Schubert's Heir
Donald Macleod discovers how Ivor Gurney's early promise came to fruition and then unravelled, as Gurney struggled with the horrors of World War I and serious mental illness.
The horrors of the trenches forge a war poet
It's a story that begins full of possibility and hope; Gurney was one of the brightest musical lights of his generation. He imagined himself as Schubert's heir; a fresh, young genius whose music and poetry would revolutionise British society. Donald Macleod discovers how that early promise came to fruition and then unravelled, as Gurney struggled with the horrors of World War One and serious mental illness. Gurney expert, Dr Kate Kennedy, joins Donald to uncover the man behind the tragedy and explore the art he produced in the face of enormous adversity. Much of Gurney's output is still rarely performed, and several works have been specially recorded for these programmes.
Ivor Gurney had been accepted to study music at the Royal College of Music. One of the first things he presented to his tutor, Stanford, was a delicate setting of the poem by Robert Bridges, I Praise the Tender Flower. Soon however, Gurney found that life in London was not for him and he started to get periods of depression.
By 1915, Gurney had been recruited into the army and, after training, found himself serving in the trenches. He was able to compose some music while at war, including one of his most famous songs, By a Bierside, although it was poetry that occupied more of his attention during this period. In the wall of his dugout, Gurney erected a little shrine to his beloved Gloucestershire with a picture postcard. Amid the mud and squalor, a tune kept running through Gurney's mind - it was his own setting for Psalm 23, recorded here by the 91热爆 Singers especially for Composer of the Week.
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Kate Kennedy on Ivor Gurney
Duration: 08:22
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Ivor Gurney
I praise the tender flower for voice and piano
Singer: Benjamin Luxon. Performer: David Willison.- Chandos: CHAN8831.
- Chandos.
- 26.
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Ivor Gurney
In Flanders, orch. Howells for baritone and orchestra
Orchestra: 91热爆 Scottish S O. Singer: Christopher Maltman. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- STANFORD: Two Songs of Faith (Op 97/4-5).
- HYPERION.
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Ivor Gurney
By a bierside, orch. Howells for baritone and orchestra
Singer: Christopher Maltman. Orchestra: 91热爆 Scottish S O. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- STANFORD: Two Songs of Faith (Op 97/4-5).
- HYPERION.
- 13.
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Roderick Williams & Susie Allan
Dreams of the Sea
- SOMM.
- SOMMCD057.
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Ivor Gurney
Chant to Psalm 23 for chorus
Choir: 91热爆 Singers. Conductor: Paul Brough. -
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Ivor Gurney
Sehnsucht [Longing] for piano
Performer: Mark Bebbington.- Somm: SOMMCD038.
- Somm.
- 2.
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Ivor Gurney
Song of the Summer Woods for piano
Performer: Mark Bebbington.- Somm: SOMMCD038.
- Somm.
- 2.
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Ivor Gurney
Sonata in E flat major for violin and piano - Lento
Performer: Rupert Marshall luck. Performer: Matthew Rickard.- EM Records: EMRCD011.
- EM Records.
- 3.
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Ivor Gurney
Sonata in E flat major for violin and piano - Introduction: Lento - Allegro
Performer: Rupert Marshall luck. Performer: Matthew Rickard.- EM Records: EMRCD011.
- EM Records.
- 3.
Broadcasts
- Tue 1 Jul 2014 12:0091热爆 Radio 3
- Tue 1 Jul 2014 17:4591热爆 Radio 3
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