William Wordsworth(1908-1988): a Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

Following on from similar efforts for Fricker, Hamilton and Cooke here is a catalogue of William Wordsworth's orchestral works and the choral works scored for voices and orchestra.

Unlike the first three British composers this is I think the first time such a catalogue has been attempted in any form of print. It has required me to scour through the Wordsworth scores kept in the Scottish Music Centre archives. (Wordsworth lived in Scotland from 1961 until his death.)

I was overly-sanguine in previously asserting that virtually all of his orchestral music was in our own British and Irish Music Catalogue. Most of the major orchestral compositions are there however.

Wordsworth is a tonal and romantic British composer whose almost total neglect is a disgrace. There is only one cd of the orchestral music(the Lyrita cd of the 2nd and 3rd symphonies) available.

1932:   Allegretto in A minor for strings
1936:   Sonnet for soprano and orchestra
1937:   Three Pastoral Sketches for orchestra
1938:   Canzona for strings, op.12(1)
1939:   Sinfonia in A minor for string orchestra, op.6: 22 minutes *
           "The Houseless Dead" for tenor, chorus and orchestra, op.14: 15 minutes
1941:   Ballade in E for strings, op.12(2)
1943:   Theme and Variations for small orchestra, op.19: 12 minutes *
1942-44: Oratorio "Dies Domini" for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op.18: 65 minutes
1944:   Four Sacred Sonnets for low voice and orchestra, op.21a
             Symphony No.1 in F minor, op.23: 30 minutes *
1945:   Hymn of Dedication for chorus and orchestra, op.26: 9 minutes (also version for chorus and string orchestra)
1946:   Piano Concerto, op.28: 23 minutes *
1947-48: Symphony No.2 in D, op. 34: 40 minutes + (Lyrita cd)
1949:   Processional Overture, op.39
             Dramatic Cantata "Lucifer Yields" for tenor, baritone, speaker, chorus and orchestra, op.40
1950:   "A Vision: Songs of Innocence and Experience for womens' voices, strings and piano, op. 46
1950-51: Symphony No.3 in C, op.48: 23 minutes + (Lyrita cd)
1951:   "In No Strange Land" for piano, strings and choir: 6 minutes
1952:   Symphonic Study for strings, op.53: 13 minutes *
1953:   Symphony No.4 in E flat, op. 54: 27 minutes *
1954:   Divertimento for orchestra, op. 58: 25 minutes *
1955:   Violin Concerto, op.60: 37 minutes *
1956:   A Song of Praise for chorus and orchestra, op.61: 30 minutes
1957:   "The Peasants' Revolt" for tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra
1958:   Sinfonietta for chamber orchestra, op.62: 28 minutes
1959-60: Symphony No.5 in A minor, op. 68: 34 minutes *
1962:   Cello Concerto, op.73: 29 minutes *
1964:   A Highland Overture, op.76: 8 minutes *
1965:   Jubilation-A Festivity for orchestra, op.78: 10 minutes *
1967:   Two Scottish Sketches for Small Orchestra, op.87
1969:   Valediction for orchestra, op.82a
            Overture "Conflict", op.86: 9 minutes *
            Sinfonia Semplice for strings, op.87: 12 minutes
1970:   "A Pattern of Love" for voice and strings, op.89
             Spring Festival Overture, op.90: 11 minutes *
1971:   A Christmas Garland for women's voices, strings, piano and organ, op.91
1972:   Symposium for violin, strings and percussion, op.94: 10 minutes *
1976:   "Confluence"-Symphonic Variations for orchestra, op.100: 17 minutes
1977:   Symphony No.6 "Elegiaca" for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.102
1980:   Symphony No.7 "Cosmos", op.107: 16 minutes *
1983:   "Excelsior"-A Memory of Walks on the High Hills of Scotland" for strings, op.112
1984:   Elegy for Frieda for strings, op.111a
1986:   Symphony No.8 "Pax Hominibus", op.117: 16 minutes *

No date found:

Andante cantabile for strings
Festival March in C for orchestra
"The Fool's Saga" for orchestra
Incidental Music to "The Hawk and the Handsaw"
Music for Pytheas for voice and orchestra
"Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland" for chorus and orchestra
Overture "The Forest"
Sea-Based Song Based on a Scots Traditional Tune for orchestra
Suite in A minor for String Orchestra
"The Two Princes"-Overture, Entracte and Songs

[Alan Howe]

Great work! Thank you!
Quite a catalogue. Now it's over to the recording companies...

[thalbergmad]

Excellent work, you must have considerable patience to do this.

If you ever get a spare week, you can go through my loft and do my catalogue.

I can't pay you, but you can have as many rock cakes as you like.

Thal

[Dundonnell]

I enjoy this sort of exercise

I hope to add similar catalogues for Daniel Jones, Humphrey Searle, Arthur Butterworth, Alun Hoddinott, Kenneth Leighton and William Mathias

Which means that your loft will have to wait