John Foulds: April - England, Op. 48 No.1 (1926)

[@claudialevin]

Reminds me of my time at Royal Holloway and my friendship with the wonderful David Willcocks, so missed. I love England and this piece really gives us the mood of this wonderful country! Thanks for this.

[@AntPDC]

Sir David Willcocks' memory lives on of course. Must have been a real privilege to have been friends with him. Best wishes.

[@daveyr7454]

Young Ant - you never fail :)

[@v90660]

Heard this on KUSC, what a masterpiece.

[@bgccallahan4116]

at 3:53: Southern Caifornia looks like this in certain areas in early Spring, believe it or not. This music is so celebratory of our "British Isles Springs". (living in Los Angeles County) LOVE ME my Brit Isles music! 1-11-2023

[@ncpiedmontone]

I love the photos.... especially the juxtaposition of the Life Guards and the modern traffic signals-- the timeless( like the music) and the modern side by side- wonderful!

[@AntPDC]

Thank you ncpied. The Life Guards are just spectacular!

[@malcolmosman6111]

Very fine music and very fine photography! Your choice of music and images is masterful!

[@AntPDC]

Why thank you Malcolm. The swifts are back. Always a joy too!

[@kristenkim]

Wishing it was spring again!!

[@AntPDC]

Not long soon. Swallows will be back in around 8 weeks. Yay!

[@kristenkim]

Yay that's great news! I've had enough of the cold, I can't wait for the buds to blossom!

[@jonathanhill4892]

If you want Spring just look at the pictures Ant has used to accompany 'Blest Pair of Sirens' - with impeccable taste, as ever.

[@AntPDC]

You are very kind Jonathan.

[@timothyj1966]

Thank you for introducing me to this Composer. I am sure Sir Neville has done him justice...just like everyone else he conducts. Cheers from Canada... so bored Corona Isolation... Stay Safe!!! ps. Gorgeous Pictures were icing on the Cake!

[@AntPDC]

Thank you Timothy. It's a wonderful, if little-known piece. Love to you and yours at this time, along with all our friends and cousins in the US, Mexico, and of course dearest Canada. I'll be looking out for our Queen's message at 8pm BST tomorrow!

[@AntPDC]

The central section starting at 1:56 marks the start of a stunningly beautiful passage which Foulds develops with large orchestral forces. At 4:48, the spectacular tutti delivers a fabulous climax. Marvellous in every way!

[@pabmusic1]

Don't you think the passacaglia in the middle - in fact all of it - is not so far from Finzi?

[@AntPDC]

Thank you. Finzi, VW, etc. Yes, pretty much of that particular idiom. No doubt explains why I love this piece!

[@rightmarker1]

AntPDC - is that the Crispin at Great Longstone? 😊

[@AntPDC]

Yes, it is! Paul is still there!

[@mickyfinn1948]

Lovely to hear this piece, especially now in April. I can certainly recognise the Tippet influence, but still Fould's own vision. Your pics are as always, a fine visual accompaniment to this and other pieces you share. I love the Peak district and have fond memories of visits to Tideswell and Buxton.

[@AntPDC]

Thank you Michael. April's here - thank goodness! Swallows have returned; the earth has stirred, life begins anew! And who couldn't celebrate that, each and every year!

[@mickyfinn1948]

Absolutely Anthony - Spring is the season of hope and we all need that!

[@AntPDC]

The swifts are back! Glory!

[@stevouk]

It would be the other way round. Foulds pre-dates Tippett by over twenty years. Tippett was only nineteen when this was first witten.

[@harpswellsound]

Eager to listen to your new posts.

[@AntPDC]

And I very much appreciate your comments HF. The swifts are back too!

[@anthonyat2401]

I have known this piece for many years and have the piano score. Check out the piano version and all Foulds other music...

[@jonathantrim4293]

What a wonderful piece of music. Does anyone know where to find a set of orchestral parts? I can only find the score online.

[@AntPDC]

Alas, I do not Jonathan, but thank you for your comment. All the best to you and your Stroud musicians!

[@odkeram]

This is obviously English Music. What characteristics make me know this?

[@AntPDC]

Good question Marek! The English Pastoral School, sometimes called the English Nationalist School or (by its detractors, humorously) the Cow Pat School, was a group of English composers of classical music working during the early to mid 20th century, who sought to build a distinctively English style of music by basing their compositions on Tudor music and English folk music. The leading composers of the school were Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, with other notable figures including George Butterworth, John Ireland, Edmund Rubbra, Gerald Finzi, Ernest John Moeran and Peter Warlock.

[@ruihai7954]

Reminds me of my first day of school at Hogwarts.