George sainton kaye butterworth was the son of julia marguerite wigan. When george butterworth joined the army in 1914, his most recent works included the song cycle six songs from a shropshire lad as well as the rhapsody a shropshire lad, which he called an orchestral epilogue to his settings of a. A shropshire lad was housmans first book of poems to be published. The film follows butterworth s life and includes much exceptional music, both classical and traditional, with a treasure trove of archival audiovisual material. At oxford he ran the university musical club and started to meet men such as hugh. He set eleven of the poems to music including is my team ploughing. So this weeks video brings you butterworth s setting of the poem loveliest of trees and then moves rather abruptly into his glorious orchestral rhapsody on the theme. Now, i think this is a great work, and have loved it since i first heard it on an old decca eclipse record some 35 years ago. Produced in association with bbc radio 3 and bbc national orchestra of wales. Perhaps butterworths most famous orchestral piece is his 1911 rhapsody a shropshire. I sometimes dread coming back to normal life with so many gaps, wrote vaughan williams to holst in october 1916, especially, of course, george butterworth. This time for organ music published between 1958 and 1971 by novello and co. These pieces are much more virtuosic than those published in the novellos organ music club series. That poignancy is only accentuated by the knowledge the works creator would be gone less than three years after the premiere.
Exploring the music of george butterworth the listeners. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The poem tells of a young man of twenty admiring the cherry tree in bloom, while simultaneously regretting the rapid passing of life, even with fifty more years in which to renew his admiration. Rhapsody book club refund policy total rip off author of original report. These works have all been fairly frequently recorded, but never more beautifully than here. All my lifes buried here tells the story of george butterworth s life and music from his earliest childhood to his final hours in the violent confusion of the trenches. Firle beacon for piano solo the other day i heard george butterworth s the banks of green willow on classic fm. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
One of the most promising composers of his generation, butterworth had been an friend and confidant of ralph vaughan williams and was part of the folk music and dance scene of the early 20th century along with vaughan williams and cecil sharp. Before the first world war, butterworth had already become close friends with ralph vaughan williams, a leading figure in the folk revival of the time, who inspired butterworth to begin his collection of folk material. Both works ride on a swell of yearning for a life, a love, a land that is lost or unobtainable. It is yearning, elegiac piece, performed in the second video and accompanied by shropshire scenes. George sainton kaye butterworth 18851916 one of englands most distinctive composers, george butterworth was born on 12 july 1885 in london, the only child of sir alexander kaye butterworth 18541946, a solicitor and later general manager of the north eastern railway company. George butterworth died on the western front on 5 august 1916. Butterworth, g a shropshire lad rhapsody this page lists all recordings of a shropshire lad rhapsody by george butterworth 18851916. For me, a lover of the music of both butterworth and delius, the pairing of the two composers is fortuitous, while the execution of the pieces demonstrates that the halle symphony under the baton of sir mark elder is pretty much the equal of any other british symphony orchestra. Ralph vaughan williams, the quintessential english composer, based many of his compositions, including norfolk rhapsody, on tunes from the english folk tradition. He showed great talent as a young man and might have become one of englands greatest composers if he had lived longer. With his friend ralph vaughan williams he collected the folk songs of rural england, and the film includes many of butterworth s best known orchestral works. George butterworth mc numbered among many promising young. Arthur bliss was deeply affected by the death of his brother in the same battle, and once convinced by hg wells 150 years old this year to compose the music for a film inspired by his future history on the.
A shropshire lad, rhapsody by george butterworth 1885. Unfortunately, very few have gained a secure place in the organists repertoire. George butterworth simple english wikipedia, the free. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. He also composed the orchestral rhapsody a shropshire lad. Pyp will perform a shropshire lad on sunday, may 6, 2018 in the arlene schnitzer concert hall.
Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. Directed by stewart hajdukiewicz, uk, 97 mins, 2019 for the first time in a documentary film, here is the compelling story of the english composer, george butterworth who met a tragic end on the somme in 1916. We follow butterworth on his forays collecting folk songs to discover. The life of george butterworth george butterworth was one of britains finest musicians during the years leading up to world war one, a conflict which tragically claimed his life. Essential for any collection of twentieth century english music, this disc contains the four extant orchestral works of george butterworth his two english idylls, the banks of green willow, and a shropshire lad rhapsody in performances by adrian boult and the london philharmonic orchestra of such complete conviction and deep affection that they might well be dubbed. George sainton kaye butterworth, mc 12 july 1885 5 august 1916 was an english. George butterworth s rhapsody is a singularly poetic piece of work, and grows upon one with each hearing.
Many yorkshire connections with butterworth raised in york, schooled at aysgarth, a collector of folk songs in. Butterworths setting is one of his finest and bestknown, its thematic material forming the basis of the orchestral rhapsody. I could not find clips of these works but i did find george butterworth, who was a friend of vaughan williams. Housmans a shropshire lad and this evocative and poignant rhapsody. Rhapsody book club doubleday book club mystery guild quality paperback book club are thiefs and liars. In 1903, aged 31, he started to go out and listen to an older generation of traditional singers mainly farm workers and collected hundreds of folk songs by noting them down. Rvw in the east east anglian traditional music trust. George butterworth was one of britains finest musicians during the years leading up.
This orchestral rhapsody serves as an epilogue to this song cycle. George butterworth was particularly drawn to housmans poems, composing within a short period the six songs from a shropshire lad 1911 and bredon hill and other songs 1912 as well as his emotive rhapsody, a shropshire lad, first performed in 19. George sainton kaye butterworth 18851916 one of englands most distinctive composers, george butterworth was born on 12 july 1885 in london, the only child of sir alexander kaye butterworth 18541946, a solicitor and later general manager of. In the years leading up to the first world war george butterworth composed two song cycles of settings of poems from a. Program notes written by huw edwards, guest conductor and pyp music director from 1995 to 2002. Butterworth, george volume 3 vocal works repertoire explorer. Heslington in 1907 and premiered his shropshire lad rhapsody at leeds in 19. I may be wrong about this, but doesnt john barrys out of africa film score owe just a little something to george butterworth s shropshire lad rhapsody. We follow butterworth on his forays collecting folk songs to discover what he found when he went out into rural england and how this informed his own music. He is best known for a group of songs which are settings of poems by a. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. As a composer, he wrote exquisite music for the orchestra in addition to moving and poignant songs, especially to words by a. Two english idylls, rhapsody a shropshire lad, the banks of green willow. All my lifes buried here the story of george butterworth.
Anthony murphy who will have copies of his excellent book for salesigning. Note book containing index of folk songs and verses. Son of a solicitor with the great western railway, george sainton kaye butterworth was born in london on 12th july 1885. The the banks of green willow, another folksong rhapsody using two versions of the same tune that butterworth came across in sussex, was the last thing he wrote and the last of his own music. In it he has used the theme of his own setting of loveliest of trees, the cherry now, from a shropshire lad, and the rhapsody forms an epilogue to his two songcycles based on that book. George butterworth documentary dear eric, you may be interested to know. Categories twentieth century tags a shropshire lad, armistice day, george butterworth, rhapsody for orchestra, the banks of green willow, two english idylls leave a comment subscribe via email enter your email address to subscribe to the listeners club and receive notifications of new posts by email. A shropshire lads melancholy lyricism, richly scored, is a poignant epilogue to george butterworth s settings of the housman poems. His friend george butterworth, whose piercing, housmaninspired rhapsody a shropshire lad also featured tonight, was killed on.
Shop and buy a shropshire lad, rhapsody sheet music. George sainton kaye butterworth, mc 12 july 1885 5 august 1916 was an english composer who was best known for the orchestral idyll the banks of green willow and his song settings of a. How the first world war robbed us of one of britains. Rhapsody book club doubleday book club ripoff report. George butterworth collection vaughan williams memorial library. How the first world war robbed us of one of britains greatest young. George butterworth was killed by a snipers bullet before dawn on august 15 1916, at pozieres. After studying at eton as a kings scholar, he was admitted to trinity college, oxford, where he read greats classics, ancient history and philosophy, and soon joined the oxford university musical club. Novellos international series of contemporary organ music. Alesha dixon stuns in futuristic glamour for the launch of her new book star switch after. The rhapsody, a shropshire lad a sort of postlude to the songs employs a normal.
The first piece in our concert on 28 april, rhapsody, a shropshire lad, was written by george butterworth. George butterworth s shropshire lad rhapsody poignantly depicts an england before the battle of the somme that killed this most promising composer a century ago. By george, theyve done him proud george butterworth. His shropshire lad rhapsody a sort of orchestral postlude to his. The disc opens with george butterworth s four extant orchestral pieces, all he had time to complete before a ww1 snipers bullet put an end to his life at the age of 31. Lifes buried here the story of george butterworth in lewes film clubs. A shropshire lad 1911 the banks of green willow 19 eleven songs from a shropshire lad 19101911 arranged for voice and small orchestra by phillip brookes preface george butterworth was one of britains finest musicians during the years leading up to world war one, a conflict which tragically claimed his life. They feared that this national heritage would be lost in the increasing popularity of gramophones and sheet music. Between 1909 and 1911, butterworth wrote two sets of songs based on a. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. George butterworth was one of britains finest musicians during the years leading.
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