Only Connect

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Shall we dispose of the "obvious", just in case it's one of those "hidden in full view" clues:

Bax, Tippett, Rodney Bennett, Walton (all English)

(And, whilst you're disposing of that cunning plan, Boilk, is there any significance that you've given us one of Bennett's forenames?)

[Boilk]

Bax, Tippett, Rodney Bennett, Walton - not a set.
Maybe I should have stuck in Chopin/Syzmanowski to create a faux set of 4 Poles? Actually Chopin fits one of the sets more broadly, but not as precisely!

And I thought Rodney Bennett was his double-barreled surname (as in Maxwell Davies)? Evidently not, for either?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And I thought Rodney Bennett was his double-barreled surname (as in Maxwell Davies)? Evidently not, for either?

Nope - Mr & Mrs Bennett called their son Richard Rodney (Rodney after his father), and Mr & Mrs Davies called theirs Peter Maxwell.

(But Mr - sorry, the Rev - & Mrs Vaughan Williams called their son Ralph, and didn't bother with a middle name.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Leaving aside "Composers whose names I almost always spell incorrectly - it would be more than a bit scary if that turned out to be true - how about:

Petrassi, Lutoslawski, Gerhard, Tippett. (All four wrote Concerti for Orchestra; none of the others did - although Petrassi wrote eight to make up for their neglect!)

[Lat-Literal]

This is much more difficult than my one.

Are there any pop clues?

One day I will have to decide my top ten British composers in order of preference.

Mr Panufnik is likely to be in the top five.

I shall also argue that the first and last movements of this, and only this, are (a) the son of the second movement of RVW2 as well as being (b) somehow with their unique, succinct tone and modern freshness ahead of Roy Harris, much of minimalism and even elements of light progressive rock in the 60s/70s. As for the middle section it leads into the likes of Crosse - "Some Marches" etc. In the right broadcasting and other hands, there is just so much potential in Panufnik - not a typically British name and all that - as a springboard for redefining British classical music so that it sits in a broader, more diverse context and brings in new audiences. I can't see why the powers that be can't see it. It is very lazy of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YZbj47HXfU

As for those who can only cope with an extended '45, I'd see this as a precursor to something even more recent - Glasvegas, perhaps - "The Prettiest Thing On Saltcoats Beach" - while also drawing upon a populist style that is a hundred years its predecessor and then almost electronically projecting it all through a mixer. Everywhere you turn, it is remarkable stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi_7-QGvYVU

[Boilk]

Petrassi, Lutoslawski, Gerhard, Tippett. (All four wrote Concerti for Orchestra; none of the others did - although Petrassi wrote eight to make up for their neglect!)

This is a correct series - take a First ferney (although you may have lost one of your three lives!)

We now have two series identified - but I'm at work so cannot display a partially completed wall.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This is a correct series - take a First ferney (although you may have lost one of your three lives!)
We now have two series identified - but I'm at work so cannot display a partially completed wall.

So - we have left:

Walton, Bax, Panufnik, Bennett, Debussy, Honegger, Penderecki, & Dallapiccola.

Now, Penderecki, Dallapiccola, and Debussy were all born in Oldham, but I can't think of anyone else in that list who was also ...

[Boilk]

Mr Panufnik is likely to be in the top five.

I shall also argue that the first and last movements of this, and only this, are (a) the son of the second movement of RVW2 as well as being (b) somehow with their unique, succinct tone and modern freshness ahead of Roy Harris, much of minimalism and even elements of light progressive rock in the 60s/70s. As for the middle section it leads into the likes of Crosse - "Some Marches" etc. In the right broadcasting and other hands, there is just so much potential in Panufnik - not a typically British name and all that - as a springboard for redefining British classical music so that it sits in a broader, more diverse context and brings in new audiences. I can't see why the powers that be can't see it. It is very lazy of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YZbj47HXfU

Lat-Literal, are you aware that Sinfonia Elegiaca as most people now know it is the composer's revised version of the recording made by its commissioners, the Louisville Orchestra? I have the CD reissue on First Edition (not a great performance). But that original Elegiaca in turn is a redacted version of Panufnik's Symphony of Peace (referred to in his autobiography I think) but with its overtly communist party connotations (a choral section) expunged. Lady Panufnik confirmed she had a reel tape somewhere, but I never pressed her for it at the time as she said she was very busy.

Some of Panufnik's music really labours a point to near-death ...I have difficulty with the 7th and 9th symphonies for example.

[Lat-Literal]

Lat-Literal, are you aware that Sinfonia Elegiaca as most people now know it is the composer's revised version of the recording made by its commissioners, the Louisville Orchestra? I have the CD reissue on First Edition (not a great performance). But that original Elegiaca in turn is a redacted version of Panufnik's Symphony of Peace (referred to in his autobiography I think) but with its overtly communist party connotations (a choral section) expunged. Lady Panufnik confirmed she had a reel tape somewhere, but I never pressed her for it at the time as she said she was very busy.

No - I am not - and I would be keen on what I guess would have to be a separate thread to explore more. You know what immediately strikes me when you say it. The similarities with the necessary revisions to RVW2 about which Pab is so learned. I think I can feel a "story" here coming on what with wars bookended and perhaps also why it stands in contrast to, say, Bush, well-meaning though he probably was. Panufnik - Jayne likes him too - happened to me very suddenly. In my self-education of very many hundred composers, it just really struck. And it is quite possible that there is something of a fan club for him on this forum. That it is just that we haven't quite brought it together yet so that it is completely clear to us. Also, while not in the same league, Roxanna's work has a lot to be said for it and if you stretched it you could hear the family links. Perhaps oddly, I feel the Tcherepnins are similar.

On your other point, he became more complex in later symphonies. I have a preference for composers' early works. I'm not sure he labours, though; one you mention is only 27 mins.

[Lat-Literal]

Boilk - while yours must come first although I'm sure I am not going to be useful in that regard, I will plonk this on for the next round - it should be much easier than my last one:

Hindemith - Tallis - Gerhard - Hill
Martin - Mozart - Mathias - Rodrigo
Breton - Stainer - Feldman - Stivell
Mompou - Faure - Zemlinsky - Dawson

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Boilk - while yours must come first although I'm sure I am not going to be useful in that regard, I will plonk this on for the next round - it should be much easier than my last one:

I think that some attention should be paid to gradus' #89 first, Lats.

[Lat-Literal]

I think that some attention should be paid to gradus' #89 first, Lats.

Yes indeed.

I am out of my depth on that one unfortunately.

It isn't that I wasn't bothered......I just don't know.

[Boilk]

Mr Panufnik is likely to be in the top five.

There is a Panufnik thread Lat-Literal. Classical Forum > Talking About Music > Composers > Panufnik

A week back I added links to a documentary made by Jeremy Panufnik about his father, and footage of a concert in which AP conducts his Tenth.

[Lat-Literal]

There is a Panufnik thread Lat-Literal. Classical Forum > Talking About Music > Composers > Panufnik

A week back I added links to a documentary made by Jeremy Panufnik about his father, and footage of a concert in which AP conducts his Tenth.

Yes - I will be looking at that thread again with interest - thanks.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Roxanna Panufnik studied at the Royal Academy of Music - as did Richard Rodney Bennett, and Arnold Bax.

Sadly, that's only three- and I can't find any of the remainders who also fit that suit,