Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
Thu, Nov 24 2011, 7:28PM
It's a name that keeps cropping up, the recent Naxos Symphonies CD was played on CD review a few weeks ago. I got as far as putting it in the 'Basket' at Presto Classical but then something else caught my attention. He seems to be described as a bit of an eccentric in his music, a victorian collector who never quite gets all his bits in the right place, a miniaturist working on a grand scale. I don't like second rate symphonists, Bax gets through the net sometimes but only sometimes. I feel as though I should give him a try. Which symphony and which recording ? or is he just of interest to those who like things to be English. Love him or hate him, tell me it like it is.
Thu, Nov 24 2011, 9:20PM
#2
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
Been through it, a lot of lists trotted out but no opinions on the nature and sound of his music. I want to hear from people who do and don't like his music on why that is. If he was any good he would be more popular, so I'll just give him a miss. Thread closed.
Fri, Nov 25 2011, 12:43AM
#3
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
I agree about the problem of 2nd-raters getting overrated by vocal enthusiasts (though I wouldn't put Bax in that class, based on symphonies 1 and 3 and the late tone poems).
All I've heard of Brian, apart from some Amazon samples, is the Hyperion CD of symphony 3. I've tried it a couple of times: it's fun for playing "spot the influence" (Debussy, Mahler, a dash of Rachmaninov?), but otherwise unmemorable.
(But I'd probably still rate him over Malcolm Arnold!)
Fri, Nov 25 2011, 9:57AM
#4
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
Cheers eyeresist. I was looking at the third symphony as well but reading some reviews it did seem that it (especially the final movement) might have some Arnoldisms in it (shallow and banal). You read about Brian and he's descibed as a sort of neglected genius waiting to be descovered but most of the 'bits' on 'youtube' sound messy. I'll place him one notch above Malcolm Arnold for the time being, but that is still in the bin.
Fri, Nov 25 2011, 6:28PM
#5
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
Hi Magnus.
You probably have a fair point about the Brian thread which I think is the one I started? It was /still is probably more about Brian afficionados reminiscing about the old and new recordings etc...(hence the lists)and so on than actual judgemnets or opinions about the quality of his music - some very interesting contributions though I think..
All I can say Magnus is that the Naxos recently released limited edition of the gothic - you will still get it as I saw one in my local HMV only earlier this week. If you like your Richard Strauss - Brian is often compared to him in terms of his orchestration - then you might like some of his symphonies.
Once again I would also heartily recommend to you the Naxos coupling of symphonies 11 and 17.
Best wishes
Mark
Fri, Nov 25 2011, 8:44PM
#6
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
I suggest you start off with two short Brian symphonies, the 6th & 16th (20 & 18 minutes long) and if you don't enjoy the 6th, then give the whole thing up. They are on a Lyrita CD with Arnold Cooke's 3rd symphony. That one is not hard to enjoy (23 minutes long). Brian, like Bax, can be a hard nut to crack.
Fri, Nov 25 2011, 11:35PM
#7
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
Well don't start with the Gothic! Bliss's suggestion is fine and they are good performances and recordings too. I started with 8 & 9 from Groves and the RLPO which was one of the earliest recordings from a professional orchestra and which I think is still available in a double EMI CD with a couple of other symphonies from Mackerras.
It's sometime since I played the Hyperion third but if I remember correctly the sound is a bit constricted and Brian (like Bax) needs good sound to make the most of their orchestrations and vast orchestras with plenty of percussion.
Mon, Dec 5 2011, 8:57PM
#8
RE: Havergal Brian. In a nutshell.
To get a good taste of what sort of a composer Brian is, I also recommend two new CDs: 1. Symphonies 10 & 31, the Concerto for Orchestra and the Third English Suite, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, on Dutton; 2. the second volume of Brian's Orchestral Works on Toccata, with instrumental music from the operas, conducted by Garry Walker. Both have excellent sound and do Brian full justice.
Go to a post on this forum dated May 8, 2011. There are 53 comments there on Brian.
Bliss