A New English Music: Composers and Folk Traditions in England's Musical Renaissance from the Late 19th to the Mid-20th Century

by Tim Rayborn

Overview

The turn of the 20th century was a time of great change in Britain. The empire saw its global influence waning and its traditional social structures challenged. There was a growing weariness of industrialism and a desire to rediscover tradition and the roots of English heritage. A new interest in English folk song and dance inspired art music, which many believed was seeing a renaissance after a period of stagnation since the 18th century.

This book focuses on the lives of seven composers--Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Ernest Moeran, George Butterworth, Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock), Gerald Finzi and Percy Grainger--whose work was influenced by folk songs and early music. Each chapter provides an historical background and tells the fascinating story of a musical life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786496341
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	04/20/2016
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Tim Rayborn is a historian, medievalist, and musician, with a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds in England. He writes on history and on the arts, and lives in Berkeley, California.

Table of Contents

Foreword Em Marshall-Luck 1

Preface 2

Introduction 4

1 English Music from the Later 19th Century: A Renaissance and a Revival 11

2 The Revival of Folk and Early Traditions 39

3 Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 60

4 Gustav Hoist (1874-1934) 90

5 George Butterworth (1885-1916) 112

6 Ernest J. Moeran (1894-1950) 130

7 Philip Heseltine / Peter Warlock (1894-1930) 149

8 Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) 169

9 Percy Grainger (1882-1961) 190

Conclusion 217

Appendix A A.E. Housman (1889-1936) 221

Appendix B Online Resources-Societies and Other Organizations 223

Chapter Notes 227

Bibliography 277

Index 299

Editorial Reviews

copiously documented chapters distill significant amounts of scholarship about the featured composers. Recommended”—Choice.

From the Publisher