Edmund Rubbra

[Barbirollians]

There is a terrific live Rubbra 6 with Barbirolli on the Barb Soc label .

[Serial_Apologist]

Definitely the time for me to review my attitude to Rubbra, the first movement of whose first symphony, performed on today's programme, tended I have to say to confirm my view of the symphonies as meandering and sub-RVW - fine as far as the view of the composer as preferring "meandering" to narrative/directional, in the conventional symphonic sense, as stated by one of his sons, is concerned. But for that all the pent-up un-directionality I detected in that music cried out to be resolved - which maybe happens as the work goes on, not personally being familiar with it.

The Violin Sonata played before it, on the other hand, had me falling in love with the music. Perhaps with me it's a case of preferring this, from an earlier period when the composer had yet to find his individual voice (lots of Debussy's "Pour le piano" in the last movement there, Bliss and Howells more generally in the harmonic language too), though the late "Natum Maria Virgine", where he seemed to re-connect with the later Vaughan Williams (CF. the latter's plangent "Oxford Elegy"), I do find very moving, and I expect I need to acquaint myself with the full spectrum of his work.

[BBMmk2]

Good idea involving his two sons on this programme.

[ardcarp]

It's an old cliche, but Rubbra really IS one of the composers who are unjustly neglected. I almost fell off my chair when the piano sonatina (Op19) was being played. I used to play it (after a fashion) years ago...and I used to ask people to guess who it was by. As it is an early work, it is quite Holst-ish, Finzi-ish, definitely very English...and nobody ever guessed Rubbra. Unless they knew it, I doubt anyone now would guess correctly.

Strange how a few pieces stick in the Anglican choral repertory. Rubbra's canticles in A flat are an example.

[EdgeleyRob]

Definitely the time for me to review my attitude to Rubbra, the first movement of whose first symphony, performed on today's programme, tended I have to say to confirm my view of the symphonies as meandering and sub-RVW - fine as far as the view of the composer as preferring "meandering" to narrative/directional, in the conventional symphonic sense, as stated by one of his sons, is concerned. But for that all the pent-up un-directionality I detected in that music cried out to be resolved - which maybe happens as the work goes on, not personally being familiar with it.

The Violin Sonata played before it, on the other hand, had me falling in love with the music. Perhaps with me it's a case of preferring this, from an earlier period when the composer had yet to find his individual voice (lots of Debussy's "Pour le piano" in the last movement there, Bliss and Howells more generally in the harmonic language too), though the late "Natum Maria Virgine", where he seemed to re-connect with the later Vaughan Williams (CF. the latter's plangent "Oxford Elegy"), I do find very moving, and I expect I need to acquaint myself with the full spectrum of his work.

Thanks for that S_A.
I'm not sure that the anger in the first movement ever does get resolved,not in this Symphony anyway.
Certainly there is a positive sounding ending in which,I think,some of the themes from the first 2 movements are reworked.
But to me it sounds like the start of something new rather then the end of what we have just heard.
Maybe the resolution only comes with the start of the third Symphony.
Not sure if that makes sense but it's the only way I can describe how this work makes me feel apart from the fact that the music itself is incredible.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for that S_A.
I'm not sure that the anger in the first movement ever does get resolved,not in this Symphony anyway.
Certainly there is a positive sounding ending in which,I think,some of the themes from the first 2 movements are reworked.
But to me it sounds like the start of something new rather then the end of what we have just heard.
Maybe the resolution only comes with the start of the third Symphony.
Not sure if that makes sense but it's the only way I can describe how this work makes me feel apart from the fact that the music itself is incredible.

Indeed it does, ER - and in what you say I am reminded of something similar happening through the course of Bax's symphonies; and Mahler's, too for that matter - of composers who it seems had repeatedly to suffer going through their own turmoils.

[EdgeleyRob]

There is a terrific live Rubbra 6 with Barbirolli on the Barb Soc label .

C/W the 5th,which was the first Rubbra Symphony ever to be recorded I think,previously EMI British composers series

[BBMmk2]

I don't think Rubbra is a sub-RVW at all. Quite individual and yes very unjustly neglected composer. The Violin Sonata I hadn't heard before. Very worthwhile work.

[Beef Oven!]

I don't think Rubbra is a sub-RVW at all. Quite individual and yes very unjustly neglected composer. The Violin Sonata I hadn't heard before. Very worthwhile work.

Totally agree, BBM

Currently listening to Op.66 on R3 - this is an excellent COTW.

Serial_Apologist (& RB, IIRC) has put this criticism in a most erudite an interesting way, but ultimately I think it says more about one’s approach to the music than the music itself.

[Pulcinella]

Currently listening to Op.66 on R3 - this is an excellent COTW.

At volunteer work at present, but hope to catch up later.
I see that the playlist says RCA for this recording of the St Dominic Mass; did they play an LP?
I think the master tapes were lost so the CD reissue (on Chandos) was actually 'made' from an LP; need to check when I get home.
I think too that this was one of the first (if not the first) recording Hickox made.
Would be nice to know if the choice of recording was discussed.

[Serial_Apologist]

At volunteer work at present, but hope to catch up later.
I see that the playlist says RCA for this recording of the St Dominic Mass; did they play an LP?
I think the master tapes were lost so the CD reissue (on Chandos) was actually 'made' from an LP; need to check when I get home.
I think too that this was one of the first (if not the first) recording Hickox made.
Would be nice to know if the choice of recording was discussed.

COTW is repeated between 6.30 and 7.30 each day, so you might find time to hear today's programme before its release on the iPlayer, Pulcinella.

[ardcarp]

What a great performance of the St Dominic Mass. I hope this will spark an interest among good chamber choirs throughout the land...I shall certainly mention it to a few. This would fill the same repertoire space as RVW's Mass in G minor and the Frank Martin Mass. It reminded us too that the much missed Richard Hickox became a conductor through the organist/choir-trainer route. How good he is with voices!

[ardcarp]

Rubbra

This is just to mention that Rubbra is the Composer of the Week. He wrote quite a bit of choral music, much of which is neglected. On today's (Tuesday's) edition of the programme we were treated (inter alia) to his Missa in Honorem Sancti Dominici, sung (very beautifully) by the St Margaret's Westminster Singers directed by Richard Hickox.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vwqj7#play

[Pulcinella]

COTW is repeated between 6.30 and 7.30 each day, so you might find time to hear today's programme before its release on the iPlayer, Pulcinella.

Indeed!

What a great performance of the St Dominic Mass. I hope this will spark an interest among good chamber choirs throughout the land...I shall certainly mention it to a few. This would fill the same repertoire space as RVW's Mass in G minor and the Frank Martin Mass. It reminded us too that the much missed Richard Hickox became a conductor through the organist/choir-trainer route. How good he is with voices!

For some reason, I have a score of this from school days, though do not remember ever singing it or studying it.
But I did have this recording on LP (and now have it on CD).

[ahinton]

This is just to mention that Rubbra is the Composer of the Week. He wrote quite a bit of choral music, much of which is neglected. On today's (Tuesday's) edition of the programme we were treated (inter alia) to his Missa in Honorem Sancti Dominici, sung (very beautifully) by the St Margaret's Westminster Singers directed by Richard Hickox.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vwqj7#play

There's already a thread on him under Talking about Music.