Smittims has often rightly drawn our attention to Brian's woeful neglect over recent years by Radio 3, so the broadcasting of a rare chamber work at the beginning of last night's TTN, the Legend, for violin and piano, prompts me to start a belated thread devoted to him. The single movement piece, contemporary with The Gothic, we were told, was rather anonymous in style, but demonstrated a bustling quality very characteristic of this composer.
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Fascinating article on the musical relationship between Brian and Elgar:
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Brian wrote little chamber music,though in his younger days he had played cello in an amateur quartet. I well recall Bob Simpson suggesting to him that he should write some 'late quartets' but Billy just smiled and muttered 'well, we s'll have to see' in that North Staffs accent he never lost.
As with some other composers (Ruggles, Varese, Bruckner) it's easy to mistake Brian's originality for amateurism or lack of technique. Fortunately there's much available now on YouTube and CD, enabling the repeated listening that reveals the musics wonders. A favourite of mine is the seventh symphony, at about 45 minutes the last of the longer ones, roughly contemporary with VW 6 and Tippett's first . But the more I listen to the last ten (23-32) the more I think them his finest work.Comment
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I must admit to struggling with the little amount of Brian that's in my collection:
The Naxos recording of The Gothic
and
the 2CD EMI RLPO Mackerras/Groves set that includes symphonies 7, 8, 9, and 31.
Maybe I need to pull them off the shelves and give them another spin.Comment
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