I recently noted a number of piano works published under the auspices of John Ireland – The Clarendon Piano Series. Amongst a small number of composers – some well known: others less so –there were two pieces by a certain Horace E. Randerson. A search of the internet has revealed nothing about the man, save that he wrote a handful of musical works. I have collated those listed in the catalogues below. However this only represents the published pieces and there may well be many more works remaining in manuscript. On the Internet, I have come across a pianist called Heather Randerson, who may well be a relation of this composer. There are a handful of reviews in the musical press, but the only worth reporting is from the Musical Times for April 1928: ‘H. E. Randerson's ' Eclogue ' belies its title, for it is dry stuff, not at all pastoral or poetic.’
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Work List
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Work List
1. Brave Autumn' - unison Song, to words by R. Bennett, J. Curwen & Sons, London 1935
Ecologue, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
2. ‘Now Robin lend to me thy Bow’ an Old English song arranged by H. E. Randerson for mixed voices, Oxford University Press, London 1928
3. An Oxford Quadrangle for piano, Oxford University Press, London c1929
4. 'The Piper of Dundee'- arranged by H. E. Randerson for mixed voices Oxford University Press, London 1928
5. Sextet for Voices Oxford University Press, London 1926
6. ‘To the maypole haste away’ arranged by H.E. Randerson for mixed voices Oxford University Press, London 1928
2. ‘Now Robin lend to me thy Bow’ an Old English song arranged by H. E. Randerson for mixed voices, Oxford University Press, London 1928
3. An Oxford Quadrangle for piano, Oxford University Press, London c1929
4. 'The Piper of Dundee'- arranged by H. E. Randerson for mixed voices Oxford University Press, London 1928
5. Sextet for Voices Oxford University Press, London 1926
6. ‘To the maypole haste away’ arranged by H.E. Randerson for mixed voices Oxford University Press, London 1928
8 comments:
I was intrigued to see your post about Horace Randerson. I knew his brother Reg, a retired journalist and poet, when I lived in London in the 1960s. I know nothing about Horace Randerson's music, and met him only once, at his house in Bounds Green in 1970. I believe that he was then well into his eighties. I remember him saying that he had been a close friend of John Ireland.
Richard,
Thanks for that! It is amazing how little bits and pieces come to light about 'lost composers' It is probably not a coincidence then, that HR was published by The Clarendon Piano Series under the auspices of John Ireland.
Living in London in the sixties must have been truly amazing - I am envious...you must have many tales to tell...
landoflostcontent@hotmail.co.uk
J
I have just heard that Mr. Randerson who taught music at the school I attended, Arnos Secondary Modern in Southgate, North London, was a composer, contemporary with but less well known than John Ireland. I well remember Mr. Randerson's enthusiasm and how he taught us how to sing. He would gesture the way to produce the sound out of the top of our heads. Long after I left school I still saw him occasionally in the Bounds Green area. I understand that he lived to the age of about 100 years.
I have just come across the manuscript of a 'Prelude & Fugue for Strings' by H E Randerson, anybody know anything about this piece?
Richard Lea
Thanks for that Richard...
Do you have a scan of it? I would love to see it.
I will have a look at various files to see if it has been performed. Something tells me it has not!
JF
A little late in the day, perhaps, but you may still be interested in this, from the Radio Times of April 30th, 1926:-
At 8.30 pm on Monday, the first part of the second of the Chenil Galleries concert will be relayed. It will be given by the Music Society String Quartet, augmented to a Quintet. Purcell's Fantasia "upon one note" and Vaughan Williams' modern "Fantasy For String Quartet" will form the first group. Mr. Leon Goossens, that brilliant artist upon the oboe, will collaborate with Mr. Mangeot, Mr. Henry Berly and Mr John Barbirolli in giving Mozart's "Quartet For Oboe And Strings", which will be followed by a first performance of a short new work in the form of a violin, viola and oboe trio, "The Fields Breathe Sweet", by the young English composer, Randerson.
Nick
Thanks for that!
J
There's also a 1955 manuscript of a short work for virginals - a very rare thing, and found too late to make it into my catalogue of such things, printed in 'Sounding Board' 17 - see https://www.harpsichord.org.uk/sounding-board-archive/
Francis
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