Simon Heffer presenting British music throughout June: Saturday Classics

[amateur51]

Amsy, you could have warned that that damn Union Jack bow tie would hit you in the face again

Sowwy french frank, I'm sort of inured to it after all these years.

I had no idea about your Anglo-Welsh roots, btw

[french frank]

I had no idea about your Anglo-Welsh roots, btw

Wel, great grandmother born Trefdraeth in Anglesey. Her parents came from Llanfair-yn-neubwll and Llangadwaladr

[amateur51]

Wel, great grandmother born Trefdraeth in Anglesey. Her parents came from Llanfair-yn-neubwll and Llangadwaladr

Respeck! (as they say in Dwygyfylchi )

[EdgeleyRob]

I've just listened via i player to todays programme.

Thoroughly enjoyed every note.

I think the Bate Viola concerto is sensational (a new work to me) and I've ordered the Dutton CD.
Very reminiscent of RVW in parts (Bate was a pupil apprently)and yet an individual voice shines through.What a heart wrenching slow movement.
The excerpt form the Wreckers was superb.I wonder if Britten (Grimes) and RVW(Riders To The Sea) knew this work.
If I'm being picky,it would have been nice to have the whole of Arnold 5.

Thank you Radio 3.

[Tony Halstead]

Bate Viola Concerto... SO that's what it was that was so very gripping that I ( driving and missing the announcement) simply had to pull in to a layby to listen to it properly. Unfortunately I missed the end as well, but kept thinking that it had a lot of Vaughan Williams in it and maybe a touch of Bartok. I will definitely order the CD.

[Flosshilde]

I had no idea about your Anglo-Welsh roots, btw

Please sir, please sir, I've got Welsh roots too!

My mother's maternal grandmother (I think, although sometimes it's her mother) was a Llewellyn. Her (my mother's) father was from Yorkshire, & she was born in Scotland. My father was from England.

As far as I know there's no Irish in the family

[amateur51]

Please sir, please sir, I've got Welsh roots too!

My mother's maternal grandmother (I think, although sometimes it's her mother) was a Llewellyn. Her (my mother's) father was from Yorkshire, & she was born in Scotland. My father was from England.

As far as I know there's no Irish in the family

That's a fine mirepoix of British cultural genes you have there, Flossie

[Flosshilde]

Yeah, I'm just a crazy mixed-up kid

[french frank]

Bate Viola Concerto... SO that's what it was that was so very gripping that I ( driving and missing the announcement) simply had to pull in to a layby to listen to it properly. Unfortunately I missed the end as well, but kept thinking that it had a lot of Vaughan Williams in it and maybe a touch of Bartok. I will definitely order the CD.

I'd never heard of Stanley Bate (1911-1959) but I did check the Grove article - sadly appears he committed suicide at an early age.

[BBMmk2]

Very un derrated and neglected composer.

[french frank]

Very un derrated and neglected composer.

And it does occur to me that Radio 3 could do a lot more (this airing is something, however) in this field - after all, Classic FM does it all the time. Didn't it plug Górecki's 3rd before Radio 3?

[EdgeleyRob]

I've just listened via i player to todays programme.

Thoroughly enjoyed every note.

I think the Bate Viola concerto is sensational (a new work to me) and I've ordered the Dutton CD.
Very reminiscent of RVW in parts (Bate was a pupil apprently)and yet an individual voice shines through.What a heart wrenching slow movement.
The excerpt form the Wreckers was superb.I wonder if Britten (Grimes) and RVW(Riders To The Sea) knew this work.
If I'm being picky,it would have been nice to have the whole of Arnold 5.

Thank you Radio 3.

So good I listened again this morning.

That Bate viola concerto especially has knocked me for six

[antongould]

So good I listened again this morning.

That Bate viola concerto especially has knocked me for six

Just finished listening, I found it excellent, as was, IMHO, the last series. Whilst I much enjoyed the Bate, The Wreckers was for me the highlight....it seems I have had so many wrong preconceptions about the piece and its composer!

[EdgeleyRob]

Just finished listening, I found it excellent, as was, IMHO, the last series. Whilst I much enjoyed the Bate, The Wreckers was for me the highlight....it seems I have had so many wrong preconceptions about the piece and its composer!

Yes I was impressed too.
A completely different sound world I know,but I couldn't help thinking of Grimes and Riders to the Sea listening to this snippett.
There is a complete set on Amazon,a bit pricey though.

[teamsaint]

Do soloists not want to play stuff like the Bate viola concerto, or do the promoters always hold sway?

Fair play to heffer, he played some interesting stuff to say the least.
I really do wonder if the way that the BBC marketed this series (and the choice of presenter) adds to or reduces audience numbers.