Richard Stöhr Symphony No.2/etc. (Toccata)

[4candles]

Another important recording forthcoming from Toccata (not yet on their Pipeline, but imminent), including:

• Per Aspera ad Astra, Op. 79a
• Two Roads to Victory, Op. 79b
• Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 81

4c

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for the heads-up.

We will need to know more about the style of Symphony No.2, though - it dates from 1942. Please refer to this earlier thread:
https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,9155.msg93518.html#msg93518

[eschiss1]

2-piano reduction at imslp should provide some info for scorereaders; I know of no recordings otherwise.

[Alan Howe]

I hope it'll be acceptable - just doing my job 'policing' our remit.

[4candles]

And a superb job you do, too, Alan!

[Reverie]

Very interested in this  -  I had a go at orchestrating parts of the 2nd symphony from the 2 piano reduction but it proved to involve too much guesswork basically. I wonder where the score came from? The college told me there was no score!

[eschiss1]

Did they mean no score, or no score and no parts? (Unfortunately the St Michael's College link showing the College's holdings of his music- the finding aid- seems to be down- maybe it's moved at their site...) Ah, it's moved here.

[eschiss1]

hrm. sym.2 is mentioned twice: box 5 folder 10 has the 2-piano reduction, box 9 folder 1 has the "bound score". Unless these are just the same thing, or the score is missing, I presume the full score is the one in box 9, but since they can't find it, that doesn't bode well (I mean, I'd prefer they used a symphony that existed in full rather than one that needed to be reconstructed). Is Martin Anderson reading this and able presumably to shed some light...

[Alan Howe]

Excerpts are now available here:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9666593--richard-stohr-orchestral-music-vol-3

I don't think there's any problem with the idiom of the composer's later music!

[eschiss1]

Wasn't expecting there to be but glad to have that confirmed (well, ok, yes, I wouldn't mind but you know what I mean!)

[Ilja]

Regarding stylistic suitability for this forum, I don't think we need to worry. The 2nd orchestral suite from 1947 is as lusciously romantic as his earlier work.

[Alan Howe]

Looks as though you're right. Wonder whether his style changed much at all - there are six symphonies written between 1942 (No.2) and 1951 (No.7).

[Reverie]

Love those excerpts from the symphony - thank you. Looking forward to November 1st. Stöhr's music hits the spot for me every time!

[Alan Howe]

It's very attractive music, I agree.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Seconded.