York Bowen: Fragments from Hans Andersen (Third Part)

8 - The Hardy Tin Soldier (Op. 61 No. 1)
9 - A Leaf from the Sky (Op. 58 No. 6)
10 - A Picture from the Fortress Wall (Op. 61 No. 3)
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The piano and chamber music of York Bowen (1884-1961) has undergone a considerable revival in the last ten years. He was sometimes categorised as 'the English Rachmaninov' and whether this is a fair description or not, there seems to be a considerable gap in the market for expansive, accessible late-Romantic works in the genres favoured by Rachmaninov himself. This is the last book of a set of ten pieces published as 'Magnus Piano Albums' in 1921. Alas the edition is full of inconsistencies and ambiguities (eg, for anyone with a score, I have assumed that the Gb in bar 2 of No. 9 is meant to be there, but am by no means sure) and anyone wishing to make a commercial recording should have a look at Bowen's manuscript (if it is available).

Rather than trying to tell the Andersen stories, Bowen has selected some beautiful passages from an English translation (the one by H. W. Dulcken, published 1864-6, I believe) and illustrated them rather as musical impressions. Here are the passages he used:

The Hardy Tin Soldier
'There were once five-and-twenty tin soldiers.... They shouldered their muskets, and looked straight before them; their uniform was red and blue, and very splendid '

A Leaf from the Sky
'High up, in the thin clear air, flew an angel with a flower from the heavenly garden. As he was kissing the flower, a very little leaf fell down into the soft soil...and immediately took root, and sprouted....'

A Picture from the Fortress Wall
'It is autumn: we stand on the fortress wall and look out over the sea... and at the Swedish coast on the other side of the Sound, which rises high in the evening glow'.
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• classical
• british
• english
• england

[jhlandford]

Thank you for this. I have a copy of the album but have never heard the pieces played apart from my own stumbling efforts. Thanks again.

[PSearPianist]

Thank you for your comment. I have got all three parts, but I decided that Pt 3 was the only set that would really work on YouTube!

[minacciosa]

Utterly charming music. Definitely the lighter side of Bowen, whose style can be recognized in two or three measures. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance. Thanks for putting this up; I might never have heard these works otherwise!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you! I have the other two sets of 'Fragments' but I think this is the best. I am not sure the whole set has ever been recorded - although I think Bowen himself recorded at least one of the pieces.

[Babejuda]

Well, you've got wonderful fruits from your efforts! Bravo - for your choice of those beautiful pieces, and for your playing.

One question: are Andersen's stories in your mind while playing their 'musicalization'?

[PSearPianist]

Thank you - the answer to your question is 'yes', or at the very least the quotations are!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you - I worked very hard to make this video!