(Section E)
Led by MARIE WILSON
Conducted by Sir GRANVILLE BANTOCK
LAELIA FINNEBERG (soprano)
1. Allegro moderato; 2. Allegro molto vivace; 3. Andante con moto ; 4. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco
Stanford's Irish Symphony is practically unknown to the present generation. It should be more popular, because it is full of good tunes. The chief tune in the slow movement is rather like the one that opens the slow movement of Brahms's Fourth Symphony, but although the two symphonies were composed at about the same time, it is not a case of plagiarism. Stanford actually based his tune on an old Irish folk song, ' The Lament of the Sons of Usnach '. The last movement is based on two Irish tunes, ' Remember the glories of Bryan the Brave ' and ' Let Erin remember the days old '.
In view of the widespread interest in folk songs, it is curious that so few ' national ' symphonies have been produced by British composers. Sullivan and Parry wrote English Symphonies that have been unduly neglected. Another Irish Symphony was composed by Sir Hamilton Harty.