World premiere of Arthur Butterworth Symphony No. 7

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Delightful, ff.

He was featured on Dales Diary (a local "Countryfile"-type programme) some years ago, where he also emphasized his admiration for Sibelius (and for some of RVW's works - he performed in the world premiere of the 8th, incidentally).

He has an unperformed Organ Sonata (? not sure if this is the correct title), whose quartal harmonies are the sort of thing that most remind me of Hindemith (ironically, not so much Hindemith's own Organ Sonatas, but the Konzertmusik for Brass and Strings, or the Matthis Symphony). If anyone happens to know a good organist looking for neglected repertoire, I'm sure he'd be delighted to hear from them.

[BBMmk2]

Thank you verymuch indeed for doing that for us ff. I only have his brass band music in my collectioin. Tha excellant cd by Black Dyke Band. Ithink in that recording, it's therThgree Impressions that grab m,e the most. However, I can only say from this cd only about AB's music.

[Beef Oven]

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.

Funny enough, a few days ago, I reached for my Dutton CD of Butterworth's Symphonies 1 & 4 & Viola Concerto and it was his 1st that I went for (post #5099 in the What are you listening to thread). I hear a lot about the 4th, but I prefer his first. Had no idea he has written 7!

[EdgeleyRob]

Fascinating stuff.I was only aware of the first couple of symphonies,didn't realise he'd written so much music!

http://www.musicweb-international.com/buttera/works.htm

[Andrew Slater]

I made the trek to Huddersfield yesterday and heard the new symphony. Very Sibelian, and like Sibelius's 7th, in one movement. According to the composer's programme notes, it's based on an initial 3-note sequence: G# A# D. It's quite a haunting sequence - I wonder if the tritone interval between first and last notes is of any significance? The overall impression was one of continual development with a strong forward momentum (if that makes sense!) There was an interesting trumpet solo somewhere around the middle of the work.

It would be interesting to hear it again. I believe that a private audio recording was being made. (There were also three cameras (belt-and-braces) strapped to the lighting rail in front of the gallery, recording the whole concert!) Perhaps something might find its way to the internet somewhere, or even a recording company will step forward.

The first, fourth and fifth symphonies are already available commercially, and the second and third can be found by googling 'unsung composers' (and registering with the site). Apparently the sixth was given its first performance in Russia; I don't know whether it has been performed in this country yet, or whether a recording is available.

[Andrew Slater]

Fascinating stuff.I was only aware of the first couple of symphonies,didn't realise he'd written so much music!

http://www.musicweb-international.com/buttera/works.htm

The seventh symphony is Op. 140.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Cheers, AS

Very Sibelian, and like Sibelius's 7th, in one movement. According to the composer's programme notes, it's based on an initial 3-note sequence: G# A# D. It's quite a haunting sequence - I wonder if the tritone interval between first and last notes is of any significance?

... the same opening notes (transposed down a major third) as Sibelius #4.

[Andrew Slater]

Cheers, AS

... the same opening notes (transposed down a major third) as Sibelius #4.

I see.....