NOTE: this page is still being actively updated but the new page is here
Articles on the website
2013

 

This page lists the articles on this website about Havergal Brian and his music.
Where appropriate, a link appears under more than heading.

Articles and other pages new, or significantly amended,  in this issue are listed here.

Every one of these articles is also referenced elsewhere on the site:  e.g., articles about a symphony are referenced on that symphony's title page, book reviews are referenced on the bibliography pages, and so on.


More essays originally published in the Havergal Brian Society Newsletter on Brian and his music can be found in HB: Aspects of Havergal Brian, edited by Jürgen Schaarwächter, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 1998  - see bibliography

Brian's music

Works appear in the same order as in the indexes:  extant works, all works

Symphony 1 The Gothic

Music and meaning - Malcolm MacDonald
excellent piece relating the Gothic to its time of composition in the first world war

Brian as Faust - Malcolm MacDonald
excellent wide-ranging article addressing the psychology of Brian particularly at the time of The Gothic
Brian as Faust - Larry Alexander
follows up
Havergal Brian - The Gothic voice - Pauline Slevin
Havergal Brian's last testament? - Lionel Pike
The tonal structure of the Gothic

The conception of Part 2 - Colin G Davis
Flawed masterpiece? - Jonathan Rutherford
Is The Gothic a masterpiece?  What does this mean?

At Victoria Hall, Hanley, 21 May 1978 - David J Brown
review of the vast amateur performance
Mounting the Gothic - David J Brown
Choirworks and Musical encounters
contains an interview with Ole Schmidt on the 1980 performance
Brev fra London / Letter from London - Peter Wivel
  review
Skøn kæmpe-musik uden flip / Lofty musical colossus no freak - Jørgen Falck
  review

Review of Opus est - David J Brown

contains observations about The Gothic

Recording The Gothic in Bratislava - David J Brown
David's detailed report on the Marco Polo sessions recording part 2
The 'Planets for pleasure' orchestra playthrough (1984) - Ted Heaton

Creating the vocal score of the Gothic - 1: Jeremy Marchant

Creating the vocal score of the Gothic - 2: Philip Legge

Creating the vocal score of the Gothic - 3: Jeremy Marchant

Very good digest of how the vocal score has been computer-set

The Logistics of the Gothic symphony - 1: Philip Legge

The Logistics of the Gothic symphony - 2: Philip Legge

Two articles on how to perform the Gothic with reduced forces

Beethoven, Berlioz, Brian (or Three Bs and more) - Jurgen Schaarwaechter

Choral demands of the Gothic - Jeremy Marchant

Defining how difficult it is to stage the chorus for the Gothic

Brian's choral challenges in the Gothic - Jeremy Marchant: 1

Detailed analysis of the choral challenges

Symphony 2 Götz von Berlichingen and Brian's second symphony - Graham Saxby
A review of the literary inspirations of the music
Introduction - Graham Saxby
Analysis : First movement - Graham Saxby
Analysis : Second movement - Graham Saxby
Analysis : Third movement - Graham Saxby
Analysis : Fourth movement and Conclusion - Graham Saxby 
The influence of Goethe's 'Götz von Berlingen' (1) - Damian Rees

The influence of Goethe's 'Götz von Berlingen' (2) - Damian Rees
The influence of Goethe's 'Götz von Berlingen' (3) - Damian Rees

Second quality? - Paul Kettle
An existential view of the work

A view from the back desks - David Hackbridge Johnson
A view from the audience - Roger Moseley

Reviews of 1973 performances
Symphony 3 A listener's impressions - Martyn Becker
An introdution to the symphony
Second thoughts - Christopher Kettle
A personal approach to the work, with many  entertaining digressions
Early English atonality in the first movement - Martin O'Leary
New vistas - Martyn Becker
Comparisons of the Pope and Friend performances
Review of Composers' Platform WM SO performance - David J Brown
Symphony 4

Music at war
transcript of BBC R3 programme about pre second world war British symphonies
Das Siegeslied and bad genes - Alan Dean Foster

MarcoPolo CD of symphonies 4 & 12

Symphony 5 Wine of summer Havergal Brian and Leslie Head - Lewis Foreman
includes material on Symphony 5, including 1969 correspondence from HB relating to the premiere

Words for music, perhaps - Chris Kettle
excellent article on the choice of texts for vocal compositions, touching on Tippett's Byzantium as well as Wine of summer
Symphony 6

Brian's Sinfonia tragica (1)  - Martin O'Leary
Brian's Sinfonia tragica (2)  - Martin O'Leary
Brian's Sinfonia tragica (3) - Martin O'Leary
Detailed analysis of this approachable symphony
The Sinfonia tragica in Hamilton - Paul Rapoport
An account of the trials and tribulations of mounting the first Brian symphony performance in Canada

Review of Royal Holloway/Matthew Taylor 1997 performance -  Lewis Foreman

Notes on Havergal Brian's 6th symphony

Observations on Havergal Brian's 6th symphony

Symphony 7 Newstone and Mackerras interpretations compared - David Jenkins
Once upon a time - David Jenkins

First thoughts on the seventh symphony's last movement
Play it backwards - Larry Alexander
Larry tries listening to the symphony with the movements in reverse order...
Review of RLPO/Mackerras premiere - John Pickard
Review of RLPO/Mackerras premiere - Richard Whitehouse
Review of RLPO/Mackerras premiere and recording - David J Brown
Symphonies 11 Thoughts on Brian's eleventh symphony - Robert Matthew-Walker
Symphonies 11, 15 Introduction to the Marco Polo CD - Malcolm MacDonald
Symphonies 16, 17, 18, 19 Symphonies 16 to 19:  Style and manner - Martin O'Leary
Symphony 12 MarcoPolo CD of symphonies 4 & 12
Symphony 16 Performing Brian's music - James Kelleher
some practical problems experienced preparing for the 1995 performance
Symphony 22 Symphonia brevis at the Royal Festival Hall - Malcolm MacDonald
Review of the Groves 1983 performance, general performance issues and comparisons with Schoenberg
Symphonies 28, 29, 30 'In the mountains, there you feel free' - David Hackbridge Johnson
Some Alpine perspectives on symphonies 28, 29 and 30
Symphony 30

Some thoughts on the thirtieth - Rodney Stephen Newton

The symphonies in general

Brian - the Gothic voice - Paulin Slevin
Brian and the use of small- and large-scale symphonic form
Introduction to the symphonies - Graham Saxby
Symphonies 16 to 19
:  Style and manner - Martin O'Leary

'
In the mountains, there you feel free' - David Hackbridge Johnson
Some Alpine perspectives on symphonies 28, 29 and 30

Brian and the
urban pastorale - PJ Taylor
Brian's style, as exemplified particularly in symphonies 11 and 15

Comparing Brian's symphonies - Philip Legge

The difficulties of putting Brian's symphonies before the musical public

Brian's Use of Beams - Alan Marshall

Interpretation of beaming in Brian

Attacca? - Alan Marshall

How did Brian want to move from one movement to another?


The battle song The battle song and 15 transcriptions - Malcolm MacDonald
A description of the issues arising from an examination of the sketch
Burlesque variations Brian and variation form (1) - Malcolm MacDonald
Concerto for orchestra Review of premiere - Malcolm MacDonald - includes a brief description of the work
Dr Merryheart Introduction - David J Brown
Introduction to the Marco Polo CD - Malcolm MacDonald
Elegy The importance of Elegy - Malcolm MacDonald - an introduction
English suite 1 Introduction - David J Brown
Performing Brian's music - James Kelleher
some practical problems experienced preparing for the 1995 performance of Pantalon and Columbine
The case of the two Havergals - Lewis Foreman
A Harrow performance in the 1940s
English suite 4 Introduction - Malcolm MacDonald
Fantastic variations Introduction - David J Brown
Introduction: Brian and variation form (2) - Malcolm MacDonald
Analysis:   Brian and variation form (3) - Malcolm MacDonald
Festal dance Introduction - Gerard Cunliffe
For valour Introduction - Gerard Cunliffe
Introduction to the Marco Polo CD - Malcolm MacDonald
Hero and Leander Introduction - Malcolm Macdonald
In memoriam Introduction - Gerard Cunliffe
Overture (Buster Keaton) Comment - Malcolm MacDonald
The vision of Cleopatra Contemporary review of premiere
Psalm 23

Review of Litchfield performance - David J Brown
Preparing Psalm 23 for performance - Marlene Becker and Elizabeth Hanmore
Recording Brian in Liverpool - Lewis Foreman (about the Classico recording)

Elgar & The English Choral Tradition

Psalm 23 on CD

The choral works in general A pilgrimage to Odd Rode - Reginald Nettel
includes reflections on Brian's early choral works

Piano music The fugues for piano - Peter Hill
John Dowland's fancy Review of premiere - Norman V Dagg
Legend Introduction - David Hackbridge Johnson
written for the Janet Packer tour of Legend 1999/2000
Review of Reid/Barrow recording - Martin Anderson

Agamemnon Agamemnon (1) - Textual analysis - Kate Baxter
Agamemnon (2) - Musical analysis and conclusion - Kate Baxter
Ihe Cenci The Cenci from within - Martin Anderson
Fearful and monstrous - Martin Anderson
My experiences of conducting The Cenci - James Kelleher
The fanfares - Malcolm MacDonald
details MM's arrangement of the two Fanfares
Two interpretations of The Cenci (1) - William Newman
Two interpretations of The Cenci (2) - William Newman
Two interpretations of The Cenci (3) - William Newman
Two interpretations of The Cenci (4) - William Newman
Two interpretations of The Cenci (5) - William Newman
5 part series contrasting and comparing the settings of Shelley's poem by Brian and
by Bertold Goldschmidt (Beatrice Cenci)
Faust Dramatic structure and innovation in Brian's Faust - Professor William E Grim
Brian's use of the German language in Faust - Jürgen Schaarwächter
The Tigers Opera with attitude - Kevin Mandry - 'first thoughts'
Investigating The Tigers (2)  Costers : Prologue, scene 1 (1) - Adrian Ure

Investigating The Tigers (3)  Coppers : Prologue, scene 1 (2) - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (4)  Gentry : Prologue, scene 1 (3) - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (5)  Masks : Prologue, scene 2 - Adrian Ure
Investigating
The Tigers (6)  The seeds of chaos : Act 1, scene 1 - Adrian Ure
Investigating
The Tigers (7)  The dogs of war : Act 1, scene 2 - Adrian Ure

Investigating The Tigers (8)  Uneasy slumbers : Act 2, scene 1 - Adrian Ure

Investigating The Tigers (9)  On parade : Act 2, scene 2 - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (10)  Garden party : Act 2, scene 3 (1) - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (11)  Haymaking : Act 2, scenes 3 (2) and 4 (1) - Adrian Ure

Investigating The Tigers (12)  Called to account : Act 2, scenes 4 (2) and 5 - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (13)  Gothic echoes : Act 3, Gargoyles and Lacryma - Adrian Ure
Investigating
The Tigers (14)  Chinese whispers : Act 3, scenes 1 and 2 (1) - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (15)  Trysting : Act 3, scene 2 (2) - Adrian Ure
Investigating The Tigers (16)  Chimes at midnight : Act 3, scene 3 and Finale - Adrian Ure
Major musical and dramatic analysis in 18 parts, revised for this website, and being completed in the HBS Newsletter
Let the roar of the Tigers be heard in the land - Malcolm MacDonald
Breaking the mirror... - Larry Alexander
Larry considers The Tigers' structure, or lack thereof

New maps for The Tigers - Penny Scantlebury
opens up a fascinating avenue considering the ccontemporary relevance of The Tigers

The rediscovery of The Tigers - David J Brown
Reward for rediscovery of Brian's lost scores - press coverage
Fanfare from The grotesques - Malcolm MacDonald
MM's realisation for brass and percussion
Turandot Tour d'horizon autour de Turandot - Malcolm MacDonald
Fascinating introductory article
A view from the rostrum - James Kelleher
on the Millennium Sinfonia's 1995 concert of orchestral excerpts

A note on the Minuet and Funeral march - Graham Hatton
The operas in general Opera in England, and the British opera composer - Kate Baxter
sets the scene for Brian's operas

Havergal Brian's operas - Kate Baxter  an introduction
The songs A note on the dating of The birds and The land of dreams - Malcolm MacDonald

General articles on Brian's music

Introduction
The Brian revival - Robert Simpson
Brian's productive discontinuity - John Pickard
HB's use of abrupt and often incomprehensible changes is tackled

Brianus ellipsus - Martyn Becker
On difficulties and unevenness in Brian's style

Preconceptions and the anti-symphony - Owen Toller
More on the difficulties Brian creates for his listeners
Havergal Brian and the bare fifth - Rodney Stephen Newton
one specific compositional fingerprint inspected

Brian and Holbrooke - Kevin Mandry
Some stylistic comparisons

Brian and the alternative English musical renaissance - Keith Warsop
A sense of discrimination - PJ Taylor
Is enthusiasm for Brian's music blind to his weaknesses?
...takes your breath away - Larry Alexander
develops PJ Taylor's ideas and considers the effect of neglect

Brian and the psychologists - Malcolm MacDonald
Freudian and Jungian insights
Havergal Brian and the percussion section - Rodney Stephen Newton
How many masterpieces make a master? - John Aldridge
Considers which of Brian's works are most likely to gain audience approval

An inter-wars' reference - Peter Coussee
Brian crops up in Holbrooke's book Contemporary British composers

The case of the two Havergals - Lewis Foreman
A Harrow performance in the 1940s

Melodic originality - David Perrins ...or otherwise
A homage from Germany - Dr Josef Schreier
Excellent wide ranging philosophical article

A personal odyssey - Martyn Becker

A personal view - Donald Macauley
Two introductions for those new to HB's music
Brian and the
urban pastorale - PJ Taylor
Brian's style, as exemplified particularly in symphonies 11 and 15

Programme Havergal Brian's music

Gothic grandeur: the triumph of Havergal Brian

On the impact of the Gothic symphony

Salons of steel

On Brian's songs

HB and why I believe in his music  -Damian Rees

Reflections over 45 years - Martin Grossel


General articles on Brian, the man

Introduction
Brian's working class origins -   Brown, Goodsell, Stevenson
The influence of Brian's social enviroment on his musical style - Godfrey Berry
Solitude and creation - Kevin Mandry

Kevin's article tackles the difficult issue of the composer's own sense of his isolation

Brian's dark journey - Kevin Mandry
Important article addressing why and how Brian came to be the composer he was
A case of hyper-intelligence? - Godfrey Berry
Finds an explanation for many of Brian's personality characteristics

Brian and the psychologists - Malcolm MacDonald
Freudian and Jungian insights
The psychology of Brian - Robert Timlin
More Jungian insight
Havergal Brian as I knew him (1) - Harold Truscott
Havergal Brian as I knew him (2) - Harold Truscott
Havergal Brian as I knew him (3) - Harold Truscott
Havergal Brian and Elgar - Philip Scowcroft
The significance of Brian the journalist - Malcolm MacDonald

an introduction to HB's journalism and to MM's collection HB on music

A pilgrimage to Odd Rode - Reginald Nettel
(Brian played the organ at All Saints', Odd Rode from 1896 to 1906)
Ordeal by music and after - Reginald Nettel

Nettel's pioneering biography appeared in 1945
The making of a composer - Malcolm MacDonald
this lengthy book review contains much about Brian's life
A late harvest - Ronald Stevenson

A review of three books on Brian full of detail about Brian's life
Residences
the many places in which Havergal Brian lived

A failed composer - Gary Jobsey

 


Performances and books

Contemporary thirties performance criticism - Norman V Dagg
Recording Brian with the Philharmonia - Rodney Stephen Newton
The Marco Polo cycle - David J Brown
A German view - review of the Lenard/Marco Polo recording
of The Gothic
New vistas - Martyn Becker
Comparisons of the Pope and Friend performances
Review of Adrian Leaper/Marco Polo CDs - Malcolm MacDonald
Symphonies 4 & 12;  symphonies 17 & 32, In memoriam, Festal dance
Introduction to the Marco Polo CD - Malcolm MacDonald
Review - John Grimshaw
both on symphonies 11 & 15, For valour, Doctor Merryheart

Thoughts on ASD3486 - Ted Heaton
Symphonies 8 and 9

Review of City of Hull Youth SO CDs - David J Brown

Review of Hull Youth SO recording - Lewis Foreman Burlesque variations, Herrick songs
Choirworks and Musical encounters - the 1995 BBC Radio3 Brianfest
Review of Reid/Barrow recording of Legend - Martin Anderson
Review of Brian Rayner Cook/Roger Vignoles recording - Godfrey Berry
Review of Eastaugh:  The making of a composer - Malcolm MacDonald
Review of Nettel:  The man and his music - David J Brown
A late harvest - Ronald Stevenson
Reviews of the books by Eastaugh, Nettel and Foreman
Ordeal by music and after - Reginald Nettel
the author reflects on his book Ordeal by music
Review of Havergal Brian on music, volume 1 - Steven Schwarz
All seeing eye:  review of HB on music, volume 1 - Lewis Foreman

Review of The symphonies of Havergal Brian, volume 2 - David J Brown
Review of
The symphonies of Havergal Brian, volume 3 - Martin Anderson
Review of Opus est - David J Brown

Recording The Gothic in Bratislava - David J Brown
David's detailed report on the Marco Polo sessions recording part 2

Brian's music and copyright

 


Havergal Brian's writings

Brian's writings on this website are listed here


Havergal Brian Society

General
Havergal Brian Song Edition

Reward for rediscovery of Brian's lost scores - press coverage

The Tigers and Prometheus unbound
Previous HB Societies
The HBS Archive
review of work in progress by the Archivist, David Jenkins

290113 Havergal Brian - the official website HOME