William Mathias(1934-92): A Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

WILLIAM MATHIAS: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL MUSIC

1955:   Piano Concerto No.1, op.2: 24 minutes  + (Somm cd)
1957:   Seven Poems of R.S. Thomas for tenor, harp and chamber orchestra: 20 minutes
1958:   Divertimento for String Orchestra, op. 7: 12 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1961:   Piano Concerto No.2, op.13: 24 minutes  + (Somm cd)
             Music for Strings, op.14: 17 minutes
            Dance Overture, op.16: 6 minutes  * + (Lyrita cd)
            Invocation and Dance for orchestra, op.17: 11 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
            Serenade for small orchestra, op.18: 8 minutes  *
1962:   Cantata "Saint Teilo" for contralto, tenor, narrator, organ, children's choir, chorus and orchestra, op.21: 53 minutes  *
1964:   Prelude, Aria and Finale for String Orchestra, op.25: 10 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
             Concerto for Orchestra, op.27: 21 minutes  *
1965:   Symphony No.1, op.31: 31 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
             Wassail Carol for mixed voices and orchestra: 6 minutes
1966:   Three Medieval Lyrics for chorus, percussion, trumpets and organ, op.33:15 minutes
1967:   Sinfonietta, op. 34: 13 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
             Concertante Music for orchestra "Litanies", op.37: 12 minutes *
1967-68:   Piano Concerto No.3, op.40: 27 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1969:   Festival Overture, op.42: 8 minutes
             Psalm 150 for chorus and orchestra, op.44:7 minutes  *
            "Ave Rex: A Carol Sequence" for chorus and orchestra, op.45: 12 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
              (and "Sir Christemas" for chorus and orchestra from above: 6 minutes)
1970:   Harp Concerto, op.50: 26 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1971:   Intrada for small orchestra, op.54: 5 minutes  + (Metronome cd)
             "A Babe Is Born" for chorus and orchestra, op.55: 6 minutes
              Concerto for Harpsichord, strings and percussion, op.56: 19 minutes  *
              Holiday Overture, op.57: 16 minutes
             "Hobed o Hilion" for baritone and strings: 3 minutes  + (Metronome cd)
1972:   Elegy for a Prince for bass-baritone and orchestra, op.59: 17 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
              Celtic Dances for orchestra, op.60: 14 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1973:   "Laudi" for orchestra, op.62: 12 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1974:   Cantata "This Worlde's Joie" for soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.67: 48 minutes  * + (Lyrita cd)
1975:   Clarinet Concerto, op.68: 17 minutes  * + (Lyrita cd)
            "Vistas" for orchestra, op.69: 13 minutes  + (Lyrita cd)
1976:   Dance Variations for Orchestra, op. 72: 16 minutes *
             "Melos" for flute, harp, string orchestra and percussion, op.73: 14 minutes *
1977:   "Helios" for orchestra, op.76: 15 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
             "Requiescat" for orchestra, op.79: 8 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
1979:   Songs of William Blake for voice, celeste, harp, piano and strings, op.82: 34 minutes  + (Metronome cd)
             Te Deum for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, chorus and orchestra, op.85: 15 minutes
1981:   Reflections on a Theme of Tomkins for flute, oboe, organ, harpsichord and string orchestra, op.86: 17 minutes  *
1982:   Cantata "Lux Aeterna" for soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, organ, chorus and orchestra, op.88: 56 minutes  + (Chandos cd)
            "Salvator Mundi" for upper voices, piano duet, percussion and string orchestra, op.89: 18 minutes     *
1983:   Symphony No.2 "Summer Music", op.90: 28 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
1984:   Organ Concerto, op.91: 28 minutes  *
             "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" for choir and orchestra, op.91, No.2: 8 minutes
             Concerto for Horn, strings and timpani, op.93: 19 minutes  + (Metronome cd)
1985:   Anniversary Dances for orchestra, op.95: 23 minutes      *
             "Veni Sanctae Spiritus" for choir, organ, trumpets and percussion, op.96: 9 minutes
1987:   Carnival of Wales for orchestra: 26 minutes
1988:   "Jonah: A Musical Morality" for tenor, baritone, choruses and chamber orchestra: 60 minutes
1989:   Oboe Concerto: 16 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
             Cantata "World's Fire" for soprano, counter-tenor, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra: 54 minutes  *
            "O Aula Nobilis" for high voices, brass ensemble, percussion and piano duet: 5 minutes
            "Let the People Praise Thee, O God" for chorus and orchestra: 4 minutes
            Bell Carol for choir, brass, percussion and organ: 6 minutes  + (Chandos cd)
1990:   "Threnos" for string orchestra: 18 minutes  + (Metronome cd)
1991:   Symphony No.3: 31 minutes  + (Nimbus cd)
             "In Arcadia" for orchestra: 17 minutes  *
1992:   Concerto for Flute and string orchestra: 15 minutes  *
             Violin Concerto: 36 minutes 

This catalogue has been particularly difficult to compile because of the enormous quantity of music written by Mathias before his tragically early death. There is a huge amount of choral music with brass accompaniment; I have not included these works unless the brass is augmented by other instruments. I hope however that this list does include all the orchestral music. Although much still remains to be recorded Mathias has been relatively fortunate in the number of cds devoted to his music

[Holger]

Hi Colin,

thanks for your list. However, I note the Violin Concerto is missing – definitely a work I would very much like to hear (I don't have a recording). On the other hand, I see I have a recording of "Salvator Mundi" which I will contribute in a while, so that our archives will be augmented by one further piece.

Best,
Holger

[Dundonnell]

Thanks, Holger

The Violin Concerto was the last work on the list and somehow got cut off in the transciption to here. List now amended