Wm Sterndale Bennett: 11-15 April

[french frank]

"Reckoned by some as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic School, Sterndale Bennett first made a significant name for himself in Germany as a composer and concert pianist. He became close friends with Mendelssohn and Schumann, and once his career started to develop back in England, he rose to become one of the country’s most eminent musicians teaching at Cambridge, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Director of the Philharmonic Society. Dr Peter Horton discusses the importance of his piano music, whilst the composer's great-great-grandson, Barry Sterndale Bennett, introduces the listener to scores, letters and diaries held at the Bodleian Library."

First time on CotW?

[Jonathan]

Great - will be listening to that!

[EdgeleyRob]

Can't wait for this

[doversoul1]

Can't wait for this

A lovely piece at the end of Friday’s R3 in Concert (the last dot on iPlayer)

Caprice in E major Op.22 for piano and orchestra
Howard Shelley and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0745cz8

[EdgeleyRob]

A lovely piece at the end of Friday’s R3 in Concert (the last dot on iPlayer)

Caprice in E major Op.22 for piano and orchestra
Howard Shelley and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0745cz8

Thanks for that ds,lovely indeed.
There's a bit more to WSB than 2nd hand Mendelssohn IMO

I have the Malcolm Binns cd

[Hornspieler]

Thanks for that ds,lovely indeed.
There's a bit more to WSB than 2nd hand Mendelssohn IMO

I have the Malcolm Binns cd

I'm very interested.

Although I was awarded the Sterndale Bennett Open Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in 1949, I confess that I have never heard any of his compositions.

An opportunity at last to hear the works of my benefactor.

HS

[EdgeleyRob]

I'm very interested.

Although I was awarded the Sterndale Bennett Open Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in 1949, I confess that I have never heard any of his compositions.

An opportunity at last to hear the works of my benefactor.

HS

I'm sure that you will find plenty to enjoy HS,I do.
I've read that his music is unimaginative and too much like Mendelssohn.
Well,don't expect anything groundbreaking but there is enough originality to suggest he is unjustly neglected IMVHO.
An important figure is the history of piano teaching and piano writing so I hear,but I wouldn't know about that.
I'm sure there will be plenty of his music at the Proms this year,it being the bicentenary of his birth and all

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/June/Sterndale_Bennett_bio.htm

[doversoul1]

A lot of very enjoyable music. I particularly liked this on today’s programme.

Piano Sonata No 1 in F minor Op 13 (Scherzo: Allegro agitato) Performer: Ilona Prunyi.

[DracoM]

The instrumental music is the real and welcome surprise.
Not entirely sure the 'specially recorded' elements are doing him a lot of favours.

[EdgeleyRob]

A lot of very enjoyable music. I particularly liked this on today’s programme.

Piano Sonata No 1 in F minor Op 13 (Scherzo: Allegro agitato) Performer: Ilona Prunyi.

Even more impressive,I think ds,is the 2nd Sonata (The Maid of Orleans) Op 46.
Part of this will be heard on Friday in the Ian Hobson recording,which I don't know,I have Ilona Prunyi

[ardcarp]

A lovely piece at the end of Friday’s R3 in Concert (the last dot on iPlayer)

Caprice in E major Op.22 for piano and orchestra
Howard Shelley and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

This was played again (same recording, Howard Shelley directing from the piano) on today's CotW. I too thought it most enjoyable and technically assured. It seems WSB was at his best composing for the piano. Yesterday, a choral piece, "Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle", was played, specially recorded by the BBCS. I rather wish they hadn't bothered because it showed WSB at his worst...unimaginative, repetitive and very, very dull! I guess the influence of the English church music scene at that time was stultifying, whereas Leipzig, Mendelssohn and Schumann inspired him to greater things. I find the programme particularly interesting for these historical associations.