Music from the British Isles

[alfor]

Dear Malcolm,

thank you for some more rare music from "Uncle Tob(s)".
I have the interesting book "The life and works of Tobias Matthay" written by his wife - if anybody might be interested...

For some decades there was hardly any British pianist, who had not studied with Matthay.
Just imagine him in (on) High Marley (http://www.matthay.org/marley.shtml) lecturing and practising for a whole hour just on the first 2 bars of a Chopin ballad...

[Timtin]

This reminds me of Barenboim - he spent about half an hour recently
on TV, showing an already brilliant student pianist how to play a few
of the very easiest bars of Beethoven's Op111.
To me, that seemed to be an utterly ridiculous waste of time,
and perhaps an example of the 'interpreter' (God, I hate that
word when applied to players of musical instruments) actually
trying to extract more meaning of the notes on the page
than the composer ever intended, mainly for the purpose
of self-glorification.
Whilst I'm on my soap-box, something else. I find that the biggest
turn-off of all is when the announcer spends ages beforehand
'explaining' the music that is to follow. The rule-of-thumb
seems to be that the longer the time spent with the preamble,
the more bloody awful the music following it actually is.

[Ferruccio]

This reminds me of Barenboim - he spent about half an hour recently
on TV, showing an already brilliant student pianist how to play a few
of the very easiest bars of Beethoven's Op111.
To me, that seemed to be an utterly ridiculous waste of time!

Tim, I didn't watch this TV "show". But I really can imagine very well, that this student may have had a really good time with Barenboim. Such lessons can be enormously worthful !!
No bar of op. 111 is really easy.

[Ferruccio]

...
Whilst I'm on my soap-box, something else. I find that the biggest
turn-off of all is when the announcer spends ages beforehand
'explaining' the music that is to follow. The rule-of-thumb
seems to be that the longer the time spent with the preamble,
the more bloody awful the music following it actually is.

This might be very true !!

[ilu]

Some Alec Rowley's scores and a brief biography are at IMSLP:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Rowley,_Alec

He was known for his compositions for amateur forces; some more information, comments and piano scores would be appreciated.

Ilu.

[liveforpiano]

Regarding Alec Rowley,

I have many scores of his works for piano, and providing the moderators give their blessing am quite willing to scan them.

One thing I can tell you about him is that he died playing tennis on the Isle of Wight.

A composer friend of mine knows a lot about him, but, I just telephoned him and he is out. He lives on the Isle of Wight.

I will, though, ask him about Rowley, and supply any info I get.

"Mr.P"(????!!!!)

[lutoslawski]

I love Rowley's Piano Concerto op.49. He studied with Frederick Corder at the ROyal Academy. Became professor of composition at trinity college, and during the 1930's formed a piano duet with edgar Moy, with whom he was frequently heard in BBC broadcast. He wrote 2 piano concertos, and concerti for cello and violin, and three idylls for piano and orchestra. Beryl kington's book "Rowley Rediscovered" gives much more information about his life and music.

Tony

[ilu]

liveforpiano and lutoslawski:

Thank you for your prompt response, interest and additional information.

Ilu.

[mballan]

Alexander Campbell Mackenzie [Sir] (1847 - 1935). Scottish/British composer and teacher. Studied in Germany - violin with Uhlrich and theory with Stein at the Sondershausen Conservatoire (1957-62). Returning to England he received the King's Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with Sainton [violin] and Lucas [theory]. Subsequently he was active in Edinburgh as a violinist, conductor, composer and teacher (1865-79). From 1879-88 he lived the greater part of each year in Florence, but from 1885-87 spent much time in London as a conductor of Novello's Oratorio Concerts. In 1888 he was elected principal of the Royal Aademy and held this post until 1924. From 1892-99 he was also conductor of the Philharmonic Society of London. Composed in all mediums including opera, concertos, symphonic works, chamber, songs and piano.

I have posted his Op 70 Fantasia [apologies some sellotape on the edges has caused some dark shadows].

Malcolm

Mackenzie A.C - Op 70 Fantasia.pdf

[mballan]

Can not seem to find anything much about this chap: Ivor R. Foster, F.R.A.M., Professor and Examiner in Harmony and Composition at the Royal Academy of Music.

But two pleasant and engaging works [thanks Mr P]:

Piano Suite No. 1

Foster Ivor R - Piano Suite No. 1.pdf

Op 8 Four Album Leaves

Foster Ivor R - Four Album Leaves Op 8.pdf

Malcolm