When I was first allowed to
explore the record collection in the Coatbridge High School music department library,
I made a number of startling discoveries. This would be around 1971. We were
lucky to be able to borrow these records (with permission) for ‘homework’
listening. At this time, I had begun to discover the rich treasury of British
Music which has kept me engaged for the past 45 years (along with other nationalities,
I hasten to add). In spite of it being a Scottish school, there was precious
little music composed by native composers on record at that time. I think there
was only Sir Alexander Gibson’s fine recording of Hamish MacCunn’s The Land of the Mountain and the Flood. (ASD 2400, 1968).
I had already borrowed Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, coupled with
his heart-breaking Sospiri issued on a
78 rpm double-disc set (HMV DB 3198-9). In those days every ‘home’ radiogram
had a ‘changer’ for playing 78s! The music was performed by Sir Adrian Boult
with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and had been recorded in March 1937. I was bowled
over, and still regard it as my favourite version of this piece.
So it was with some delight that
I found an LP of Sir John Barbirolli conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in
the Cockaigne Overture and the Enigma Variations. I guess it was the
sleeve that immediately impressed me, rather than thoughts about the music,
about which I had little clue. The man on the bicycle was clearly meant to be
the composer. It seemed to epitomise for me, aged 15, all that I loved about the
few pieces of English music I had then heard, the poetry of Hardy and Housman
and the landscape. At that time I had not seen the BBC ‘Monitor’ film by Ken
Russell (first shown on BBC TV, Sunday 11 November 1962)
The details of the album are
straightforward. Both works were recorded at the Kingsway Hall during 27-8 August
1962. It was issued in 1963 on the HMV label (ASD 548 Stereo and ALP 1998 Mono).
Over the years, this recording has been re-presented on many occasions: on LP,
Cassette, CD and download. The Cockaigne
Overture is currently available on EMI CDM 7 64511 2 (1993) coupled with
the Symphony No. 1 in A flat. The ‘Enigma’ Variations was released on EMI CDM 5
66322 2 (1997). It is coupled with Falstaff.
There is also a boxed set containing both works.
One unfortunate result of
recording technology at that time was that the listener had to turn the record
over for the finale (Variation 14) of the ‘Enigma Variations’. I do not recall
it bothering me: that was life in those days.
The original album was reviewed
by T.H. (Trevor Harvey) in The Gramophone
magazine (November 1963). He began his
assessment by suggesting that ‘any temptation I felt to say, “Oh, dear! Yet
another recording of the Enigma” soon disappeared when I began to listen, for
this is emphatically not just “another recording”: It is an absolutely
outstanding performance.’ He was impressed
by the sound engineering which delivers every nuance of ‘Barbirolli’s care’
towards the music. The balance is ‘first rate’ and ‘nothing that happens down
below in the ‘cellos and basses is missed.’
The performances of both works by
Sir John and the Philharmonia are ‘right from the heart’ and ‘always guided by
the head.’ The ‘Enigma’ Variations ‘come from a conductor who has had them
inside himself all his life, yet at this performance seems to love them more
than ever…’
I am privileged to have been
introduced to one of the greatest masterpieces of English music by way of Sir
John’s fine recording. And the Cockaigne
Overture is pretty good to. I remember being bowled over by the ‘lovers
walking in the London Park’ theme. I could not get it out of my head. I still
hum, whistle and sing this tune 45 year later.
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