BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY nAUGUST 2018 ews THE PIPER OF DREAMS A Ruth Gipps perspective ELGAR ENIGMA Rachel Barton Pine’s magnifica musica Agenda British Music Society’s news and events What you missed at the AGM his report of our Annual General Meeting covers the key areas of the Recordings Chairman’s TBritish Music Society’s activities as The generous bequest from Michael follows: Hurd for recordings has finally come to an end unfortunately and it is only to be welcome E-News expected that new releases by the Society will In the summer of 2017, Harold Diamond be less frequent now in number. New 'll keep my address short as the indicated his need to retire from his position opportunities to record will largely depend Chairman's Report from this as the monthly E-news editor. There were on receipt of grants from other funding year's AGM on June 30 is being difficulties finding another member with the bodies. I necessary time and the increasingly In November 2017, the songs of Arthur reproduced in this edition of Printed demanding technological skills to do this job. Benjamin and Edgar Bainton with Susan News. What it will not tell you is In light of this, the decision was made to Bickley (mezzo), Christopher Gillett (tenor) Dominic Daula, our new Journal employ Michael Wilkinson and Nicholas and Wendy Hiscocks (piano) with some Editor, joined the Committee at the Keyworth of Revolution Arts to conduct the funding from The Edgar Bainton Society AGM and John Gibbons revealed work for an agreed sum of £100 per month. (London) were released on Naxos 8.571377. exciting plans to mark the Society's According to the Treasurer, this has proven Printed News to be one of the Society's best sellers. 40th Anniversary with an orchestral With the departure of our multi-talented James Dickenson of the Villers Quartet concert on Saturday 22 June 2019 in Chairman Adrian Lucas in June 2017, the has submitted their recording of William St. John's Smith Square. Further Society was left with no Printed News editor Sterndale Bennett Quartets to Naxos. The details about the programme will be and designer. In order to fulfil this task, the release date is anticipated to be in the announced when they are finalised, Printed News (now three per year) was given autumn of 2018. but it is our intention, if possible, to to Revolution Arts at a cost of £600 per issue. Madeleine Mitchell, in collaboration Revolution Arts has proven themselves to be with the BMS, Diane Ambache Trust, RVW include a performance of Bax's reliable and able to produce high quality work Trust, Ty Cerdd and private donors, has Symphony No. 1. The Society will to the satisfaction of the members for both embarked on a recording of chamber music need to fundraise for this event so if the E-news and the Printed News. As each by Grace Williams. The violin sonata has now you are at all experienced in this area new Printed News is mailed, a pdf of the been recorded and other repertoire is being and can assist with application forms previous issue will be posted on the BMS recorded throughout June and July 2018. website. Naxos will accept the master with a release etc, we would love to hear from you. date planned for International Women's Day Material for the Printed News is Journal in March 2019. drawn from the monthly E-News. Owing to work pressure and personal Pianist Matthew Schellhorn has The latter has taken on a life of its circumstances, the September 2017 and succeeded in securing enough combined own over the past year and it is now March 2018 Journals edited by John Gibbons funding from the Howells Trust and the BMS no longer possible to find space for all were not issued on time. In April 2018, it was to proceed with a world premiere recording agreed that Dominic Daula would take over of Howells's piano music. This project will fit E-News articles and notices in the as editor and begin work immediately on perfectly into Naxos's own series on Howells Printed News. If you want to read the combining these two delayed issues into one and plans to move ahead with this recording full component, please subscribe to volume. Dominic has estimated that copies are now in place. E-News. will be posted out to members between 23 Wishing you a wonderful and 30 July after which, the Journal schedule Review panel Co-ordinator and Editor will be returning to some normality. Dominic Paul Jackson retired from this position in summer as I listen to the first night of is here in person to talk more about his March 2018 and was replaced by Geoffrey the Proms on the radio—an all British approach and vision for the Journal. Atkinson. Geoffrey has since expanded the programme with music by RVW, Holst, the late Oliver Knussen and a premiere by Anna Meredith. Dr. Wendy Hiscocks British Music Society Committee Wendy Hiscocks (Chairman), John Gibbons (Vice Chairman), Stephen Trowell (Treasurer), Dominic Daula (Journal Editor), Advisory roles: Karen Fletcher Printed News designed by Revolution Arts -2- Elgar: The Man Behind The Mask won a BAFTA for the quality of its sound Bridcut’s composer films are triple delight Three of John Bridcut’s award-winning d’Argent at the French film festival, FIPA. approach. Each film is a mixture of films about composers and musicians are The third film, The Pleasures of Delius, documentary and performance, and now available – the first releases of a new focused on the highlights of Frederick explores unfamiliar parts of the DVD label, Crux, produced in partnership Delius’s early years, before he succumbed composer’s repertoire as well as shedding with Gonzo Multimedia. to terminal illness. It was originally fresh light on their greatest hits. The Elgar: The Man Behind The Mask won broadcast under the title Delius: films are written, narrated and directed by a BAFTA for the quality of its sound, and Composer, Lover, Enigma. John Bridcut, and edited by Samuel R was also named Best Documentary by the Although the three documentaries Santana. Golden Prague TV Festival. The Passions were produced individually for BBC Four, Available from Crux Productions, of Vaughan Williams won the Prix they form a distinct series in style and www.johnbridcut.com number of reviewers and has recently BASC 2017 and BASC 2018 Ambassador to represent the BMS overseas. introduced a 'Biteback' section in the E- Last year's BASC 2017, run in This was organised with the Head of Strings News to give opportunity for responses by collaboration with BMS member Nigel at the Kansas State University Dr. Cora members and the public sector to review Foster who is Artistic Director of the London Cooper with the masterclass being part of a content. Song Festival, was judged to be success by all Kansas State Violin Week. Conducted in the those who attended but BMS member Kirmser Hall on November 8, the event was Website support on the day of the open to the public and well attended; four Hannah Grove began the process of masterclass/competition continues to be string players prepared works by Elgar (Salut updating of the BMS website’s Recording extremely poor. Peter Warlock was the d'Amour' and Rebecca Clarke for violin pages, the existing information having for compulsory song element with the (Midsummer Moon) and viola (Impetuoso some time not fully represented the masterclass and prizes awarded by Dame from Sonata). complete scale of the Society's input which Felicity Palmer. This event was judged to be a success is considerable. Progress so far has been Nigel Foster has engaged Roger Vignoles but in view of the challenges posed to the very slow due to Hannah's family obligations to give the masterclass and judge BASC 2018 host organisations in setting up a and problems with the website's capabilities. with Frank Bridge as the compulsory song masterclass, the committee has proposed Addressing issues concerning the composer. The event will take place on that the Ambassador be given the option of maintenance and updating of the website is November 17 at the Austrian Cultural Forum, presenting a lecture-recital. Repertoire becoming an area needing attention that is Knightsbridge. The BMS has decided to pool promoting well established composers such still to be addressed. The Society is in need the prize money donated by the BMS and as Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Britten is of a member prepared to join the committee Stephen Trowell to create a single first prize also to be avoided. to oversee website maintenance and of £800 that will be divided between the development An alternative is to engage winning singer and pianist team. Date of next AGM Revolution Arts providing they are able to It is proposed we hold the next AGM in secure funding to enable them to carry out BMS Ambassador programme central London on Saturday 22 June 2019. the work on a longer term basis. Madeleine Mitchell was the first -3- Inbox Send your letters to the Chairman to [email protected] or write to 178 Alexandra Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2ES was pleased to see you used my piece ing the war. least the equal of the better known George on Frederick Kelly in the latest Next at yesterday's Museum recital Alex Butterworth, is obviously more prolific I[Printed] News (I had almost forgotten Wilson (again!) gave the modern premiere than I at first suspected. I wrote it!).