Orchestral Seascapes

[anteros_lmc]

Last month I wrote a wee post on Benjamin Britten's Sea Interludes so I was really quite excited to discover today that they are being performed at my university as part of a programme of maritime themed music called "Orchestral Seascapes". The other pieces being performed are Mendelssohn's "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage", Stanford's "Songs of the Fleet", Korngold's "Sea Hawk" and Wood's "Fantasia on British Sea Songs". Now I hadn't heard any of these other pieces, so off I went to listen to them on Spotify. The Mendelssohn is really rather gorgeous, perhaps not the kind of thing I would usually listen to, but it's very evocative and quite moving. The other pieces though...."Sea Hawk" sound like what it is, music from a 1940's Errol Flynn movie. I haven't seen the film but it sounds rather fabulous. And the music? Less so. "Songs of the Fleet" which are settings of Henry Newbolt's poems of the same name just made me giggle. The poetry is really quite nice to read but this style of song setting just makes me laugh. Which takes me to "Fantasia on British Sea Songs". I didn't recognise it from the title. I should have done. It's the one with Rule Britannia at the end. Oh lordy!

So, do I go an sit through several pieces of music that seriously don't do it for me (and I'm being polite here) just to hear the Britten and Mendelssohn or do I give the whole things miss? You decide!



Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes: Dawn

Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes: Sunday Morning

Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes: Moonlight

Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes: The Storm

Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage

Korngold: The Sea Hawk

Wood: Fantasia on British Sea Songs

I couldn't find "Songs of the Fleet" on last.fm but if you have Spotify, you can listen to one here:

Wood: Songs of the Fleet, Op 117 1. Sailing at Dawn: Andante

Enjoy! Or not....

Comments

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

I would say to go for it, because concerts are usually pretty enjoyable even if not all the music is great. And, those two pieces (the Britten and the Mendelssohn) are really lovely. But if you don't think it's worth sitting through the others, of course give it a miss. Your call, naturally.

... er, yes, I am very helpful with making decisions like this! :D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I'm really tempted to go just to hear the Britten and the Mendelssohn, I could abide the other pieces but I'm afraid the Henry Wood would have me running for the hills!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

I'd say go if you don't absolutely need the time for something else that's very important. If you don't go, you might later be sorry that you missed it. That's a feeling I hate, having missed something that may have been interesting and/or nice because I couldn't make up my mind...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

We'll I'd have to negotiate childcare but that's not an impossibility. It's really the Henry Wood piece that's putting me off. All that triumphalism...not my thing at all! I'll let you know if I do decide to go.

(Btw daughter wants to know: what is that lady called, why is she dressed up, what has she got in her cup and can you be finished your e-mail please mum!)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

Awww!
She is drinking druid's potion that helps us beat off the annoying Romans who are trying to make us work... And it's very sweet that your daughter calls that dressed up! =)

I haven't had a chance to listen to the Wood piece yet, as I'm surrounded by three colleagues. But they'll have to go eat something eventually...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Damn pesky Romans! ;)

And it's very sweet that your daughter calls that dressed up
Heh, yes daughter has slightly strange ideas as to what constitutes dressing up!

I haven't had a chance to listen to the Wood piece yet
I'd recommend headphones if you've got them. It's really quite embarrassing!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

I'd recommend headphones if you've got them. It's really quite embarrassing!
Okay, I've watched the video... I think the audience is the most embarassing thing about it. *rofl* They even brought their own horns!!!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Oh god, I didn't even watch the video! I just can not abide that kind of thing! Glad it gave you a laugh though :)

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

I think you should go and heckle over the lack of inclusion of 'Spanish Ladies'.

I'm reading The Rest is Noise, the book about the development of classical music in the 20thc, at the moment, I've not reached Britten yet though. I shall check the index for 'Sea Hawk' though! :P

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

go and heckle over the lack of inclusion of 'Spanish Ladies'
Good idea. I could launch into a chorus sung in the manner of the good Captain Sawyer as soon as they strike up "Rule Britannia".

I'm reading The Rest is Noise
Now thats a book I've read _very_ good reviews about. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

The Rest is Noise is a great book but I think it comes up short on Eric Korngold - but many people who are into movie music think it is Korngold's best ever score..even beating the Robin Hood one.

And the one redeeming feature of the Wood Sea Songs is that it does contain " Tom Bowling"

Here, a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling, the darling of our crew..

so you could concentrate on whatever is the chosen Archie image of the moment and before you know it, all that triumphalist stiff would be over..

sounds worth it, in balance.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I could probably sit through the Korngold without too much discomfort, and I should imagine it sounds rather stirring played live.

Here, a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling, the darling of our crew..
His form was of the manliest beauty, his heart was kind and soft ;)

you could concentrate on whatever is the chosen Archie image of the moment and before you know it, all that triumphalist stiff would be over..
Heh, that's a good idea. Although I shouldn't imagine that Archie would stand for such triumphalist nonsense either!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're probably right about Archie - but is the Sea Songs thing the last item ? - because you could then just duck out beofore it starts- sorry that doesn't get round the other one you don't like though!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what order they'll be played in, but surely they'll perform the Fantasia last?! The other piece I wasn't keen on was Stanford's Songs of the Fleet. I could easily listen to it but I'd have to try very hard not to giggle!

[sarlania.livejournal.com]

I say go!!!! Especially if the Mendelssohn and Britten is towards the beginning , your can always got for the first bit and leave afterwards.

I must listen to these someday, I love anything Mendelssohn.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

The Mendelssohn is indeed very lovely. I don't listen to much classical music, I'm more of a renaissance and baroque kind of girl but I did rather enjoy this.