Claire Croiza (Soprano)
THE London Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Anthony BERNARD
IN the days when Handel's influence was great in this country, William Boyce (1710-1779) had an honoured name as a British composer of force and individuality. This composer and organist to the Chapel Royal, and Master of the King's Music, is best known by his edition of a great collection of Cathedral music. His own compositions included anthems and services, besides masque music, songs for the theatre, and some chamber music.
DELIUS' lovely little impression for small orchestra is one of his fairly recent works.
In it he evokes yet another of those moods in which we delight — moods that have at once something comprehensive and universal, that can be enjoyed by a sensitive hearer of any nationality, and also, we like to think, something that reflects the peculiar beauty of our native countryside.
A T the beginning of last century there wore Pleasure Gardens at Ranelagh which were among London's most popular resorts.
Charles Dibdin , whom nowadays we hardly remember except by a few such songs as Tom Bowling and The Jolly Waterman, wrote several light Operas for Ranelagh. One of the greatest favourites was The Ephesian Matron, which has a splendid Sinfonia, or Overture, full of gay, lilting melody.
PULENC (born 1899) is one of the youngest of the French group of young composers formerly known as ' The Six,' who in methods differed a good deal from each other, but who were at one in their iconoclasm. They aim particularly at clarity and concision — so say their supporters. His work Mouvements Perpetuels was originally written for Pianoforte, and has been arranged by the composer for a chamber orchestra consisting of a small body of Strings, iwith one each of Flute, Oboe, Cor Anglais , Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn.