Prom 4: Sunday 17th July 2011 at 7.00 p.m. (Brian 'The Gothic')

[bluestateprommer]

Ahem, children, getting back to the thread topic: here's some light reading via JSTOR about HB 1 for those so inclined.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/946250

Bonus for the attentive, from Deryck Cooke back in 1966: http://www.jstor.org/pss/953316

[Threni]

Indeed! No wonder some promenaders talk about the proms dumbing down... Doesn't help if people can't even talk sensibly about a particular post.

[Petrushka]

... Surely if it's in the Guinness Book of Records it would arouse public interest?

I have to say I agree with this. The first time I'd even heard of The Gothic was in my copy of the 1968 GBoR and I longed to hear this monster (I managed it 10 years later). It's the sort of story that would make a splash on the news and make the general public more aware that the Proms is more than Rule Britannia and silly flag waving. My curiosity was whetted 43 years ago and others might be interested enough to investigate now. A missed opportunity.

[pilamenon]

I'm another who's never knowingly heard this work, or indeed anything else by the composer. Something a bit different, and sounds tailor-made for the Albert Hall. I also enjoyed this conductor's Prom last year, so shall try to listen in.

[Bryn]

If they do manage to perform it with the four addtional bands called for, ranged around the hall, the Arena will be the place to be. It's certainly where I plan to make my stand.

[Brassbandmaestro]

If they do have the additional bands, I bet they wont be brass bands as such!! Unlike Black Dyke or Grimethorpe!

[PatrickBrompton]

If they do have the additional bands, I bet they wont be brass bands as such!! Unlike Black Dyke or Grimethorpe!

Yes. With a work so restrained as the ‘Gothic’ it’s important to avoid exaggeration. Reference to http://www.havergalbrian.org/sym1.htm suggests that the four additional ‘brass bands’ are in fact fairly modest ensembles of half-a-dozen players or so apiece.

I notice, incidentally, that the score requires a ‘birdscare’.

[Bryn]

The brass complement may be modest, but the timps are most immodest in their impact. I wonder of RW and co. will be enterprising enough to make sure it is recorded in surround sound with a view to the future?

[David Underdown]

The Havergal Brian Society is trying to get a recording organised for commercial release I understand

[amateur51]

The Havergal Brian Society is trying to get a recording organised for commercial release I understand

All power to their persuading elbow.

Do you know if it is to be sound only or vision too?