Mathias, William (1934 - 92)

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, yes.

And one student whose compositional skills were considerable handed in a composition that was pure Mathias pastiche. It had us in stitched of laughter, but Professor Mathias couldn't see the connection; he just thought it was an excellent student composition.

Well there are passages in Mathias that once sounded to these ears like pastiches of e.g. Tippett or Messiaen: the Piano Concerto in the latter case; but if anyone feels strongly enough that this is just plain wrong, I will admit to not having listened to anything by this composer for a good too many years to name any other titles!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well there are passages in Mathias that once sounded to these ears like pastiches of e.g. Tippett or Messiaen: the Piano Concerto in the latter case; but if anyone feels strongly enough that this is just plain wrong, I will admit to not having listened to anything by this composer for a good too many years to name any other titles!

He admired both composers, but he also had a great passion for the music of Bax.

[Gordon]

Having been at Bangor when Mathias was Professor (and Hoddinott was Professor at Cardiff) there was something of a rivalry - not between the two composers/professors, but between their students, who defended and attacked like football supporters. In composition tutorials, Mathias encouraged us to act like professionals on commission: i.e. write a complete work to a specified deadline. It certainly did me good, with more incomplete compositions to my name than Schubert, and fewer complete ones than Howard Ferguson.

One of those students was John Pickard who got his Doctorate under Mathias in 1989 [also did post grad work with Andriessen] and has been recorded on BIS and Toccata Classics. His string quartets are worth a listen - eg 1 and 5 on Toccata 0197. He's now Professor at Bristol.

[Serial_Apologist]

One of those students was John Pickard who got his Doctorate under Mathias in 1989 [also did post grad work with Andriessen] and has been recorded on BIS and Toccata Classics. His string quartets are worth a listen - eg 1 and 5 on Toccata 0197. He's now Professor at Bristol.

A composer of tremendous power, conviction and consistency, imo.

[wenotsoira]

I knew him and thought he was a pompous twit and his compositions were tenth rate or worse. I played a lot of them and it was enough to make you want to commit suicide.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of those students was John Pickard who got his Doctorate under Mathias in 1989 [also did post grad work with Andriessen] and has been recorded on BIS and Toccata Classics. His string quartets are worth a listen - eg 1 and 5 on Toccata 0197. He's now Professor at Bristol.

John Pickard is also Editor of the Elgar Complete Edition.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A composer of tremendous power, conviction and consistency, imo.

[Tony Halstead]

I knew him and thought he was a pompous twit and his compositions were tenth rate or worse. I played a lot of them and it was enough to make you want to commit suicide.

As a rather important 'matter of interest' are you instancing Pickard or Mathias? ( or both?)
We should be told...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Many of us who knew William Mathias felt that he, not Malcolm Williamson should have been Master of the Queen's Musick. He was a composer who could respond to a commission/event with flair and professionalism.

[wenotsoira]

As a rather important 'matter of interest' are you instancing Pickard or Mathias? ( or both?)
We should be told...

HI TONY (DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE RELIGIOUS ...) - just looked at your profile. Are you a horn player by chance?

Well, I was refering to Mathias - never heard of the other guy. I knew M from abiout 1963 and was persuaded that his music was OK. I eventually realised that in my opinion it was total rubbish. It was a Welsh disease - only one or two good composers, and he was not one of 'em1

PS Both he and MW were totally useless in my opinion.

[Roehre]

Many of us who knew William Mathias felt that he, not Malcolm Williamson should have been Master of the Queen's Musick. He was a composer who could respond to a commission/event with flair and professionalism.

and the rumour goes that Harold Wilson meant Malcolm Arnold as Bliss' successor, but the surnames were mixed up......

[Roehre]

HI TONY (DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE RELIGIOUS ...) - just looked at your profile. Are you a horn player by chance?

Well, I was refering to Mathias - never heard of the other guy. I knew M from abiout 1963 and was persuaded that his music was OK. I eventually realised that in my opinion it was total rubbish. It was a Welsh disease - only one or two good composers, and he was not one of 'em1

PS Both he and MW were totally useless in my opinion.

Like all the other English composers, but eventually Wales is the Land of Song, which cannot be said of the Land without Music.....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

and the rumour goes that Harold Wilson meant Malcolm Arnold as Bliss' successor, but the surnames were mixed up......

I've never heard that one.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have to say I always found Mathias a pleasant if somewhat lightweight eclectic, a "quality routinist" capable of reaching people who do not want to be disturbed or in any way challenged in their listening, as compared to his near-contemporary compatriot, Alun Hoddinott, whom I would judge the far more substantial composer.

I sort-of know what you mean, S_A, but I so much prefer to listen to Mathias' Symphonies. Like Tony, I love listening to this Music - and I speak as someone not exactly known for "not wanting to be disturbed, or in any way challenged"

[ahinton]

A composer of tremendous power, conviction and consistency, imo.

Hear, hear!