Chairman reflects on her six year tenure

Sep 26, 2023 | Inbox

Chairman address, October 2023Dr Wendy Hiscocks Dear Friends, It is with some sadness and not a little regret that I come to the end of my period as Chairman of the British Music Society. My six years in this position have seen many developments and achievements for...

Peter Racine Fricker – a personal tribute

Sep 25, 2023 | Features

‘See you later.’ Dixon began edging past to the doorway.  ‘Aren’t you going to stay for the P. Racine Fricker?’  ‘Shan’t be long, Professor. I just think I’ll…’  Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim (1954)...

Sir Arthur Bliss: Standing out from the Crowd

Sep 25, 2023 | Book reviews

PAUL SPICER Robert Hale/Crowood Press It seems quite extraordinary that it has taken almost half a century since his death for a biography of such a significant figure as Sir Arthur Bliss to appear. As composer, conductor, writer, and administrator he was central to...

Festival celebrates Sir Malcolm Arnold

Sep 23, 2023 | News

One of England’s most colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) – is to be celebrated across three days during October 2023 at the 18th International Malcolm Arnold Festival.  The festival is returning to the composer’s birthplace, the...

GWYN PRITCHARD: Features and Formations

Sep 23, 2023 | CD reviews

Ensemble ö!,  Metier: MEX77109 Gwyn Pritchard was born in 1948 and has a varied career as a cellist and teacher. He is currently a professor at Trinity Laban. Features and Formations, released to celebrate his 75th birthday, includes five ensemble works (a...

Blue plaques: scheme may expand

Sep 21, 2023 | News

As many readers know, BMS E-News has frequently featured blue plaques celebrating British musicians. Now, the government is suggesting a single nationwide system could be rolled out to enable more blue plaques in England. The original ‘blue plaque’ scheme began in...

C H H PARRY: Prometheus Unbound

Sep 21, 2023 | CD reviews

Crouch End Festival ChorusLondon Mozart PlayersWilliam Vann conductor CHANDOS CHSA 5317 Parry’s Prometheus Unbound has suffered decades of neglect, the only recent performance being in 1980. It now finds a champion in William Vann, whose new recording follows his...

BARRY MILLS: Winter Images

Sep 21, 2023 | CD reviews

CLAUDIO Contemporary CC6052-2 Here on this CD are eight vibrant chamber works by Barry Mills (b. 1949). Several contain multiple movements – 22 pieces in total. The word Images in the title is significant. Mills paints pictures with his music. Actually, these are not...

Noel Gay: blue plaque challenge

Sep 20, 2023 | News

Another blue plaque has been spotted in Wakefield in West Yorkshire. This one is outside the cathedral and celebrates the birth of composer Noel Gay (1898-1954). Noel Gay was a successful British composer of popular music of the 1930s and 40s. Sheridan Morley said...

ISOTONIC: Commissions for Clarinet

Sep 20, 2023 | CD reviews

Robert Plane clarinetBBC Philharmonic OrchestraGeoffrey Paterson conductorGould Piano TrioBenjamin Frith Piano Resonus Classics RES10319 This disc is testimony to the artistry of clarinettist Robert Plane who features in all four works all of which he also...