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The 1920s finds Dorothy Howell appearing on the first radio programmes, teaching composition at the Royal Academy of Music and enjoying life in London.

This week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia’ at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell’s music almost disappeared from view - until recently.

The mid-1920s found Dorothy Howell appointed a Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music, performing for radio broadcasts, and giving recitals in some of London’s most prestigious venues. Donald Macleod talks to Leah Broad about a period that saw Howell’s music programmed alongside Ethel Smyth’s and Rebecca Clarke’s: these three were seen as the most significant British female composers of the time.

Five Studies for Piano (Mvt 4)
Sophia Rahman, piano

The Tortoiseshell Cat, Pot Pourri, My White Lady
Emily Gray, mezzo soprano
Timothy Salter, piano

The Moorings
Lorraine McAslan, violin
Sophia Rahman, piano

If you will come to Corte
91Èȱ¬ Singers
Will Dawes, conductor

Rebecca Clarke: The Shy One
Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor
Graham Johnson, piano

Ethel Smyth: The Cliffs of Cornwall
Swedish Wind Ensemble
Cathrine Winnes, conductor

Piano Concerto in D minor
Danny Driver, piano
91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Rebecca Miller, conductor

5 hours left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Dorothy Howell

    Five Studies (No 4)

    Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • DUTTON : CDLX-7144.
    • DUTTON.
    • 12.
  • Dorothy Howell

    The Tortoiseshell Cat

    Performer: Timothy Salter. Singer: Emily Gray.
  • Dorothy Howell

    Pot-Pourri

    Performer: Timothy Salter. Singer: Emily Gray.
  • Dorothy Howell

    My White Lady

    Performer: Timothy Salter. Singer: Emily Gray.
  • Dorothy Howell

    The Moorings

    Performer: Lorraine McAslan. Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • Dutton CDLX7144.
    • Dutton.
    • 14.
  • Dorothy Howell

    If you will come to Corte

    Choir: 91Èȱ¬ Singers. Conductor: Will Dawes.
  • Rebecca Clarke

    Shy One

    Performer: Graham Johnson. Singer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson.
    • HYPERION : CDH-55159.
    • HYPERION.
    • 20.
  • Ethel Smyth

    The Cliffs of Cornwall from "The Wreckers"

    Music Arranger: Anders Högstedt. Ensemble: Swedish Wind Ensemble. Director: Cathrine Winnes.
    • NILENTO : NILCD2102.
    • NILENTO.
    • 5.
  • Dorothy Howell

    Piano Concerto in D minor

    Performer: Danny Driver. Orchestra: 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Rebecca Miller.
    • The Romantic Piano Concerto 70 - Beach, Chaminade & Howell.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Oct 2024 16:00

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