WHAT IS THE BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY?
The British Music Society was founded in 1979 by enthusiasts who believed an organisation was needed to stem the indifferent attitude generally displayed towards the music of many British composers. Some composers, such as Henry Purcell, Vaughan Williams, Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten do not need much support, whilst others such as Arthur Sullivan, Frederick Delius, Frank Bridge and Peter Warlock have their own organisations to promote their music. But there are many other composers who have written good music which deserves to be promoted and heard.
WHY IS MUCH BRITISH MUSIC NEGLECTED?
It could be argued that if a composer's music were of any worth it might be better known. This is not so, however, because the popularity of a composer's music is greatly determined by public exposure. Concert promoters and record producers will often, understandably, limit themselves to ‘safe' programmes to ensure a good financial return. As a result lesser-known music does not receive the chance it so often deserves.
HOW DOES THE SOCIETY PROMOTE NEGLECTED BRITISH MUSIC?
The Society does this in three ways: by issuing first-class recordings, through live events, and in written publications.
(1) Our recorded successes have included works by Edgar Bainton, Lennox Berkeley, Rebecca Clarke, York Bowen, Bernard van Dieren, John Foulds, Julius Harrison, John Joubert, Kenneth Leighton, John McCabe, E. J. Moeran, Cyril Scott, Harold Truscott and William Wordsworth.
Until 1993 our recordings were issued on audio cassette tapes, but in that year the decision was made to issue future recordings on compact discs. The very first was a recording of piano music by Lennox Berkeley which was very well received and accorded a Gramophone Magazine Critics' Choice Award in 1994.
(2) In the area of live music our 1985 opera project resulted in the performance of operas by Arthur Bliss, Charles Villiers Stanford, Ethel Smyth, Rutland Boughton, Hamish MacCunn and others.
Our 1988 Piano Awards and 1990 String Awards included performances of works by Humphrey Searle, Frank Bridge, Alan Rawsthorne, Kaikhosru Sorabji, Kenneth Leighton and John Ireland. These projects provided a platform for many young performers, culminating in a recital for the winners at the Purcell Room in London.
Our 1992 British Song Composer Year and 1994 Woodwind Awards provided opportunities for many more aspiring young musicians. The finalists from these nationwide events went on to give recitals at the Kings Lynn Festival (1993) and the Warwick and Leamington Spa Festival (1995).
(3) Through the written word the Society's annual journal ‘British Music’ provides scholarly articles on a number of composers and allied subjects; and there is an expanding list of other publications on a variety of relevant topics.
CHARITABLE STATUS
In 1995
the BMS was granted charitable status and this is
helping the Society to develop and expand in its
principal areas of activity. We are Charity No.
1043838.
BMS COMMUNICATIONS
The BMS uses various organs to communicate with its members and other interested parties.
BRITISH MUSIC (editor, Jonathan Woolf): the official BMS Journal as required by the Constitution, published annually and aims to present scholarly articles. In the past it has also published photographs of BMS events, but otherwise it is not a channel for general Society communications. Publication is at the discretion of the Editor.
BMS NEWS (editor, Rob Barnett): the official Society newsletter. It is the prime channel of communication from the Committee to the membership (details of policy, advertisements for BMS publications, recordings and live music events, notice and details of AGMs, Society accounts etc), and from the membership to its fellow members (correspondence, reviews and notices). It also publishes articles, often of a substantial nature. While it aims for high publication standards it makes no pretence at being ‘scholarly’. Publication is at the discretion of the Editor.
BMS WEBSITE (manager, Christopher Johns): represents the Society’s official notification and advertisement to the general public of its aims and objectives, its products and events (past and future), and its archives. The site is hosted by MusicWeb International, whose facilities are provided by courtesy of Dr Len Mullenger, founder of MusicWeb International. However the contents of the BMS website are entirely controlled by the Society itself.
MusicWeb International is not part of the BMS organisation, although Rob Barnett is also its Classical Editor. Unless submitting material in their capacity as contributors to MusicWeb International, BMS members sending articles or reviews to Rob Barnett should assume they are writing for BMS NEWS alone. If Rob wishes to use such material for MusicWeb International he invariably obtains permission. Members sending notices to Rob (concert publicity, research enquiries etc) should assume they may be used in both organs, unless they have specifically requested otherwise.
EMAILS: as an additional free service to BMS members, Rob Barnett in his BMS capacity also sends out by email numerous notices about British music to all BMS members who subscribe to his list. Any BMS member wishing to subscribe to these should email Rob at rob.barnett1@btinternet.com.
MEMBERSHIP DATABASE
The British Music Society maintains
membership records on a personal computer. These records comprise name,
address, phone/fax/e-mail number, and number and type of membership. These
are used for various administrative functions such as putting members in
touch with each other and with other music researchers, preparing
statistics, addressing envelopes, recording payments and preparing claims
for tax refund on covenants etc. If any member objects to the holding or
disclosure of such personal data in this form about themselves by the
Society please inform the BMS and their personal data will be immediately
removed from the computer records.