Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Charles Villiers
Stanford. With Jeremy Dibble


Marking the centenary of his death, Composer of the Week explores
the remarkable life and music of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.
Stanford was one of the leading musicians of his generation and,
along with Parry and Mackenzie, he was one of the main
protagonists in Britain’s musical renaissance at the end of the
19th century. Born in Dublin, Stanford rose to the very top of
the British music scene, as both a conductor and composer. He
also maintained strong links to Germany, following his studies in
Leipzig and Berlin. Stanford’s works were popular in Europe, as
well as Britain, with conductors such as Hans Richter promoting
his music. Today, Stanford is largely remembered for his sacred
works, however his prolific output covers most genres and he had
a particular passion for opera. He was an influential teacher at
the Royal College of Music and Cambridge University; many future
musical luminaries passed through his classes, including Gustav
Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Rebecca Clarke and Samuel
Coleridge-Taylor. Stanford was a tremendous force for good in
British music, and in honour of his contribution to British
culture, his ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey close to the
remains of Henry Purcell. This week, Donald Macleod is joined by
Stanford biographer, Jeremy Dibble to explore Stanford life and
music.


Music Featured:


The Bluebird, Op 119 No 3 (excerpt) Three Intermezzi, Op 13 No 1
(Allegretto scherzando) The Resurrection, Op 5 Symphony No 1
(Scherzo) The Veiled Prophet (Act 2 Love Duet) Service in B flat
major, Op 10 (Magnificat) Symphony No 2 ‘Elegiac’ (Lento
espressivo) To the Rose, Op 19 No 3 Piano Trio No 1, Op 35
(Allegretto con moto) Elegiac Ode, Op 21 (The night, in silence,
under many a star) The Lord is my Shepherd Symphony No 3, Op 28
“Irish” (Allegro molto Vivace) Piano Quintet in D minor, Op 25
(Allegro risoluto) A Child’s Garland of Songs, Op 30 No 9 (My
ship and me) The Clown’s Song from Twelfth Night’, Op 65 No 3 Six
Irish Fantasies, Op 54 No 3 (Jig) Symphony No 5, Op 56 ‘L’Allegro
ed il Pensieroso’ (Andante molto tranquillo) Shamus O’Brien, Op
61 (Act 2 Captain Trevor’s Song) Requiem, Op 63 (Agnus Dei et Lux
aeterna) Te Deum, Op 66 (Judex crederis) Ten Dances, Old and New,
Op 58 No 1 (Valse) Songs of the Sea, Op 91 No 3 (Devon, O Devon,
in wind and rain) Magnificat in G, Op 81 String Quartet No 4 in G
minor, Op 99 (Allegro molto vivace) Stabat Mater, Op 96 (Virgo
virginum praeclara) String Quintet No 2 in C minor, Op 86
(Andante) A Song of Hope, Op 113 No 3 Six Songs from ‘The Glens
of Antrim’, Op 174 No 2 (The sailor man) String Quartet No 7 in C
minor, Op 166 (Allegro molto) Irish Rhapsody No 4, Op 141 (The
Fisherman of Loch Neagh and What he Saw) An Irish Idyll in Six
Miniatures, Op 77 No 2 (The Fairy Lough) Mass Via Victrix, Op 173
(Agnus Dei) How beauteous are their feet


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC
Audio Wales and West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Charles Villiers Stanford
(1852-1924) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdr0


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z