You may not have heard .....

[Guest]

When Sir Henry Wood inaugurated his season of Promenade concerts, he always made room in his programmes for the inclusion of works not familiar to his audience

The 2012 series follows Sir Henry's pioneering work and it may be of interest to this forum for members to see a list of works, either by unknown composers or new works by some of those whose names at least are familiar.

So here is a list of those composers, compiled in alphabetical order of surname and showing the Prom numbers which include their works:

John ADAMS(4,72) Elaine AGNEW (28) BARBARINO (53) Pierre BOULEZ (9,10,12,13,17)
Charlotte BRAY(21) BRODZSKY(76)Gavin BRYARS(40) John CAGE(47) Bob CHILCOTT(30)
Richard DUBUGNON(34) Martin ELLERBY(40) Alexander GOEHR(56)GRANDI(53) Helen GRIME(56) Gavin HIGGINS(40) Emily HOWARD(51) Oliver KNUSSEN(22,56) LAM FUNG(6) LANGAARD(19) LUCAS(40) Christian MARCLAY(47) Ben MASON(19) Peter MAXWELL DAVIES(54) James McMILLAN(31,33)
Anna MEREDITH(29) MESSIAEN(29,68) Bnico MUHLY(29) Thea MUSGRAVE(31) Olga NEUNWIRTH(42) Per NORGAARD(35)Ben PARRY(30) John PICKARD(40)SARRIANO(5) Mark SIMPSON(76) Joan TOWER(45)
Mark Anthony TURNAGE(1) VIADANA(53) Hugh WOOD(16) ZIMMERMANN(25)

I'm sure that Sir Henry Wood, were he alive today, would have given his warm approval to Radio 3 for their enterprise..

Hornspieler.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Kaija Saariaho (#5) also has a "Portrait" Prom in the afternoon (usually broadcast after the evening concert at about 11.00pm) - should be well worth hearing: my favourite of the Nordic composers of her generation (others include Magnus Lindberg and Esa-Pekka Salonen) - rich swathes of instrumental colours.

... She studied with (but sounds nothing like) Brian Ferneyhough, whose early Prometheus is on the programme of the third "Saturday Matinee" Prom on 11th August.

[Hornspieler]

From the 2012 Prom listing, I have selected nine of the seventy one concerts to which I will be listening (and maybe commenting upon)

They are:
Prom 15 25th July
Prom 23 31st July
Prom 27 3rd August
Prom 35 9th August
Prom 43 14th August
Prom 46 16th August
Prom 48 18th August
Prom 59 27th August
Prom 75 7th September

See you then.

Anyone for tennis? No, thought not

HS

[Ferretfancy]

A nice list Hornspieler. As a season ticket holder I get to hear many new pieces at the Proms, some maddening, others splendid, or at least fascinating. The problem for me, as a good listener but not a musician, is, where are the second performances? It's really frustrating to hear something that opens a new door, only to find that the BBC never seem to offer a repeat. They could do so online, although I'm not keen on downloads, but why not put new works or new performers on the BBCMM cover discs?

As for Sir Henry, I'm sad to relate that on more than one occasion in the Arena a new Prommer has asked me whose bust is that in front of the organ. The Corporation have completely hidden his history apart from sometimes mentioning him in the programme when he had given the first performance of a work.

[aeolium]

The problem for me, as a good listener but not a musician, is, where are the second performances?

Ff, if you mean the repeat performances of the Proms, nearly all of them are repeated on Ao3 a day or two after the evening performances (as well as, of course, on iplayer).

[Ferretfancy]

Ff, if you mean the repeat performances of the Proms, nearly all of them are repeated on Ao3 a day or two after the evening performances (as well as, of course, on iplayer).

That's true, of course, I suppose I could always record from Freeview, but I still think that new music needs to be re-visited on R3 after an interval to give it the best chance to find an audience.

[Flosshilde]

As for Sir Henry, I'm sad to relate that on more than one occasion in the Arena a new Prommer has asked me whose bust is that in front of the organ. The Corporation have completely hidden his history apart from sometimes mentioning him in the programme when he had given the first performance of a work.

Perhaps you should tell them it's the man the venue is named after - Albert Hall

But seriously, it is a pity that the season is no longer called the 'BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts'.

[salymap]

Perhaps you should tell them it's the man the venue is named after - Albert Hall

But seriously, it is a pity that the season is no longer called the 'BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts'.

If 'Lady' Jessie Wood were still alive they wouldn't have dropped HW's nme. She scared the life out of the bravest of conductors when she attended a Proms rehearsal.

[Ariosto]

As for Sir Henry, I'm sad to relate that on more than one occasion in the Arena a new Prommer has asked me whose bust is that in front of the organ. The Corporation have completely hidden his history apart from sometimes mentioning him in the programme when he had given the first performance of a work.

If it is a "bust" in front of the "organ" then surely it must be female?

EDIT: Oh dear, I'm sure HS might report me now for being naughty ...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

why not put new works or new performers on the BBCMM cover discs?

Brilliant idea, Ff!

... now can I borrow somebody's "flying pigs" smilie for a moment, please?

[mercia]

don't know whether I was supposed to but I have compared the list in #1 with the list in #3 and they appear not to overlap at all

so I have concluded that I should applaud the proms organisers for introducing new works but where possible avoid them

[Osborn]

Obsolete

[Ariosto]

I find that a thoroughly offensive remark. It has nothing to do with your message; it's a horrible gratuitous insult and I suggest you edit it out rather than confirm that you are a malevolent old man with no charm, courtesy or tact.

Steady on!! I know, he does ask for it!! I may have been a bit critical of Ms B in the past but on more constructive grounds, and I'm aware of her strengths too. (She has great control at the point of the bow - like to ask her about that one day).

It's probably best if HS reviews what he writes before committing it to a post, something I try to do myself, but often fail in doing. And the tendency for him to put himself up as an expert on everything (and especially string playing) leads to problems. I would never claim to be an expert of horn or brass playing - although I have opinions - but I'm careful to avoid getting into the finer points as I am not a wind player.

I'm no expert in conducting either, but as I've had to work with numerous ones in the past I feel I have a valid reference point to judge the end results, as no doubt HS has too.

[MrGongGong]

Kaija Saariaho (#5) also has a "Portrait" Prom in the afternoon (usually broadcast after the evening concert at about 11.00pm) - should be well worth hearing:.

Absolutely
wonderful stuff IMV

one of the best of the "Moomin" school of composition

[Hornspieler]

I find that a thoroughly offensive remark. It has nothing to do with your message; it's a horrible gratuitous insult and I suggest you edit it out rather than confirm that you are a malevolent old man with no charm, courtesy or tact.

You are quite right, Osborn.

I have already edited out that remark and I can only offer my deep apologies to Miss Benedetti and to the message boarders in general.

HS