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Elgar and Finzi [1989-11-11]

Subject:
Elgar: For the Fallen, Enigma variations; Finzi: Intimations of Mortality
Classification:
Sub-classification:
Location:
Year:
1989
Date:
November 11th, 1989
Text content:

1989/90 SEASON

L

GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SEASON 1989/90

Saturday 14 October 1989 at 7.30 p.m.
The Crossley Clitheroe Concert
Overture ‘Der Freischutz’> Weber
Cello Concerto Dvorak
Symphony No 7 Beethoven
Ronald Zollman Conductor
Robert Cohen Cello

Sunday 29 October 1989 at 3 p.m.

Overture ‘Egmont’ Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 21 (K467) Mozart
Mozart

Symphony No 40

Director/Soloist

Jean-Bernard Pommier

Saturday 11 November 1989 at 7.30 p.m.
Civic Concert

‘The Spirit of England’ Elgar
Enigma Variations Elgar
Intimations of Immortality Finzi
Ian Partridge

Conductor

Tenor

Philharmonic Choir

Hosted by the Mayor of Guildford
Sponsored by BOC

IN CONVERSATION 6 p.m. in the County Room Sir Charles
Groves and Mrs Joy Finzi discuss ‘Intimations of Immortality’.
Sunday 26 November 1989 at 3.00 p.m.
Concert for the 100th Anniversary of the RSPB
The Birds

Respighi

On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring Delius
The Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams
Symphony No 5 Vaughan Williams
Vernon Handley Conductor
Tasmin Little Violin

View Vernon Handley’s display of bird
photographs after concert in the County Room.

Saturday 9 December 1989 at 7.30 p.m.

Four Last Songs
Symphony No7

Richard Strauss
Bruckner

Volker Wangenheim

Alison Hargan

Conductor

Soprano

Sunday 10 December 1989 at 3.00 p.m.
Family Christmas Carol Concert
Neville Creed

Sir Charles Groves

Conductor

PRE-CONCERT TALK at 2.15 p.m. in the Civic Hall

By Sir Charles Groves and John McCabe.
Saturday 3 February 1990 at 7.30 p.m.
Overture ‘Russian & Ludmilla’ Glinka
Violin Concerto Sibelius
Symphonie Fantastique Berlioz
Sir Charles Groves Conductor
Barbara Gorzynska Violin

IN CONVERSATION at 6.00 p.m. in the County Room
Sir Charles Groves discusses Berlioz” ‘Symphonie Fantastique.’

Saturday 10 March 1990 at 7.30 p.m.

For the Fallen from

Sir Charles Groves

Sunday 21 January 1990 at 3.00 p.m.
Prelude ‘Die Meistersinger’ Wagner
The Chagall Windows McCabe
Symphony No 2 Brahms

Conductor

Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
Guildford Philharmonic Choir
Guildford Cathedral Choristers
In association with Guildford Rotary Club

Tickets: £5.00., £3.00. (Concessions OAP/children)

Messiah

Handel

Sir David Willcocks Conductor
Tracey Chadwell Soprano
Nigel Short

Alto

Andrew Murgatroyd
Alastair Miles Bass
Philharmonic Choir

Tenor

Sunday 25 March 1990 at 3.00 p.m.

Sinfonie Concertante Haydn
for Violin, Cello, Oboe & Bassoon
Siefried Idyll Wagner
Symphony No 5 Sibelius

Martyn Brabbins Conductor
(Leeds International Conducting
Competition Winner 1988)
Saturday 7 April 1990 at 7.30 p.m.

Overture ‘Semiramide’ Rossini
Piano Concerto No3 Beethoven
Symphony No8 Dvorak
Brian Wright Conductor
Ronan O’Hora Piano

IN CONVERSATION at 6.00 p.m. in the County Room
Brian Wright and Ronan O’Hora give an insight

into Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3.
Saturday 28 April 1990 at 7.30 p.m.
Celebration Concert in the Cathedral
Missa Solemnis

Beethoven

Sir Charles Groves Conductor
Anne Dawson Soprano
Penelope Walker Mezzo Soprano
Richard Morton Tenor
Peter Rose Bass
Philharmonic Choir

A musical treat to celebrate Sir charles Groves’ 75th Birthday,
and Guildford’s 10 year twinning with Freiburg, Germany.
Sunday 4 March 1990 at 3.00 p.m.
Celebrity Recital
Civic Hall

Saturday 6 January 1990 at 7 p.m.

Grand Viennese Evening
with the

Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Vilem Tausky

A concert of popular Viennese music for all the family with a
conductor renowned for his interpretations of the favourite
waltzes and polkas of the Strauss family.
-

Kyung-Wha Chung Violin
Phillip Moll (accompanist)

Programme to include:
Sonata No 13 in D major Handel
SonataNo 1 Bartok
Sonata No 1in G major Brahms

Tickets £8.50, £7.50, £6.50 from Civic Hall.
(£1 off with Virtuoso Cards)

BOOKING OFFICE: TEL: GUILDFORD 444555 FOR CONCERT INFORMATION TEL: GUILDFORD 444666

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UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

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SOLICITORS AND
COMMISSIONERS
FOR OATHS
NOTARY PUBLIC

WE

PROVIDE

A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE
TO PRIVATE AND

CORPORATE CLIENTS

17/18 QUARRY STREET,

GUILDFORD, GU1 3XA.

Tel: (0483) 65244

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC 11

!

/

/

AU

Members of the public are most welcome at alll
our concerts, which take place during term-time
in the Performing Arts Technology Studios on
campus. Wednesday Lunchtime Recitals start
at1.15 pm and are admission free. Concerts are
also held on selected Thursday and Sunday
evenings and afternoons.
Please callthe Department if you would like to be
placed on our mailing list.
Further information is available from: -

The Secretary
Department of Music
University of Surrey
Guildford, GU2 5XH
(Tel: Guildford 509317)

1989-90 Term Dates
Autumn Term: 9 October to 15 December 1989
Spring Term: 8 January to 16 March 1990
Summer Term : 23 April to 29 June 1990

..Jocally
BOC is proud to be assisting the Guildford Philharmonic again
this year by sponsoring the Civic Concert on November 11th.
See how BOC industrial gases can help your business too.
From its base in Guildford, BOC runs the most comprehensive
and efficient gas supply network in the country.
The company supplies industrial, medical and special gases,
in cylinders or in liquid form, for a wide variety of applications.
This complete gas service is built on the most modern
manufacturing plant and the latest technology in systems and
equipment —much of which is designed in Guildford
—to
ensure that the BOC customers’ needs are met in the most
cost-efficient manner.

) BOC
Big enough to cope, local enough to care.
BOC Limited,

The Priestley Centre, 10 Priestley Road,

The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XY
Telephone: (0483) 579857

Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra

GUILDFORD BOROUGH

COUNCIL CONCERTS 1989/90

The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra,

CIVIC HALL

national

Guildford

Borough Council’s Orchestra, continues to attract
attention

and

has

undertaken

many

prestigious engagements over the past season,
including performances with the Bach Choir and Sir

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER 1989

David

at 7.30 p.m.

Willcocks

Canterbury

in

Kings

Cathedral

and

College,
St

Cambridge,

George’s

Chapel,

Windsor Castle, and next season has been invited to
s

take part in the Brighton Festival.

CIVIC CONCERT

Earlier this year the Orchestra learnt that it had been
The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes the Mayor

selected

for

an

award

under

the

Arts

Council’s

and the members of Guildford Borough Council to its annual

Marketing Consultancy Scheme to assist the Orchestra

Civic Concert, recognising at this concert the work of the

in its publicity initiatives.

Council without whose consistent support and enlightened
attitude it would not have been possible to achieve the
orchestra’s present national standing or maintain the quality

and variety of concerts which remain an example to concert
promoters throughout the country.

The Orchestra has launched a series of Lunchtime
Recitals in the Guildhall,

Guildford, which have

proved to be very successful, and is to introduce an
“Adopt a Player” Scheme later this month, which will
involve local schools — this initial project will be funded

This Concert is sponsored by

by the South East Music Trust, (the Orchestra’s
management body for concerts taking place outside
Guildford Borough Councils series).

4,
" BOC

The

Guildford
Philharmoni¢
Orchestra

Musicians’

Union

has

again

recognised

the

development of the orchestra’s work under the aegis of
the South East Music Trust by making a grant to that
body for administrative assistance.

Associate Leaders:

HUGH BEAN, JOHN LUDLOW
SIR CHARLES GROVES

Conductor
IAN PARTRIDGE

Tenor
PHILHARMONIC CHOIR

NEVILLE CREED

Chorus Master
THIS CONCERT IS PROMOTED BY GUILDFORD
BOROUGH COUNCIL WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT

FROM THE SOUTH EAST ARTS ASSOCIATION.
THE GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF ITS
MAJOR SPONSORS: HART BROWN & Co., Solicitors, and BOC
THE GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA &

SOUTH EAST MUSIC TRUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE MUSICIANS’ UNION
The

Orchestra

is

pleased

Memberships of:

BOC
Hutson Poole & Co

Plastic Coatings Ltd
Sterling-Winthrop Group Ltd

to

acknowledge

the

Corporate

Sir Charles Groves

Charles Groves was born in London and spent his

boyhood as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
After leaving the Royal College of Music he joined the
BBC Opera Unit. From the age of 28 until he relinquished the English National Opera in 1980 he was
director of his own orchestra or opera company.

His

years
Orchestra

Symphony
Philharmonic),
the

Jennifer Partridge — a partnership that has received

Bournemouth Symphony, Welsh National Opera and

great critical acclaim. They are regular broadcasters

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras were full of

for the BBC, give recitals all over the British Isles and

tremendous achievement, many first performances

Europe and as far afield as South America, Turkey,

and

Iceland and Australia. The Partridge’s recording of

much

with
(now

the

BBC

the

BBC

encouragement

Northern

of

young

composers,

In recitals he is frequently accompanied by his sister,

conductors and soloists. Under his direction the RLPO

Schubert’s ‘Die Schone Mullerin’ was selected as

made some fine recordings and undertook foreign

Vocal Record of the Year by The Sunday Times and

tours. Sir Charles accepted the title of ‘Conductor
Laureate’ in 1985.

recordings in the BBC’s ‘Building a Library’ series.

Charles Groves is loved by choirs the world over and

Ian Partridge’s phenomenal list of recordings includes

recommended

as

first

choice

from

all

available

has a large choral repertoire. He regularly conducts all

Schumann’s

the London Orchestras and many in Europe and

Vaughan Williams’ ‘On Wenlock Edge’ and Warlock’s

America.

‘The Curlew’ (all EMI), Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610
(Archiv) and many more.

Since 1967 he has been Associate Conductor of the

‘Dichterliebe,

Britten’s

‘Serenade’,

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra appearing with them

The Thames TV production of Britten’s ‘St Nicholas’

regularly in London, abroad and in the recording

with Ian Partridge in the title role, won the Prix Italia.

studio. In 1987 he accepted the position of Principal

He made his operatic debut at Covent Garden singing

Conductor of the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.

the role of Iopas in Berlioz’ ‘Les Troyens’ conducted

His schedule is very full and adventurous including

by Sir Colin Davis and subsequently recorded by

many new works and constant travel around the world.

Philips.

He stills finds time to show a great interest in the

A one-off performance of ‘An Evening with Queen

training of young musicians

Victoria’ at the Old Vic Theatre with actress Prunella

and is proud

to be

President of the National Youth Orchestra of Great

Scales

Britain. He serves on the Councils of a number of

interspersed with songs of the period performed by Ian

colleges.

reading

from

the

diaries

of

the

Queen

Partridge has proved so successful that it is given not
only at theatres and festivals in Britain but world-wide.

Sir Charles Groves was knighted in 1972.

Ian Partridge has recently enjoyed taking Master
Classes on Lieder, English song or Early Music at

venues

as diverse

as Aldeburgh,

Vancouver and

Trondheim.

Ian Partridge is one of Britain’s leading lyric tenors.
His

wide

repertoire

encompasses

the

music

of

Monteverdi and Bach, the lute songs of Dowland,

German, French and English songs, and first performances of new works. He appears regularly at London

Neville Creed began his conducting career whilst a

concert halls with major orchestras and conductors and

choral scholar at Cambridge. He then became Director

at international festivals throughout the world.

of Choral Music at Tiffin School in Kingston upon

Thames, providing choirs for several highly acclaim

ed
recordings on radio, television and disc. The
Tiffin
Boys’ recording of Mahler’s 8th Symphony with
the
London Philharmonic under Klaus Tennstedt
gained a
nomination for a ‘Grammy’ award. During
this time,
Neville was also conductor of the Milton Keynes

Chorale. In 1986 he was awarded a scholarship to

study
conducting at the Guildhall School of Music where
he
won the Ricordi Conducting Prize.
Since completing his studies at the Guildhall in 1987,
he has founded ‘The Tudor Chamber Choir’,
gained
the posts of conductor of the Bournemouth Sympho
ny
Chorus and the Guildford Philharmonic Choir as
well
as being invited to return to the Guildhal
l as a

conductor. He has conducted many of
the main
London choirs and recently conducted in Denmar
k
and Italy. In September 1988 he won the second
prize
in
the
First
International
Choral
Conducting
Competition held in Italy. This summer he conduct
ed
the Royal Philharmonic “Pops” Orchestra in
an openair concert at Petworth Park, Sussex.

Since that time, research and investment have continuously expanded the range of gases on offer and the

applications for which they can be used.

Today, BOC Limited is part of The BOC Group, a

public company with an annual turnover of about £2
billion and which contributes to the economies of some

fifty countries throughout the world.

As the major UK operating company of The Group,

BOC Limited produces and distributes a wide range of
industrial, medical and special gases.
Most people on hearing the name BOC think of
cylinders holding oxygen and acetylene for use in
welding or cutting processes.

The range of industrial gases is much wider than this

though and many of BOC’s products are not supplied
in cylinders at all, but are delivered in liquid form or

direct to the customer by pipeline from a BOC
production plant.
Currently, the fastest growing sector of the industrial

gases market is the supply of liquid nitrogen to the food

Guildford Philharmonic Choir

and brewing industries.

Guildford Philharmonic Choir (formerly the Festival

Much of the frozen food which you buy in supermarkets today has been frozen with liquid nitrogen,

Choir) was formed in order in perform the
major
choral repertoire with the Guildford Philharm
onic
Orchestra. The choir made its first recording in 1973
of
Finzi’s ‘Intimations of Immortality’ with the Guildfor
d
Philharmonic and in 1979 recorded Hadley’
s ‘The
Trees So High’ with the Philharmonia Orchestra,
both
recordings being conducted by Vernon Handley

.

Neville Creed was appointed Chorus Master to
the
Philharmonic Choir in September 1987, when
Lynette
Newman, the Choir’s accompanist was also appointe
d.

The Philharmonic Choir will appear with the orchestr

a

again under Neville Creed in a concert of Christma
s
carols with a section of the orchestra on Sunday
10
December.

On

Saturday 10 March Sir David Willcocks will
conduct the Philharmonic Choir for a performance
of
Handel’s Messiah and on Saturday 28 April 1990
the
Choir will be joined by the Freiburger Bach Choir
with

a

performance

of

Beethoven’s

Missa

Solemnis

conducted by Sir Charles Groves. This concert
will
celebrate Sir Charles’ 75th birthday as well as the
10th
anniversary of the twinning of Guildford and Freiburg
.

and nitrogen, together with a variety of gas mixtures
produced by BOC Special Gases, is also used in the

packaging of foods.

BOC is active in the emerging electronics industries as
well, supplying the makers of semiconductors and
compact discs with a range of ultra high purity gases
needed to make these products.

The company maintains its original links with medical
practice. It supplies medical gases such as oxygen,

nitrous-oxide and Entonox (a pain relieving mixture)

to the NHS and is a major player in the market for

domiciliary oxygen.

Finally the company has also been involved in distribution services for some twenty years.

BOC Transhield has, since the early 1970’s, supplied
much of the fresh and ambient food for Marks and

Spencer, and a relatively new part of the company,
Storeshield, now delivers textiles and other general

merchandise for Marks and Spencer.

That, in outline, is BOC Limited. A company with a
distinguished past and an exciting future.

For just over three years, the headquarters of this

&,

BOC

The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra has
been an
important part of the local scene for well
over forty
years now.

BOC Limited cannot claim such a pedigre
e in
Guildford, but is an equally well-established
institution, having celebrated its centenary in 1986.
In 1886 the company had one product, oxygen,
which
had only two applications: as a medical gas
and to
produce limelight for theatres.

company have been on the Surrey Research Park here

in Guildford. As arelative newcomer to the area, BOC

is keen to build a fruitful relationship with the local

community and hopes that the opportunity provided

by this concert has given you a clearer idea of BOC’s

role.

Another company in The BOC Group has also, more

recently,

moved onto the Research Park. BOC
Cryoplants
Limited
designs
and
manufactures
cryogenic process equipment and its presence on the

Research Park has further
commitment to Guildford.

strengthened

BOC’s

For the Fallen (from The Spirit of England, Op.80)

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

In 1915 one of Elgar’s London friends, the poet

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), gave him a copy of his
book of poems, The Winnowing Fan. Elgar decided to
set three of the poems but received a setback when he
discovered that another composer, Cyril Rootham,
was already setting the now famous For the Fallen. To
Binyon’s disappointment Elgar felt obliged to
withdraw, but a few months later he was persuaded to
change his mind. To Women and For the Fallen were
completed in March 1916 and first performed on 3 May
in Leeds. Later that month For the Fallen was
performed with The Dream of Gerontius on six

consective evenings in Queen’s Hall, London in aid of
the Red Cross. The Fourth of August was finished in
the spring of 1917 and the complete set was given the
following November in London under the title of The
Spirit of England. Elgar dedicated the work ‘To the
memory of our glorious men, with a special thought for
the Worcesters’.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They fought, they were terrible, nought could tame
them,

Hunger, nor legions, nor shattering cannonade.
They laughed, they sang their melodies of England,
They fell open-eyed and unafraid.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning

The representative voice from the trenches was
Wilfred Owen’s, and today one may think that the
truth about war is to be found in his poems, some of
which Britten set so poignantly in A War Requiem. Yet
Binyon, writing in the early stages of the war, was in no
way insincere. His message was one of thanksgiving for
sacrifice and consolation for the bereaved, and it was
apt on the home front to the spirit of the hour. A
wounded soldier wrote to one of Elgar’s friends that
‘sensible people express the feelings of noncombatants in the most touching and poignant forms
imaginable, as Elgar and Binyon’. Certainly Elgar was
moved by Binyon’s verses, and inspired to write
heartfelt music free from pomp, vainglory and any
suspicion of jingoism. It is scored for soprano or tenor
soloist, chorus and orchestra.

For the Fallen commences with a solemn orchestral
prelude. The clarinet tune at bar 13 was composed in
1902 in quite different circumstances. It had been
Elgar’s custom when visiting Dr. G. R. Sinclair,
organist of Hereford Cathedral, to inscribe in the
visitors’ book a musical theme representing one of the
moods of Dan, Sinclair’s bulldog. He later used several
of these themes in his major works, and ‘Dan wistful
outside the cathedral’ reappears here, readily adapting
to the new context. The following chorus is characteristic of Elgar’s noble-cum-devotional vein. ‘They went
with songs to the battle’ is an ironic Allegro march with
a jaunty rhythm belied by the harmony. ‘They shall not
grow old’ —the verse carved upon many war memorials
— and the next verse are set for soloist and choir in 3/4
time with an affecting accompaniment. The final
section reverts to common time, reaches a big climax in
the middle of Binyon’s last verse and ends in a mood of
quiet resolution.

© Eric Mason

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are
known

As the stars are known to the night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end they remain.
Words reproduced by permission of
The Times and Novello & Co Ltd

Variations on an original theme. (Enigma)
Elgar 1857-1934

It is as well not to bother about the tune to which the
‘Enigma’, the theme, is said to be a counterpoint. It is
much better to listen to this set of variations simply as
music. The amazing thing about it is that the dedication
‘To my friends pictured within’ has not caused the
composer to take ridiculous pictorial liberties with his
theme. Instead, he pictures them with brilliant
variation writing. The theme itself is built on two con-

trasting, though interwoven, ideas. The first is in the
minor, and is a sequence pattern over a rising bass; the
second is in the major, and more flowing and
rhapsodic. The theme which is adagio, though often
played andante, leads into:

Variation 1. (G.A.E.) These are the initials of Lady
Elgar. The theme is treated with great tenderness.

Variation 2. (H.D.S.P.). A very quick three-in-a-bar
beat as one. The theme appears in the bass. H. D.
Steuart-Powell must have been a quick fingered
pianist.

Variation 3. (R.B.T.) A mazurka-like variation in

which the reedy voice of R.B. Townshend is parodied.

Variation 4. (W.N.B.). How can W. Neath Baker have

been anything other than an energetic and forthright

man?

Variation 5. (R.P.A.) R.P. Arnold was the son of
Matthew Arnold, and a quiet contemplative scholar.

Variation 6. (Ysobel). Miss
charming and played the viola.

Ysobel

Fitton

was

Variation 7. (Troyte). The great blocks of sound which

the music hammers out are a fitting illustration of the
character of Arthur Troyte Griffith, a well-known
Malvern architect.

Variation 8. (W.N.) A graceful, charming and quietly

marked variation which Elgar was painstaking enough
to mark quaver = 104, so that conductors would not
play it too slowly. It is, if played at the correct speed, a

fine salute to the gentle Winifred Norbury, and also a
perfect foil to the next variation to which it is joined by
a single note.

Variation 9. This solemn movement is Elgar’s tribute

to his great friend A. J. Jaeger of Novello & Co. Jaeger

is German for hunter: hence the allusion to Nimrod.
Also quite clearly marked as to speed though often

played much slower, thus sentimentalising what is

supposed to be a noble section.

Intimations of Immortality

Gerald Finzi 1901-1956

Gerald Finzi’s setting of one of Wordsworth’s finest

poems was first performed at the Gloucester Festival in

1950.

It had been conceived and partly written before the

outbreak of war in 1939, but being then of necessity

laid aside it was only taken up again after a break of

several

years and completed in the year of its
production, which happened to coincide with the
centenary of Wordsworth’s death.

It has been said that in his odes and elegiac poems

Wordsworth

best exhibits his power of fusing
metaphysical thought with lyrical feeling. What makes

this statement interesting to us here is: Why should a

composer choose to set the work of a philosophical

poet, who, to judge by the fact that only two of his
poems are called ‘Song’, took little interest in the

composition of verses for music?

Gerald Finzi gave an answer to this question ‘It is
sometimes argued’, he wrote, ‘that certain poems,
complete and wonderful in themselves, are in no need

of musical setting. Such a view may express personal
feelings, but by no means the feelings of the composer,
if he has been lit by the impact of the words and

Variation 10. (Dorabella). This is headed Intermezzo

obsessed by their content’. Let so much suffice by way
of thoughts upon the relationship between poet and

Miss Dora Penny.

The subject matter of this work may be said to continue

which is demanded by the from of the work after the
climax of Nimrod. It is an intimate delicate portrait of
Variation

11.

(G.R.S.).

Dr.

George

Sinclair was

Cathedral organist at Hereford. He owned a dog, and

was an energetic performer and walker.

Variation
12.
(B.G.N.).
Basil
meditative and played the cello.

Nevinson

was

Variation 13. Romanza. This variation contains the
famous allusion to Mendelssohn’s Overture “Calm Sea

and Prosperous Voyage”. It commemorates a journey
undertaken by Lady Mary Treffusis.
Variation 14. (E.D.U.). Finale. The initials refer to a

nickname of Elgar’s. This finale is cumulative and does

not rely quite so much on the sequence patterns which

were one of Elgar’s mannerisms. Great climaxes rise

out of the development of the final variation itself, then

as Elgar paints his own portrait, he finds it cannot be

complete without a reference back to Lady Elgar’s
variation, and finally with great strides the theme rides

triumphant and glorious on the superbly scored accom-

paniment that supports it.

The Enigma Variations was played for the first time in

1899 and, although modern critcism will not admit it,
its great success all over the world proves that that day

was great one in English musical history.

composer.

the argument of the composer’s earlier cantata ‘Dies
Natalis’ — words by Thomas Traherne — where the

theme is the glory of birth and the perfection of
childhood; where there is only joy and no fear at all.
But Wordsworth, standing in the ‘light of common

day’, speaks in a different tone. He speaks as one who
having had much experience feels that he is living as
part of an immense unbounded system with a height
above and a depth beneath. The composer has

resolved the wide range and changing moods of the
poem into music which can be enjoyed for its own sake

even by those to whom Wordsworth’s
carries no message.

mysticism

Preceded by an orchestral introduction the poem is set
complete except for stanzas 7 and 8. The omission of

these

does

not

disturb

the

train

of

thought.

‘Wordsworth’s repetition in stanza 10, of lines which

appear in stanza 3’, wrote the composer, ‘helps to
make for a natural reprise and to balance the contemp-

lative aspect of the music with vigorous contrast’.

IMITATIONS OF IMMORTALITY

From Recollections of Early Childhood
I

There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,

INTERVAL

The earth, and every common sight,

To me did seem
Apparelled in celestial light,
The glory and the freshness of a dream.

It is not now as it hath been of yore;—

Turn whereso’er I may,

By night or day,

Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,

The things which I have seen I now can see no more.
II

The Rainbow comes and goes,
And lovely is the Rose,
The Moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are bare;
Waters on a starry night
Are beautiful and fair;
The sunshine is a glorious birth;
But yet I know, where’er I go,
That there hath past away a glory from the earth.
II1

Now, while the birds thus sing a joyous song,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!

Shades of the prison-house begin to close
Upon the growing Boy,
But He
Beholds the light, and whence it flows,
He sees it in his joy;
The Youth, who daily farther from the east

Must travel, still is Nature’s Priest,
And by the vision splendid
Is on his way attended;

At length the Man perceives it die away,
And fade into the light of common day.

An while the young lambs bound

VI

As to the tabor’s sound,
To me alone there came a thought of grief:

Earth fills her lap with pleasures of her own;

A timely utterance gave that thought relief,

Yearnings she hath in her own natural kind,

And I again am strong:

And, even with something of a Mother’s mind,

The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep;

And no unworthy aim,

No more shall grief of mine the season wrong;

The homely Nurse doth all she can

I hear the Echoes through the mountains throng,

The Winds come to me from the fields of sleep,
And all the earth is gay;

To make her Foster-child, her Inmate Man,

Forget the glories he hath known,
And that imperial palace whence he came.

Land and sea
Give themselves up to jollity,
And with the heart of May
Doth every Beast keep holiday;—
Thou Child of Joy,

Shout round me, let me hear thy shouts, thou happy
Shepherd-boy!
IV

Ye blesseéd Creatures, I have heard the call
Ye to each other make; I see

The heavens laugh with you in your jubilee;
My heart is at your festival,

My head hath its coronal,
The fulness of your bliss, I feel-I feel it all.
Oh evil day! if I were sullen

While Earth herself is adorning,

IX

O joy! that in our embers
Is something that doth live,
That nature yet remembers
What was so fugitive!
The thought of our past years in me doth breed

Perpetual benediction: not indeed
For that which is most worthy to be blest;
Delight and liberty, the simple creed

Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest,
With new-fledged hope still fluttering in his breast:—
Not for these I raise
The song of thanks and praise;
But for those obstinate questionings

Of sense and outward things,
Fallings from us, vanishings;

This sweet May-morning,

Blank misgivings of a Creature

And the Children are culling

Moving about in worlds not realised,
High instincts before which our mortal Nature

On every side,
In a thousand valleys far and wide,

Did tremble like a guilty Thing surprised:

Fresh flowers; while the sun shines warm,

But for those first affections,

And the Babe leaps up on his Mother’s arm:—

Those shadowy recollections,

I hear, I hear, with joy I hear!

—But there’s a Tree, of many, one,
A single Field which I have looked upon,
Both of them speak of something that is gone:

Which, be they what they may,
Are yet the fountain light of all our day,
Are yet a master light of all our seeing;
Uphold us, cherish, and have power to make

The Pansy at my feet

Our noisy years seem moments in the being

Doth the same tale repeat:

Of the eternal Silence: truths that wake,

Whither is fled the visionary gleam?

Where is it now, the glory and the dream?
A%

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,

And cometh from afar:

To perish never;
Which neither listlessness, nor mad endeavour,
Nor man nor Boy,

Nor all that is at enmity with joy,

Can utterly abolish or destroy!
Hence in a season of calm weather

Though inland far we be,

Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea

Which brought us hither,
Can in a moment travel thither,
And see the Children sport upon the shore,
And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.
X

GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Principal Conductor: SIR CHARLES GROVES
First Violins:

Hugh Bean

Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song!

John Ludlow
Philip Augar

As to the tabor’s sound!
We in thought will join your throng,

Suzie Borrett

Ann Greene

Yassau Ichinose

Cor Anglais:

And let the young Lambs bound

Ye that pipe and ye that play,
Ye that through your hearts to-day
Feel the gladness of the May!
What though the radiance which was once so bright

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in flower,
We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.

Sheila Beckensall

Jane Ingamells

Kirsten Klingels
Patricia Lovell

Stephanie Niemiera
Julian Saxl
Rosemary Van Der Werff

And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves,
Forebode not any severing of our loves!

Janice Knight
Clarinets:
Hale Hambleton

Victor Slaymark
Bass Clarinet:

Daphne Wakeham

Paul Allen

Second Violins:
Nicholas Maxted Jones

Bassoons:

Rosemary Roberts

Anna Meadows

Julia Atkinson

Andrew Bentley
Timothy Callaghan
Ruth Dawson

Stephen Dinwoodie
Peter Hembrough

XI

Oboes:
James Brown

Ruth Knell
Elizabeth Ovenden

David Miles
Contra Bassoon:
Peter Wesley
Horns:

Peter Clack

George Woodcock
David Clack
Duncan Hollowood

Philip Thorne

Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might;
I only have relinquished one delight

Adrienne Sturdy
Philip Winter

To live beneath your more habitual sway.

Violas:

John Hardy

John Meek

Patricia Reid
Colin Moore

I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;

The innocent brightness of a new-born Day

Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o’er man’s mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.

Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys and fears,

To me the meanest flower that blows can give

Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

Peter Collyer

Diana Carrington
Jean Burt

Frederick Campbell

Paul Appleyard
Karen Demmel

Trombones:

Ian White

David Hissey
Bass Trombone:

Leonie Gershon

Brian Lynn

Cellos:

Tuba:

Geoffrey Thomas

David Powell

John Stilwell

Timpani:

Christina Macrae
John Kirby

William Wordsworth

Trumpets:

Martin Heath
Rosemary Edwards

Alice McVeigh
Basses:

Michael Lea
Stephen Williams

Christopher Nall
Percussion:

Stephen Whittaker
Christopher Blundell
Roy Sinclair
Harp:

Angela Moore

Peter Box

General Manager

Adam Precious

Kathleen Atkins

Paul Kimber
Kate Saxby
Flutes:

Jane Pickles
Alexa Turpin
Piccolo:

Simon Hunt

Music Administrator:
Peter Holt
Concerts Assistant
(SEMT)

Linda Mowat

NOW BOOKING — CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR WITH
THE GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Friday 17 November 1989 at 12.30 pm
Guildhall, Guildford

THE SAMMONS STRING QUARTET

Violin
Violin
Viola
Cello

Claire Ashby
Edmund Butt
Julia Knight
Alistair Blayden

All seats £3.00 bookable at the GUILDHALL, High
Street, INFORMATION DESK, Council Offices,
Millmead or at the door. Telephone bookings (0483)
444035/444666/444999

Sunday 10 December 1989 at 3 pm
Civic Hall, Guildford
FAMILY CAROLS

in aid of The Mayor of Guildford’s
Christmas Charities

GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA/CHOIR
GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS
NEVILLE CREED: Conductor

Special Guest: FATHER CHRISTMAS
Tickets: £5.00., and £3.00.,

(Half price concessions for children and senior

Saturday 25 November 1989
Guildhall, Guildford

citizens)

Available from the Civic Hall, Guildford.

Tel: (0483) 444555

10.30 am - 4.30 pm

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS DAY SCHOOL
Tutors: Michael Kennedy
Terry Barfoot

Tickets: £5.00., (Virtuoso card holders £4.00)
Available from Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
Office, The Lodge, Allen House Grounds, Chertsey
Street, Guildford GU1 4HL. (0483) 444666. 9.30 am
— 5.30 pm Monday to Friday or The Guildhall, High
Street, Guildford (And on the day (subject to availability) from 10 am)

Cheques in favour of ‘Guildford Borough Council’

Saturday 6 January 1990 at 7 pm
Civic Hall, Guildford

GRAND VIENNESE EVENING
with the GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA

Conducted by VILEM TAUSKY

A concert of popular Viennese music for all the
family with a conductor renowned for his interpretations of the favourite waltzes and polkas of the
Strauss family.

Sunday 26 November 1989 at 3.00 pm

CONCERT FOR THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF

THE RSPB

Tickets: £7.50., £6.50., £5.50., available from the
Civic Hall (0483) 444555 (Concessions for OAP/
children) (£1. off with Virtuoso cards)

-

SUBSCRIBERS

The Birds
On Hearing the First Cuckooin

Respighi
Delius

The Lark Ascending

Vaughan

Symphony No 5

Vaughan

WHY NOT

VERNON HANDLEY
TASMIN LITTLE

Conductor
Violin

BECOME ONE?

Spring

Williams

Williams

View Vernon Handley’s display of bird photographs after the concert in the County Room.

Tickets: £8.00., £7.00., £6.00., available from Civic
Hall Box Office Tel: 0483 444555

ARE SPECTAL

INFORMATION FROM
THE GUILDFORD
PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA’S
OFFICE
TELEPHONE:

(0483) 444666

Guildford Philharmonic Society
(Charity Registration 288295)

The Guildford Philharmonic Society is the ‘Supporters Club’ of the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and was

originally founded with the prime object of encouraging not only its members but also the general public in the
awareness of and to attend the season of concerts in the Civic Hall by the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra. It

still has this main object but also the Society assists with the provision of the finances for considerable extra

publicity for the concert season. The Society is a registered charity and welcomes the payment of subscriptions
by a Deed of Covenant, as payment by this method also ensures that the subscription is not raised for four years.
Members receive certain benefits and these include:
Priority booking at the beginning of each concert

e The

Members’ Evenings

® Certain

season.

The Society’s Newsletter

Special

events such

opportunity

to

attend

rehearsals

of

Orchestra by applying to the Orchestra’s Office
discount facilities at Record
Godalming, on records and cassettes

as visits to other concert

the

Corner,

venues, musical evenings in members’ homes and

certain social gatherings during the season

New Members to the Society are always welcome and by being a member you are also helping to ensure the
continued success of the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.
The membership rates are as follows:
Annual Subscription (minimum)
Husband/Wife—Joint Subscription (minimum)

£6.00
£10.00

Persons under the age of 18 (minimum)
Retirement Pensioner (minimum)

£4.00
£4.00

If you would like to join the Society, Covenant forms are obtainable from the General Administrators below or
you may send a cheque for your subscription together with your name and address to:

Iris & Peter Bennett, Applegarth, The Drive, Cranleigh GU6 7LY Tel: Cranleigh 276131
Alternatively you may enrol at the Society’s stand in the foyer of the Civic Hall on concert days.

FIRST CLASS SERVICE FOR CLASSICS
FROM A FIRST CLASS MUSIC SHOP
PRINTED MUSIC EXPERTS
Large modern shop with printed music wall to wall. 2,000 of the most requested items
always in stock. Constantly changing “browse” stock. Our mail order service is quick,
helpful and thorough. Non-stock items typically 10 — 14 days.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
We stock all leading makes. Rental scheme with option to purchase. Extensive experience

of school requirements. Sensible advice for parents if needed. Comprehensive accessories.
Repairs.
Records/Cassettes/Compact
Discs.
Yamaha
Keyboards
stocked
and
demonstrated.
Access, Visa, American Express, Diners Cards.
Large cheap car parks, free on Saturdays.

SRITTEN’S MUSIC 144
3 Station Approach, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6NG. Tel: Byfleet 51165 (24hrs) and 51614

Open Monday-Saturday 9-5.30 (Saturday close 4.30)

Mail Order Dept: 3 Claremont Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6DY
Tel. Byfleet 54898 (24 hrs) Mon-Fri 9-5.30

sing with

Guildford

Philharmonic
Choir
SEASON 1989/90

Vivaldi : GLORIA
Vaughan Williams : FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS
Elgar : FOR THE FALLEN
Finzi : INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY
Handel : MESSIAH
Beethoven : MISSA SOLEMNIS
Patterson : MASS OF THE SEA
Stanford : SONGS OF THE SEA
* CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT *

6552 CRADDOCKS

All concerts with the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
CONDUCTORS:

Sir Charles Groves
Sir David Willcocks
CHORUS MASTER:

GODALMING

Neville Creed
Details from:

Mrs K Atkins, Guildford Philharmonic Choir Office,
The Lodge, Allen House Grounds

Chertsey Street, Guildford
Surrey GU1 4HL
Tel: 0483 444666

$—.
felduze

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With financial support from

Guildford Borough Council

w

5 guildfotd oBo’coug/t Council
G l“ldfo rd
M useum

dating from prehistory to
archaeology gallery. Open

Tel: G. 444666

Quarry Street

Tel: G. 444750

Varied art exhibitions

Pa rks &

H

The top professional
orchestra of the South
East performing a full
range of concerts and

recitals at the Civic Hall.

PHH‘HESTRA
Guildford

throughout the year
Open 10.30am to 4.50pm

House

3

!

Mon-Fri; 10.30am-4.15pm

Saturdays. Admission free.
Tel: G. 444741

155 High Street

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Mon-Sat
11am — 5pm.

Admission free.

Parks, gardens and open

gpaces r:rflrouslzlr;ou: the

interests. Tel: G.444701
orough

for all

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for full details and to book
outdoor sports facilities.

Open air heated
swimming pools set in

rolling lawns and

beautiful gardens. Open

#+ LIVE ENTERTAINMENT * CONFERENCES *
+ BANQUETS * EXHIBITIONS *
For Bookings or to Join our Free Mailing List Tel: (0483 ) 444555.

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Items relating to Surrey

the present day. New

For sauna, solarium,

squash, swimming, keep

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Tel: G 444777

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May to September
10i?03m - 7pm.
Tel: G. 444888

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all types of dry spofls{

At Manor Road Ash. For

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full details.

Bedford Road

For full details of these and other places and events, contact:
Tourist Information Centre, Civic Hall, Guildford. Tel: G. 444007
(Open 9.30am - 5pm Mon - Fri; 9.30 - 4.30pm Sat. )

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COMFORT - CARE - COURTESY

HartBrown & Co
SOLICITORS - COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS

.. proudly supporting

The Orchestra
of the South East

4 Jenner Road, Guildford (0483) 68267
2 Bank Buildings, Cranleigh (0483) 273088
1 South Street, Godalming (0483) 426866
30 High Street, Cobham (0932) 64433
8 Guildford Road, Woking (04862) 29991
Hart Brown House, Victoria Road, Farnham (0252) 737303
and Law Courts Branch, 68 Woodbridge Road, Guildford (0483) 68267

O

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