Saturday Classics/Inside Music

[Anna]

Can't remember when I enjoyed a Saturday afternoon on R3 so much whilst cooking in the kitchen! (That does not make me a sad person!) Loved the Hadley, Lambert and indeed, the Britten which was new to me. Oh, he's just said next week John Foulds, I do like him! Very interesting man and Finzi (who I do not know very well)

[Serial_Apologist]

Very interesting man and Finzi (who I do not know very well)

Way ahead of his time Foulds was experimenting with microtones (pitch intervals smaller than a semitone). In later life he had plans for orchestras combining Western with Indian instruments. Gerald Finzi's music is like Elgar's without the pomp and circumstance. There are interesting connections concerning his son's relationship with Jacqueline du Pre, but at that point it all become a bit too gossipy for me.

Keep listening, Anna - this series will provide lots of useful ideas for subsequent follow up.

[Norfolk Born]

Anna - what TREATS you have in store! I hope you'll investigate the two early Britten concertos - there are excellent recordings of both, including one conducted by Britten. IMO, they're exciting works, astonishingly mature despite their low opus numbers. And as for Finzi - where to start? There's an excellent Naxos CD with the Bagatelles, Severn Suite and other lovely pieces.

[Anna]

S-A and Norfy, I think I have all of Foulds (but I may not!) his life, at the end, was very sad. Finzi, practically nothing. Not complaining but this programme was excellent, imo, so, OK, I'll say it! Why cannot other R3 programmes be so interesting, enlightening, enjoyable and free of bleeding chunks? We've all enjoyed it and are now enthusiastic to learn more aren't we? Hence discussion, whereas what is discussed on Breakfast, names of fish and chip shops? Pathetic, innit that they think their listeners so dim?

[Norfolk Born]

S-A and Norfy, I think I have all of Foulds (but I may not!) his life, at the end, was very sad. Finzi, practically nothing. Not complaining but this programme was excellent, imo, so, OK, I'll say it! Why cannot other R3 programmes be so interesting, enlightening, enjoyable and free of bleeding chunks? We've all enjoyed it and are now enthusiastic to learn more aren't we? Hence discussion, whereas what is discussed on Breakfast, names of fish and chip shops? Pathetic, innit that they think their listeners so dim?

I do so agree - sadly, the powers-that-be don't.
Talking of Foulds: our local bookshop is closing (the manager's retiring) and I took the opportunity to snap up a Dutton Epoch CD of various pieces by Foulds, including the Keltic Suite and Overture, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by the newly ennobled (but then Mr.) Ronald Corp. Pleasant enough, and worth £2.50.

[Anna]

I love the John Foulds Three Mantras from Avatara! Birmingham SO and the Apotheosis and Mirage. Birmingham SO. Sakari Oramo, who, it has to be said, brought him back from the dead.

[EdgeleyRob]

Oh, he's just said next week John Foulds

And George Lloyd too

[Anna]

And George Lloyd too

The third of four programmes in which journalist Simon Heffer makes a personal selection of music from the British Isles, including works by familiar composers as well as some attractive pieces by less well-known names.

This programme features part of George Lloyd's mammoth 4th Symphony, as well as songs by Finzi, Butterworth and Cecil Sharp, orchestral works by Walton, John Foulds, William Alwyn and Hamilton Harty, and ends with a movement of Gordon Jacob's wonderful trombone concerto.

It has to be Foulds Mirage, I think? Anyway, sounds good to me!

[Serial_Apologist]

Why was Sir Hamilton Harty?
Because he saw Sir Adrian Boult after having Beechams

[Roehre]

Why cannot other R3 programmes be so interesting, enlightening, enjoyable and free of bleeding chunks? We've all enjoyed it and are now enthusiastic to learn more aren't we?

[Nick Armstrong]

this programme was excellent, imo, so, OK, I'll say it! Why cannot other R3 programmes be so interesting, enlightening, enjoyable and free of bleeding chunks? We've all enjoyed it and are now enthusiastic to learn more aren't we? Hence discussion, whereas what is discussed on Breakfast, names of fish and chip shops? Pathetic, innit that they think their listeners so dim?

Never a truer word a-written upon these boards, by my troth, Mistress Anna!

[Wallace]

Criminal daughter sitting to my left amidst the Paul Simon BBC4 fest informs me it is http://Www.nerdoftheherd.com/tools/radiodld/. Works like a charm although I'm not sure it will be up to Bryn' s demanding technical standards......

Thank you Anton and thank you to your daughter. I did not know that this was possible. I now have the software. I have just downloaded Simon Heffer's latest wonderful programme and, at a stroke, the Radio 3 problem is solved. As Radio 3 no longer broadcasts from 0630 to noon Monday to Friday and as the other channel on the frequency is unbearably awful, journeys to work have required CDs. This is the answer. The excellent output from the times when Radio 3 does broadcast can now be recorded and can accompany me on the way to work. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you to Matt Robinson for making this software available.

[EdgeleyRob]

This programme features part of George Lloyd's mammoth 4th Symphony.....

His 'Arctic' Symphony is mammoth at well over an hour, it's a fine work too and very moving (written so soon after his traumatic WW2 experiece),one of my favourite George Lloyd works.

[Bax-of-Delights]

For those interested in the further reaches of British music I can thoroughly recommend the following site:

http://landofllostcontent.blogspot.com/

[Norfolk Born]

For those interested in the further reaches of British music I can thoroughly recommend the following site:

http://landofllostcontent.blogspot.com/

What a fascinating site, which I've immediately added to my 'Favourites' - thank you so much for the link.