Joseph Holbrooke (1878-1958)

[Albion]

How shocking to one of my refined and delicate sensibilities...

And the band played "Believe it if you like"...

But every word of it is true!



Hang on a mo, isn't that Lady Frederica circa 1895? I always thought that moustache was straight out of the property-box at Covent Garden...

 ;)

[Albion]

Hang on a mo, isn't that Lady Frederica circa 1895? I always thought that moustache was straight out of the property-box at Covent Garden...

Who's "Joseph Holbrooke" by the way? Never even heard of the chap meself...



...oh, now I remember, what a fantastic trio! Their rendition of Ulalume on guitar, double bass and drums was something to marvel at, though one needed to pay a visit to Florrie first in order to appreciate their true artistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Holbrooke_(band)

 :)

[guest822]

How shocking to one of my refined and delicate sensibilities...

And the band played "Believe it if you like"...

But every word of it is true!



Hang on a mo, isn't that Lady Frederica circa 1895? I always thought that moustache was straight out of the property-box at Covent Garden...

 ;)

A fine figure of a woman, that!

[guest822]

...oh, now I remember, what a fantastic trio! Their rendition of Ulalume on guitar, double bass and drums was something to marvel at, though one needed to pay a visit to Florrie first in order to appreciate their true artistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Holbrooke_(band)

 :)

Wot? No concertinas?  :o

[Albion]

...oh, now I remember, what a fantastic trio! Their rendition of Ulalume on guitar, double bass and drums was something to marvel at, though one needed to pay a visit to Florrie first in order to appreciate their true artistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Holbrooke_(band)

 :)

Wot? No concertinas?  :o

Not even a funeral kazoo...



"Oooo-laah-looooooom."

 :'(

[Albion]

Not even a funeral kazoo...

"Oooo-laah-looooooom."

 :'(

However, I think there was one in the original scoring of Bronwen's Funeral March...

 :D

[cilgwyn]

I have to nail my colours to the mast (as opposed to the fence!) and opine that while Holbrooke was gifted and more than just competent, Rachmaninov was a genius! That’s not to say that Holbrooke’s setting is not still very worthy of a modern recording – it most certainly is.

I stand by to be vilified by the Holbrookeistas!

Thanks for a really great and detailed post, Lionel - I'd expect nothing less!

 ;)

Yes, I would concur that in no way could Holbrooke be bracketed with Rachmaninov in terms of his overall achievement or level of "gift", "talent" or "genius". But, as you quite rightly and diplomatically say, Holbrooke's setting certainly deserves a top-flight modern recording, complete with stier horn in B, soprano concertina (miked-up, lol), mushroom bells, two grand pianos and celesta!

 :)

I agree that the extensive Prelude is a miscalculation - either it stands on its own or it effectively "plays its hand" too freely: when you come to the later choral sections the sense of déjà vu is just too overwhelming!

 :o

Nevertheless, I truly love it for it's sheer madness and oddity, especially some of the vocal writing and in particular the orchestration. As such an oddity, it strikes a chord (hmmm, notes to self: must book that next therapy session; perhaps I should write booklet-notes for CPO). It must have hit the 1906 Birmingham Festival audience with one heck of a big welly after the comparative sanity of Elgar's The Kingdom and Bantock's Omar Khayyam. But then, I always love the under-dog. Why else would I keep blathering on about Cowen, lol...



 ::)

Do not fear: "Vilification" ain't in my vocabulary - four syllabubs is usually my limit these days...



...mmmmmm, posh or what?



 ;D

Maybe it is a bit too long;but it's still one of my favourite Holbrooke compositions. It's the sort of piece I would kill to hear with a world class orchestra. Unfortunately,I won't!! :( ;D Hear,I mean! Not kill! (Although,my millionaire landlord had better keep away from dark,lonely alleyways,just in case?!! :o ;D) It's also the kind of piece that shows how cruel the "Cockney Wagner" jibe was. In fact,my first impression was that the main influences were Russian or even French? Or a bit of both? Particularly,the former! I think it is a wonderful piece of music. It builds up to a thrilling climax. The Slovak lot do quite a nice job of it,to my ears. Think! It could have been worse? It could have been the Plovdiv Philharmonic?! :o As to the choral work that follows?!! (What choral work? Has the Prelude finished yet?!! ;D) I prefer it to the Rachmaninov;and I think Holbrooke captures the atmosphere of Poe's work more effectively than Rachmaninov. That said,as a commmited Holbrooke fan (I'm typing this inside a padded cell,by the way!) I agree with Lionel,that Rachmaninov's "one wot he wrote" (albeit,long hairy legs as opposed to short fat ones!! :o ;D) is,indisputably,the finer work! That said,they are both enjoyable works and should be enjoyed on their own terms. Although Eric Morecambe might have disagreed?!!

[guest822]

I agree with Lionel,that Rachmaninov's "one wot he wrote" (albeit,long hairy legs as opposed to short fat ones!! :o ;D) is,indisputably,the finer work! That said,they are both enjoyable works and should be enjoyed on their own terms. Although Eric Morecambe might have disagreed?!!

Exactly. You don't have to rank them or pit them against one another, you can listen to both and enjoy both. It's just a shame that we don't have a modern vesrion of the Holbrooke to listen to!  I think Eric Morecambe (bless his sainted memory) is past caring.

Good to see you back, cilgwyn. I missed you over the weekend!

[cilgwyn]

I was just thinking of your observation about the length of the Prelude! ("What do you think of it so far?!!") Well,despite the jibe about a Cockney Wagner,and some of the unenthusiastic posts I've read about Holbrooke,at a rival forum (not that one!) I would say it's definitely not rubbish! Funnily enough mentioning Eric Morecambe! I'm really not sure he would have enjoyed that kind of music?! But,then again,you never know?!! Apparently Rued Langgaard (often referred to as Denmark's answer to Havergal Brian) is one of Dame Edna Everage's favourite composers! Now I don't know whether that's a good thing or bad?!! :-\ ::) Not being a fan,myself! (Eric & Ernie,yes!)

http://langgaard.dk/intro/edna.htm

If you ever do decide to sample Rued Langgaard,I would,thoroughly,recommend the Chandos cd of symphonies 4,5 & 6 as an introduction! I'm sure you've got piles of other interesting music to listen to first,though!! ;D :) Hope your gout isn't troubling you at the moment!

[cilgwyn]

You'll be pleased to know I have no intention of speculating,as to whether,whether Tommy Cooper would have enjoyed Joseph Holbrooke!!

[Albion]

[The Bells is] also the kind of piece that shows how cruel the "Cockney Wagner" jibe was. In fact,my first impression was that the main influences were Russian or even French? Or a bit of both? Particularly,the former! I think it is a wonderful piece of music. It builds up to a thrilling climax. The Slovak lot do quite a nice job of it,to my ears. Think! It could have been worse? It could have been the Plovdiv Philharmonic?! :o As to the choral work that follows?!! (What choral work? Has the Prelude finished yet?!! ;D) I prefer it to the Rachmaninov;and I think Holbrooke captures the atmosphere of Poe's work more effectively than Rachmaninov. That said,as a commmited Holbrooke fan (I'm typing this inside a padded cell,by the way!) I agree with Lionel,that Rachmaninov's "one wot he wrote" (albeit,long hairy legs as opposed to short fat ones!! :o ;D) is,indisputably,the finer work! That said,they are both enjoyable works and should be enjoyed on their own terms. Although Eric Morecambe might have disagreed?!!

Spoken like a true AMF member...



...just add "musical tastes" to round out the picture.

 :)

[guest822]

Hope your gout isn't troubling you at the moment!

Thank you, it's fine as long as I keep taking the tablets!

You'll be pleased to know I have no intention of speculating,as to whether,whether Tommy Cooper would have enjoyed Joseph Holbrooke!!

Oh what a shame! I adore Tommy Cooper and I would be fascinated to know whether you think he'd have had an opinion about Holbrooke (or, indeed, about anything else). Just like that!

Seriously, I recall times when my old dad and I would watch Tommy on telly, and neither of us could speak (if fact, we could barely breathe) so convulsed were we with laughter, the tears rolling down our cheeks. The good old days, eh? I'm tittering now, just thinking about him...

[cilgwyn]

Speaking of Holbrooke......I mean Tommy Cooper! :o ;D What is,generally regarded as his best tv series,has recently been released on Dvd,by Network (Tommy Cooper the complete LWT Series). I've been waiting for the price to drop & a cheap s/h copy. Time's being hard! :( It's still my off-air Video tapes (my video recorder still works!) for now!

And back to Holbrooke! Just like that!! ;D

[Albion]

Speaking of Holbrooke......I mean Tommy Cooper! :o ;D What is,generally regarded as his best tv series,has recently been released on Dvd,by Network (Tommy Cooper the complete LWT Series). I've been waiting for the price to drop & a cheap s/h copy. Time's being hard! :( It's still my off-air Video tapes (my video recorder still works!) for now!

And back to Holbrooke! Just like that!! ;D

Hmmm, nice try.



 ::)

Cilgwyn! Cilgwyn!!



 :D

[guest822]

Speaking of Holbrooke......I mean Tommy Cooper! :o ;D What is,generally regarded as his best tv series,has recently been released on Dvd,by Network (Tommy Cooper the complete LWT Series).

I must look out for that... A man went to the doctor. He said, "Doctor, I've broken my arm in three places." And the doctor said, "Don't go there, then!"



JOSEPH HOLBROOKE



TOMMY COOPER