Glazunov Symphonies

[ahinton]

I was suggesting that Glazunov might have influenced Elgar,thinking along the lines only that Glazunov 8 was completed before the first two Elgar Syms.

Indeed so; I don't know how well Elgar knew Glazunov's work, how often he might have had opportunities to hear performances of it or whether he wrote about it.

[teamsaint]

Indeed so; I don't know how well Elgar knew Glazunov's work, how often he might have had opportunities to hear performances of it or whether he wrote about it.

There are some suggestions online, ( I think, not had time to look properly since I was listening to Glaz 8) that Elgar might have been well versed in G's works.

[ahinton]

There are some suggestions online, ( I think, not had time to look properly since I was listening to Glaz 8) that Elgar might have been well versed in G's works.

That's interesting!

[Dave2002]

There are some suggestions online, ( I think, not had time to look properly since I was listening to Glaz 8) that Elgar might have been well versed in G's works.

I couldn't find anything with a quick search, though I did find this rather curioius and opinionated article - http://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/alexander-glazunov.pdf - which discounts some of Glazunov's work with virtually no justification or explanation, yet praises some piano sonatas which I've not heard or been aware of. No mention of an Elgar connection in that article. I'll keep looking.

[teamsaint]

I couldn't find anything with a quick search, though I did find this rather curioius and opinionated article - http://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/alexander-glazunov.pdf - which discounts some of Glazunov's work with virtually no justification or explanation, yet praises some piano sonatas which I've not heard or been aware of. No mention of an Elgar connection in that article. I'll keep looking.

I had a bit more of a look around, and what little I could find wasn't much more than conjecture.

Looks like we'll have to resort to using our ears, Dave.

[ahinton]

I couldn't find anything with a quick search, though I did find this rather curioius and opinionated article - http://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/alexander-glazunov.pdf - which discounts some of Glazunov's work with virtually no justification or explanation, yet praises some piano sonatas which I've not heard or been aware of. No mention of an Elgar connection in that article. I'll keep looking.

I'd give most of that person's writings a very wide berth if I were you; one reason Elgar's not mentioned in it is his pathological hatred of and contempt for Elgar. He can on occasion provide some interesting material but his prejudices are so marked that it's often hard to detect what, if anything, lies between them in his writings.

[teamsaint]

I have found an article which links Glazunov 8 and Elgar 2.

https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/features/composer-of-the-month-alexander-glazunov/

[Dave2002]

I have found an article which links Glazunov 8 and Elgar 2.

https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au...nder-glazunov/

Indeed, but it's speculative - and there's only one line.

[teamsaint]

I suppose the logical next step for anybody interested in this would be to have a listen and give an opinion....

[Dave2002]

You can if you want. I'd say no right now, without actually bothering. I'm not sure if it's possible to access scores - probably not without some effort. I'd still say no. The Elgar work has much more vigour, while the Glazunov is "merely" rather agitated, with a rather miserable edge to it.
There's nothing as obvious as the links between Sibelius and Bax.

[Braunschlag]

I'd give most of that person's writings a very wide berth if I were you; one reason Elgar's not mentioned in it is his pathological hatred of and contempt for Elgar. He can on occasion provide some interesting material but his prejudices are so marked that it's often hard to detect what, if anything, lies between them in his writings.

I would wholeheartedly agree. For someone who is nebulously ‘thought to be related to Sir Ivor Atkins’ he seems to possess unimpeachable (but rarely supported) personal information on most composers he ‘writes’ about. Unreliable and, to use a fashionable term, toxic.

[ahinton]

I would wholeheartedly agree. For someone who is nebulously ‘thought to be related to Sir Ivor Atkins’ he seems to possess unimpeachable (but rarely supported) personal information on most composers he ‘writes’ about. Unreliable and, to use a fashionable term, toxic.

Two wrongs DO make a Wright, as in...

[gradus]

Two wrongs DO make a Wright, as in...

Mr Wright has certainly got the bit between his teeth for Elgar and Britten but his unrelenting style puts me off. He is not afraid of judgements presumably backed up by reliable evidence?

[Stanfordian]

The Glazunov symphonies are lovely works undemanding and never less than agreeable. I feel they deserve to be heard in the concert hall far more than they are. I don't think I've even seen one of the symphonies programmed. His chamber music is damned fine too. I especially enjoy the String Quintet.

[Dave2002]

They are hardly ever performed in the UK, though I think there was a performance of one of them a few years ago - perhaps it was with the RLPO. I'm not sure if they are performed anywhere else either - Russia perhaps. I have been suggesting that we should have performances for years, along with other lesser known composers such as Myaskovsky - who has very occasionally been given an outing by Jurowski, but I keep being told that the "bums on seats" arguments are what drive these things - or not. I recently went to hear a performance of Bartók's piano sonata which was poorly attended. There could have been a variety of reasons for the lack of support, but it was still suggested that the "we know what we like brigade" wouldn't go to a concert if it even included a mere 12-15 minutes of that outrageous composer!