Robert Ernest Bryson Born Glasgow 31.3.1867 Died St. Briavels, Gloucester. 20.4.1942
He made a living as a member of the Liverpool Cotton Association. His master of composition was Dr. W H Hunt. "His work is in no sense that of an amateur, being distinguished by greatness of purpose and fine technique, his forms are classical in outline and his texture is elaborately contrapuntal" Grove. He remained unmarried and resided with his three unmarried siblings. At the time of his death he resided at; Yew Tree Cottage, East Street in Briavels. His executors were the Midland bank and the estate was valued at £15,290. A comfortable some for the period.
Orchestral
Symphony No.1 In D pub. by Breitkopf & Hartal
Sumphony No.2 in C major
'Voices' A study for Orchestra 1910 Premiered at London Promenade Concerts
'Idylls of a Summer's Day
Vaila for strings pub. by Breitkopf & Hartel
Chamber
Adagio Cantabile, trio for piano, violin and harmonium 1895
String quartet No.1
String quartet No.2
Violin sonata
Piano
Sonata
Fanfare for an adventure 1921
Organ
Fantasia overture 1883
Introduction and symphonic finale pub. by J H Larway
Poem for organ pub. by Joseph Williams
Rhapsody for organ pub. by Joseph Williams
Prelude and fugue
Processional fantasia 1893
Six pieces for organ Op.26: Prelude, Quasi pastorale, March in Bflat, Berceuse, Carol in C minor, Allegro decisd in D major. pub. by E Donajowski 1898
Sequence of seven miniatures pub. by Schott & Co
Organ sonata
Six church preludes pub. by Novello, Ewer & Co 1892
Song
The Angler words by Ian Duncan Colvin pub. by J Curwen & Sons
What the people tell pub. by Stainer & Bell
Nae sae bad as is micht hae been! words by Ian Duncan Colvin pub. by J H Larway
Remembrance pub. by J H Larway
The Silent Town words by Richard Dehmel pub. by Stainer & Bell
So the year's done with words by Robert Browning pub. by OUP
A Song of long ago words by R Meyrick pub. by Weeks & Co
The Last Harvest song cycle for voice and orchestra
Choral
The Cloak, the boat and the shoes. words by W B Yeates
Dream Taps for chorus and side drum words by Walt Whitman pub. by J Curwen & Sons
Canzonetta in two parts for female voices words by I F Mosse pub. by Stainer & Bell
Simple as a Daisy, chorus for mens voices , from Poems in praise of practically nothing, by Samuel Hoffenstein pub. by Stainer & Bell 1914
The Stranger for baritone, chorus and orchestra words by R Baines pub. by Stainer & Bell
Most glorious Lord of Life - anthem words by Edmund Spencer pub. by Stainer & Bell
Easter hymn words by Edmund Spencer
Opera
The Lepar's Flute words by Ian Duncan Colvin pub. by Goodwin and Tabb 1926 - performed in Glasgow & London.
I have done a little research on Bryson recently and it does not look like the 2nd Symphony was published at all, and the work's whereabouts are currently unknown. Jurgen Schaarwachter prepared a new edition of the score of No. 1 but cannot locate No. 2, which he says was definitely not published by B&H. This is a great pity because it does appear that Bryson's music is worth performing.
Bit of ephemera, the house where he died is grade 11 listed and is currently on the market.