Isles of Scilly U3A Music Appreciation Group

Desert Island Discs number three

Thursday 25 October 2018 at 5 Ennor Close, Old Town, 10 am

Programme

Margaret 1. Music for ‘Panpipes’ (Pan-flutes). Two pieces arranged by P.Elsterre

(a) M. Jardini: Rondo Russo; (b) Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Barcarolle Played by Dinu Bomha (panpipes) and The Strings of Paris, conducted by J.P. de la Tour.

Notes: Pan pipes are end-blown flutes that come in many shapes and sizes. They were used by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Etruscans and are now very popular in Latin America. The pan pipe is played by blowing horizontally across an open end agaiknst the sharp inner edge of the pipies

2. Edward. Elgar The Dream of Gerontius Last chorus: ‘softly and gently, dearly ransomed soul.’ Sung by Janet Baker (mezzo soprano). No other details Given.

Notes: Edward Elgar was born in Lower Broadheath near Worcester, 1857; died 1934. His father was a piano tuner and ran a music shop and gave Edward music lessons. At age 10 he was already composing music for a children’s play. Although regarded widely as ‘a typically English composer’, in fact he was, unlike Vaughan-Williams, influenced mainly by music in continental Europe, especially Germany. He always felt himself an ‘outsider’ both musically and, as a roman Catholic with a strong faith, socially. His output was large and wide-ranging: 3 symphonies, several oratorios, much sacred choral music (hugely influenced by his strong Roman Catholic faith),many marches and ceremonial music and a variety of miniatures, often depicting childhood. He is particularly admired for the ‘Enigma Variations’ well illustrating his skills in orchestration. He was the first composer to record his music.

Susie 1. Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, 2nd Mvt Adagio.

Julian Lloyd-Webber, Cello; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Yehudi Menuhin. Elgar notes see above.

2. Johann S. Bach Cello sonata in G minor, adagio.

Janos Starker, Cello; Gyorgy Sebok, Piano.

Notes: Born 1865 in Eisenach, Germany; died 1750. Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a large family of musicians and his own sons carried on the family tradition. Widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time, much of his music was for the Lutheran Church – settings of the mass, passions, oratorios, cantatas and motets. He also wrote secular music, much of it for the organ and in his time he was renowned for his skill as an organist. He was also intensely interested in the theory of music and the technicalities of instrumental playing, which resulted in such academic works as ‘The Well-tempered Klavier’.

3. John Sheppard Libera Nos

The Sixteen, conductor Harry Christophers.

Notes: Sheppard’s birth date is uncertain but is usually quoted as ‘circa 1516’. Little is known about him until 1543, when he was known to be at Magdelen College, Oxford and latter at the Capel Royal in 1552. Survival of his written works mainly stems from records kept at Christ Church College, Oxford. His output comprises Catholic masses and other Latin liturgical music in Mary Tudor’s reign. He later composed liturgical English music after the publication of the Book of Common Prayer (1549) in Edward VI’s time. Today, Sheppard’s music has been staunchly promoted by Harry Christophers and ‘The Sixteen’, who have made several recordings of his music.

Maureen C 1. Wolfgang Mozart Requiem, Lacrimosa

John Aldous Choir, BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Colin Davis.

Notes: Born Salzburg, Austria, 1756; died 1791, Vienna. Wolfgang showed prodigious ability from early childhood. At age 5 he was already competent at the keyboard and violin and was composing. At age 17, being dismissed as musician at the Salzburg court, he moved to Vienna, where he remained. In his 35 years he composed over 600 works – symphonies, chamber music of all types, concertos, choral pieces and operas.

2. Gabriel Faure Requiem, Pie Jesu

Choir of Truro Cathedral, director Andrew Nethsingha, Simon Morley, organ.

Notes: Born 1845, Pamiers, France; died 1924. Faure was a noted composer, organist, pianist and teacher. After graduating from music college, he held important organist posts in Paris and was later recognised as a leading composer of his day. He is best known for ‘Pavane’, Requiem, and many piano pieces and songs.

Janet 1. Edvard Grieg ‘Wedding day at Troldhaugen’

Balasz Szokolay, Piano.

Notes: Born 1843, Bergen, Norway of Scottish ancestors. His mother taught him piano at age 6. At 15 he studied at Leipsig Conservatory, concentrating mainly on piano. As a student and for the rest of his life, he suffered severe ill health. He made his debut as a concert pianist in 1862. As a composer, he was much influenced by Franz Liszt with whom he became friendly. His best known compositions include the well-known piano concerto in A minor, incidental music for ‘Peer Gynt’ and many delightful small piano pieces. There is a Grieg Museum at Grieg’s former house ‘Troldhaugen’ in Bergen, where the ‘Wedding Day’ music was composed.

2. Johann Pachelbel Canon in D

Capella Istropolitano, Richard Evidinger, conductor.

Notes: Born 1653, Nuremberg, Germany; died 1706. He received early musical training and became a composer, organist and teacher. His output as a composer was very extensive and in his lifetime his music enjoyed enormous popularity. He contributed greatly to the development of the ‘baroque chorale prelude & fugue’ (much used by J.S. Bach). Sadly, he is known now mainly, if not exclusively, for his Canon in D and his music deserves to be much more widely known.

3. John Henry Gauntlett O praise ye the Lord

Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor & The Marlowe Brass Ensemble.

Notes: Born 1805, Wellington, Shropshire; died 1876. He started playing the organ at a very early age and became organist at age 9 at Olney Church, Buckinghamshire, where his father was first curate and later vicar. During his life, Gauntlett was organist at several leading churches in London. He designed and built organs and introduced many innovations. He was the author of over 1,000 hymn tunes, of which the usual tune for ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ was one.

Mike 1. Carl P.E. Bach Oboe Concerto in E flat major, 1st mvt.

Camerata Bern, Heinz Holliger oboe.

Notes: Born 1714 in Weimar, Germany; died 1788. As the son of J.S. Bach, it is unsurprising that he became musically well educated at an early age. His first employment was as court musician to Prince Frederick of Prussia and this established the course of his life as composer and teacher. He became the most famous keyboard player in Europe and produced an influential textbook ‘An Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments’. Helm, who catalogued all his known compositions, lists 876. These include solo keyboard pieces, concertos, symphonies, chamber music, passions, cantatas, motets and other choral works. He was an influential composer at a time of transition between his father’s ‘baroque’ style and the later ‘classical’ and ‘romantic’ styles. In his day, his reputation was greater than that of his father and Mozart said of him “CPE Bach is the father; we are the children”.

2. Antonin Dvorak String quartet no. 12, ‘American’

The Keller String Quartet

Notes: Born 1841 near Prague in Austro-Hungary; died 1904. He was one of the first Czech composers to achieve worldwide recognition, developing a romantic nationalistic style that built on Moravian and Bohemian folk music. He was greatly supported and encouraged by Brahms. His range of compositions is wide, including symphonies, chamber music, concertos, choral and religious music and several operas. In 1892, he moved to the USA and was appointed director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. Homesickness and other problems led to his return to Bohemia in 1895. He is probably best known for the ‘New World’ Symphony, cello concerto, ‘American’ string quartet and the Slavonic dances.

Brian 1. Johann Pachelbel Canon in D major

Academy of St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner, Conductor. See notes for Janet’s choice 2 above. It was interesting to note the difference in style of playing this work, especially the tempo.

2. Ralph Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’

BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Barry Wordsworth.

Notes: Born Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, 1872; died 1958. His father was a vicar from a family of mixed English and Welsh descent. Ralph was related to the Wedgwood and Darwin families through his mother. He displayed musical talent early and was taught by his aunt Sophy Wedgwood. At age 8 he took and passed a correspondence course in music. At the Royal College of Music, he was taught by Hubert Parry. He was also educated at Cambridge University. A private income meant that he did not need to hold major salaried posts. He started collecting folk songs and this influenced much of his output. His wide range of compositions includes symphonies, operas, religious music (although an agnostic), ballet music, chamber works, many songs and much-loved pieces such as ‘the lark ascending’.

3. Eric Coates By the sleepy lagoon

Notes: Born Hucknall near Nottingham, 1886; died 1957. Eric was born into a musical (but non-professional – his father was a GP) family and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He played (viola) in string quartets and in theatre and symphony orchestras. He started composing songs and other light music and made a living as a conductor and composer. ‘By the sleepy lagoon’ is an appropriate choice here, as it has been used for many years as the signature tune to the radio programme ‘Desert Island Discs’. Other well-known works are the ‘Dam busters’ and ‘Knightsbridge’ marches and a host of signature tunes.

Margaret, Susie, Maureen C, Janet, Mike & Brian attended. Between rounds one and two, we discussed the programme for 29th November. It was decided that this would be devoted to music associated with World War I and the main item should be ‘The Armed Man’ by Carl Jenkins; other items representing some aspect of the war to be selected by members (for example music by composers who died in that war or composers who set to music poems of those poets who died in the war.