composition. One of the positive ideas I took from the afternoon is how enlightened the Victorians were in realizing the benefits of music and dance in the treatment of mentally ill patients, might I say the benefits of Elgar’s music! Later in the month Dr John Harcup gave his talk on Elgar as a medical Enigma. This well researched talk followed Edward from a young man to his last illness. Dr Harcup suggested that Elgar was no different to other artists who were predisposed to seeking reassurance about their health. Lady Alice in her diaries often referred to Elgar being depressed but Dr Harcup commented this wasn’t depression as we know it but more short term days of feeling ‘low’. Interesting enough was the idea that Elgar’s music changed following a general anaesthetic. Dr Donald Hunt spoke to us in April about the year 1896 when Elgar published two significant works, King Olaf and the Light of Life. Dr Hunt entertained us in analysing these two works with keyboard and musical excerpts but most of all with delightful little anecdotes of his own. In June Richard Smith and his wife Joan gave us an enjoyable talk on Elgar’s trips to America. It must have been a labour of love to visit the various locations to illustrate their talk and to research how Elgar ‘felt’ on these journeys. He seemed to like the company of Americans but how he must have longed for the countryside of Worcestershire when he was performing in those large industrial cities. We have one more talk booked for 5 July, “Elgar’s Symphonic Study Falstaff” by Paul Adrian Rooke, and a summer outing to The Red House in Aldeburgh. Once again thank you to all our speakers! Bev Simpson
36 Elgar Society News Branch Reports
An apology to the East Midlands Branch: Our sincere apologies go out to the recently–formed and extremely enterprising East Midlands Branch for inadvertently repeating their previous entry in the Branch Report section. This is what should have appeared: Since the report in the December 2013 “Elgar News” the East Midlands Branch has held two further well–attended meetings. On 16 November Dr Donald Hunt presented a talk on “Elgar – The Malvern Years”, illustrated by a selection of evocative images provided for him by the helpful staff of the conveniently situated (convenient to the speaker, that is!) Elgar Birthplace Centre and then on 7 December Geoffrey Hodgkins spoke about “Elgar and Christmas”. In the course of the latter, it was interesting to see the attitude of Elgar change from proto–grumpy old man to someone not lacking in humour when the mood suited him [how nice it would be if more people could experience such a Damascene conversion!]. The audience left in a buoyant frame of mind and we were pleased to see such a good turnout on a day so near to Christmas when it was thought that the delights (sic) of the shops in the nearby Highcross Centre might have tempted them elsewhere. The day–to–day work of nurturing the infant Branch has continued apace, with two dominant themes to our activities – finding suitable venues with all the right facilities (not being blessed with purpose–built centres on the doorstep – no hint of envy here of course!) and, secondly, funding them and the speakers/performers without the benefit of a branch bank account. The Chairman and Programme Administrator have both had to write personal cheques to settle invoices – we plan to rule out having to head in the direction of Wonga for our next tranche of funding. As far as venues are concerned we were badly let down by what had been thought by some to be a prime choice. The venue in question accepted a booking from us and several weeks later casually told us (in response to our request for a further date) that they could not honour the original arrangement. We still cling to the hope of holding at least one meeting in the Notts or Derby area, possibly in conjunction with the Delius Society but finding an affordable and suitable location there is proving highly problematical.
No. 53 – August 2014 37 Branch Reports
Our forthcoming meetings include John Norris on 22 March 2014, with “The collected correspondence”; Dr Christopher Fifield on 26 April with “Hans Richter”; Christopher Redwood on 31 May with “1934 – Year of loss – Elgar, Delius and Holst”; and Dr Steven Halls on 28 June with “Elgar’s music and the Great War” – a fitting conclusion to our first year and, as historians will know, the centenary of Gavrilo Princip’s fatal shots in Sarajevo, the “trigger” for the First World War.
This is Howard’s current report:
EAST MIDLANDS: I trust that this piece, rather than a second repeat of the June–October 2013 article that was published in error in April this year, will find its way into the August 2014 News. (Thank you Richard for your fulsome phone apology). Having edited magazines myself (I know that you disclaim the title of “editor”!) I’m only too well aware that things can (and do!) go wrong sometimes. The period April 2014 onwards began on a sad note with the death of one of our Branch members, that of Michael Richardson. Michael had joined the newly (re–)formed East Midlands Branch in May last year, along with his wife Margaret. A personal friend for many years, Michael was always helpful at meetings with setting out chairs, etc, whilst Margaret signed people in, and clearing up afterwards. They both took great interest in the development of the Branch and Margaret continues to do so. Alongside his interest in Elgar Michael was a keen follower of Leicestershire county cricket, and we shared a common background in the study of French and Italian. There was a substantial turnout at his funeral and a card was signed by a number of Branch members. I’m pleased to say that Margaret has just resumed attending our meetings. At the time of writing (early June) we have added to our already impressive list of guest speakers with visits this year by Andrew Neill, Dr John Harcup, John Norris, Dr Christopher Fifield and Christopher Redwood. All meetings have been well attended and we have a firm basis of regular supporters. We were also pleased to welcome, on 31 May, some members of the Delius Society (including two from London), attracted by Christopher Redwood’s talk on: “1934 – Year of Loss: Elgar, Delius and Holst”. We are now looking forward to
38 Elgar Society News Branch Reports
Dr Steven Halls with his talk: “Elgar and the music of the Great War” on 28 June – this date marks our first birthday, and we have commissioned a special cake to mark the occasion. By the time you read this it will have long been consumed! After a Summer break we have Peter Avis on 11 October (“Impressions of Dame Ethel Smyth”), Anthony Payne on 11 November and Geoff Scargill on 13 December (“Elgar and Germany” – we couldn’t persuade him to do Italy instead!) Please see “Branch Events” for details of venues. We remain very open to the desire to hold occasional meetings in the Notts or Derby area but until a suitable venue presents itself (or our budget expands!) we continue to be Leicester–based. Once again I thank our committee, our supporters and also the News for providing us with a fertile source of topics and speakers. Howard Newton
Above: To celebrate the first year’s existence of the East Midlands Branch, Society Chairman, Steven Halls, cuts the birthday cake with Branch Chairman, Howard Newton, smiling proudly in the background. [Photo: Michael Toseland].
No. 53 – August 2014 39 Branch Reports
LONDON: At our March meeting we enjoyed a talk by John Bridcut, who spoke about the researching and making of his films about musicians. It was fascinating to hear how the films are made, and to see clips which illustrated his points. It was evident that a great deal of work and thought goes into the making of the films, not least the way in which participants comment on pieces of music as they listen. In April Andrews Keener and Neill celebrated the centenary of Elgar becoming a recording artist. They explored his work in the recording studio and looked at his recorded legacy and some later recordings of his music. Andrew Keener’s own experience as a noted recording producer added considerable interest to the whole subject. Our biennial Richards Memorial Event in May took the form of a day seminar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The subject was Composing in wartime : Elgar and his contemporaries. A series of thought–provoking talks was rounded off with an excellent song presentation by Guildhall students. Although a joint event, the majority of those attending were Society members and we are very grateful to our colleagues at the Guildhall for their co–operation and commitment to the event. The AGM in June was again held at St George’s Church, Hanover Square. It was followed by an organ recital by the church’s Director of Music, Simon Williams. He spoke about the new organ, and played several pieces of music including the Vesper Voluntaries and an arrangement of the Handel Overture in D.
The annual Birthday Weekend in Worcester provided, as usual, the opportunity to catch up with friends from around the country. This year it was attended by around 25 Branch members, most of whom were last seen tucking into cake at the Birthplace. Ruth Hellen NORTH AMERICAN: The Branch’s 2014 annual conference took place in Vancouver between 12 & 15 June and produced another memorably happy series of Elgarian events. Each year we schedule our conference around the prospect of an outstanding performance of a major Elgar work. Vancouver was the chosen venue for the 2014 conference because Canada’s brilliant native son, James Ehnes was scheduled
40 Elgar Society News Branch Reports to perform the Elgar Violin Concerto with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra conducted by its Music Director, Bramwell Tovey. Our members gathered for dinner on 12 June, after which music critic Jeff Dunn delivered the keynote address entitled “Being In Smyrna”. Jeff played the work and offered brilliant insights on the music’s meaning and significance within the context of the town’s history. Illustrations included joyful photos of the city’s magnificent waterfront facades. A shocking study in sic transit contrasts was evident when Jeff presented photos of those facades engulfed in flames during the Greco–Turkish war in 1922, a tragic legacy of World War I policies. The following morning we visited Vancouver’s splendid Queen Elizabeth Gardens together with a curator–led tour of the sumptuous Northwest Native American totem and other items of their culture displayed in the Museum of Anthropology. After lunch we repaired to Pyatt Hall for a recital of a selection of Elgar’s works played by violinist Terence Tam and pianist Lorraine Min. The musicale included the world premiere of the piano/violin version of “Pleading,” Opus 48. After tea we attended an Ehnes master class, where the violinist offered commentary on the astonishing playing of a series of child–violinists ranging in age from ten to sixteen. Saturday morning was filled with two outstanding members’ papers: “Elgar’s Unknown Friend Unmasked: the Violin Concerto and the Enigma Variations” given by Robert Padgett, followed by John Covell’s talk entitled, “Discordant Rhapsodies: the Relationship between Elgar and Stanford.” Bramwell Tovey joined us for a jolly lunch during which the Maestro regaled us with stories and commentary on Elgar’s music. The Tovey/Ehnes rendition of the Violin Concerto was as distinguished as we hoped it would be in a concert program that included Benjamin Britten’s Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture and an account of Respighi’s Pines of Rome that shook the rafters to the wild delight of the audience. The conference ended on Trinity Sunday with a Choral Eucharist in the city’s Christ Church Cathedral. The service included organ recitals of Elgar’s Ave Verum and Ave Maria. Arthur Reynolds
No. 53 – August 2014 41 Branch Reports
NORTH WEST: Our spring and summer programme began in March with a welcome return from our ‘Musicians in Residence’, the Ellesmere Quartet, who played for us music by Vaughan Williams and John Ireland in the lovely early fifteenth century Baronial Hall of the Chetham’s School of Music. (Our traditional venue, the Royal Northern College of Music, was closed for refurbishment at the time). In April Anthony Payne gave us a fascinating account of his own musical development and composition as well as a unique insight into the elaboration of the Third Symphony. Some of us were present at his talk late last year to the Yorkshire and North East Branch (our partner branch – the War of the Roses was long ago!) but this interview threw up much that was new. A large number of members and friends came on John Mawbey’s annual charabanc ride, this year to Worcester during the Elgar Weekend. After spending time in Great Malvern the group came to the Cathedral for Evensong and the laying of the wreath at the Elgar memorial. We have decided to form a working party to look at ways in which the Branch can be developed, building on our enthusiasm and ideas that have been culled from other branches at the branch chairmen meetings. A feature of the Branch summer for members who suffer from withdrawal symptoms during the ‘close season’ is our drop–in evening at the delightful Ship Inn at Styal in Cheshire. This will be on 17 July. Finally, what a pleasure it was that our secretary, Pat Hurst, was honoured by the Society during the Birthday Weekend when the Chairman of the Society presented her with the Certificate of Merit for her brilliant and sustained work for the Elgar cause. Pat is now planning the programme for the new season. One special occasion in that season, mentioned in the April edition of the News, will be that the Branch will be marking the 30th anniversary of its move to meetings in Manchester with a special luncheon at which Steven Halls will be the chief guest. Geoff Scargill
42 Elgar Society News Branch Reports
SCOTTISH: Our March meeting welcomed Carl Newton, a good friend of the Branch, who presented “Elgar’s Music: Performance and Reward”, alternatively titled, “Profits with Honour: Elgar and British History”. He spoke on performance, reception and the context of Elgar’s music, having researched Elgar’s concert programmes from 1895 to 1964 (about 20,000 in total!). Members were given a booklet of tables and graphs showing Elgar’s most popular works and the towns and cities with the most performances, and all–in–all this was a fascinating and informative presentation. The meeting concluded with Tom Kelly giving a short and delightful presentation of “Elgar’s music at the Powick Asylum”, with musical examples from the new CD by Barry Collett and the Rutland Sinfonia.
Sadly, our May meeting had to be cancelled at very short notice when Julian Lloyd Webber, the Society President and our speaker, announced his retirement from concert playing and felt unable to fulfil his concert at the Usher Hall prior to our meeting. Julian hopes to speak to the Branch in the near future when he next visits Edinburgh.
Our June meeting almost suffered the same fate as the May meeting, when Geoff Scargill called off for medical reasons, but fortunately Barry Collett heroically stepped into the breach, at only a few days notice, to talk to the Branch about “Elgar – the man and his music”, highlighting his lesser known compositions and playing musical excerpts from CDs. We are most grateful to Barry for giving his time in this way, so selflessly. The meeting commenced with a superb young Edinburgh pianist, Jack Westwell, who had thoroughly entertained us with some virtuoso playing of pieces by Liszt, Ravel, Bartok and Elgar’s “Dream Children”. We look forward to hearing from Jack again! Our last two meetings of 2014 are very special. On 21 September Dr Martin Firth will give his audio visual presentation “Aspects of Nostalgia and ‘Englishness’ in Elgar’s Cello Concerto”. He was Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of the West of England, and is an experienced organist and conductor. He explores a work which is not only one of Elgar’s most popular, but one of the best – known in all English music, to consider that perceived ‘Englishness’ and the vein of nostalgia which is central to its appeal.
No. 53 – August 2014 43 Branch Reports
On 15 November our final meeting of 2014 brings the very welcome return of Professor Paul Banks, with his wonderful presentation “Life at the Royal College of Music in the 1890s”. Paul, newly retired Professor of Historical Musicology and Head of Special Collections at the RCM, will make particular reference to Cheltenham born composer Gustav Holst who attended the RCM on a scholarship (1893–98). There he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and, in 1895, met fellow student Ralph Vaughan Williams, who became a lifelong friend. Drawing on original documents, Paul will explore the environment in which Holst studied, the College’s history and ethos, the musical and social environment and some of the staff and students he met there. Paul Bassett
SOUTHERN: In February our Branch Chairman, John Kelly, combined several enthusiasms when he spoke on Elgar and the Wireless.
March welcomed Barry Collett, who gave a lively presentation on Elgar and the Great War with illustrations from very neglected pieces. From much earlier in Elgar’s career Barry unashamedly plugged his superb new CD ‘Music from the Powick Asylum’ which sold well. In April we were delighted to welcome Em Marshall–Luck, who gave an engaging talk on ‘The English Music Festival’ which she runs. All these meetings were in our traditional venue of The Spring Arts Centre in Havant, where meetings are loyally supported by members and local visitors, between 20 & 40 people.
A new phase for the Branch was launched in May when we met for the first time in Winchester Guildhall. Peter Willey, our publicity officer, had energetically supervised extensive marketing, including the local press and a mention on Classic FM. As ever, personal invitation bore fruit, too. 50 people came, many for the first time, to an Elgar Society event. John Kelly introduced the Society, with the splendid display boards loaned from the Birthplace. Our speaker was Lewis Foreman who shared findings of his untiring researches into unfamiliar repertoire with numerous extracts of British Music in Wartime. A strong desire was expressed by many present for future meetings in Winchester in the near future.
44 Elgar Society News Branch Reports
Fuelled by this success, we will be returning to Winchester on 25 October when Ian Lace will speak on Elgar and Delius – Triumphs and Tragedies.
Back at Havant, John Harcup will make a welcome return to cheer us up with Elgar’s jokes and japes in September, while in October Geoff Scargill will address the significant topic of Elgar and Germany. November brings the Branch AGM and we look forward to Andrew Keener sharing his experience as a record producer Home and Away. William Cole
SOUTH WESTERN: In March we had a return visit from Tom Kelly. He is popular with our members and gave an excellent talk on Elgar’s Second Symphony, illustrated with many slides and musical examples. Then in April Michael Butterfield talked on ‘Elgar and Wagner’. The talk considered many aspects of Wagner’s influence on Elgar and drew an audience of 30, which was the largest for many months.
In May Dr Raymond Holden from the Royal Academy of Music talked about ‘The Orchestra in Elgar’s time’. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of performance history, and shared some wonderful historic clips of great conductors early in the last century.
We look forward to Dr Martin Firth’s talk on ‘Englishness and the Cello Concerto’ in June. Michael Butterfield
WEST MIDLANDS: At the AGM on 8 March Jon Goldswain was elected Vice–Chairman and relinquished his rôle as Treasurer, with David Parkes taking this over. Ernie Kay retired from his long–standing post as Events Secretary and agreed to take on a new position as Branch Consultant. Events programming and co–ordination would become the purview of a new collegiate ‘Think Tank’.
The AGM was followed by a presentation by Wendy Hill on her experiences ‘Talking about Elgar’; most appropriate on International Women’s Day.
No. 53 – August 2014 45 Branch Reports
Despite its somewhat forbidding title, Martin Firth treated us, on 29 March, to a masterful and entertaining history of the development of the Symphony from the little known Giovanni Battista Sammartini to Elgar. He began by playing a movement from one of the former’s symphonies and continued on by describing works by the Bach family and Beethoven, but only briefly covering Haydn and Mozart. Then followed Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, which contained the idée fixe, a recurring motif that could be seen as the precursor of the motto theme in Elgar’s 1st Symphony. A brief discussion followed on the future of the genre. Branch Chairman, John Harcup, presented Elgar Society mugs to our President, Julian Lloyd Webber, at his final public concert at Malvern on 2 May. This was followed, eight days later, by a valuable history of early recording techniques and particularly Elgar’s own excursion into this field. This took the form of a conversation between Society luminaries, Andrew Keener and Andrew Neill. Although organised by the Elgar Birthplace, the talk was well attended by Branch members. On 22 May, we were fortunate in hosting Adrian Partington who gave us an incredible insight into The Apostles which he is due to conduct at the 3 Choirs Festival in August. Those who heard his conducting of Gerontius at last year’s Festival will remember his performance with continuing delight. He explained by keyboard and recorded examples how Elgar’s writing had matured into a highly original compositional style by the early 1900s. Some of the audience, who were unable to read music, were perhaps initially somewhat daunted by Adrian handing out extracts from the score. However they were delighted to find that his detailed descriptions made these instantly understandable. Our next event took place on 21 June at Elgar’s home (from 1904 to 1911) at Plâs Gwyn in Hereford. The Dean of Hereford Cathedral, the Rev. Michael Tavinor, treated us to an excellent discourse on Catholics and Anglicans in Elgar’s day. He described the often hysterical outbursts against Catholics at this time, and how this affected Elgar’s life. He was forced to walk a tightrope and attempted to break down the barriers with his music. As he once wrote “I stand aside unbiased.”
46 Elgar Society News Branch Reports
By the time you read this, the 3 Choirs Festival in Worcester will probably be over and I hope we shall have seen some of you there at the many Elgarian events. And, of course we, like other branches, would be delighted to see you at the events detailed in the Branch Events section. Richard Smith
Above: Adrian Partington gave West Midlands Branch an excellent insight into conducting The Apostles. [Photo: Joan Roche].
YORKSHIRE and NORTH EAST: Fourteen members of our Branch travelled down to Worcester on 6 June – to share in the “Birthday” Celebrations, which included an excellent Concert of Elgar’s Choral Works under the direction of Donald Hunt, at Malvern Priory. Some of us attended the AGM at St George’s Church Hall, which was followed by a brilliant lecture on The Spirit of England given by Adrian Brown. This included a recording of Lawrence Binyon reading his Poem For the Fallen. On the Sunday we attended the Café (Lady Foley’s) on the Platform at Malvern Station, with Dr John Harcup – which was very informative. Most of us went on to the Birthplace – while some attended Evensong at Worcester Cathedral. Earlier in the day, we went to St. Wulstan’s, where Elgar and his wife are buried, for the Wreath laying. After the Birthday tea, we left for Doncaster & York. Our thanks to the Driver – Colin, of Finlandia Coaches.
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In June we had a first–rate talk, given by Bernard Porter on Elgar and his understanding of Empire. A break follows till Saturday 13 September when (at The Bar Convent) Michael Trott gives an illustrated talk on Elgar at Marl Bank – where he died 80 years ago in 1934. On 18 October – Dr John Harcup entertains us with Elgar’s Jokes & Japes. On 23 November Paul Harper–Scott speaks about Alassio – In the South, with musical illustrations. It would be encouraging to see a few more members attending the Meetings, which are always informative & entertaining. Marc Seccombe In the North Not Alassio, but York. John Norris recently addressed the Yorkshire & North East Branch on the subject of the Elgar Complete Edition, and the Branch was honoured by the presence of Society Chairman Steven Halls, his wife Elisabeth and the Chairman of the North–West Branch, Geoff Scargill, who joined John Norris, Ann Vernau and Branch officers for lunch. (Together with Tony Pook, Chairman of the Y & NE Branch, does that constitute a suite of Chairs?). Paul Grafton
Left to right: Tony Pook – Chairman, Y & NE Branch, Geoff Scargill – Chairman, NW Branch, Ann Vernau, Paul Grafton, Steven Halls – Society Chairman, John Norris and Prof Bernard Porter – Treasurer, Y & NE Branch: at lunch prior to John Norris’ talk.
48 Elgar Society News Letters to the Editor
Criticism of the term “Elgarian” is rejected Readers may remember that one of our members was not happy about the term “Elgarian”. We have had several letters rejecting his view. (This correspondence is now closed). –––––––––– Elgarian? Trust a critic to say something daft! What about Bachian, Handelian, Mozartian, Mendelssohnian, Brahmsian, Wagnerian, Verdian, Puccinian and Straussian?
I agree that we don’t say “Beethovian”. What we say is “Beethovinian”.
I know there’s at least one other way of forming an adjective, but not as common. What’s the point of changing something common, easy to pronounce, and established? Tell the critic to go back to his library and not come out again until he can think of something useful to do. Be prepared to deliver food and drink for at least a year. Robin Taylor ––––––––––
As to “Elgarian” – what’s wrong? Elgar is short and simple, well set to be converted into “Elgarian”. And very useful. Marc Seccombe ––––––––––
I was puzzled by your critic’s condemnation of the term “Elgarian” in the “Not the Editorial” of the April Elgar Society News. It seems to me to sum up perfectly what Elgar’s music is about, in sound, structure, melody, harmony, rhythm, and all the other myriad details that make up a composer’s style. We understand and can picture immediately what that one word denotes. And we may not use Beethovian but we do use Beethovenian, and likewise Wagnerian, Verdian, Schubertian, and so on. When that is awkward the suffix esque is used – hence Chopinesque, Schumannesque etc.
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This can be applied to almost any composer, although I’ve yet to meet Sukian (or Sukesque) or Deliusian (although I have seen Delian). At any rate, if we drop the term Elgarian the News will be twice as long as we try to find enough words to do the same job! Barry Collett ––––––––––
The Apostles in Canada – and now in England?
I conduct Pax Christi Chorale in Toronto who have made a bit of a niche of performing Elgar in Canada. We’ve sung Gerontius (2001), The Music Makers (2007) and The Kingdom (2012.) In 2015 we will perform what we believe to be the Canadian premiere of C.H.H. Parry’s Judith, and in 2016 we plan for The Apostles.
Last month this 85–voice choir took a very small day trip out of town, had lunch at a country restaurant, toured the local history museum, and then gave a concert. We had excellent planning in our host town (it happens to be where my family lives) so we had a large, enthusiastic audience and generous hospitality. When I passed by one of the tables at dinner, I noticed a huddle of tenors talking enthusiastically about doing a larger scale tour in the future. It got me thinking too. Since we tend to sing large scale works with orchestra, it is difficult and too costly for us to tour. The programme we ran out to Kitchener was particularly designed for touring – with a cappella repertoire, and some things with organ and brass quintet accompaniment.
In 2016 we are planning Elgar’s oratorio The Apostles. Since it would be impossible to tour this with our orchestra, I thought it might be an idea to partner with a group in the UK who is already thinking ahead to singing The Apostles in their 2016 season.
Many of our singers are school teachers, so a tour to the UK could only happen for us at the beginning of July when our school is out.
50 Elgar Society News Letters to the Editor
1 July is Canada Day, and singing with a UK choir would make a spectacular opportunity for cultural exchange. (I have dreamed of re–creating Sir Henry Coward’s world tour with the Sheffield choir, but this may be a more realistic start.) I don’t have any more detail now since this is a new idea. But I’d love to talk things over and see what would be possible. I am an Elgar Society member (an honorary member I humbly add) and will be attending the North American meeting in Vancouver next month. If you’d like to run something in the Elgar News I am happy to share my email contact info for further investigation If you want to hear our choir, here’s our new video for Easter, which we’d be very happy for you to share as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9MaFG0Pxkk Stephanie Martin ([email protected]) ––––––––––
Elgar’s trip to France Thanks for printing my Review (Elgar & Eric Coates). This has attracted some compliments (including one from the Editor of the Journal!). So I got out my Keyboard (located in Malvern Library!) to try something else, suitable to fill a space, should one occur. That Trip to France (or Elgar and “Heracles”). As is well known, Elgar flew to Paris (Le Bourget) from Croydon Aerodrome with Fred Gaisberg in May 1933. He went to France to conduct his Violin Concerto for Yehudi Menuhin and also to take a trip to Grez–sur– Loing, where he visited the ailing Delius. 80 or so years later, I have been investigating the ‘plane he might have used. There is enough detail in the well known snapshot of Sir Edward boarding (or leaving ?) his ‘plane to identify it as (probably) Handley Page “Heracles” G–AAXC which, with “Horatius”, maintained the European services (chiefly to Paris and back) at that time. In May 1937, “Heracles” flew the 40,000th flight for Imperial Airways across the English Channel and, soon after, clocked up one million miles in the air over 10,200 flying hours (having entered service in
No. 53 – August 2014 51 Letters to the Editor
September 1931). Imperial Airways also operated six similar HP42 all–metal biplane Air Liners which flew the flag – literally (it was a White Ensign above the cockpit) – to such destinations in the (then) British Empire as South Africa, Egypt and India. Needless to say, these were not non–stop services; they touched down en route several times and passengers could put up in hotels. Apart from diplomats and service personnel, these services carried Air Mail and appealed to businessmen with international interests (such as Fred Gaisberg, of course). The HP 42 type itself had an unblemished safety record and was sturdily built with a fixed tricycle undercarriage, two unequal wings and a large tail plane. Four engines, two passenger cabins, two stewards (male) serving light refreshments and (luxury indeed!) an enclosed cockpit for the pilots completed the amenities. 38 passengers could be accommodated on the Paris flight, 24 for the long–haul destinations. If we could board an HP 42 today, I fear we would find it slow (cruising at 90 mph), noisy and bumpy. The age of pressurised cabins and jet engines lay well in the future, while the Imperial Airways H/Q at Croydon has long been redeveloped for other uses. In one respect, however, “Heracles” and his brothers (such as “Hengist”, “Horsa” and so on) still have the edge; it would be good to have larger windows (like theirs) on modern jets! Members who would like to see pictures of this imposing and rather wonderful flying machine can refer to Google; try Handley+Page+Heracles for views and further details of this pre–war behemoth of the air. Michael Plant
Above: A Handley Page HP 42 “Hanno” registered G–AAUD, similar to that in which Elgar flew to France.
52 Elgar Society News Letters to the Editor
–––––––––– Souls Enshrined – Sonatas by Elgar and Strauss Back when I recorded this album, I approached the Elgar Society about any information they may have concerning the friendship between Elgar and Strauss. There was an overwhelming response, and though I ended up doing a lot of research myself, it was great to feel connected with so many people passionate about Elgar. Even though I have quite an extensive library, it proved difficult to find documentation of their relationship through the years. As a result, this is what ended up finding its way into the CD booklet. I thought the comparison of these two sonatas would be interesting in light of the time they were composed; each reflecting the different perspectives of their lives.
I wanted to send these CDs as a thank you to the Society but would be happy for a review if you think it is a good contribution to the Society. I would also be happy to send more if you like. At the moment I reside in Phoenix, Arizona, performing as concertmaster of the Phoenix Symphony. I am thrilled that I get to perform Elgar’s violin concerto as much as I do, and am helping plan a major Elgar work each year. In the fall Andrew Constantine and I are performing the concerto together in Fort Wayne in memory of Raymond Monk, and I am taking the concerto to China in the spring where it may actually be a Chinese premier. (I will have to do more research on that). I do hope you like the recording, and am very excited to be a member of the Society again. Steven Moeckel (Phoenix, Arizona) (The album to which Steven refers is “Souls Enshrined – Sonatas by Elgar and Strauss” which has been recorded by him and Paul Fan – piano). ––––––––––
No. 53 – August 2014 53 Branch Events
For further details see Branch Reports or contact the relevant Secretary (see back cover) (EA = East Anglian; EM = East Midland; L = London; NW = North West; Sc = Scottish; So = Southern; SW = South Western; WM = West Midlands; Y = Yorkshire and North East)
Sat 2 August 2014, 10.30 am (WM) Elgar’s Powick Music King’s School Worcester Andrew Lyle & Barry Collett (3 Choirs Festival event)
Sat 2 August 2014, 12.30 pm (WM) Elgar Society Lunch (This and the above are 3 Choirs Festival events. Tickets via www.3choirs.org not Elgar Society)
Sat 13 September 2014, 1.30 pm (So) Elgar’s Jokes The Spring Arts Centre, Havant and Japes Dr John Harcup
Sat ? September 2014, (SW) Elgar in Malvern A visit to Malvern to examine Elgar’s many connections there (final date to be advised)
Sat 20 September 2014, 2.30 pm (WM) The Sanguine Fan Elgar Birthplace Museum Professor Daniel Grimley
Sun 21 September 2014, 2.00 pm (Sc) Nostalgia and Englishness in Elgar’s Cello Concerto St Mark’s Unitarian Church, Edinburgh Martin Firth
Sat 27 September 2014, 2.15 pm (SW) Elgar’s Jokes The Bristol Music Club, Clifton and Japes Dr John Harcup
Sat 4 October 2014, 2.30 pm (EA) Our Never–to–be– St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, forgotten friend, Rosa Newmarch Bury St. Edmunds Peter Avis
54 Elgar Society News Branch Events
Mon 6 October 2014, 7.30 pm (L) Stanford and Elgar: a reassessment of the vexed relationship Queen’s College, Harley Street, W1 Jeremy Dibble (Preceded at 6.45 pm by a champagne & canapé reception in honour of an enthusiastic member’s 80th birthday – all welcome.)
Fri 10 October 2014, 2.00 pm (WM) A Jaunt A jaunt to two Worcester Medical Museums and Powick where Elgar was bandmaster. Meet at Charles Hastings Education Centre, Worcester Royal Hospital.
Sat 11 October 2014, 1.30 pm (So) Elgar and Germany The Spring Arts Centre, Havant Geoff Scargill
Sat 1 November 2014, 2.30 pm (EA) The Orchestra St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, during Elgar’s Life Bury St. Edmunds Raymond Holden
Sat 15 November 2014, 2.00 pm (Sc) Life at the St Mark’s Unitarian Church, Edinburgh Royal College of Music in the 1890s Professor Paul Banks
Sun 16 November 2014, 12.30 for 1pm (NW) Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport Anniversary Lunch Guest speaker: Steven Halls
Sat, 22 November 2014, 1.30 pm (So) Branch AGM The Spring’ Arts Centre, Havant Home and Away Andrew Keener
Sat 13 December 2014, 2.30 pm (WM) Elgar’s Earnings Elgar Birthplace Museum John Drysdale
No. 53 – August 2014 55 Dates for your Diary
Wed 6 August 2014, 7.00 pm Royal Albert Hall, London Symphony No. 1 / Wagner / Mathias Trusler / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Wigglesworth Thu 7 August 2014, 7.30 pm Mozarteum, Salzburg Piano Quintet / Debussy / Fauré / Stravinsky / Kodály Várjon / Bell / Isserlis / Simon / Power / Kraggerud Sat 9 August 2014, 7.30 pm Royal Albert Hall, London Sea Pictures / Berlioz / Grime / Beethoven Coote / Hallé Orchestra / Elder Sat 9 August 2014, 7.30 pm Forum Theatre, Malvern The Spirit of England / Brahms Armonico Consort and Orchestra Tue 12 August 2014, 7.00 pm Westminster Abbey Sospiri / Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 / Reger / Bach / Franck / Schumann Ford (Organ) Thu 14 August 2014, 8.00 pm Hollywood Bowl Cello Concerto / Walton / Debussy Yo–Yo Ma / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Slatkin Sat 16 August 2014, 8.00 pm Blossom Music Center, Cleveland Cello Concerto / Dvoák Yo–Yo Ma / Cleveland Orchestra / Ling Tue 19 August 2014, 6.30 pm Royal Albert Hall, London Cello Concerto / Strauss / Berlioz Mørk / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Davis Mon 25 August 2014, 7.30 pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Symphony No. 2 / Wagner City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Nelsons Thu 28 August 2014, 7.30pm Wolkenturm, Grafenegg, Symphony No. 2 / Beethoven Austria City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Nelsons
Tue 9 September 2014, 7.30 pm The Abbey, Violin Sonata / Mendelssohn / Dorchester–on–Thames Stravinsky / Saint–Saëns Schmolck / Angell
56 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary
Wed 10 September 2014, 7.30 pm University of Worcester Cello Concerto / Elegy / Dvoák / Vaughan Williams / Walton BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Macdonald Fri 12 September 2014, 8.15 pm Grote Zaal, Rotterdam Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 / Ravel / Bartók / Prokofiev Son / Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra / Gergiev Sat 13 September 2014, 7.30 pm Royal Albert Hall, London (Last Night of the Proms) Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 / etc. Jansen / Watts / Daszak / Williams / BBC Singers / BBC Symphony Chorus / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Oramo Fri 19 September 2014, 11.15 am Performing Arts Center, Sat 20 September 2014, 8.00 pm Milwaukee WI (USA) Cello Concerto / Britten / Dvoák Weilerstein / Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra / de Waart Sun 21 September 2014, 3.00 pm Great Malvern Priory String Quartet / Tomkins / Parry / Walton Aldwyn Voices / Son String Quartet Fri 26 September 2014, 7.30 pm First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana (USA) Sat 27 September 2014, 7.30 pm Theatre of Performing Arts, Enigma Variations / New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) Adams / Sibelius Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra / Prieto Sat 27 September 2014, 7.30 pm Performing Arts Center, Sun 28 September 2014, 4.00 pm Boca Raton, FL (USA) Cockaigne / Cordero / Brahms Lynn Philharmonia / Figueroa Sat 27 September 2014 St Mary’s Church, Old Square, Warwick The Spirit of England / Brahms Armonico Consort / Monks Sun 28 September 2014, 7.30 pm Mazzoleni Hall, Piano Quintet / Butterworth Toronto ON (Canada) ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory) Sun 28 September 2014, 4.00 pm St Mary’s Church, Colchester Cello Concerto / Stravinsky Gilliver / Roman River side–by–side Ensemble / Burstin
No. 53 – August 2014 57 Dates for your Diary
Wed 1 October 2014, 6.00 pm Concert Hall, Stockholm Enigma Variations / Bizet / Saint–Saëns / Brahms / Shostakovich Lozakovitj / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Strindlund Tue 7 October 2014, 7.30 pm Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Elegy / Serenade for Strings / Vaughan Williams / Finzi / Ireland / Walton Summerfield / Pearse / Orchestra of St John’s / Lubbock Wed 8 October 2014, 7.30 pm Elgar Concert Hall, Birmingham Introduction and Allegro / Tippett / McCabe / Vaughan Williams English String Orchestra / ESO String Quartet / Woods Fri 10 October 2014, 7.30 pm Usher Hall, Edinburgh Cello Concerto / Mozart / Bruckner Kiseliov / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Oundjian Fri 10 October 2014 Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg Sat 11 October 2014 (Canada) Cello Concerto / Eckhardt–Gramatte / Brahms Albers / Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra / Shokhakimov Sat 11 October 2014, 7.30 pm Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Cello Concerto / Mozart / Bruckner Kiseliov / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Oundjian Sat 11 October 2014, 4.00 pm Merton College Chapel, The Angel’s Farewell / Bach / Oxford Widor / Germani Hyde (Organ) Sun 12 October 2014, 3.00 pm Royal Festival Hall, London Cello Concerto / Ravel / Vaughan Williams Weilerstein / Philharmonia / Collon Sun 12 October 2014, 7.30 pm Town Hall, Reading Violin Sonata / Janàcek / Debussy with readings from Wilfred Owen’s letters and poems Trusler / Roscoe / Trelawny Wed 15 October 2014, 7.30 pm Lighthouse, Poole Spirit of England / Cello Concerto / Vaughan Williams / Butterworth / Coles Gritton / Meneses / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Hill
58 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary
Thu 16 October 2014, 7.30 pm Concert Hall, Stavanger Enigma Variations / Lopez / Scriabin Levit / Stavanger Symphony Orchestra / Harth–Bedoya Fri 17 October 2014, 7.30 pm Great Hall, Malvern College Violin Sonata / Chanson de nuit / Sospiri Woroch / Armstrong Fri 17 October 2014 Plovdiv Concert Hall, Bulgaria Enigma Variations Plovdiv Symphony Orchestra / Lohn Sat 18 October 2014, 3:30 pm Colston Hall, Bristol The Spirit of the Lord is upon me / Parry / Brahms / Bach / Haydn / Mendelssohn / Handel Bristol Choral Society / Walton / Partington Sat 18 October 2014, 7.00 pm The Minster, Halifax With Proud Thanksgiving / Jenkins / Van Dyk Horsey / Overgate Hospice Choir / National Festival Orchestra / Lindley Sat 18 October 2014, 7.30 pm Cathedral, Winchester Spirit of England / Vaughan Williams / Butterworth / Finzi / Coles Gritton / Rock / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Hill Sat 18 October 2014, 8.00 pm High School Auditorium, Dream of Gerontius / Butterworth Lexington New World Chorale / Lexington Symphony Orchestra / McPhee Sat 25 October 2014, 7.30 pm Fairfield Halls, Croydon The Sanguine Fan / Beethoven / Ravel / Gershwin / Rachmaninov Kempf (Piano) Thu 30 October 2014, 7.30 pm Grieghallen, Bergen Cello Concerto / Vaughan Williams / Brahms Poltera / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Litton Sun 2 November 2014, 7.30 pm Barbican Hall, London Carillon / Beethoven / Beamish Farnsworth / Friere / London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Noseda Tue 4 November 2014, 6.30 pm City Recital Hall, Sydney Sea Pictures Edmonds / Sydney Symphony Orchestra / Gill
No. 53 – August 2014 59 Dates for your Diary
Thu 6 November 2014, 7.30 pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Spirit of England / Butterworth / Bax / Sibelius Nicholls / Hallé Orchestra and Choir / Elder Fri 7 November 2014, 7.30 pm Usher Hall, Edinburgh Enigma Variations / Beethoven / Beamish / Coles Sendall / Farnsworth / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Macdonald Sat 8 November 2014, 7.30 pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Cockaigne / Nielsen / Walton Soar / Pogostkina / BBC Philharmonic / Storgårds Sat 8 November 2014, 7.30 pm Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Enigma Variations / Beethoven / Beamish / Coles Sendall / Farnsworth / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Macdonald Sat 8 November 2014, 7:30 pm Hinchinbrooke Performing The Spirit of England / Arts Centre, Huntingdon Vaughan Williams Watson / Samuel / Hunts Philharmonic / Brown Sun 9 November 2014, 7.30 pm Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Cello Concerto / Nimrod / Lunn / Sutton / Vaughan Williams / Butterworth van der Heijden / Riddell / Seal Sat 15 November 2014, 7:45 pm Langley Park Centre Symphony No. 1 / Walton for Performing Arts, Beckenham Bromley Symphony Orchestra / Brown Sat 15 November 2014, 7.30 pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Symphony No. 2 / Lutoslawski / Chopin Ohlsson / BBC Philharmonic / Mena Sun 16 November 2014, 3.00 pm Spring Garden Street, Piano Quintet / Delius / O’Neill Philadelphia (USA) Wister Quartet / Barone Sun 16 November 2014, 4.00 pm Performing Arts Center, Tue 18 November 2014, 7.30 pm Reno NV (USA) Cello Concerto / Wagner Chan / Reno Philharmonic / Jackson
60 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary
Fri 21 November 2014, 7.30 pm Usher Hall, Edinburgh Introduction and Allegro / Stravinsky / Ravel / Respighi Osborne / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Oundjian Sat 22 November 2014, 7.30 pm Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Introduction and Allegro / Stravinsky / Ravel / Respighi Osborne / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Oundjian Sat 22 November 2014, 7.30pm St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin Violin Concerto / Arnold / Rubbra Oliver / Hitchin Symphony Orchestra / Rooke Sat 22 November 2014, 2.00 pm Arts Centre, Melbourne Symphony No. 1 / Brahms Bronfman / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Davis Mon 24 November 2014, 7.00 pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, London Tue 25 November 2014, 7.00 pm Sospiri / Dvoák / Grieg Tognetti / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Sat 29 November 2014, 7:30 pm Colston Hall, Bristol The Dream of Gerontius Bickley / Padmore / Stout / Bristol Choral Society / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Partington Sat 29 November 2014, 7.30 pm St Mary’s Church, Isleworth Symphony No. 1 / Sculthorpe / Woolrich Hounslow Symphony Orchestra / Wilson Wed 3 December 2014, 7.30 pm Cadogan Hall, London Cello Concerto / Sibelius / Shostakovich Stadler / London Chamber Orchestra / Ashkenazy Thu 4 December 2014, 8.00 pm Hult Center for Enigma Variations / the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR (USA) Smetena / Mendelssohn / Adès Eugene Symphony Orchestra / Rachev Sat 6 December 2014, 7.30pm All Saints’ Church, Violin Concerto / Cliffe / Dunhill West Dulwich, London SE21 Humphreys / Lambeth Orchestra / Fifield
No. 53 – August 2014 61 An Elgarian Crossword
set by PIETRO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9
10 11
12 13
14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21
22 23 24
25 26
27
Name that place! Each of the six asterisked clues leads to an answer which is one of a themed pair – it is the other one of the pair that has to be entered into the grid. The six clues contain letter mixtures (which may start at the start, or end at the end of a word) but no further definitions. Across 1* Was Lully a baroque composer? (7 / 2,11) 10 See 24 ac. 11 Cockaigne Overture I see you heard in various rural courses. (9) 12 Among such items, Land of Hope and Glory was Elgar’s biggest. (3) 13 Rosa Burley shin fracture Roy somehow missed when looking for a way to keep fingers clean. (11) 14* A willing slave of Elgar’s music. (5,4 / 7) 17 Twelve notes, or ten – ow! – dissonant! (4,3) 18* Sibelius wrote great symphonies, not Mahler. (2,3,3 / 4,3) 20 Someone who forcibly takes Adieu for help finally gets in a cunning ruse. (7) 22* Liszt’s recherché Dante Symphony. (3,5 / 11) 24,10,3* Is Ravel easy or a pianistic nightmare? (10 / 3,5,5) 25 Covering one entry in a very long variation. (9)
62 Elgar Society News An Elgarian Crossword
26 Subject of article on Pietro. (5) 27 Odin and Thor use ox for sacrifice – dodgy beliefs! (13) Down 2 Web–free composition? (5) 3 See 24 ac. 4 Beginnings of magnum opus commemorating Edward VII, say – derisory! (7) 5 Enigmatic RBT and I are looking for something Welsh. (7) 6* Bartók’s ten hammer blows. (3,8 / 3,6) 7 Hack cast? Something needed all too often for irritated concert–goers! (5,4) 8 Abstain from entering into the cresc. he wrote. (6) 9 Capital concerto. (6) 15 Any men CAE surprised? Like this old Greek? (9) 16 He adds surface gloss to the Pastourelle – man easily covers it up. (9) 18 It gives a sprinkling of the sound of his work. (6) 19 Issue Prokofiev’s first bluish rhapsody. (7) 20 A French avant–garde composer Germany released. (7) 21 Devastated, but inured to change. (6) 23 Deceased found with unknown rubbery substance. (5) 24 A long note but a short commission. (5) Solution to the April 2014 Crossword
SFATFI
MIRRORWRITING
HCEMISSM
UNITE ORCHESTRA
TLCUKRY
RICHARDSTRAUSS
RAUSYEMO
OWNERS STREWN
BVCSURNG
EVESHAMANDANTE
RSADCAT
TAPDANCER TILTH
SELKEIIE
PROGRESSIVIST
SARSET No. 53 – August 2014 63 FOUNDED 1951 Registered as a Charity No 298062
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