Niccoli van Westerhout and other obscure Composers

[Recorddude]

When I was growing up and taking piano lesions, I was curious even then about the unknown composers listed on the front or back cover of the score inside. Back then it would have taken a lot of effort (library visits and books) to find out who these composers were (Sydney Rosenbloom, Vladimir Padwa, Leslie Loth, Gladys Gilbert, to randomly name a few). Today, with the internet , the job is so much easier. Recently I started to rummage through some of these old manuscripts (hoarder your thinking) and looked up some of these composer's bios. Surprisingly I even found recordings of some of their music on youtube.
For example, how many of you have heard of Niccolo Van Westerhout (1857-1898). Niccolo was of Flemish origins, hence the last name, but otherwise was born and spent his whole life in Italy (mostly Naples), hence his first name. He was a pianist and composer who, like many Italian composers of the day, wrote a lot of operas. He has a reasonable biography on Wikipedia including pictures of a studious man of serious intent.
I found two of his orchestral compositions on youtube, his violin concerto in D minor, and symphony in D minor. As you might imagine he was clearly not a musical genius of Beethoven's status, nor for example of a contemporary like Xaver Scharwenka. If you have time and the inclination ---have a listen. I'd be interested in your erudite opinions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z44I05LASNA&t=272s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JozUr6K2LM4

When I have time, I hope to explore the other unknown composers I have uncovered. I did briefly look up Sydney Rosenbloom, an English composer, and found that some of his piano music was also on youtube. What would we do without youtube?

[terry martyn]

I did listen to the violin concerto, and to the finale of the symphony.

The violin concerto sounded as if he knew his Saint-Saens. Lyrical, and pleasant enough, but I am not sure particularly memorable.

The fourth movement of this symphony is sticking around in my mind, but not for all the right reasons.  "Bang bang bang" then a flurry of strings. Repeat ad infinitum.   

Let's face it: nineteenth-century Flemish composers are hardly over-represented in recordings and even less so in concert performances, so hats off to the orchestra concerned.

[Alan Howe]

Sad to say, I'm not impressed. Sorry.

[terry martyn]

I have now found,and listened to,the other three movements of the symphony.   It's reminiscent of Bazzini

Is that a good thing,I wonder?