I don’t really want to ‘bite back’ against Martyn Strachan’s review of Sterndale Bennett’s piano concertos – I have owned recordings of these practically since they appeared, and I believe they are excellent and seriously under-valued works, so it is good to see them available again.
I just wanted to comment on his view that S.S Wesley and Balfe are Bennett’s only rivals in Britain. Wesley focused on religious works and Balfe on opera, but there is another composer who Martyn mentions, but does not seem to consider a serious rival, and that is George Macfarren. In my view George Macfarren is the equal of Bennett, and perhaps superior – his seven symphonies and six string quartets ( the latter available on imslp.org) are testimony to his prowess, and then there are operas (including Robin Hood) and religious works, as well as songs and piano works. And my favourite, the splendid concert overture Chevy Chase in which one can easily see Macfarrens influence on his pupil Arthur Sullivan.
The problem with George Macfarren is that his orchestral works are not easily available. Does anyone know where the score and parts of the symphonies can be found? There are none on imslp.org, nor do any publishers seem to stock them. Numbers 4 and 7 were recorded by the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997 for CPO. His Chevy Chase was recorded by the English Northern Philharmonia in 1991 for Hyperion (Victorian Concert Overtures). But most sources state that Chevy Chase was never published. If we want to rescue these often-forgotten composers, we need to have performances, not just recordings, and that means making the scores available. Many of Bennett’s works on the other hand, especially the piano concertos, are available onimslp.org.
If any member can enlighten me on the whereabouts of orchestral works by George Macfarren I would be delighted to hear from them!
Chris Lewis
ebenezerprout.cl@gmail.com