World premiere of Arthur Butterworth Symphony No. 7

[Stanfordian]

Arthur Butterworth: Symphony 7 (world premiere) Handel: Coronation Anthem – Zadok the Priest; Beethoven: Symphony No 9 performed by the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and the Huddersfield Choral Society: Principal Conductor: Nicholas Smith at Town Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire on Saturday, April 28, at 7.30pm
Link: http://huddsphil.wpengine.com/

[Serial_Apologist]

Arthur Butterworth: Symphony 7 (world premiere) Handel: Coronation Anthem – Zadok the Priest; Beethoven: Symphony No 9 performed by the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and the Huddersfield Choral Society: Principal Conductor: Nicholas Smith at Town Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire on Saturday, April 28, at 7.30pm
Link: http://huddsphil.wpengine.com/

Enjoy the Butterworth if you're going along, Stanfordian. Another fine English composer of whom we have heard all too little on the radio.

[Roehre]

Enjoy the Butterworth if you're going along, Stanfordian. Another fine English composer of whom we have heard all too little on the radio.

Fully agreed.
thanks for the link of course as well, Stanfordian

[Stanfordian]

I've just been with him today at his home. Arthur is far too modest where promoting his music is concerned. Actually he only told me in passing about his forthcoming world premier at Huddersfield.

With regard to connections Arthur Butterworth was a former pupil of Vaughan Williams who in turn was a pupil of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford at the RCM. As Arthur Butterworth is Manchester born and a former trumpet player at the Hallé it's a shame that they didn't give the premiere of the new symphony or plan to play it. After all it was Sir John Barbirolli and the Hallé who gave the world premiere of Butterworth's Symphony No. 1, Op. 15 in 1958.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As Arthur Butterworth is Manchester born and a former trumpet player at the Hallé it's a shame that they didn't give the premiere of the new symphony or plan to play it. After all it was Sir John Barbirolli and the Hallé who gave the world premiere of Butterworth's Symphony No. 1, Op. 15 in 1958.

I agree - it's probably not Elder's "thing", but they could have got another conductor to midwife the work.
Having said that, he was a composition tutor at Huddersfield Poly back in the '70s, so there is at least some connection.

[3rd Viennese School]

Wot sort of music is the symphony? Is it modern, 12 note stuff or like Schnittke?

Will it be broadcasted on Radio 3?

3VS

[Pabmusic]

Wot sort of music is the symphony? Is it modern, 12 note stuff or like Schnittke?

Arthur Butterworth has a quite successful style of his own, though the influence of RVW and Sibelius is there, as is a little Bax, Moeran and Walton. A few days ago I was discussing Douglas Lilburn in one of these threads; Arthur Butterworth is very much of a similar mould.

As to a broadcast, I've no idea. His first symphony was played at a Prom in the 50s, but I don't think the others have been as successful. Dutton have started recording them, though, and they're excellent.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Arthur Butterworth has a quite successful style of his own, though the influence of RVW and Sibelius is there, as is a little Bax, Moeran and Walton.

... I hear Hindemith, too (more so than Bax or Moeran).

Dutton have started recording them, though, and they're excellent.

[Pabmusic]

... I hear Hindemith, too (more so than Bax or Moeran).

Yes, you are quite right.

[Anna]

I heard Arthur Butterworth for the first time on the R3 British Music programme with Simon Heffer. I confess I cannot now recall what was played although I did like it. I do know it generated quite a bit of interest among some committed Butterworth fans here, is it possible to hear his music anywhere online?

[Stanfordian]

Arthur Butterworth has a quite successful style of his own, though the influence of RVW and Sibelius is there, as is a little Bax, Moeran and Walton. A few days ago I was discussing Douglas Lilburn in one of these threads; Arthur Butterworth is very much of a similar mould.

As to a broadcast, I've no idea. His first symphony was played at a Prom in the 50s, but I don't think the others have been as successful. Dutton have started recording them, though, and they're excellent.

I feel that Arthur Butterworth's music is often English pastoral in style; certainly not like Hindemith from what I have heard. I would generalise and describe it as a mixture of Sibelius, Bax, Moeran and William Alwyn. Vaughan Williams gave him lessons. Butterworth wrote a lot of light music and much music for brass bands, and there is one string quartet as yet unrecorded. There is nothing atonal or dissonant in his music to my ears. He told me that his Symphony No. 1 was his finest work and that Sibelius was the greatest influence on his music.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsDzkr9s3E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aenqwMbqj2U

and the man himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCWpOhIQ8C8

[Anna]

Thanks ferney, will access those at the weekend

[french frank]

I'm sure AB won't mind me reproducing part of his reply to an email of good wishes, as I told him he was being discussed:

"You will, I think, appreciate that - rather like Vaughan Williams's remark about his own 4th Symphony - "I don't know whether I like it, but that is what I meant!". There is no denying that I intended it as a salutation to the example of Sibelius, to whom I feel more indebted than to any other musical influence.

"From 1962-1993 I was honoured to be conductor of Huddersfield Philharmonic Society, so that it fell to my lot to conduct the centenary concert, which included Handel "Zadok the Priest" and the Beethoven Choral Symphony. When it was proposed to have the 150th anniversary, the Society invited me to be their guest at the performance; but in addition asked if I could provide them with a new piece - as an appropriate present-day contrast as it were - to the fundamentally classic content; and to commemorate the fact that I had conducted almost the same programme all those years ago:- Handel and Beethoven. So this is how the new piece has come about."

[Curalach]

Delightful, ff.