Messages

(especially so when I see Rontgen indicated as primary competition for "best Dutch 20th century symphony").

Nor Röntgen, nor Van Gilse was ever a name entered for this competition, so far. It's honest to say their symphonies remained largely unplayed for almost a century, and it's great CPO is offering them a second life. The same applies to Cornelis Dopper, given a second chance by Chandos.

Though I came to appreciate the originality of the later Röngen, one would rather think of symphonists like Vermeulen, Pijper, Badings, Orthel, Andriessen, perhaps Hans Kox.

The verses, if I recall correctly, are taken from the Song of Songs. Are you sure that they contain Van Gilse's "message"? In other words: isn't here a wordplay at hand?

At the one hand, one would expect 'exaltation', because of the Song of Songs. At the other hand: I cannot believe that Van Gilse hadn't first and for all Nietzsche in mind when he called his Third 'Erhebung' - Erhebung being far more a Nietzschean term than one that one would use (in German) in connection with the Song of Songs. To read it as 'exaltation' only will not do, as far as I understand the meaning of the German word c. 1900 and especially as it was used by Nietzsche himself. Perhaps one of our German friends can help us out, here. 

Sorry, was too quick.  Van Gilse was an early admirer of Nietzsche and 'Erhebung' will be a Nietzschean term for him. I don't know the symphony yet, and perhaps the booklet explains it all, but my guess would be, that it translates as elevation, revival, revolt even.

IBy the way: I'm sure that "Erhebung" should be translated as "Exaltation" rather than "Elevation"!

Looks correct to me.

Here is another vote for Fazil Say's Violin Concerto with Peteris Vasks' a close second.

Don't know Fazil Say's VC, but Pēteris Vasks' 1997 concerto 'Tālā gaisma' (Distant Light) is one of my candidates too. Another one is Otar Taktakishvili's Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Chamber Orchestra from 1987.

Thats an easy question: Vaughan Williams 5th my favourite piece of all. Mind you I couldn't be without any of his symphonies really.

My words too.

While Armstrong Gibbs could provide for the toothpase, Alan Rawsthorne was actually trained a dentist. Concerning his first profession, Rawsthorne is on record as having said "I gave that up, thank God, before getting near anyone's mouth", while his friend, Constant Lambert, quipped "Mr Rawsthorne assures me that he has given up the practice of dentistry, even as a hobby" (quoted on Wikipedia).

Wait a second. Who's Frederic d'Erlanger??

Can anybody tell me whether Walford as in Walford Davies is to be regarded as a Christian name or as part of the surname

According to wikipedia, this middle name (his maternal grandmother's maiden name) was later added, but officially as another first name, replacing "Henry". His family name being simply Davies. Any other insights here?

Obviously, what Corder lacks is a recorder. 

And you might have met the name of Sam Akpabot on a Marco Polo cd with African, most South-African, compositions. In his case some Nigerian dances, IIRC. I'm also quite sure you knew Nicola LeFanu - I still have to check whether she really studied with Howells.

Mentioned as a "pupil of Herbert Howells" I found - in the Internet - the names of: Paul Spicer, Richard Drakeford, Ian Stewart, Alan Bullard, Willam Reed, [Mr.] Nethsingha, Sam Akpabot, Derek Bourgeois, Edwin Roxburgh, Berry Ferguson, Duncan Faulkner, Arthur Oldham, and - possibly, couldn't verify yet - Nicola LeFanu. 

Yes, two threads would be silly and hard to distinguish, plus, should Scotland vote for independence would we need a third thread?

Not to mention Cornwall. Renaming the whole thing 'Music from the Isles' would be a safer bet. 

And thirdly, Mark has suggested that there should be some efficient way of storing the catalogues to allow easy access, rather than having them scattered throughout (and possibly overpowering) the Composers Section. That would make perfect sense

Fully seconded. And many thanks indeed for the immense undertaking - from a grateful user! 

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.