STRANGE STORMS AND SYMPHONIES The life of George LLoyd Cornish Composer 1913-1998

The film charts the extraordinary life of Cornwall's most prolific composer and sets the composer in the Cornish landscape which inspired most of his work.

[@paradisi12]

Beautifully done. George was a magnificent composer.

[@jmd555555]

What a terrific documentary. It should be broadcast. The ending was very moving. I was lucky to see George Lloyd conduct his Symphony 11 at the Barbican in London. I wrote to him after the concert and received a very nice response from him. Thank you for this fine documentary film.

[@leroyosmon]

My wife and I knew George over the last 10 years of his life. He was an amazing composer. I'm sure he would have loved your film.

[@DaveFilmsocs]

Glorious music matched with architectural details of Wells Cathedral demonstrate from the start that director Diana Taylor is in total sympathy with the work of her subject. The Cornish composer, George Lloyd, had a life of almost operatic drama, all of which is contained in 45 minutes of inspiring film. A brilliant, but sickly young talent, Lloyd devoted his life to music and was on his way to success when a heat wave struck London. Taylor's revealing film explains that in those pre-war days, before mass-tourism and air-conditioning, in such conditions crowds evacuated the capital and theatres simply closed. Then came war. Unlike most British composers, Lloyd served in one of the toughest naval conflicts, arctic convoy protection. He endured incredible storms before enemy action sank the ship. He was almost drowned in fuel oil before reaching the cold sea. The experience left him mentally shattered. Over several years his wife nursed him to fragile health again, but when he started to compose once more the fashion had changed and his work was not accepted. The couple bought a market garden and settled down to agriculture, but Lloyd spent two hours before each working day began on composition. Eventually his fortunes changed and his final years were crowned with enormous success. Taylor's film chronicles each stage of this memorable life with archive pictures and recordings, interviews and, of course, the music. Lloyd was irritatingly vague about how he composed, but often spoke of inspiration from the colours of the Cornish landscape and the beauty of its seas. Taylor develops those themes with beautiful images which never overwhelm the story but make a convincing sub-text for the stages of Lloyd's musical development from chamber music to symphonies, to opera and to Brass Band music. It is a remarkable, powerful and convincing biography of a British talent already almost forgotten 14 years after his final piece, a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.

[@johnharpdalton4092]

A beautifully produced and very moving film and story. Many comments here highlight the neglect of British composers and listening to Lloyd's work, it evidently deserves to be heard more often in the concert halls. Well done for making such a watchable, worthwhile work, beautifully paced and full of thought-provoking incidents and inspiring revelations. Lloyd and his wife certainly had an amazing journey together.

[@taylor9ization]

Thank you I hav ejust made a filmabout D.H.Lawrence in Cornwall and that has been another journey... Diana

[@johnharpdalton4092]

@@taylor9ization and what are you working on now, dear Diana, who disappeared so suddenly!

[@sydshrimp]

Certainly an extraordinary life and a very difficult one but what courage and perseverance he and his wife Nancy exhibited through the long years of neglect. A very fine composer and a really good man.

[@steffenmrsk4720]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. George Lloyd is one of my favourite composer's for brass band. I'll now have to get into his symphonic and operatic world of music too... 😊

[@kaybeenullenvoyde9196]

This SHOULD be a film!

[@CharlesVereker]

Thank you for this film! We are playing the Lloyd 5th Symphony in July. Tickets are on sale if you would like to come!!

[@taylor9ization]

Would love to but currently launching my latest film thanks Diana

[@lakelandtrog]

I was ignorant of the music of George Lloyd until his nephew (who appears in this documentary), Bill, introduced it to me. I now rank George as one of my favourite,quintessentially English composers.

[@lloydarriola3481]

Beautifully-wrought documentary, and beautiful music!

[@redcliffebristol3271]

Thank you very much for your kind comment,

[@taylor9ization]

I made this film by myself and have not got on with marketing it yet. Thanks for your positve feedback.

[@tommyginshop7702]

My word did I enjoy that, Diana - such a touching piece and you did George proud! Thank you so much!

[@simonlevack4298]

OK, own up - who else has watched this more than once just for GL's hilarious impression of RVW? (Seriously this is an outstanding documentary!)

[@songsmith31a]

I was privileged to meet this gifted composer as a fellow Marylebone resident and his symphonies are among my own favourites - especially his 11th Symphony with its spine tingling finale that never fails to lift my spirits. Delighted to see this film and the note the recent release of an EM Records release on CD of some UK orchestral premieres. The CD - and the DVD of this film - will soon be added to my collection! It is so rewarding to see his music being given the increasing public attention it deserves.

[@redcliffebristol3271]

I was very inspired to make this film as I love his music. Its a pity that there is no footage of George conducting.

[@BlackBacon44]

Thank you for the music, such a huge part of my listening pleasure.

[@rossrossiter9676]

Really interesting, the horror of what people endured in WW2 is really brought home by individual accounts of suffering. A bandsman in the hull of his ship as its hit by a torpedo sees his friends and comrades drown in engine oil, and ingests enough himself to threaten his life. And yet he not only endures but creates beauty.

[@gabrieru1983]

Lovely!!!!!

[@irenafarrell4409]

So atmospheric! Well done Di! More please.

[@taylor9ization]

Redcliffe Films has also made a documentary film about Ivor Gurney WW1 Poet and Composer you can order these films off the website.Its called Severn and Somme and is a great hit.

[@patrickreynolds6444]

Thank you for this wonderful treat, it has quite made my week. The overall mood of the piece is quite magical, the imagery as lyrical as the great man's music; and I see you are a Gurney fan...I can hardly wait.

[@redcliffebristol3271]

Please see our film Severn and Somme The Life of Ivor Gurney on the Redcliffe Films website.

[@robertparry4331]

LIKE BAX,ARNOLD,ALWYN AND SO MANY MORE GREAT BRITISH COMPOSERS IGNORED BY THE MUSIC ESTABLISHMENT.SHAME ON THEM AND THANK THE LORD FOR ALBANY RECORDS.ROBERT J. PARRY,NORFOLK,UK

[@271250cl]

Very interesting! Getting to know Lloyd's music has been on my 'To-Do' list for a long time and this film reminds me I should get on with it! Was this made for TV? Has it been broadcast?

[@keiththomas4367]

fortunately there are wonderful recordings of the George Lloyd symphonies but would you not think that a British orchestra would programme them, particularly when playing abroad, and be proud to do it? Will we ever hear performances of Lloyd, Bax or Arnold to name but a few! Music, as I say, to be proud of.

[@LloydMusicLtd]

Website here: www.georgelloyd.com