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Tag: English

Editor's Choice, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Simpson String Quartet no. 5

October 28, 2018October 28, 2018 Fugue for Thought

performed by Delmé Quartet, available on iTunes or from Hyperion (cover image by Paul Morris) Robert Simpson’s fifth string quartet dates from 1974 and is the second of the three quartets (4-6) that make up a small set of quartets … Continue reading Simpson String Quartet no. 5

Editor's Choice, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Simpson Symphony no. 4

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Vernon Handley, available on iTunes or Hyperion (cover image by Robson Hatsukami Morgan) Simpson’s fourth symphony is a wonderful piece, which is an understatement, and probably one of his most famous, most recorded, … Continue reading Simpson Symphony no. 4

Editor's Choice, Music, SQS1 Comment

Simpson String Quartet no. 4

October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Delmé Quartet, available digitally basically nowhere but the iTunes store or Hyperion (cover image by Serge Kutuzov) Ah, Robert Simpson, the real inspiration behind the Editor’s Choice series, and someone I discovered just by digging through forums … Continue reading Simpson String Quartet no. 4

Editor's Choice, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Simpson Symphony no. 2

January 25, 2018January 4, 2018 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Vernon Handley (Very unfortunately no YouTube today, but if you have even the slightest inkling of interest, go buy this album, on which also appears the fourth symphony. It’s superb.) (cover image by Abigail … Continue reading Simpson Symphony no. 2

Editor's Choice, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Simpson String Quartet no. 3

January 21, 2018December 30, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Delmé Quartet (cover image by Cassie Boca) We will in due course get to the composer’s fourth, fifth, and sixth quartets, which are their own trilogy with a spiritual connection to Beethoven’s three Razumovsky quartets. This third … Continue reading Simpson String Quartet no. 3

Editor's Choice, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Simpson String Quartet no. 2

January 20, 2018December 29, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Delmé Quartet (cover image by Larm Rmah) As the first and really core composer behind the new Editor’s Choice series, we’ll have a few articles on Simpson’s music, doing a bit of catching up with his earlier stuff since … Continue reading Simpson String Quartet no. 2

20th Century Opera, Music, operaLeave a comment

Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress

August 3, 2017July 29, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by Anne Sophie Von Otter, Ian Bostridge, Deborah York, Bryn Terfel, et al., the London Symphony Orchestra, and Monteverdi Choir under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, or below in this recording led by Kent Nagano For idle hearts and hands and … Continue reading Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress

English Symphony, Music, thoughts6 Comments

The English Symphony in Review

May 21, 2017May 22, 2017 Fugue for Thought

Phew. The series can be reviewed here. That was a ton of music. And really it’s a testament to how much excellent music there is from that small little corner of the world up there off the coast of mainland … Continue reading The English Symphony in Review

English Symphony, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartet no. 1, op. 229

May 21, 2017May 18, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Maggini Quartet Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was born September 8, 1934 in Salford, Lancashire. He told his parents at the ripe young age of four that he wanted to be a composer, after having seen Gilbert & … Continue reading Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartet no. 1, op. 229

English Symphony, Music, SQS1 Comment

Brian Ferneyhough: String Quartet no. 2

May 20, 2017May 1, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Arditti Quartet Brian Ferneyhough may well be one of the most important composers to emerge from the latter half of this century. Simultaneously famous and infamous, he is a controversial figure of world renown, bent on making … Continue reading Brian Ferneyhough: String Quartet no. 2

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Simpson Symphony no. 3

May 18, 2017May 19, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Vernon Handley, or below by the London Symphony Orchestra under Jascha Horenstein This is the work that started it all. By ‘it’, I mean my fascination with the work of Robert Simpson and … Continue reading Simpson Symphony no. 3

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Arnold Symphony No. 1, Op 22

May 16, 2017May 14, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Richard Hickox, or below by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland under Andrew Penny We had a chance to hear Arnold’s second horn concerto a few months ago, but he was yet another … Continue reading Arnold Symphony No. 1, Op 22

English Symphony, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Simpson String Quartet no. 1

May 14, 2017May 13, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Delmé Quartet (Sorry, no YouTube this week, but I’m going to be linking below to program notes from Hyperion, who sells physical and digital copies of this music here. It’s also available on iTunes.) I’m very glad … Continue reading Simpson String Quartet no. 1

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

William Alwyn: Symphony no. 1

May 12, 2017May 11, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the composer’s baton, or below with the London Symphony Orchestra under Richard Hickox They have an original development of their own, and they will be looked at in the future as being something … Continue reading William Alwyn: Symphony no. 1

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Richard Arnell: Symphony no. 4

May 10, 2017May 7, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Martin Yates in a world premiere recording, which you can purchase here. (Sorry, folks. No YouTube today either.) Richard Anthony Sayer “Tony” Arnell was born on September 15, 1917 in Hampstead, London. … Continue reading Richard Arnell: Symphony no. 4

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Havergal Brian: Symphony no. 6 ‘Sinfonia Tragica’

May 8, 2017May 5, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Walker, or below by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Myer Fredman It’s not the Gothic. Yet. William Havergal Brian was born 29 January, 1876 in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent. Wikipedia says he “was … Continue reading Havergal Brian: Symphony no. 6 ‘Sinfonia Tragica’

English Symphony, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Britten String Quartet no. 2 in C, Op. 36

May 7, 2017May 5, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Auryn Quartet, or below by the Badke Quartet, with Tamsin Waley-Cohen as first violin We’ve actually featured Britten before, but only once, and we didn’t give anything of a bio, so here’s something short. Benjamin Britten was … Continue reading Britten String Quartet no. 2 in C, Op. 36

English Symphony, Music, Symphony1 Comment

Edmund Rubbra: Symphony no. 5

May 5, 2017April 30, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Hans-Hubert Schonzeler, or below by the Hallé Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli, in what is frustratingly only the last two movements. I highly recommend just purchasing the album it’s on, from iTunes) He … Continue reading Edmund Rubbra: Symphony no. 5

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Sir Michael Tippett: Symphony no. 1

May 3, 2017April 29, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Richard Hickox, or below by the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis Sir Michael Kemp Tippett was born on 2 January, 1905 in Eastcote, London. His father was a singer, or rather a … Continue reading Sir Michael Tippett: Symphony no. 1

English Symphony, Music, SymphonyLeave a comment

Ruth Gipps: Symphony no. 2

May 1, 2017April 28, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Munich Symphony Orchestra under Douglas Bostock Ruth Dorothy Louisa Gipps was born on 20 February 1921 in Bexhill-on-Sea. She was a child prodigy, showing exceptional talents as a performer, winning competitions in which she was much younger … Continue reading Ruth Gipps: Symphony no. 2

English Symphony, Music, SQSLeave a comment

Bridge Piano Trio no. 2

April 30, 2017April 28, 2017 Fugue for Thought

performed by the Dartington Piano Trio, or below by Yehudi Menuhin, violin; Maurice Gendron, cello; Benjamin Britten, piano We’ve visited Frank Bridge before, a number of years ago, but that was a while ago, and I didn’t discuss his upbringing and … Continue reading Bridge Piano Trio no. 2

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