PETER TRANCHELL in the CAMBRIDGE REVIEW Articles and Reviews by P.A.T. or concerning his music 1951 – 1959, & 1962 compiled and edited by John Gwinnell in August 2012 introductory notes added March 2016 Material by P.A. Tranchell © Cambridge University Library In this period The Cambridge Review (“A Journal of University Life and Thought”) was published weekly during Full Term by W. Heffer & Sons Ltd. Its regular contents included News and Notes; a miscellany of one-off articles; correspondence, regular book reviews and reviews as appropriate for the Union Society, Art, Cinema, Theatre, and University Sport; that week’s University Sermon; and a Calendar of Events. Peter Tranchell returned to Cambridge as a University Assistant Lecturer in the Music Faculty in 1950, and from 1951 to 1959 he was a regular contributor to The Cambridge Review as Senior Music Critic, not only of reviews but also of occasional articles on a musical topic. The Editorship changed annually, and in the 1952-53 academic year was Harry Porter, Peter’s friend and one-time collaborator (for Daisy Simpkins), who subsequently continued to provide the Cinema reviews for some years. This collection draws together all of PAT’s contributions, together with reviews by others of some of his music. Drafts of the articles by PAT can be found in the Cambridge University Library MS collection under the classmark Tranchell/9/3/5. The numbered footnotes are supplied by the editor. 2 Contents [Leppard on] THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE............................................................................5 CAMBRIDGE FESTIVAL MUSIC..................................................................................................6 THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT OF BRITISH MUSIC...................................................................8 THE ANATOMY OF MUSICOLOGY ............................................................................................9 JESUS COLLEGE ORGAN RECITAL..........................................................................................10 THE GOLDEN AGE SINGERS .....................................................................................................11 [Philharmonic Society – The Seasons] ............................................................................................11 JAN SMETERLIN AT THE GUILDHALL ...............................................................................................12 LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AT THE REGAL CINEMA .....................................................13 THE MARJORIE HAYWARD SEXTET.................................................................................................13 THURSDAY CONCERT................................................................................................................14 SOLOMON......................................................................................................................................14 [C.U. Composers’ Club]..................................................................................................................15 A May-Week Concert......................................................................................................................16 C.U.M.S. MAY WEEK CONCERT................................................................................................17 THE BEGGAR’S OPERA ..............................................................................................................18 SOLOMON......................................................................................................................................19 Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore at the ARTS THEATRE...............................................................20 THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY CONCERT [Fauré Requiem] January 29..............................21 HOMERTON COLLEGE MUSICAL SOCIETY [This Sorry Scheme of Things] February 13....22 LARRY ADLER .............................................................................................................................22 A LONG RECITAL ........................................................................................................................23 ELISABETH SCHWARZKOPF.....................................................................................................24 Bulbul and his Oriental Ballet at the ARTS .....................................................................................25 TWO CONCERTS ..........................................................................................................................26 A NEST OF SINGING BIRDS .......................................................................................................27 A PAGEANT FOR CORONATION YEAR...................................................................................29 THE CYCLOPS IN LYONS...........................................................................................................30 [Leppard Chamber Orchestra] .........................................................................................................31 ENTERTAINING STRATEGIES...................................................................................................32 PRINCESS IDA................................................................................................................................33 PILGRIM’S PROGRESS—C.U.M.S..............................................................................................35 SANCTA CIVITAS IN KING’S COLLEGE CHAPEL .........................................................................36 THE CAMBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY .......................................................................37 [John Lowe on] ZULEIKA—HER MUSIC ....................................................................................38 PROGRAMME NOTES..................................................................................................................39 3 THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST....................................................................................................41 [Dvorak’s Stabat Mater] ..................................................................................................................41 INFLATION EVERYWHERE........................................................................................................42 POUISHNOFF.................................................................................................................................43 FAREWELL TO THE “78” ............................................................................................................43 THE CAMBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY – Fidelity.......................................................44 THE TRUTH ABOUT TUNES.......................................................................................................45 MUSIC IN THE LONG VACATION.............................................................................................46 THE TURN OF THE SCREW ........................................................................................................48 MUSICAL CLEANLINESS ...........................................................................................................50 MOISEIWITSCH ............................................................................................................................52 ANOTHER TRIUMPH OF RESEARCH .......................................................................................52 MEANING IN MUSIC....................................................................................................................54 COMPOSERS AS CRITICS ...........................................................................................................55 THE MUSIC FOR THE “BACCHAE”...........................................................................................56 [Tranchell’s Decalogue: C.U.M.S in St John’s College Chapel] ....................................................56 ROBERT SHAW CHORALE AND ORCHESTRA.......................................................................57 THE CAMBRIDGE PHILHARMONIC.........................................................................................58 THE RAKE’S PROGRESS...............................................................................................................59 THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD ...................................................................................................60 HAYDN’S CREATION ...................................................................................................................62 RECITAL by PHYLLIS PALMER.................................................................................................63 A QUESTION OF EXPRESSION ..................................................................................................64 A QUESTION OF FOCUS .............................................................................................................66 MUSIC AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR EXERCISE ................................................................................67 [Opera-production course]...............................................................................................................68 “THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE” ...........................................................................................69 THE PRESERVATION OF THE LINGUA FRANCA ..................................................................70 THE PLEASURES OF INFORMALITY........................................................................................72