England's Greatest Symphonist - so shamefully and sadly neglected

[Sydney Grew]

How true it is that England is the land without music! May we simply mention this great man's eight symphonies - without a shadow of doubt far superior to those of the much better known Sir Arnold, Sir Edward, and Dr. Williams.

They include the First (the "dramatic choral symphony"), the Second (the "illuminated symphony") - both the above written for vast choral and orchestral forces - the Third (sub-titled "Ships"), and as if those three were not enough there follow the incomparably grand and inspired Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth!

Then there are the innumerable String Quartettes - in a further display of incapacity each of the British "authorities" we have consulted cites a number different from that cited by any of the others. They know nothing! The most likely number is six, but that is our guess.

And what Englishman of to-day can tell us anything about the man's immense and imposing opera cycles, to this day never given?

Really we despair - a sad and shameful situation!

[Petrushka]

A name would help...

Additional edit: A quick Google search has thrown up the answer - Joseph Holbrooke.

I have never knowingly heard any of his music.

[Mr Pee]

Come on, put us out of our misery- who one earth is he? Or is this a little pre-Christmas japery?

Actually, the more often I read your post, the more I'm sure you've made the whole thing up - the "illuminated" symphony? Really?

[Mr Pee]

A name would help...

Additional edit: Just done a quick Google - Joseph Holbrooke.

Still never heard of him.......

[salymap]

Hi Sidney Grew. I at least have heard of your hero. I worked in an orchestral hire library from1949 for a number of yearsand received frequent postcards from Dr{?] Holbrooke,asking us to change titles on his works etc. I recall'Hallam', 'Children of Don'etc. He couldn't manage the red/black ribbons vey well so his postcards were colourful but hard to read. The works referred to were in mss, not printed, and he was the only person who borrowed them. I do hope I've got the right composer. It's a very long time ago. My job was not promotion then but it sounds as though he needed help with that side of things. bws salymap

[Bryn]

[Sydney Grew]

That's interesting Madame Salymap - I think you are right about his not having had the flair for self-promotion.

[Chris Newman]

Bryn,
A lovely record. About a month ago it was playing in The Collector's Room in Salisbury as I was browsing CDs and I did that rare thing... buying it straight away. Annoyingly it has now vanished under a heap (one of my haemarroids, as my son will insist on calling them)

[antongould]

I too had never heard of him. emusic has 3 full CDs of his work 2 full orchestra works, but no symphonies (neither with a UK orchestra) and one chamber works. All 3 get 5 star ratings - not all that common on emusic - unless an enthusiast has been about!

[Bax-of-Delights]

Sydney - thank you for the nudge. I was only vaguely aware of Joseph (Josef) Holbrooke in connection with his teacher Frederick Corder whose other pupils included Bantock, Bax and York Bowen among others. According to Foreman's biography of Bax, Arnold was the pianist in the first performance of Holbrooke's piano sextet "In Memoriam" in 1907.

I've located the Piano Concerto on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtQIARRDT94&feature=related

Certainly worth more investigation and I shall add Chris Newman's recommendation to my Xmas wish list.

Best wishes

[mercia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtQIARRDT94&feature=related

"The Cockney Wagner" according toWikipaedia


Woops - sorry Mr Bax

[Bryn]

I managed, earlier today, to find "used - like new" copy of the Piano Concerto on amazon.uk. At £4.53 including p&p I thought it worth a try. If I like it I might plump for the Dutton disc at some point.

[Bax-of-Delights]

Hercule:

I think we posted simultaneously!

[BBMmk2]

Hyperion have recoprded his PC #1, 'The Song of Gwyn app Nudd', Op.52. Strongl;y reccomemnded, c/w Haydn Wood's PC. Hamish Milne, BBCSSO/Martyn Brabbins.

[Richard Tarleton]

Remarkable physical resemblance to another symphonist.....

http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/music/classical/romantic%20era/gustav%20mahler.html