Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[Ein Heldenleben]

A day-long 'British Music Map' masterminded by Sara Mohr-Pietsch.

As yet no Moeran or indeed Britten but this undisputed masterpiece in a very fine recording

Michael Tippett Concerto for double string orchestra

Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.

• TELDEC.

[smittims]

Did they play all of it? I ask because I switched on at about five to ten and heard the first movement of Elgar's Quintet. That's odd, I thought, the whole work lasts aboiut 35 minutes and they usually stop at ten o'clock for some inane chat. Of course, they played only the first movement.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Did they play all of it? I ask because I switched on at about five to ten and heard the first movement of Elgar's Quintet. That's odd, I thought, the whole work lasts aboiut 35 minutes and they usually stop at ten o'clock for some inane chat. Of course, they played only the first movement.

I’m pretty sure they played it all - it was on for over twenty mins and AD took it at some pace .They rarely play complete Concerti or Symphonies on EC these days so a 20 to 25 min one just about fits in. Does mean though little Britten ,RVW , or Elgar but plenty of minor composers…

[smittims]

The 'minor composers' are probably there because EC likes to play 'trending' or 'flavour-of-the-month' choices, i.e. someone who's been featured recently. I expect Dame Ethel Smyth, Avril and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Ruth Gipps will be on the 'Music Map' but not Arnold Cooke, William 'Havergal' Brian or Alan Rawsthorne, despite the vastly superior quality of their music .

[Ein Heldenleben]

The 'minor composers' are probably there because EC likes to play 'trending' or 'flavour-of-the-month' choices, i.e. someone who's been featured recently. I expect Dame Ethel Smyth, Avril and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Ruth Gipps will be on the 'Music Map' but not Arnold Cooke, William 'Havergal' Brian or Alan Rawsthorne, despite the vastly superior quality of their music .

Yes indeed also Coates Ruth Gipps and Grace Williams
no Moeran or Simpson or Bush or Goehr or Maconchy so far ..

It’s a tiny bit of a celebration of British Light Music …

[eighthobstruction]

....Just first movement of Elgar....a pleasant morning - didn't have to turn off at all....

[vinteuil]

Seems to be British Music Day on R3 .

... all that this is doing is reminding me why I find 'British' music so inadequate

.

[Ein Heldenleben]

... all that this is doing is reminding me why I find 'British' music so inadequate

.

Well if you judge it by the Fantasia on Nursery Themes from Grace Williams we’ve just heard I would agree with you.

[eighthobstruction]

As yet no Moeran or indeed Britten but this undisputed masterpiece in a very fine recording

Michael Tippett Concerto for double string orchestra

Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.

• TELDEC.

....where was this then??....today??....

[Pulcinella]

....where was this then??....today??....

In the Essential Classics (for once not misnamed) slot:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00224z8

[Ein Heldenleben]

....where was this then??....today??....

2 hours 32 mins in so 11.02 ish

now it’s Shirley Bassey and Goldfinger

this is a very weird experience..

[Serial_Apologist]

... all that this is doing is reminding me why I find 'British' music so inadequate

.

As so often with appreciations, the gateway is important, and of many gateways, stumbling on the wrong one can be disastrous. It could have been for me had Mendelssohn or Bruckner been chosen for me as my first port of entry, potentially putting me off "classical music" for life - so it nearly was with the first jazz I heard, and then the first "modern jazz" [sic].

[eighthobstruction]

....thanks ed and P....if they could bring back Eric/Ernie and Andre they'd have them on too....

[vinteuil]

As so often with appreciations, the gateway is important, and of many gateways, stumbling on the wrong one can be disastrous...

... perhaps. But I am now 72. And have listened to lotsa music. And when they play 'British' music - unless it be Dunstaple, Tallis, Byrd, Dowland and other Elizabethans, Purcell, the Brandenburg-Prussian Haendel - (and none of that lot is wot 'they' mean by English or British music) - I say 'meh, no, not really'.

.

[Padraig]

... perhaps. But I am now 72. And have listened to lotsa music. And when they play 'British' music - unless it be Dunstaple, Tallis, Byrd, Dowland and other Elizabethans, Purcell, the Brandenburg-Prussian Haendel - (and none of that lot is wot 'they' mean by English or British music) - I say 'meh, no, not really'.

, , , plus Orlando Gibbons. It is probably an inherent Irish prejudice which caused my music lecturer to declare that the British have not had a decent composer since Purcell. Anyway, he was one of my gateways. I except The Planets and TYPGTTO from my sweeping generalisation, vinteuil, but your revision of Handel seems right to me.