BOOSEY & HAWKES MUSIC BULLETIN Introduction Autumn 1966 It was unfortunate that Igor Stravinsky who had spring. The following headlines are typical of the been appointed President of the English Bach enthusiastic tributes: Festival in succession to the late Albert Schweitzer was prevented through illness from attending "New York Opera finds a winner"—The Times. when he was to have conducted among other "Dazzling U.S. premiere of Don Rodrigo" works a performance of Oedipus Rex. The British —New York World Telegram & Sun. public was however given the opportunity for the first time of evaluating the music of the 44-year- In London Richard Strauss's opera Die Frau ohne old Greek-born composer lannis Xenakis. He had Schatten was heard for the first time, when the already attracted considerable attention in Europe Hamburg State Opera gave two performances in and first performances of his works had been May at Sadler's Wells. The opera was enthu- given under such conductors as Rosbaud, Boulez, siastically received and all tickets were sold out Madema and Scherchen who described Xenakis soon after booking opened. This augurs well for as "a musician of profound reception, pure and the success of the Covent Garden production struck by the fire of creation". All the works scheduled for next season. heard in Oxford in June were new to this country It might be interesting to note here that Boosey & and one, Akrata was receiving its world premiere. Hawkes in 1965 and 1966 have been celebrating two In general the press and public alike admitted to important anniversaries. In 1816 Thomas Boosey, being completely baffled by this new stochastic who up to that date had been concerned with the music described by the composer as being importation of foreign editions of a scientific and written "according to the laws of mathematical educational character, decided to specialise exclu- probability". Comments ranged from "a nimble sively in musicand purchased newpremisesforthat Japanese obliged to commit a violent assault on purpose. This was therefore the beginning of a defenceless Steinway" (Daily Mail description Boosey & Co. as it existed until the amalgamation of Herma) to "there is much that is vivid, music with Hawkes & Son in 1930. 1865 was the year in that is highly original, a little that is actually which Hawkes & Son was founded, when Jules quite beautiful" (The Times describing Akrata). Riviere and William Hawkes entered into partner- The outstanding event of the last season in New ship at Soho Square to print and sell brass and York was the North American premiere of Alberto military band publications as well as to manu- Ginastera's opera, Don Rodrigo, which was chosen facture musical instruments of every description. to open the New York City Opera's first season The two companies existed in competition until at the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center. 1930 when they decided to join forces to their The opinions of the public and the press were mutual advantage. Since that date both the unanimous in acclaiming it as one of the most manufacturing and publishing sides of the busi- impressive operas of our time and so great was ness have greatly expanded so that whereas the demand for tickets that two extra unscheduled before the war 500 clarinets were manufactured performances had to be given. The opera will be in one year the total is now approximately 300 in the repertoire of the City Opera again next per week. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.35.234, on 28 Sep 2021 at 23:34:13, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0040298200087854 SYMPHONIC MUSIC Henry Barraud CONCERTO Aaron Copland Henry Barraud's Concerto pour flute et orchestre a MUSIC FOR A GREAT CITY cordes, written in 1963, was first performed in Music for a great city was written for the sixtieth Braunschweig by Hans-Jiirgen Mohring and the anniversary of the London Symphony Orchestra Braunschweig Staatstheater Chamber Orchestra and is dedicated to the members of the orchestra. under Heinz Zeebe on 22nd November of that year. In May 1964 the composer conducted the orchestra "A work which fascinates at first at the Royal Festival Hall in the first performance, hearing by its wealth of colourful when the work made a profound impression. nuances." Several performances have been given since that Braunschweiger Zeitung date and a recording is scheduled for release later this year. Reduction for flute and piano 15/- Pocket score 10/- Full score 30/- Full score and parts for hire Pocket score 20/- Full score 70/- Full score and parts for hire Arthur Bliss INTRODUCTION AND ALLEGRO Frederick Delius REQUIEM To celebrate the 75th birthday of Sir Arthur Bliss Frederick Delius's Requiem has suffered virtually a pocket score of his Introduction and allegro for total neglect since its first performance in 1922. orchestra has recently been published. At a recent concert in Liverpool the public was Pocket score 12/6 Full score and parts for hire given the opportunity of a reappraisal and recog- nised it as a masterpiece. The performance was excellent and the work was described by The Musical Times as "one of Delius's finest works, Benjamin Britten CONCERTO FOR the crown of his major compositions". It is to be VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA broadcast by the BBC and already subsequent Benjamin Britten's early Violin concerto was performances have been planned. written in 1939 during the composer's stay in the Study score 10/- Full score and parts for hire United States and Canada. The first performance was given in Carnegie Hall, New York, in 1940 by Antonio Brosa and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under John Barbirolli. The concerto Antal Dorati et al. VARIATIONS ON A was later revised in 1958. THEME OF ZOLTAN KODALY Reduction for violin and piano 22/6 Full score 65/- To celebrate Kodaly's eightieth birthday in 1962 Pocket score 17/6 Full score and parts for hire five of his former pupils each wrote a variation on a theme from his first string quartet which have now been published as a set. The variations were first performed in Holland in 1962 and royalties THE LITTLE SWEEP from the sale of the work together with perform- Since its first performance by the English Opera ance fees are credited to the Kodaly Foundation, Group in Aldeburgh in 1949 this "entertainment an organisation set up with the aim and purpose for young people" has been successfully pro- of encouraging and assisting young composers. duced at schools in this country and throughout Pocket score 15/- Full score 45/- the world. For the first time the full score and study Full score and parts for hire score have now been made available for sale and a revised vocal score will be published next year. Full score 120/- Study score 40/- Alberto Ginastera ESTANCIA Full score and parts for hire This ballet in one act and five scenes depicts the happenings of one day on an "estancia" on the Pampa. It was first performed at the Teatro Colon, MATINiES MUSICALES Buenos Aires in 1952. One of the movements, SOIREES MUSICALES Triste pampeano, is published for sale as a guitar Pocket scores of these two popular arrangements solo and the Danza final is available separately of movements from Rossini are now published for in an arrangement for military band. the first time. each 15/- Piano score 30/- Full score and parts for hire Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.35.234, on 28 Sep 2021 at 23:34:13, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0040298200087854 Benjamin Lees SYMPHONY NO. 2 1943, marks an important step, therefore, towards A pocket score of Benjamin Lees' Second the general introduction to a wider audience of symphony has just been published. The work was this composer's earlier symphonies. commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra and Pocket score 17/6 Full score 52/6 first performed in Louisville in 1958. It has been Full score and parts for hire featured regularly in programmes throughout the United States since that date and was introduced to European audiences at a concert in Brussels in Peter Maxwell Davies FIVE MOTETS 1961. The Journal American wrote after a perform- Five motets for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, double ance by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra: chorus and instruments was given its first per- "in design and craftsmanship Lees formance in March 1965 at a St. Pancras Festival has written a fine symphony. The way concert by the Ambrosian Singers and the in which he used the orchestra is a English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Norman study in itself." Del Mar. The work was enthusiastically received and The Sunday Times wrote: Pocket score 25/- Full score and parts for hire "... It is the music's physical sound, with its powerfully emotive qualities, VIOLIN CONCERTO which makes the strongest impres- sion. The intensity of vision behind The Violin concerto, with performances in France the music communicates itself in the and Germany as well as several in the United short, tense crescendi on held notes, States, has earned widespread recognition since in the pregnant, angular phrases sung it was first heard in February 1964 at a concert by the soloists, and above all in the given by Henryk Szeryng, to whom the work is vividly imagined chords, which are dedicated, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra laid out with uncanny skill and to under Erich Leinsdorf.