(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STUDIO
AUGMENTED ORCHESTRA
(Leader, FRANK CANTELL)
Conducted by JOSEPH Lewis
Dr. THOMAS WOOD has a very warm corner in his heart for the sea and sailors, and many of his best known pieces have a strongly salt 'flavour. Of this Overture ho has said himself that it. 'deals with seamen rather than the sea, and is in some measure a tribute to one particular ship's company, of happy memory. It owes something to their courage, good humour and love of sentiment.' Several of the best known sea soncp and shanties are used as the themes of the piece, the halliards shanty, ' Blow the man down,' played by the horns as the second principal theme, another shanty, ' Haul away...Joe,' two old sea songs, ' Tho Maid of Amsterdam ' and ' 'Admiral Benbow,' and lastly the favourite ' Shenandoah.* These are set forth with real vigour and energy, but towards the end of the piece there is a thought of mourning, in memory of the seamen who gave their lives in the Great War.