Josef Holbrooke

[Pengelli]

Regarding Albion's post above. While I wouldn't exactly want to recommend the Marco Polo cds of Holbrooke. I would certainly suggest that the Marco Polo cd of tone poems,including 'The Raven',and Prelude to 'The Bells',is in my opinion well worth acquiring in the absence of anything better. The performances of 'The Raven' and 'The Bells' prelude are not exactly virtuoso performances,but they do convey the dark hue and gothic atmosphere of these haunting pieces,quite adequately;and unlike some of the wonderful Tournemire  symphonies, or the Cyril Scott disc Marco Polo did, they are at least reasonably proficient. Of course,when cpo or some other really good recording company do them,these performances will be completely blown away. But until then,I personally wouldn't want to be without this cd. This is music which really does need to be heard somehow or another! And I  would certainly prefer to listen to the Marco Polo cd, of some of Holbrooke's most imaginative music,than the Hyperion cd of Holbrooke's rather derivative Piano Concerto No 1,even if the performances are top notch. Believe me, I'm a big fan of Holbrooke,but the Piano Concerto No 1 is not Holbrooke at his most representive or personal. Also,well worth obtaining is the Dutton cd of his Violin Sonata No 3 'Orientale',which is one of the finest Holbroke recordings I have ever heard. It is also a very fine and satisfying work in itself & superior to any of the chamber works on the Marco Polo cd,cited. The couplings aren't Holbrooke, unfortunately,but they are well worth hearing,especially the Walford Davies Violin Sonata No2.
  On the other hand,I wouldn't bother with the cd of bits from his opera's. Although I find it useful for reference purposes.

[albion]

The first Holbrooke disc from Marco Polo ('The Raven', 'The Bells' Prelude, 'Bronwen' Overture, 'Byron', 'Ulalume') was a much more worthwhile offering then their second (orchestral extracts from 'The Cauldron of Annwn') and I should really have included it in a 'second-tier' category. It would be very interesting to hear John Poole's 1978 performances of 'Byron' and 'The Bells' (centenary concert - BBC Concert Orchestra with the BBC Singers), Malcolm Sargent's 1954 performance of 'Byron', or Bantock's 1938 performance of 'Queen Mab' (all recordings held at the National Sound Archive)!

I agree that the Gwyn-ap-Nudd concerto is less than top-drawer Holbrooke, but Hyperion's recording is essential listening given the quality of the performance by Hamish Milne with Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish.

[Pengelli]

Indeed,I was being a bit harsh. The concerto is good,schmaltzy fun,and as per usual with Holbrooke superbly orchestrated. I just,think the music on the Marco Polo cd is more representative,and the performances aren't so bad you can't enjoy the wonderful music. Having said that,you only have to compare the cpo of 'Ulalume' with the performance on the Marco Polo to see what's wrong. But,yes,you are right to include the Hyperion disc.
Regarding the 1978 performance of 'The Bells'. John Poole did a very good 'Das Siegeslied',(Brian). Another performance mouldering away in the BBC archives department. What a waste. Incidentally,Gwydion Brooke didn't like that performance of 'The Bells', referring to it as  a 'travesty' (in a letter he wrote to me, in response to some Josef Holbrooke fan mail!!!)
I have to say.I had no idea Bantock had recorded Holbrooke. Sounds like a job for Dutton,if they could get hold of it. Incidentally,I wish Dutton would release their cd of historical recordings of Bantock conducting. One I missed!
Finally,I wish Hyperion would do Holbrooke's second Piano Concerto. Unfortunately,they don't seem very interested in Holbrooke.
There are so many marvellous neglected composers out there. I'm listening to one right now.actually, a cd of a symphony of a symphony and tone poem by the Belgian composer Adolphe Biarent. Very exciting & spectacularly orchestrated. Lovers of Gliere's 'Ilya Murometz',take note! You'd like this!

[Gareth Vaughan]

The Bantock "Queen Mab" is very interesting, but the sound quality is poor, there are cuts (and what sounds like a break in transmission) and the choral section has been axed altogether.
Gwyd didn't like the John Poole performance of "The Bells", it's true. I haven't heard it myself, but I do know that they did not use all the instruments Holbrooke calls for. In particular, the very important (in this work) part for concertina was omitted and the almost equally important (in terms of sonority) mushroom bells were also cut. The orchestral forces are large, admittedly, but no larger than for Messiaen or Strauss - and if Messiaen can have an ondes martenot why should not Holbrooke be allowed his concertina?
"The Bells", "Queen Mab" and "Byron" - the three early tone poems with chorus - could all be fitted comfortably on one CD. I do wish very heartily that first rate performances of these pieces could be committed to disk. "Queen Mab" and "The Bells" represent Holbrooke at his individual and accomplished best.

[albion]

"The Bells", "Queen Mab" and "Byron" - the three early tone poems with chorus - could all be fitted comfortably on one CD. I do wish very heartily that first rate performances of these pieces could be committed to disk. "Queen Mab" and "The Bells" represent Holbrooke at his individual and accomplished best.

This would indeed make a fantastic show-case for Holbrooke. I'm sure that 'Byron' is a better piece than it seems to be from the Marco Polo disc - one of the problems there, besides the dry acoustic and the dodgy playing, was the very peculiar pronunciation of the non-English-speaking choir. Follow-up recordings of 'Apollo and the Seaman' and 'A Dramatic Choral Symphony' would, of course, be more than welcome! Now that Holbrooke's purely orchestral works are beginning to show above the horizon, it surely can't be too long before we are revelling in his choral scores.

[Gareth Vaughan]

I'm convinced that "Byron" is a much better piece than the rather lack-lustre Marco Polo recording suggests. There was little sense of orchestral "line" in that performance and the chorus might have been singing in Hindustani for all the sense they made. After the opening "Ah! Byron..." I couldn't distinguish a single word. Shocking!

[albion]

the chorus might have been singing in Hindustani for all the sense they made.

I thought it was Klingon!

[JimL]

K'plaQH!

[Pengelli]

Perhaps it is Hindustani! Actually,lacklustre is a very good way of describing the performances on the disc. I just didn't want to put someone off buying it,since there's no alternative at present. And I think the music is more representational of Holbrooke than the Piano Concerto on the Hyperion cd,however well performed. At the same time,when a suitable alternative emerges.I doubt I will want to play the Marco Polo cd,again. Unless I'm an idiot!
I agree about  'Byron'. It has a haunting quality about it,which made me think how difficult it must have been for Holbrooke. All that flush of success,and then decades of neglect and bitterness,always hoping for some chink of light,some change........but,alas,it never happened! At least,not for poor Holbrooke,himself. In that respect,I think the actual choice of 'Byron' as a sort of pay off to the disc was a quite inspired one. Which is more than you can say for the performance.
The Cyril Scott cd was another disaster from the Marco Polo stable. I also remember their cd of Bantock's 'Hebridean Symphony'. I remember quite enjoying it,but when I got the Hyperion cd,the RPO horns practically blew me away. You could hardly hear them on the MC disc. I never played it again. What was the point?

[albion]

Indeed the Marco Polo Cyril Scott disc was pretty unpleasant in places, but still quite useful for including the 'Two Passacaglias on Irish Themes' (1914) and the 'Neapolitan Rhapsody' (1959), neither of which managed to make it into Chandos' fantastic 4-volume series. The 'Suite Fantastique' was neither-here-nor-there, but these other two works were very interesting.

It would be great to have recordings of his wonderful one-act opera 'The Alchemist' (1917/18) [excerpts were broadcast on Radio 3 in 1995], his major choral works 'La Belle Dame sans Merci' (1915/17), 'The Nativity Hymn' (1913) and the 'Hymn of Unity' (1947), together with the concertos for harpsichord (1937) and oboe (1948).

[Pengelli]

I missed 'The Alchemist',unfortunately. Although I managed to tape the Bronwen' excerpts,thank goodness. It's encouraging to see Chandos bring out another cd of Scott. Only chamber works,but I snapped it up via their site (to try and encourage them to do more). Very enjoyable too. Even if they have lost interest in the orchestral works maybe there is a  some hope that they might explore some other aspects of his music.

[Pengelli]

Actually,using a provincial orchestral really isn't an excuse for poor ensemble and shoddy playing. The Adolphe Biarent cd I mentioned is a case in point. Not exactly an orchestra of the first rank or one of the most highly rated conductors,although an admirable one. The Biarent cd is everything that allot of those Marco Polo cd's aren't. The performances,full of fire and conviction sweep one along;and the sound quality is excellent too. What a difference!

[albion]

According to the latest British Music Society Newsletter, the next CPO Holbrooke disc will be a dream release containing the Grasshopper Violin Concerto, Symphony No.3 (Ships) and the Auld Lang Syne Variations. Recording is scheduled for next Spring - I'm sure that many people are really looking forward to this on the strength of the previous outstanding releases from CPO and Dutton.

[edurban]

Thanks, this is great news!

David

[Alan Howe]

Yes, that is great news. Should be a wonderful CD.