The Art-Music, Literature and Linguistics Forum

In view of the perplexing numbering of Potter's symphonies I have added the following note (in bold below) to my listing on Wikipedia. Please could members judge if it makes sense?!?

Potter seems to have adopted two separate and contradictory systems for the numbering of his symphonies, of which nine are extant: one based on the order of composition (hence those styled 1, 6, 7, 8 and 10) and another based on key (hence the G minor symphony of 1832 is also styled number 2, i.e. the second G minor symphony whilst the two D major symphonies are styled numbers 2 and 4, i.e. the second and fourth D major symphonies). Thus it is possible to surmise that several works, including both a first and a third D major symphony, were lost or destroyed. This has led to considerable confusion which the following list seeks to clarify by adopting a simple chronology.

Symphony [No. 1] in G minor (1819, revised 1824–26) [styled No. 1 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 2] in B♭ major (1821, revised 1839) [unnumbered by the composer]
Symphony [No. 3] in C minor (1826) [styled No. 6 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 4] in F major (1826) [styled No. 7 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 5] in E♭ major (1828, revised with replacement slow movement 1846) [styled No. 8 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 6] in G minor (1832) [styled both No. 10 and No. 2 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 7] in D major (1833) [styled No. 2 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 8] in C minor (1834) [unnumbered by the composer]
Symphony [No. 9] in D major (1834) [styled No. 4 by the composer]

 ???

Well, your explanation seems (reasonably) clear to me.
Regards!

Thanks, Beorn!

 :)

Very helpful indeed. Many thanks.

On the assumption that the new CPO recording of Potter's Symphony No.1 is the same performance as that in the BBC broadcast I have "suspended" the off-air recording from the archive. If any member can let me know if they aren't identical I will reverse this!

 :)

Way-hey! Lovely new disc of scribbles by "Little Chip" just landed. Booklet-notes comprehensibly 'n all, penned by Sullivanite Meinhard Saremba and translated by J. Bradford Robinson, so no Reznicek therapy sessions required. I knew Howard Griffiths would eventually get round to this repertoire: first outings for the Cymbeline overture and the Introduzione e Rondo (alla militaire). Great stuff methinks!

 ;)

Buy! Buy! Buy! Oh, and then email CPO to ensure that this is just the beginning of their Potter traversal.

 ;D

Oh God. More expense... ::)

This instruction is important. They DO listen to customer feedback. Please drop CPO a line - for attention of Herr Burkhard Schmilgun (he is the Artists & Repertoire Manager).

Will do!

Gareth, as ever you were just ahead of me! YES, send in your appreciative comments to Burkhard and get this bloody wonderful music recorded (whilst yer at it, put in a kindly word for Mackenzie 'n' Cowen)...

 :D

Yep, just popped another appreciative scribble off to both Burkhard 'n' Howard. Potter scores very highly in the British symphonic pioneering stakes: Samuel Wesley jolly fun, William Crotch hmmm, Bennett refined and tuneful, Macfarren worthy but dull, Sullivan excellent.

 ;)

On to Parry (2-5), Cowen (3-6), Stanford (5-6), German (2-"5") 'n' Cliffe (1-2)... Great stuff that should be in the concert repertoire. Sadly, it ain't, never has been and probably never will be.

 ???

Having lent me old cloth-ears to said disc, I conclude that the performance is the same. Hence it is deleted from BIMA. C'mon email CPO to get this stuff recorded: mine, Lionel's 'n' Gareth's pesterings ain't enough!

 ;)

I even managed to write mine in a sort of German, with the aid of a translation app! I expect it will cause a laugh at the other end, which might serve to get them on our side!  ;D

Bless you, Lionel! You are a true friend to music and I, for one, thank you wholeheartedly.

 ;)

It's very kind of you say so. If a friend is there for you through difficult times, and comforts you unconditionally, I somehow think music has been a better friend to me than I have been to it! ;D

My matey, this is what AMF should be. Music and friendship + books, art, films, etc.

 :)

Yep, current difficulties include trying to deal with a "person" on Wiki who deems the notification of extant scores and manuscripts for composers "irrelevant". How is this music going to be revived if no bugger knows where it is?

 ::)

It sounds to me as if the "person" on Wiki ought to be regarded as "irrelevant".

Hey, one does one's little bit for the planet...

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R8d0f42deed4d2ca1bc81fdc7cecca960?rik=mautNHHsRLAYZQ&pid=ImgRaw)

Result? Let's see! Lovely and encouraging reply from CPO...

thanks for your words, this is really a kind of motivation. We try to continue the Potter symphonies, we are already in discussion with the artists. We hope for your patience.

Best wishes

Cpo/Caroline

Mit freundlichem Gruß

Caroline Ranke
Product Manager

 ;)

Yay! Fingers, legs and everything else firmly crossed!

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R18a58483e06a56b7ca025f69f16a859a?rik=%2bfWaNttDHCUzMw&pid=ImgRaw)

And for Cipriani too! Ain't CPO great?

 :)

Really good news. Well done, everybody.  They really do listen.

Indeed, sometimes one thinks life ain't lived in vain. Any news on Holbrooke my friend? His thread beckons for tidings of great joy.

 ;)

Nothing yet, I fear. But will post as soon as I have any news.

I'm not sure if I'd want cross one particular part of my anatomy (could be painful?)!! :o :o :o But everything else,I say!! ;D

You are not prepared to suffer for art, then?  ;) ;D

Not that bit! I might need it?!! :o ;D

Potter, Boehe, Macfarren, Holbrooke, van Gilse, Herzogenberg, Röntgen, Bantock, Ries, Siegfried Wagner, Draeseke, Hausegger, Enna, Reznicek, Goetz, etc., etc. "Gott sei Dank für CPO"!

 :)

Und so sagen wir alle!

I expect you've all seen this review?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/May/Potter-sy1-5552742.htm (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/May/Potter-sy1-5552742.htm)

I hadn't, thanks for the signposting...

"Momentous Beethovenian writing coupled with a well recorded freshness that takes this music beyond the work of a mere shadow."

 :)

The other recorded symphonies Rob refers to are

Symphony [No. 1] in G minor (1819, revised 1824–26) [styled No. 1 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 2] in B♭ major (1821, revised 1839) [unnumbered by the composer]
Symphony [No. 3] in C minor (1826) [styled No. 6 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 4] in F major (1826) [styled No. 7 by the composer] (Bostock, ClassicO)
Symphony [No. 5] in E♭ major (1828, revised with replacement slow movement 1846) [styled No. 8 by the composer] (Davan Wetton, Unicorn-Kanchana)
Symphony [No. 6] in G minor (1832) [styled both No. 10 and No. 2 by the composer] (Davan Wetton, Unicorn-Kanchana)
Symphony [No. 7] in D major (1833) [styled No. 2 by the composer]
Symphony [No. 8] in C minor (1834) [unnumbered by the composer]
Symphony [No. 9] in D major (1834) [styled No. 4 by the composer]