34th Season

Stiles Allen (Soprano)
Roy Henderson (Baritone)
Solomon (Pianoforte)
G.D. Cunningham (Organ)
Sir Henry Wood and his Symphony Orchestra
Relayed from The Queen's Hall

Towards the end of 1908, Tercentenary Celebrations of Milton's birth were held in London. At the famous Cheapside church, St. Mary-le-Bow, close to which Milton was born, celebrations took place on his birthday - December 9. For this occasion Sir Walford Davies wrote this Solemn Melody.

This was originally a sonata (written in 1820) in four linked Movements, one of which uses a theme from Schubert's song The Wanderer. The other three Movements all work in some manner upon one common theme, of a peremptory, challenging character, which is distantly related to that tune. We hear this common theme at the very beginning, from the orchestra. The First Movement is quick and fiery, the Second (developing the song tune) is slow, the Third is very brisk and sportive, and the Last is in fugal style.

The work was originally written for and dedicated to the pianist von Zittin. Liszt adapted it for pianoforte and orchestra.