York Bowen (1884-1961)

[Albion]

I have tidied and corrected the orchestral and concertante sections of Bowen's work-list on Wikipedia with references added as to the survival status of the major works held (and largely destroyed) at the London publisher de Wolfe. This is based on a visit that I made with Gareth Vaughan to their offices way back in 2011 (!) -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_York_Bowen#Orchestral

 :o

The 2016 Chandos recording of the Fantasy Overture on "Tom Bowling" is the only work so far to be rescued from the sorry situation and actually performed -

 ::)

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8117688--overtures-from-the-british-isles-vol-2

- but it is excellent.

 :)

[Albion]

Here is folder with several scores by Bowen: the Suite, Op.57 (c.1920), the Festal Overture, Op.89 (1929), Symphony No.3 in E minor, Op.137 (1951) in performances conducted by Vilem Tausky and Ian Whyte, and the Sinfonietta Concertante (1957). Luckily, performing material exists for all of these works (except the Symphony).

I have increased the volume of the four vintage recordings compared with the downloads available in the British and Irish Music Archive. Not exactly hi-fidelity, but there you go -

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/adf72ros3iaf3/York+Bowen+(1884-1961)

 :)

[Albion]

Besides the Vilem Tausky and Ian Whyte performances provided above, the British Library holds copies of two other broadcasts:

BBC Symphony Orchestra/ Maurice Edward Miles (1908-1985)
Duration: 30 min. 16 sec.
H5503/1

and

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/ Charles Groves (1915-1992)
Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, England, UK
BBC Home Service 12th December 1958
Duration: 30 min. 10 sec.
Taken from a transmission of 'The Living Composer'
H5411/1

Together, the Suite, Op.57 (1920), the Festal Overture, Op.89 (1929), Symphony No.3, Op.137 (1951) and the Sinfonietta Concertante (1957) would come to around 76 minutes...

 ;)

John Wilson has expressed an interest...

 :)

[Albion]

York Bowen was no more "The English Rachmaninov" than Stanford was "The Irish Brahms", Joseph Holbrooke was "The Cockney Wagner" or Cyril Scott was "The English Debussy" - critics are so lazy! Each had their own idiosyncratic style and musical personality.

As you may have gathered, I'm a staunch advocate of this composer and would like to offer suggestions for a collection on CD of his larger scores:

Symphony No.1, Op.4 (1902) - Chandos CHAN10670
Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 (1903) - Dutton CDLX7169
Symphonic Fantasia, tone poem, Op.16 (1905) - Dutton CDLX7187
Piano Concerto No.2, Op.17 (1905) - Dutton CDLX7187
Piano Concerto No.3, Op.23 (1907) - Dutton CDLX 7187/ Hyperion CDA67659*
Viola Concerto, Op.25 (1908) - Hyperion CDA67546*
Symphony No.2, Op.31 (1909) - Chandos CHAN10670*
Violin Concerto, Op.33 (1913) - Dutton CDLX7169*
Eventide, orchestral poem, Op.69 (1922) - Dutton CDLX7237*
Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra, Op.74 (c.1924) - Dutton CDLX7263*
Piano Concerto No.4, Op.88 (1937) - Hyperion CDA67659*
Fantasy overture on "Tom Bowling", Op.115 (1945) - Chandos CHAN10898*

Also recommended are the chamber music discs on Dutton and the piano music on Chandos/ Hyperion.

Any of the recordings marked * would, I think, give anyone new to Bowen a good chance to assess whether or not he is their cup-of-tea: I suspect that cilgwyn will despise this post, lol. Possibly a few other major works may be under preliminary consideration for the future...

 ;D

...and, unlike on other forums, I don't feel compelled to justify my choices with chapter and verse, so I simply won't bother.

 ;)

Try some Bowen - go on, you know you want to...

 :)

[guest822]

I completely agree with you, John. I have most of the CDs you list and several of the chamber music CDs you allude to. I also acquired Danny Driver's complete collection on two CDs of Bowen's piano sonatas (Hyperion CDA67751/2). The final sonata in B-flat Minor op 160 is an absolute tour de force that will leave you breathless. He wrote it in the year of his death, 1961, when he was 77 and still demonstrably at the absolute top of his compositional game.  Joop Celis's two CDs of piano music (Chandos CHAN 10277 and CHAN 10593) are also frequently to be found on my CD player. I think Bowen's great. So there!

[Albion]

I think Bowen's great. So there!

Blessèd by thy name...

Joop Celis's two CDs of piano music (Chandos CHAN 10277 and CHAN 10593) are also frequently to be found on my CD player.

Well, hopefully IN the CD player - not using them as coasters are you?

 :o

CHAN10410 and CHAN10506 still to get then...



 ;)

C'mon cilgwyn, having that afternoon nap?

 ;D

[guest822]

I think Bowen's great. So there!

Joop Celis's two CDs of piano music (Chandos CHAN 10277 and CHAN 10593) are also frequently to be found on my CD player.

Well, hopefully IN the CD player - not using them as coasters are you?

 :o

Yes, IN. Make me a liar for a preposition!  ;D I suspect my slip arose from being of the generation that put records 'on' a turntable. (Before anybody asks, no, not wax cylinders on a phonograph!)

[Albion]

I suspect my slip arose from being of the generation that put records 'on' a turntable. (Before anybody asks, no, not wax cylinders on a phonograph!)

Whoops, I knew the first movement seemed a couple of bars shorter than the last time I played it...



 ;D

[cilgwyn]

Out of interest! Did anyone here,actually,ever buy,or possess,the original Lyrita Lp of Bowen playing,his own music,before his renaissance on cd? I first heard his music via the deleted French cd,of the complete Preludes,played by Marie-Catherin Girod. (The French,got there,first......just!) She also recorded the Bax Sonatas,of which I possess a copy). If you liked the music,it would have been an exciting find! But a long wait,if like Oliver,you wanted more!! :(

https://www.discogs.com/York-Bowen-Piano-Music/release/2502344http://

[guest822]

Whoops, I knew the first movement seemed a couple of bars shorter than the last time I played it...



 ;D

Butter-fingers! ::)

[cilgwyn]

York Bowen was no more "The English Rachmaninov" than Stanford was "The Irish Brahms", Joseph Holbrooke was "The Cockney Wagner" or Cyril Scott was "The English Debussy" - critics are so lazy! Each had their own idiosyncratic style and musical personality.

As you may have gathered, I'm a staunch advocate of this composer and would like to offer suggestions for a collection on CD of his larger scores:

Symphony No.1, Op.4 (1902) - Chandos CHAN10670
Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 (1903) - Dutton CDLX7169
Symphonic Fantasia, tone poem, Op.16 (1905) - Dutton CDLX7187
Piano Concerto No.2, Op.17 (1905) - Dutton CDLX7187
Piano Concerto No.3, Op.23 (1907) - Dutton CDLX 7187/ Hyperion CDA67659*
Viola Concerto, Op.25 (1908) - Hyperion CDA67546*
Symphony No.2, Op.31 (1909) - Chandos CHAN10670*
Violin Concerto, Op.33 (1913) - Dutton CDLX7169*
Eventide, orchestral poem, Op.69 (1922) - Dutton CDLX7237*
Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra, Op.74 (c.1924) - Dutton CDLX7263*
Piano Concerto No.4, Op.88 (1937) - Hyperion CDA67659*
Fantasy overture on "Tom Bowling", Op.115 (1945) - Chandos CHAN10898*

Also recommended are the chamber music discs on Dutton and the piano music on Chandos/ Hyperion.

Any of the recordings marked * would, I think, give anyone new to Bowen a good chance to assess whether or not he is their cup-of-tea: I suspect that cilgwyn will despise this post, lol. Possibly a few other major works may be under preliminary consideration for the future...

 ;D

...and, unlike on other forums, I don't feel compelled to justify my choices with chapter and verse, so I simply won't bother.

 ;)

Try some Bowen - go on, you know you want to...

 :)

Indeed! And then there's Havergal Brian who's the English......?!! :-\ I don't think he's ever been dubbed the English,anything....thankfully! I suppose,he never had the brief period of success enjoyed by Scott and Holbrooke,to acquire such lazy,labelling? (I don't know enough about York Bowen,in that respect!) I suppose he's so idiosyncratic......such a maverick,in every respect? His maverick status has been compared to that of Langgaard in Denmark and Ives in America. I think of those two,Ives would be closer? The stubborn determination in the face of creative isolation and neglect. Certain aspects of his personality and the cragginess of some of his output. Other than that?!! Although,I seem to recall Andrew Clements,the esteemed, ;D Guardian critic,describing some of the Symphonic Variations (to The Tigers) as,Ivesian?!The only things he shares with Langgaard are his isolation from the musical establishment & dogged determination to continue to compose. Other than that?!!  Brian had some personal and domestic issues;but,in other respects,he was pretty down-to-earth. He didn't have any of Langgaard's bizarre religious beliefs,wear too-short trousers or walk around the Potteries at 3 am in the morning! At least,as far as I know?!! ;D

[cilgwyn]

Anyway,I seem to remember that York Bowen just sounds like York Bowen!!! :o

[Albion]

Anyway,I seem to remember that York Bowen just sounds like York Bowen!!! :o

Time for a refresher course, then!

 ;)

That Bentley stuff is exactly the sort of thing! Poorly assimilated? Sullivan never sounds like anyone but Sullivan (even when he's doing a wonderful parody of someone else). Stanford could not be mistaken for Brahms. Anyway, I hope Mr Bentley gets a performance soon so we can work out whether he sounds like undigested Birtwistle or undigested Glass (note the capital G).

Don't forget Frederic Cowen "The English Schubert", Coleridge-Taylor the "English Dvorak", Edward German the "English German" - oh, and John Bentley "The English...

  "

 ;D

[Albion]

Joop Celis's two CDs of piano music (Chandos CHAN 10277 and CHAN 10593) are also frequently to be found on my CD player.

CHAN10410 and CHAN10506 still to get then...

Now, there really is no excuse...



4 cds Chandos CHAN10774

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010774

- brings to mind references to "Bach's Organ Works" (well he did father 20 children)...

 ;)

[guest822]

Joop Celis's two CDs of piano music (Chandos CHAN 10277 and CHAN 10593) are also frequently to be found on my CD player.

CHAN10410 and CHAN10506 still to get then...

Now, there really is no excuse...




4 cds Chandos CHAN10774

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010774

- brings to mind references to "Bach's Organ Works" (well he did father 20 children)...

 ;)

Yes, they are on my 'to get' list but so much else is as well and one sadly has a finite income! Although, if I'm honest, I think it's more a case of Buridan's ass!