Breathtaking... especially the coda which is as triumphantly British as any music from more well-known colleagues. It's time Rubbra gets his place as one of the finest British composers ever. Just my humble opinion !
Haven't listened to Rubbra for years - what a pleasure to rediscover him! Got here by a roundabout route exploring criticism of Sibelius' symphonies, and indeed this work has elements that remind me of Sibelius: the occasional pedal note, dramatic outbursts from the brass,. wandering woodwind, and subtle interplay between apparently simple diatonic harmony and a broad, changing tonality. Thanks for posting this.
Yes, underperformed, underrated and sparsely heard of outside of a small number of people. It seems most good composers of last century were forgotten and only those like Shostakovich were remembered, when a large number of them were equally as talented.
One of the most beautiful openings in English symphonic music - achieved with such simplicity of expression. I agree with Kapariz44 that the Intermezzo (Allegretto grazioso) drags its feet.
Very well crafted music, unified in mood and style with a certain obsessive character rhythmically. A new discovery for me - I'll definitely be listening to more of Rubbra's symphonies!
For music written in Europe's darkest hour, and I have listened to a heck of a lot from that time, Rubbra's 4th twinkles at first glance, then shines with a brilliant lustre, brighter than Shostakovich or Shcherbachov!
If one didn't know it was Rubbra, would one guess RVW? I think many might. According to Leo Black (in "Rubbra: The Symphonist, p. 6) RVW "took in the first seven of Rubra's symphonies and found him his natural successor". Rubbra was also a pupil of Holst, RVW's walking companion.
It does not just shine, but positively blazes with conviction. I can't think of any symphony ending so completely satisfactorily as this one. Ashamed to say I had not heard of Shcherbachov as yet. Can you recommend any works ?
For the folk who are sceptical - and at some point with Rubbra most folk are - it's worse with Britten - I'd suggest the second string quartet, but you need to hear the first recording, played by the Grillers, which I think can still be had. It even has a movement called "Cavatina" - shock- horror - but when you hear it.....
@Walshamite(below): I didn't hear any RVW until 26:22 with the final coda-hymn, after reading your blurb I saw the connection (briefly). I didn't hear any Gerald Finzi in this work (Rubbra 4) either, although I have made the cross-connection many times (RubbraFinzi). Rubbra is a very distinctive composer. Rubbra sounds more like Rubbra than any other composer sounds like Rubbra ! Whereas there are plenty of composers who sound like RVW (including RVW !). Sometimes RVW sounds so bad that he sounds like one of those other composers ! Some of those other composers are better than RVW (eg Alan Hovhaness or Thomas Tallis !).
Many years ago I bought a recording of this work. I'd heard the allegro maestoso on a broadcast and, for some reason, ignored the other mvts. Returning to it now, I find the opening mvt. to be transfixing. And the allegro maestoso @22:35 has lost none of its power. Written in r middle of WW2, but I can't find any reference to its austere style being related to the conflict.
Nice performance but I think the second movement would come across better if it had been taken at a slightly faster tempo. I can't remember the description off the top of my head but I think it's something like allegretto grazioso. This slower tempo makes it sound a little sluggish: it needs a bit more spring in its step.
PS> RVW is a very good composer & Holst is probably a better composer, despite a comparatively truncated life-span. RUBBRA is a superbly fine noble composer who we should be allowed to appreciate more readily. His music holds melodic interest & can hold one's attention continuously. This is a rare treat. Click on 14:44 for a spot of Finzi melodic Fizz ! Pure RUBBRA nonetheless.
Er, all due respect to Hickox, of course, but, once, the BBC rebroadcast its archive recording of the premiere, conducted by Rubbra, in battledress, at a Prom in, I think, 1942. If that were to be posted on UA-cam, my gosh. There aren't all that many genuine live composer-conducted premiers on disc, even now, and this is a remarkable piece. Most of these comments seem to be from folk hearing it for the first time. They are right, but the first time an audience heard it......
well, that's damning with faint praise if ever I encountered it, and more than a little mean spirited. I think Rubbra's music is very fine indeed. It has a concentration, focus, intensity and integrity that few other composers could ever achieve, however fashionable they happened to be amongst those who seek to demonstrate their superiority by professing to esteem unpleasant atonal music above all else.
Absolutely agree! Schoenberg was a little short of the mark when he predicted that paper boys would be whistling 12-note tone rows (and their inversions) while delivering the Daily Mail on summer days.
One is certainly entitled to dislike serial music, but what about those who love Schoenberg not for superiority’s sake, but simply because he is one of one’s favorite composers? And I know many such people.
Then look no further, please give me the website address. I work with people who remember Swiss composers, like Othmar Schoeck, really worth checking out.
+pastrychef1985 You must be joking. Do you REALLY think that Edmund Rubbra's work (nice as it is . . . ) can stand beside a Shostakovich? Please. Rubbra's produced some finely crafted pieces, but he's not a 2nd-tier level composer like Shostakovich or Vaughan Williams, let alone rising to the very best of the 20th century masters like Bartok or Schoenberg.
@Gavin Bullock. Good question. We all know about committees in the so-called arts world giving their "expert" opinions on painting, sculpture and architecture don't we?
Breathtaking... especially the coda which is as triumphantly British as any music from more well-known colleagues. It's time Rubbra gets his place as one of the finest British composers ever. Just my humble opinion !
Haven't listened to Rubbra for years - what a pleasure to rediscover him! Got here by a roundabout route exploring criticism of Sibelius' symphonies, and indeed this work has elements that remind me of Sibelius: the occasional pedal note, dramatic outbursts from the brass,. wandering woodwind, and subtle interplay between apparently simple diatonic harmony and a broad, changing tonality. Thanks for posting this.
Yes, underperformed, underrated and sparsely heard of outside of a small number of people.
It seems most good composers of last century were forgotten and only those like Shostakovich were remembered, when a large number of them were equally as talented.
One of the most beautiful openings in English symphonic music - achieved with such simplicity of expression. I agree with Kapariz44 that the Intermezzo (Allegretto grazioso) drags its feet.
This purified , and clear melody is beyond description
Very impressive, evidently under the radar symphony.
Very well crafted music, unified in mood and style with a certain obsessive character rhythmically. A new discovery for me - I'll definitely be listening to more of Rubbra's symphonies!
Sadly under-rated, this guy !
Completely new to me ... fantastic!
For music written in Europe's darkest hour, and I have listened to a heck of a lot from that time, Rubbra's 4th twinkles at first glance, then shines with a brilliant lustre, brighter than Shostakovich or Shcherbachov!
If one didn't know it was Rubbra, would one guess RVW? I think many might. According to Leo Black (in "Rubbra: The Symphonist, p. 6) RVW "took in the first seven of Rubra's symphonies and found him his natural successor". Rubbra was also a pupil of Holst, RVW's walking companion.
It does not just shine, but positively blazes with conviction. I can't think of any symphony ending so completely satisfactorily as this one. Ashamed to say I had not heard of Shcherbachov as yet. Can you recommend any works ?
For the folk who are sceptical - and at some point with Rubbra most folk are - it's worse with Britten - I'd suggest the second string quartet, but you need to hear the first recording, played by the Grillers, which I think can still be had. It even has a movement called "Cavatina" - shock- horror - but when you hear it.....
thank you!
@Walshamite(below):
I didn't hear any RVW until 26:22 with the final coda-hymn, after reading your blurb I saw the connection (briefly). I didn't hear any Gerald Finzi in this work (Rubbra 4) either, although I have made the cross-connection many times (RubbraFinzi). Rubbra is a very distinctive composer. Rubbra sounds more like Rubbra than any other composer sounds like Rubbra ! Whereas there are plenty of composers who sound like RVW (including RVW !). Sometimes RVW sounds so bad that he sounds like one of those other composers ! Some of those other composers are better than RVW (eg Alan Hovhaness or Thomas Tallis !).
Many years ago I bought a recording of this work. I'd heard the allegro maestoso on a broadcast and, for some reason, ignored the other mvts. Returning to it now, I find the opening mvt. to be transfixing. And the allegro maestoso @22:35 has lost none of its power. Written in r middle of WW2, but I can't find any reference to its austere style being related to the conflict.
Great - that's 2 of us fighting for the good guys !
Unsung Composers (assume you're well acquainted with the website?) Rule, OK !
Nice performance but I think the second movement would come across better if it had been taken at a slightly faster tempo. I can't remember the description off the top of my head but I think it's something like allegretto grazioso. This slower tempo makes it sound a little sluggish: it needs a bit more spring in its step.
PS> RVW is a very good composer & Holst is probably a better composer, despite a comparatively truncated life-span.
RUBBRA is a superbly fine noble composer who we should be allowed to appreciate more readily. His music holds melodic interest & can hold one's attention continuously. This is a rare treat.
Click on 14:44 for a spot of Finzi melodic Fizz ! Pure RUBBRA nonetheless.
Er, all due respect to Hickox, of course, but, once, the BBC rebroadcast its archive recording of the premiere, conducted by Rubbra, in battledress, at a Prom in, I think, 1942. If that were to be posted on UA-cam, my gosh. There aren't all that many genuine live composer-conducted premiers on disc, even now, and this is a remarkable piece. Most of these comments seem to be from folk hearing it for the first time. They are right, but the first time an audience heard it......
well, that's damning with faint praise if ever I encountered it, and more than a little mean spirited. I think Rubbra's music is very fine indeed. It has a concentration, focus, intensity and integrity that few other composers could ever achieve, however fashionable they happened to be amongst those who seek to demonstrate their superiority by professing to esteem unpleasant atonal music above all else.
+grumpysteve Atonal music is not necessarily "unpleasant ". Pleasantness or unpleasantness are in the ear of the listener .
Absolutely agree! Schoenberg was a little short of the mark when he predicted that paper boys would be whistling 12-note tone rows (and their inversions) while delivering the Daily Mail on summer days.
Agree with grumpysteve, I mean
One is certainly entitled to dislike serial music, but what about those who love Schoenberg not for superiority’s sake, but simply because he is one of one’s favorite composers? And I know many such people.
Then look no further, please give me the website address. I work with people who remember Swiss composers, like Othmar Schoeck, really worth checking out.
+pastrychef1985 You must be joking. Do you REALLY think that Edmund Rubbra's work (nice as it is . . . ) can stand beside a Shostakovich? Please. Rubbra's produced some finely crafted pieces, but he's not a 2nd-tier level composer like Shostakovich or Vaughan Williams, let alone rising to the very best of the 20th century masters like Bartok or Schoenberg.
Yes. I'd place Rubbra 7 with the best symphonies of the 20th century.
It always amuses me when people rank composers like tennis players.
And who is on the ranking committee?
@Gavin Bullock. Good question. We all know about committees in the so-called arts world giving their "expert" opinions on painting, sculpture and architecture don't we?
What a ridiculous remark. Who made you the expert.