Sir Granville Bantock (1868-1946)
The Sea Reivers; a Hebridean Sea-Poem (1917)
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vernon Hadley
The Sea Reivers is a concise, vigorous scherzo based on a "A Hebridean Sea-Reiver Song" (Na reubairean). This had also appeared in the Kennedy-Fraser collection, and expresses the wild exultation and daring exploits of the Hebridean pirates. At first only hinted at, the song soon appears in its entirety in tumultuous and vivid orchestral colours. According to "Grove V", the Sea Reivers was originally intended as the scherzo section of the "Hebridean Symphony". Although no mention is made of this in the composer's programme notes for the first performance, it would seem very likely as the work is unusually brief for Bantock.
If you were championed by Sir Adrian Boult, recorded by Decca, or used in a film you would probably be lucky enough to go down in history as a great British composer. If this didn't happen to you, you are assigned to the history books. Thank God for Hyperion and Chandos for showing us the reality!!
TheScriabin 2 weeks ago
Who did this painting?
lucianisidro 5 months ago
Very nice and fresh, lively as many classical english music. It is a shame that this billiant composer is not known in other countries, for instance, Mexico.
alherparra 8 months ago
Despite the fact that Bantock ruined my favorite song, I must say this is rather nice.
DarkwingScooter 9 months ago