England's Greatest Symphonist - so shamefully and sadly neglected

[umslopogaas]

This has been nagging me, because I had a dim recollection I had heard of him and thought it must have been from a Lyrita LP, but couldnt find his name in the list. But I have just tracked him down, the work is 'The Birds of Rhiannon' op. 87 and its a short fill-up to the LP devoted to Cyril Rootham's first symphony. Lyrita's sleeve notes are very good and they suggest he is forgotten because he had the misfortune to be overshadowed by some serious contemporaries: notably, Vaughan Williams. The notes dont even mention his symphonies, they seem to concentrate on his tone poems on Edgar Allen Poe topics ('The Masque of the Red Death' 'The Raven'!) and his operas, which in 1979 had sunk out of sight.

I think it might be tough to defend an argument that he is the greatest English symphonist, when you stand him against Elgar and Vaughan Williams. But, without any recordings, its likely to remain a rather rarified discussion for most of us.

[Tristan Klingsor]

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

Not strictly true I fear. He was kicked out of the Royal Academy of Music because, in his final piano recital, he substituted a programme made up entirely of his own compositions for the approved one. His music is distinctly Francophile in leaning if the copy of an opera of his I have is anything to go by. His son was the famous bassoonist Gwydion Brooke.

[salymap]

Referring to my earlier post, he was a difficult man which didn't help the various organisations which might have helped or promoted his music. For instasnce, I think he wanted a large set of orchestral parts to be changed from 'Steel' to 'Hallam' or something else. They were all in his own messy manuscript and after one set of parts was done he changed his mind again.
I think the bassoonist Gwydian Brooke is/was his son. I heard about it yonks ago but it's just come to mind.
There may some biographical details somewhere. Google wasn't a lot of help. salymap

[salymap]

M17 PerhapsI should have said he had the wrongsortof flair for self promotion.

[antongould]

Spot on as ever salymap his son Frederick James Gwydion Holbrooke was one of the "Royal Family" of the Royal Philharmonic along with Jack Brymer (clarinet), Dennis Brain (horn), Richard Walton (trumpet), Terence MacDonagh (oboe), and Gerald Jackson (flute) - what a line up!

[Ferretfancy]

The only Holbrooke I have in my collection is the disc of symphonic poems with the Czech RSO and Adrian Leaper. I bought it because I remember hearing Bronwen
at a Prom back in about 1950. I haven't heard any of his symphonies. Listening to the orchestral poems again doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid. I always admire the enthusiasm for forgotten or overlooked composers, but sadly I find that there's usually a good explanation for their neglect.
Others seem more willing than I to listen to and appreciate broadly romantic music that lacks a strong thematic profile. I don't mean just tunes, but material that stays in the mind, and for me Holbrooke and others like him just don't stick in the imagination.
Nevertheless, the recent Dutton issue does attract me, maybe I'll become a convert!

[Tristan Klingsor]

This thread led me to have a listen to 'The Raven' on Spotify and I was very pleasantly surprised; particularly as the piece progressed. Maybe - if this is a typical example - he's one of those composers who doesn't make a great impression at the start of a piece causing the listener to give up before getting to the good bits! Not that any of us would be that shallow of course!

[salymap]

It seems odd to me that if people were really so interested in his music he never had a 'Holbrooke Society' to promote it. Or did he?

When I was younger I was often sent tickets for the Bantock Society and others I can't remember.

[Uncle Monty]

I have The Birds Of Rhiannon playing here e'en as we speak. the version by the LPO under Handley on Lyrita.

I've also got a two-disc set of orchestral works on Marco Polo. These are the contents:

HOLBROOKE: Orchestral Works


Ulalume (poem for orchestra No. 4), Op. 35 13:35

Bronwen Overture, Op. 75 09:36

The Bells, Prelude, Op. 50 10:44

The Raven (Poem for Orchestra), Op. 25 19:02

Byron (Poem for Orchestra and Chorus), Op. 39 16:22


Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Adrian Leaper. conductor



HOLBROOKE: The Children of Don (Don who?) / The Birds of Rhiannon


The Children of Don, Op. 56 11:21

The Birds of Rhiannon, Op. 87 13:37

Dylan, Op. 53 21:17


Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Penny, Conductor


I will persevere with this, as the Birds is perfectly pleasant, but my first impressions are sort of sub-Bax. That may be unfair. I shall review. I think it's safe to say, though, that extravagant claims do Holbrooke no service!

I must also listen to his Piano Concerto, which is on Vol 23 of Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto, and which has been languishing in my slush pile for far too long!

[salymap]

There is an interesting article on Google, headed Joe Holbrooke by a Mr Barnett. I really thought he was Welsh, far from it he lived in Croydon, like Coleridge-Taylor. Mr.Barnett,[sorry can't remember first name but he is writing for Music Web International] refers to several works which re-appeared under new titles.
That's where I came in! I should like to hear some of his shorter works but not his operas, full scores of which in mss, ran to three large volumes.

[Eudaimonia]

Evening, Sal! Here's something for you on Youtube:

[salymap]

Rutland Boughton was another composer with his own 'Society'. It smacks of desperation to me although of course the Elgar Society is still flourishing. But no Holbrooke.

[Sydney Grew]

A recording came out we see just three months ago containing the Fourth Symphony (written for that Schubert competition of 1928 which got Atterberg into trouble with his Sixth), the Violoncello Concerto, and the two tone poems "The Pit and the Pendulum" (a frightening one for adults only and arguably not even for them) and "Pandora." The works are performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted in all cases by a Mr. Vass. Members may read more about it HERE

[mercia]

'Amontillado' opus 123 sounds just right for Christmas and the Symphonic Variations on 3 Blind Mice opus 37a sounds fun (well it would if I had a chance to hear it)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Joseph_Holbrooke

[mercia]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/holbrooke/index.htm

(scroll down a bit)