Bowen, York

[Sydney Grew]

Bowen, York

York Bowen was born, the youngest of three sons, at Crouch Hill, London, in 1884. He became one of our most popular and successful composers.

At the basis of his style lies the employment of a diatonic key system with strongly chromatic harmonies.

Camille Saint-Saëns, who had his wits about him, hailed Bowen as "the finest of English composers".

Another enthusiastic advocate of Bowen's music was K. Sorabji, himself a distinguished composer and pianist.

Bowen's major compositions are:

Three completed symphonies:
- no. 1 in G major, opus 4 (1902)

- no. 2 in E minor, opus 31 (1909)

- no. 3 in E minor, opus 137 (1951)

Four piano concerti:

- no. 1 in E flat, opus 11 (1903)

- no. 2 in D minor, opus 17 (1905)

- no. 3 in G minor, opus 23 (1907)

- no. 4 in A minor, opus 88 (1929)

A Viola concerto n C minor opus 25 (1907)

A Violin concerto in E minor opus 33 (1913)

A Rhapsody in D for cello and orchestra opus 74 (1924)

A Concerto for horn, string orchestra and timpani, opus 150 (1955)

But he gave us many more orchestral works.

He appears to have written three string quartets, but I have no information about the first:

- String quartet no. 2 in D minor, opus 41 (1918)

- String quartet no. 3 in G major, opus 46 (1919)

Again, he gave us many further works of chamber music and keyboard music.

The score and parts of the third symphony were reportedly destroyed in a flood at the premises of the London publisher De Wolfe. However, several performances of the work were broadcast in the 1950s by the B.B.C. and are extant, conducted variously by Ian Whyte, Vilem Tausky and Charles Groves. Here is a broadcast of it played by the B.B.C. Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ian Whyte:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQHe5f0zCs

[Serial_Apologist]

Bowen, York

York Bowen was born, the youngest of three sons, at Crouch Hill, London, in 1884. He became one of our most popular and successful composers.

At the basis of his style lies the employment of a diatonic key system with strongly chromatic harmonies.

Camille Saint-Saëns, who had his wits about him, hailed Bowen as "the finest of English composers".

Another enthusiastic advocate of Bowen's music was K. Sorabji, himself a distinguished composer and pianist.

Bowen's major compositions are:

Three completed symphonies:
- no. 1 in G major, opus 4 (1902)

- no. 2 in E minor, opus 31 (1909)

- no. 3 in E minor, opus 137 (1951)

Four piano concerti:

- no. 1 in E flat, opus 11 (1903)

- no. 2 in D minor, opus 17 (1905)

- no. 3 in G minor, opus 23 (1907)

- no. 4 in A minor, opus 88 (1929)

A Viola concerto n C minor opus 25 (1907)

A Violin concerto in E minor opus 33 (1913)

A Rhapsody in D for cello and orchestra opus 74 (1924)

A Concerto for horn, string orchestra and timpani, opus 150 (1955)

But he gave us many more orchestral works.

He appears to have written three string quartets, but I have no information about the first:

- String quartet no. 2 in D minor, opus 41 (1918)

- String quartet no. 3 in G major, opus 46 (1919)

Again, he gave us many further works of chamber music and keyboard music.

The score and parts of the third symphony were reportedly destroyed in a flood at the premises of the London publisher De Wolfe. However, several performances of the work were broadcast in the 1950s by the B.B.C. and are extant, conducted variously by Ian Whyte, Vilem Tausky and Charles Groves. Here is a broadcast of it played by the B.B.C. Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ian Whyte:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQHe5f0zCs

His music is like trifle - too gelatinous for me, and with all sorts of other stuff in it.

[Edgy 2]

One of my favourite composers,thanks SG.
The 1st string quartet is lost or may have been destroyed according to the Naxos cd booklet.
There's a marvelous set of the complete piano sonatas played by Danny Driver on Hyperion to add to your list.

[Jonathan]

I second the Danny Driver Sonatas set on Hyperion, marvellous stuff. Must give us spin over the weekend

[BBMmk2]

I second the Danny Driver Sonatas set on Hyperion, marvellous stuff. Must give us spin over the weekend

Yes, I have those! Marvellous recording!

[Sydney Grew]

Bowen wrote six piano sonatas, dating from 1902 to 1961. There is a video at Youtube of his fifth sonata, in F minor, opus 72. It dates from 1923, and is excellently played by Mr. Jeremy Filsell. It is a virtuoso work with glissandi galore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQHmMMgou_w

There are also videos at Youtube of fine performances of his two glorious viola sonatas:

Viola Sonata no. 1 in C minor, opus 18 (1905) and

Viola Sonata no. 2 in F Major, opus 22 (1906)

A few further noteworthy items:

- Twenty-Four Preludes in All Major and Minor Keys, opus 102 (1938, published 1950). Here of course Bowen emulates Bach.

- Sonata in A major for cello and piano, opus 64 (1921)

- Sonata no. 2 in E minor for two pianos, opus 107 (1941)

- 12 Studies opus 46 (1919): these interesting studies may be aurally examined at Youtube: they are more for a student than for a music-lover.

[LMcD]

Bowen wrote six piano sonatas, dating from 1902 to 1961. There is a video at Youtube of his fifth sonata, in F minor, opus 72. It dates from 1923, and is excellently played by Mr. Jeremy Bowen. It is a virtuoso work with glissandi galore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQHmMMgou_w

There are also videos at Youtube of fine performances of his two glorious viola sonatas:

Viola Sonata no. 1 in C minor, opus 18 (1905) and

Viola Sonata no. 2 in F Major, opus 22 (1906)

A few further noteworthy items:

- Twenty-Four Preludes in All Major and Minor Keys, opus 102 (1938, published 1950). Here of course Bowen emulates Bach.

- Sonata in A major for cello and piano, opus 64 (1921)

- Sonata no. 2 in E minor for two pianos, opus 107 (1941)

- 12 Studies opus 46 (1919): these interesting studies may be aurally examined at Youtube: they are more for a student than for a music-lover.

I look forward to investigating some of these works. Nice to see that Jeremy Bowen has been given the chance to relax and forget the Middle East, at least for a while!

[edashtav]

I do not carry a torch for York Bowen's music which I know comparatively well. The best I can say is that his instrumental music was well-written and grateful to play. Unfortunately, he was an epigone, a minor, deeply conservative composer with too little originality. Why bother with a pale copy?

[Serial_Apologist]

I do not carry a torch for York Bowen's music which I know comparatively well. The best I can say is that his instrumental music was well-written and grateful to play. Unfortunately, he was an epigone, a minor, deeply conservative composer with too little originality. Why bother with a pale copy?

My feelings all-too exactly.

[edashtav]

His music is like trifle - too gelatinous for me, and with all sorts of other stuff in it.

Absolutely, S_A
... to mimic you ...

"His music is trifling - too like runny jelly, and with all sorts of fluff adhering to it."

[antongould]

A composer I, shamefully, know little of. The other morning Petroc played the 2nd movement of his Horn Quintet in C Minor ...... I was very taken ...... will have to hunt out the whole work

[Old Grumpy]

I've just been reading about him in Stephen Hough's Rough Ideas. He certainly rates Bowen's output.

[smittims]

A work by Bowen which I admire and which should counter some of the views here is his Symphonic Fantasia, a 40-minute orchestral piece. I don't know if it's available on CD but there is a BBC recording which gets an airing sometimes, by the BBC Concert Orchestra and Vernon Handley: well worth looking out for.

[antongould]

A work by Bowen which I admire and which should counter some of the views here is his Symphonic Fantasia, a 40-minute orchestral piece. I don't know if it's available on CD but there is a BBC recording which gets an airing sometimes, by the BBC Concert Orchestra and Vernon Handley: well worth looking out for.

Thank you very much for this suggestion …… Apple Music has the recording you recommend and I shall certainly listen to it ….. thanks again ….