(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STUDIO ORCHESTRA
Conducted by FRANK CANTELL

In the first half of last century Sir Henry Bishop held a leading place in the music of this country, as composer for the stage, particularly Covent Garden Opera and Drury Lane; he was, too, one of the original members of the Philharmonic Society. His stage works are all practically forgotten, largely because their libretti had no enduring qualities, and he is best remembered today by one or two isolated songs.
The Overture to The Miller begins with a pompous slow section in which first oboe and then flute have melodies, interrupted ever and anon by emphatic outbreaks from tho whole orchestra; There is then a lively section with a bustling tune in which most of the orchestra shares, with the woodwinds in turn having little solo phrases. It finishes, in faster time, with still more robust vigour, and then there is a little arietta with a solo for cornet. That leads in turn to a waltz where oboe, bassoon, and cornet in turn play the tune, clarinets afterwards taking it up. Tho rhythm grows more lively and finishes the Overture with a sense of real bustle and energy still in the waltz measure.
SE