ARNOLD TROWELL (Violoncello)
THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(Leader, S. KNEALE KELLEY )
Conducted by E. GODFREY BROWN
SIR CHARLES STANFORD himself wrote a descriptive note for the first performance of this work, which took place in 1913. 'P has as sub-title The fisherman of Lough Neagh , and what he saw, and bears this verse from The Minstrel Boy
'Land of Song!' said the warrior bard,
Tho' all the world betray thoe, One sword at least thy rights shall guard.
One faithful harp shall praise thee! '
At the end of the work is the line of Tennyson, ' Dark and true and tender is the North.'
After a short, very quiet introduction, the first main tune appears. It is a minor-key Irish fisherman's song that goes to words beginning ' I will raise my sail black, mistfully in the morning.' After this mood has been dwelt upon for a little, the dignified second tune enters softly on the Trumpets, suggesting, so the composer said. the fisherman's vision of the triumph of heroism. This old melody comes from Ulster, and was known in later days as The Death of General Wolfe-fresh words probably being set to it when Wolfe died.
The third tune is that of an old Ulster march.