Tribute: BMS founder member Brian Blyth Daubney

Tribute: BMS founder member Brian Blyth Daubney

10 July 1929 – 4 November 2022 Composer and poet, Brian Blyth Daubney was an outstanding Founder member of the British Music Society. Joining as member number 44 in 1979, Brian served on the Committee from 1986-1995. During that time, he filled the position of...
Carols from King’s

Carols from King’s

A British musical tradition broadcast to the world Did you watch or listen to Carols from King’s this year? If so, you are one of many millions of people around the world who have been tuning in for nearly a century to what has become a Christmas tradition and...
Tribute: Marcus Blunt

Tribute: Marcus Blunt

31 December 1947 – 21 July 2022  Obituary  and a tribute via some reminiscences of Verselets I was much saddened to hear that my old friend Marcus Blunt (pictured above in May 1976) had passed away after a lengthy illness. He was a fine composer...
Review: London Song Festival Masterclass 2022

Review: London Song Festival Masterclass 2022

Incorporating the British Art Song Competition (BASC) The annual London Song Festival Masterclass and British Art Song Competition is a combination of public masterclass and competition hosted by Festival Director, Nigel Foster, and provides a wonderful exposure to...
MACFARREN: The Soldier’s Legacy

MACFARREN: The Soldier’s Legacy

Retrospect OperaRachel Speirs soprano (Lotty) Gaynor Keeble mezzo-soprano (Widow Wantley)Joseph Doody tenor (Jack Weatherall)Quentin Hayes baritone (Christopher Caracole)Jonathan Fisher piano Edward Dean harmoniumAndrew H. King director ЯO RETROSPECT OPERA  RO009...
HOLST: Choral music

HOLST: Choral music

Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital, ChelseaWilliam Vann directorJoshua Ryan organRichard Horne tubular bells, bass bells  SOMM RECORDINGS  SOMMCD 279 Is this the first recording of all Gustav Holst’s sacred choral music? Possibly not all, but certainly 19 of his...
John Ireland Trust reports on a busy 2022

John Ireland Trust reports on a busy 2022

The John Ireland Charitable Trust reports on an eventful 2022 with a range of exciting projects. These include: The Presteigne Festival – Ireland’s Concertino Pastorale, solo songs, etc. The English Music Festival – a selection of Ireland’s choral music...
ARNOLD: Orchestral Works

ARNOLD: Orchestral Works

Michael Collins clarinetBBC PhilharmonicRumon Gamba conductor CHAN 20152 This is an intriguing programme of orchestral music by Arnold, with examples of his work chosen from four decades of his career and offers some light-hearted offerings alongside weightier...
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Live Volume 2

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Live Volume 2

Thanksgiving for Victory, Serenade to Music, Job: A Masque for Dancing.  Sir Adrian Boult, recorded 1944/46 SOMM RECORDINGS ARIADNE5018  Volume 2 in Somm’s invaluable contribution to Vaughan Williams’ 150th Anniversary year are three radio broadcasts –...
Joseph Horovitz memorial concert

Joseph Horovitz memorial concert

A Concert in Memory of Joseph Horovitz (1926-2022) at a capacity-filled Leighton House on 18 October 2022 inaugurated the Kensington and Chelsea Music Society’s 2022-3 season, the first KCMS event in the elegant museum gallery since its recent refurbishment. The...