Who and how made England a great musical nation?
Thu, Sep 13 2012, 8:51AM
#2
RE: Who and how made England a great musical nation?
On an aspect not touched on above, we recently travelled around the Malvern Hills and Cheltenham (Worcestershire and Gloucestershire), and it occurred to me that the natural beauty and grace of these areas might well have inspired the likes of Elgar and Holst. It is hard to imagine more charming landscapes to inspire a composing spirit than those that are found here. So maybe that is part of the answer to 'what' made England a great musical nation.
Another vote from me for Sir Henry Wood too.
Mon, Sep 17 2012, 12:09PM
#3
RE: Who and how made England a great musical nation?
Then Delius, the most French of the English composers, a citizen of the
world, a true cosmopolitan for his times. He was a unique case and moved
beyond his era by producing some influential and memorable works
Wed, Oct 10 2012, 9:00AM
#4
RE: Who and how made England a great musical nation?
I was introduced to one of my great loves, Purcell, by an LP I still have which says on the back (in French) something to this effect: 'It is remarkable that a country of music lovers, in whose capital city there are so many concerts and where musicians are made so welcome, should have contributed nothing of significance to the history of European music since the death of Purcell'. Indeed, from a wider perspective I see some truth to this. How well does Elgar travel? He's all very well in the Royal Albert Hall but I suspect might sound a little, well, provincial if heard in the great continental capitals. Indeed, given that England is really not in fact a great musical nation, there is an interesting converse to the original question: why has Germany produced so many truly great, immortal composers? Certainly more than their fair share.
Fri, Oct 12 2012, 12:04AM
#5
RE: Who and how made England a great musical nation?
How well does Elgar travel? He's all very well in the Royal Albert Hall but I suspect might sound a little, well, provincial if heard in the great continental capitals. Indeed, given that England is really not in fact a great musical nation, there is an interesting converse to the original question: why has Germany produced so many truly great, immortal composers? Certainly more than their fair share.
Elgar was provincial even in England. As far as the Germans were concerned, Sibelius was provincial - I don't know if he still is. As far as Parisians were concerned, anything happening elsewhere in France was provincial and that may well still be the case. In short, the word "provincial" in a derogatory sense is meaningless, reflecting only metropolitan, or perhaps continental, snobbishness.
Germany has not produced more truly great, immortal composers than England, France or Italy.
Like most of Tippett, it sits uncomfortably in the 'reduced price to clear' section.