David Matthews(1943-): a Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

I happen to think that David Matthews is one of the best composers currently active in the United Kingdom. His cycle of symphonies is particularly impressive, not always easy listening but all credit to him for continuing to breathe life into the symphony. Symphony No.6 is, I think, a masterpiece. He has also been very well-treated by companies like Dutton

DAVID MATTHEWS: A CATALOGE OF THE ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL MUSIC

1970:       "Stars" for chorus and orchestra, op.3: 6 minutes
1970-71:   Little Concerto for small orchestra, op.6
1975-78/2007:Symphony No.1, op.9: 19 minutes    + (Dutton cd)
1976-79:  Symphony No.2, op.17: 36 minutes   *   + (Dutton cd)
1977:        Elegy for small orchestra, op. 16a: 7 minutes
1979/1981:September Music for orchestra, op.24: 10 minutes   + (NMC cd)
1980/1988:"White Nights" for Violin and small orchestra, op.26: 10 minutes
1980-82:   Violin Concerto No.1, op.31: 25 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
1981:        Introit for two trumpets and strings, op. 28: 6 minutes   +  (NMC cd)
1982:        Serenade for small orchestra, op.29: 15 minutes
1983-85:  Symphony No.3, op.37: 22 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
1984-85:  Symphonic Poem "In the Dark Time", op.38: 26 minutes   + (NMC cd)
1986:        Variations on Bach's Chorale 'Die Nacht ist Kommen' for strings, op. 40: 16 minutes
1986-87:   Chaconne for orchestra, op.43: 20 minutes   + (NMC cd)
1987-88:   "Cantiga" for soprano and orchestra, op.45: 24 minutes  + (NMC cd)
1989-90:   Symphonic Poem "The Music of Dawn", op.50: 27 minutes       +  (Chandos cd)
                  Symphony No.4 for small orchestra, op.51: 27 minutes   + (NMC cd)
1990:        Romanza for cello and small orchestra, op. 49: 12 minutes
                  Scherzo Capriccioso for orchestra, op.52: 8 minutes
1991:         Capriccio for two horns and strings, op. 54: 10 minutes
1991-92:   Oboe Concerto, op.57: 20 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
1992:        "From Sea to Sky"-Overture for small orchestra, op.59: 4 minutes         +  (Dutton cd)
1992-93/1996-99: Symphonic Fantasy "A Vision and a Journey", op. 60:19 minutes     +   (Chandos cd)
1993-96:   Vespers for mezzo-soprano, tenor, chorus and orchestra, op. 66: 45 minutes
1995:        Adagio for string orchestra, op. 56b: 4 minutes
1995-96:   Sinfonia for small orchestra, op.67: 10 minutes
1996:        "A Song and Dance Sketchbook" for small orchestra, op.65a
1996-2000:Two Pieces for Strings, op.70: 22 minutes
1997:       "Burnham Wick" for small orchestra, op.73: 15 minutes
1997-98:   Concerto No.2 for Violin and strings, op.74: 21 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
1998-99:   Symphony No.5, op.78a: 23 minutes   +  (Dutton cd)
2000-01:   "After sunrise" for orchestra, op.82: 9 minutes           + (Dutton cd)
                   Aubade for small orchestra, op.83: 11 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
2000-02:"Concerto in Azzurro" for Cello and Orchestra, op.87: 23 minutes      +  (Chandos cd)
2001:      "Winter Remembered"-Concertino for Viola and strings, op.86: 15 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
                 "A Congress of Passions" for medium voice, oboe and strings, op. 62a: 11 minutes              + (Dutton cd)
2002:      "Away for Rio" for orchestra
                  Prelude to Part III of Handel's 'Messiah' for orchestra: 2 minutes
2003:      "Total Tango" for string orchestra, op.80a: 5 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
2003-05:"Movement of Autumn" for soprano and small orchestra, op.98: 22 minutes       +  (Dutton cd)
2003-07:Symphony No.6, op.100: 37 minutes   + (Dutton cd)
2004-11:"Three Birds and a Farewell" for string orchestra, op.118: 10 minutes
2005-06:"Fanfares and Flowers" for symphonic wind band, op. 103: 6 minutes
2006:      "Goodnight Song" for string orchestra, op.102a    +  (Dutton cd)
2008-09:Symphony No.7, op.109: 20 minutes
2010:      Concerto for Piano and strings, op.111: 20 minutes
               "Dark Pastoral" for Cello and small orchestra, op.112: 11 minutes

[petershott@btinternet.com]

'David Matthews is one of the best composers currently active in the UK' - absolutely!!!!

And my next point is absolutely predictable - the series of String Quartets is stunning.

Anyone happen to know whether Toccata are ever going to issue a 'Volume 2'? I do very much hope so, for the Kreutzer Quartet gave us quite excellent recordings of Quartets 4, 6 and 10....... but that was two years ago now. There have been a number of CDs released by Toccata entitled 'Volume 1', and sadly as yet no Volume 2.

[britishcomposer]

Exactly two years ago Martin Anderson informed the members of the British Music List of 'the release of the first CD in the
complete David Matthews string quartets on Toccata Classics.'
So there's still hope! 

[Christo]

Good that you remind us of 'Dark Pastoral', actually David Matthews' realization of the slow movement of Vaughan Williams's projected Cello Concerto (1942) for Pablo Casals, based on its surviving fragments. The first minutes of this fragment (fragment of the fragment, indeed) is on Youtube, played during the 2010 Proms by Stephen Isserlis.