Posted in William Walton, Classical Music, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Delius, Holst, English Composers, Sir Malcolm Arnold, Boris Johnson on October 19th, 2006
No, I didn’t say that. It was a German, Oscar Adolf Hermann Schmitz, way back in 1904. Not so long ago that it doesn’t still wound.
Schmitz — or Fritz, as Sun readers would cry — had this to say of the land that bore Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Purcell, Parry and Holst :
England, he said is “Das Land Ohne Musik” — the land without music.
Thankfully, the country now has a champion. A man of many parts, a journalist and former editor of one of our top weekly magazines; a Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Higher Education, no less.
Step forward Defender of the Faith (musical variety) … (drum roll) : Boris Johnson.
A little late, we might murmur into our gins and tonic. And is he the best man for the job? After all …
But don’t look a gift horse in the mouth … even if Boris’s foot is already in it.
Enough of prelude and overture. Read Boris in his own words Here.
Posted in William Walton, Classical Music, Vaughan Williams, Steve Newman, Elgar, Delius, Holst on June 27th, 2006
I’m delighted to announce that Steve Newman, actor, playwright and Commissioning Director at publisher, Humdrumming will be joining me here at Classy Classical to provide historical insights into the major English composers.
Steve describes his qualifications for the task thus: “I have a passion for English composers, and next year is the ‘Year of Elgar’. I’ll be writing some historical pieces on Elgar, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Holst and so on. And I once wrote a play about Elgar and Delius.”
Many readers will know of Steve’s writing on music from our sister site: Jazz Groove. He also authors A Publisher’s Diary about his work at Humdrumming.
We look forward eagerly to Steve’s contributions.
Posted in William Walton, Colin Davis, LSO, Classical Music, Symphonies on May 2nd, 2006
In a sparkling new live recording of William Walton’s 1st Symphony, Sir Colin Davis is at his Sibelian best, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
The British composer, famous for his Imperial themes and wartime music, first performed his symphony in 1935. With the undoubted influence of Sibelius, it is right up Sir Colin’s street.
In a review, David Mellor gives it five stars. He writes: “The first movement is one of the most exhilarating in any 20th-century symphony, and all its power and propulsive energy is unleashed in Sir Colin’s performance. The LSO cover themselves in glory with crisp rhythms and virtuostic playing from every department.”
One for the collection if you’re a Walton, Sibelius, or LSO fan.
Amazon.com doesn’t seem to stock this peach just yet, but you can purchase it from Amazon.co.uk. Check out the latest price.
