Not too long ago it would have been unthinkable for
a double CD set of Havergal Brian’s music to be available. How times
have changed as now EMI Classics, as part of their British Composers
series, have provided a substantial cross section of Brian’s orchestral
output by providing four of his symphonies and an overture. I have in
my collection both the vinyl LPs from which these works were first available.
With the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing on both discs,
the first CD is conducted by Sir Charles Groves, digitally recorded
in 1987 and the second CD conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, digitally
re-mastered from analogue tapes made in 1978.
Having been attracted through mere curiosity to Brian’s
music by the fervent cries of ‘unjustly neglected composer’ that were
ringing in my ears, I found that his music left me rather cold when
I first played the works on those vinyl records some fifteen years ago.
When this set arrived for review I was fascinated to see if time had
changed my opinion but unfortunately this was not to be the case. In
fact, revisiting these recordings have only reinforced my negative view
of Brian’s music.
Naturally any composer who had the dogged persistence
and unstilted creativity to be able to compose a total of thirty-two
symphonies, twenty-two of which were written after the incredible age
of eighty, is worthy of great interest. However Havergal Brian aficionados
have undoubtedly found something in his music that I am unable to appreciate.
The works presented here I find to be for the most part dark and sombre,
dull and unsatisfying, devoid of any substantial lyrical invention.
The four symphonies come across as profoundly agitated and restless,
like blocks of disjointed orchestral sound, aimlessly wandering around
without purpose and direction. Furthermore Brian’s acknowledged tendency
towards unsatisfactory conclusions I find wearing and frustrating and
I often have difficulty in differentiating one movement or section from
another.
I hold the view that when compared to more famous contemporaries
such as Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Sibelius, Brian’s music
is frankly fourth division.
On a more positive note the knighted conductors Charles
Groves and Charles Mackerras encourage equally fine performances from
the RLPO combined with high quality sound. Those who are already converted
to Havergal Brian’s cause and those who wish to give his very individual
music a try will welcome this double CD set from EMI Classics.
Michael Cookson
Conductors: Sir Charles Mackerras
and Sir Charles Groves*