George Butterworth and contemporaries

[Nick Armstrong]

Three cheers for the Ben Luxon recording of the Shropshire Lad songs played today, memorable performances.

Oh yes - that is the performance I always go back to, special magic imho

PS Didn't hear the programme: I assume it was this recording?

[Serial_Apologist]

So much of RVW and many other English composers gets to me,more so than the music of composers of any other nationality can ever do.

I do go along so far with you, ER: tenuous though my theory most probably is, it has I think to do with the close relationship between the music, painting, poetry and landscape that much of the English music of that pre-WW1 period seemed to catch. I happen to think that there are composers in other countries who were aesthetically achieving much the same thing as ours; there's undoubtedly a lot of myth-sustaining that goes on here too - images of suntanned farm labourers peacefully making their ways home with a sun setting background, pitchforks over their shoulders, and we make assumptions about working in harmony with the rhythms of nature while knowing all the time that conditions were often insecure and lives shortened irrespective of war: I'm reminded of Falla's description of "La puerta del vino" as having evoked the atmosphere of a Spain Debussy had never in fact visited, better than any other piece of music!

[Serial_Apologist]

Surfing websites for dates to attach to the works being broadcast on COTW this week, I came across this lovely piece on George Butterworth, which includes amazing 1912 film footage referred to in yesterday's programme of GB and three friends doing a bit of Morris dancing:

http://www.warcomposers.co.uk/butterworthbio.html

Apologies if this has been linked before.

[EdgeleyRob]

Hiya EdgeleyRob,

Please can you tell me which recording it was of VW's Norfolk Rhapsody No 1 that affected you so much? I find the account from Neville Marriner and the ASMF on Philips very satisfying.

To be honest Stan it could have been any recording at that given moment but it was as stated above the recording used on COTW,Hickox.

[EdgeleyRob]

Surfing websites for dates to attach to the works being broadcast on COTW this week, I came across this lovely piece on George Butterworth, which includes amazing 1912 film footage referred to in yesterday's programme of GB and three friends doing a bit of Morris dancing:

http://www.warcomposers.co.uk/buttworthbio.html

Apologies if this has been linked before.

That link not working for me S_A,is it Pabsy's one

[EdgeleyRob]

I do go along so far with you, ER: tenuous though my theory most probably is, it has I think to do with the close relationship between the music, painting, poetry and landscape that much of the English music of that pre-WW1 period seemed to catch. I happen to think that there are composers in other countries who were aesthetically achieving much the same thing as ours; there's undoubtedly a lot of myth-sustaining that goes on here too - images of suntanned farm labourers peacefully making their ways home with a sun setting background, pitchforks over their shoulders, and we make assumptions about working in harmony with the rhythms of nature while knowing all the time that conditions were often insecure and lives shortened irrespective of war: I'm reminded of Falla's description of "La puerta del vino" as having evoked the atmosphere of a Spain Debussy had never in fact visited, better than any other piece of music!

Whatever it is it don't half bring a tear to my eye

[Serial_Apologist]

That link not working for me S_A,is it Pabsy's one

That's it, ER! Sorry about the link - I'll check and correct it if poss, for the linked article on Butterworth, which is well worth five minutes' worth of reading.

#48 now put right - my misstyping!

[Pulcinella]

I have this recording of Luxon singing Butterworth's Six songs from A Shropshire Lad, with David Willison as the accompanist; a Decca British Collection CD, with recording date given as 1976.
Is this the same recording as the Chandos issue?

[EdgeleyRob]

That's it, ER! Sorry about the link - I'll check and correct it if poss, for the linked article on Butterworth, which is well worth five minutes' worth of reading.

#48 now put right - my misstyping!

[BBMmk2]

I'm enjoying this evening's programme, being rather modern and using our new hi fi's Bluetooth facilty!!

[EdgeleyRob]

I have this recording of Luxon singing Butterworth's Six songs from A Shropshire Lad, with David Willison as the accompanist; a Decca British Collection CD, with recording date given as 1976.
Is this the same recording as the Chandos issue?

Hi Pulcinella.
The Chandos cd was recorded at Snape Maltings in November 1989

[Nick Armstrong]

I have this recording of Luxon singing Butterworth's Six songs from A Shropshire Lad, with David Willison as the accompanist; a Decca British Collection CD, with recording date given as 1976.
Is this the same recording as the Chandos issue?

It isn't Pulcs.... Yours was originally in this Argo issue - the Chandos recording is from 1990 or thereabouts.

I've always vaguely meant to compare them, but never got around to it. Just took a look on the R3 website - it's the Chandos recording they played on COTW. Luxon in the later recording is especially good in the 'Lads in their hundreds' and 'Is my team ploughing?'

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks; not the same then.

cross-posted, ygad

[Nick Armstrong]

I woz too quick for you, Pulcinella!

[Pulcinella]

Hi Pulcinella.
The Chandos cd was recorded at Snape Maltings in November 1989

It isn't Pulcs.... Yours was originally in this Argo issue - the Chandos recording is from 1990 or thereabouts.

I've always vaguely meant to compare them, but never got around to it. Just took a look on the R3 website - it's the Chandos recording they played on COTW. Luxon in the later recording is especially good in the 'Lads in their hundreds' and 'Is my team ploughing?',

Thanks both.