George Lloyd, anyone?

[Suffolkcoastal]

It was the Sanctus and Benedictus section ER that was on COTW today, I'm afraid I shouted for God's sake stop at the radio, I got really annoyed with the ending of that section. The section came to a natural conclusion a few mins earlier, but was then dragged out by this empty over the top rhetoric, this is for me is the main problem with Lloyd. I've just been listening to his 11th Symphony in my symphonic survey, again good passages, the central movements are fine, but the outer movements are really problematical, in fact I can't see the point in the 5th movement at all, the Symphony seems to me to end quite naturally and effectively with the 4th.
Sorry ER sadly we'll just have to agree to disagree on this composer.

[EdgeleyRob]

It was the Sanctus and Benedictus section ER that was on COTW today, I'm afraid I shouted for God's sake stop at the radio, I got really annoyed with the ending of that section. The section came to a natural conclusion a few mins earlier, but was then dragged out by this empty over the top rhetoric, this is for me is the main problem with Lloyd. I've just been listening to his 11th Symphony in my symphonic survey, again good passages, the central movements are fine, but the outer movements are really problematical, in fact I can't see the point in the 5th movement at all, the Symphony seems to me to end quite naturally and effectively with the 4th.
Sorry ER sadly we'll just have to agree to disagree on this composer.

No problem sc.
So many well informed and musically knowledgeable posters on here have put forward arguments as to why this music is not great,and they make for fascinating reading.
I sometimes wonder is it me listening with rose tinted 'ears',but I do get so much reward and pleasure from this music.

[Pabmusic]

...I sometimes wonder is it me listening with rose tinted 'ears',but I do get so much reward and pleasure from this music.

There are so many lesser-known composers whose music has given me pleasure, and still does. George Lloyd is one. So is Felix Weingartner, Kurt Atterberg and Luís de Freitas Branco. None of them is less than interesting, listenable and enjoyable, and I've never felt that I was doing something odd by listening to their music. None will replace Beethoven, Mahler or Shostakovich, let alone my personal 'greats' (such as Bartok, Elgar, RVW, Sibelius) but I don't try to compare them anyway. Music is too full of needless comparisons.

I am just pleased to have heard Lloyd's music and to have it available when I want to listen.

[Roehre]

There are so many lesser-known composers whose music has given me pleasure, and still does. George Lloyd is one. So is Felix Weingartner, Kurt Atterberg and Luís de Freitas Branco. None of them is less than interesting, listenable and enjoyable, and I've never felt that I was doing something odd by listening to their music. ....

[umslopogaas]

Pabmusic #78, I completely agree. I'm getting old and there is still so much interesting music to discover. I no longer have time for yet another recording of a Beethoven symphony, however good the Gramophone says it is. I've just enjoyed vol. 1 of the Chandos works of Kurt Atterberg, of whom I had previously never heard. Must look out for Luis de Freitas Branco (what nationality is he?).

[BBMmk2]

May merntion again, GL's 10th(November Journeys

[LeMartinPecheur]

Must look out for Luis de Freitas Branco (what nationality is he?).

Portugese (1890-1955). I have his violin concerto: worth a listen but not riveting (so far...): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Violin-Conce...freitas+branco

There's now a lot of his music on Naxos it seems.

[umslopogaas]

Thanks LMP, he must be a recent discovery for the recording companies, there's no mention of him in the 2010 Penguin Guide.

[Pabmusic]

Pabmusic #78, I completely agree. I'm getting old and there is still so much interesting music to discover. I no longer have time for yet another recording of a Beethoven symphony, however good the Gramophone says it is. I've just enjoyed vol. 1 of the Chandos works of Kurt Atterberg, of whom I had previously never heard. Must look out for Luis de Freitas Branco (what nationality is he?).

A Portuguese aristocrat. He died in 1955. Naxos have recorded his symphonies and orchestral stuff. Here's one that's very attractive:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freitas-Branco-Symphony-No-2/dp/B001LKLKRU/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372544080&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=freitos+branco

[mercia]

the Symphonic Mass on this afternoon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03k0psl

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

swmbo and self listened interested but not altogether won over to the Symphonic Mass in the car this afternoon; probably the sort of music to hear in the hall when the rich textures would be seductive perhaps

[HARRIET HAVARD]

Lloyds music was very mach of its time- even a little past its time. Who knows though how popular it would have been in its time if Lloyd had not been "blacklisted" by the BBC for his leftist beliefs. Or, more specifically, Lord Reith.

[Sir Velo]

Who knows though how popular it would have been in its time if Lloyd had not been "blacklisted" by the BBC for his leftist beliefs. Or, more specifically, Lord Reith.

I hadn't heard that Reith had any animus towards Lloyd; in fact it's surprising he even knew of Lloyd's existence. Received wisdom has it that William Glock was behind the blacklisting of Lloyd but more for his failure to embrace modernism, than his political convictions.