Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

BritSymphCup

@britsymphcup.bsky.social

240 followers 350 following 1.8K posts

Originally, World Cup of 500 British & Irish symphonies. From Jan 2025 #britsymphyear, tweet a day exploring 20/21C British/Irish classical music. Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7BWeL8ZjWAQ4L1aPdtOGOK?si=kBxDnR42SwGZnHv0dfua4Q&pi=RQ5cU2bVSVGcA

open.spotify.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

youtu.be/sO-xBq-4g3Y?...

Music to Celebrate the Resurrection

YouTube video by Release - Topic

youtu.be

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

It stands among his most accessible orchestral works, balancing modernist textures with tonal resolution, & showcasing his ability to translate profound ideas into compelling musical narratives.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

The work marks a significant point in Saxton’s career, reflecting his mature style—eclectic yet emotionally resonant—& his evolving engagement with spiritual & philosophical themes.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

The piece was later recorded by Bedford & the English Chamber Orchestra for Collins Classics, & reissued in 2012 on NMC Recordings as part of a compilation of Saxton’s works.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

Its 1st performance as a concert piece took place at the 1989 Aldeburgh Festival, performed by the English Chamber Orchestra under Steuart Bedford. The original TV recording featured the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lionel Friend.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

It culminates in a wild dance of joy, quoting earlier works & exploding into octave E’s—symbolising blinding light—before resolving in a triumphant E major cadence. This final moment was paired in the film with Graham Sutherland’s tapestry of the Risen Christ.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

Saxton’s music mirrors this theme, beginning with harsh, dissonant echoes of the Crucifixion & evolving into a radiant celebration of resurrection. It draws deeply from Saxton’s personal experiences, particularly the serene beauty of Jerusalem at dusk, & his reflections on spiritual transformation.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

The piece was conceived in collaboration with producer Jonathan Fulford, who created a film centred on Coventry Cathedral—a powerful symbol of rebirth rising from wartime destruction.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 20h

Born #OTD in 1953, English composer, Robert Saxton. His orchestral work Music to Celebrate the Resurrection of Christ was composed in 1988, commissioned by the BBC for a television programme aired on Easter Sunday. open.spotify.com/track/2XoK1F... #britsymphyear

Music to Celebrate the Resurrection

open.spotify.com

1 2

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

youtu.be/TTxZUFOOf_U?...

Chaconne, Op. 43: I. Introduction

YouTube video by BBC Symphony Orchestra - Topic

youtu.be

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

The work also draws on Matthews’s earlier song-cycle The Golden Kingdom, reworking material from his setting of Blake’s Lament of Ahania. This intertextuality underscores Matthews’s interest in literary & historical themes, & his ability to translate them into deeply expressive orchestral music.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

At this point in his career, Matthews was exploring ways to reconcile the English pastoral tradition with the darker realities of history & modern life. Chaconne reflects this tension, alternating between meditative counterpoint & scherzo-like episodes that evoke fantasy, dreams, & distant violence.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

Matthews was deeply moved by Hill’s poetic imagery, particularly the line describing the battlefield as “a florid grim music broken by grunts & shrieks,” which shaped the emotional & structural character of the piece.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

Chaconne was conceived as a single-movement orchestral meditation, inspired by Geoffrey Hill’s sonnet sequence Funeral Music, which reflects on the brutality of the Battle of Towton during the Wars of the Roses.

1 2

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

The 1st recording was made in May 1998 at Maida Vale Studios by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jac van Steen, & released in 2001 on NMC Recordings as part of the album In the Dark Time / Chaconne.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

Chaconne is a richly evocative work composed between 1986 & 1987. Though not commissioned in the traditional sense, it was written for the BBC Philharmonic, with whom Matthews had a long-standing creative relationship.

1 1

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 1d

Premiered #OTD in 1988, Chaconne for orchestra by English composer, David Matthews. It was given at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edward Downes. open.spotify.com/track/1FnSOc... #britsymphyear

Spotify – Web Player

open.spotify.com

1 2 5

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

youtu.be/lFhDxeDO5WU?...

Myers: Concerto for Soprano Saxophone: Part I - Vivo

YouTube video by John Harle - Topic

youtu.be

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

The piece had been largely forgotten until Harle revived it for a masterclass at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2014 - the score had been stored in his basement since the recording. This rediscovery has helped reintroduce Myers’s concerto to a new generation of performers & listeners.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

The saxophone concerto marked a rare foray into concert music, composed just a year before his death in 1993. It stands as a testament to his versatility & melodic gift, bridging the worlds of classical & cinematic music.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

At the time of composition, Myers was in the final phase of his career. Best known for his iconic guitar piece Cavatina (used in The Deer Hunter), he had scored over 60 films & mentored Hans Zimmer.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

The 1st movement features rhythmic motifs from a synthesizer, while the 2nd evokes a dreamy, blues-inflected atmosphere. The finale builds to a whirlwind conclusion, showcasing Harle’s expressive control & tonal range.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

The concerto is cast in 3 movements—Vivo, Kind of Blue, & Tranquillo—& reflects Myers’s background in film music, blending lush orchestration with minimalist & New Age influences.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

The work was commissioned specifically for Harle, who had collaborated with Myers previously & later recorded the concerto in 1995 with the Argo Symphony Orchestra under James Judd, released on the album Sax Drive.

BritSymphCup @britsymphcup.bsky.social · 2d

Born #OTD in 1930, English composer, Stanley Myers. His Concerto for Soprano Saxophone & Orchestra was premiered in November 1992 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Soloist was John Harle, with Julius Hegyi & the Florida Philharmonic. open.spotify.com/track/7FAbW8... #britsymphyear

Concerto for Soprano Saxophone: Part I - Vivo

open.spotify.com

1 3