Main content

Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Charles Villiers Stanford

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Charles Villiers Stanford. With Jeremy Dibble

Marking the centenary of his death, Composer of the Week explores the remarkable life and music of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. Stanford was one of the leading musicians of his generation and, along with Parry and Mackenzie, he was one of the main protagonists in Britain鈥檚 musical renaissance at the end of the 19th century. Born in Dublin, Stanford rose to the very top of the British music scene, as both a conductor and composer. He also maintained strong links to Germany, following his studies in Leipzig and Berlin. Stanford鈥檚 works were popular in Europe, as well as Britain, with conductors such as Hans Richter promoting his music. Today, Stanford is largely remembered for his sacred works, however his prolific output covers most genres and he had a particular passion for opera. He was an influential teacher at the Royal College of Music and Cambridge University; many future musical luminaries passed through his classes, including Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Rebecca Clarke and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Stanford was a tremendous force for good in British music, and in honour of his contribution to British culture, his ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey close to the remains of Henry Purcell. This week, Donald Macleod is joined by Stanford biographer, Jeremy Dibble to explore Stanford life and music.

Music Featured:

The Bluebird, Op 119 No 3 (excerpt)
Three Intermezzi, Op 13 No 1 (Allegretto scherzando)
The Resurrection, Op 5
Symphony No 1 (Scherzo)
The Veiled Prophet (Act 2 Love Duet)
Service in B flat major, Op 10 (Magnificat)
Symphony No 2 鈥楨legiac鈥 (Lento espressivo)
To the Rose, Op 19 No 3
Piano Trio No 1, Op 35 (Allegretto con moto)
Elegiac Ode, Op 21 (The night, in silence, under many a star)
The Lord is my Shepherd
Symphony No 3, Op 28 鈥淚rish鈥 (Allegro molto Vivace)
Piano Quintet in D minor, Op 25 (Allegro risoluto)
A Child鈥檚 Garland of Songs, Op 30 No 9 (My ship and me)
The Clown鈥檚 Song from Twelfth Night鈥, Op 65 No 3
Six Irish Fantasies, Op 54 No 3 (Jig)
Symphony No 5, Op 56 鈥楲鈥橝llegro ed il Pensieroso鈥 (Andante molto tranquillo)
Shamus O鈥橞rien, Op 61 (Act 2 Captain Trevor鈥檚 Song)
Requiem, Op 63 (Agnus Dei et Lux aeterna)
Te Deum, Op 66 (Judex crederis)
Ten Dances, Old and New, Op 58 No 1 (Valse)
Songs of the Sea, Op 91 No 3 (Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain)
Magnificat in G, Op 81
String Quartet No 4 in G minor, Op 99 (Allegro molto vivace)
Stabat Mater, Op 96 (Virgo virginum praeclara)
String Quintet No 2 in C minor, Op 86 (Andante)
A Song of Hope, Op 113 No 3
Six Songs from 鈥楾he Glens of Antrim鈥, Op 174 No 2 (The sailor man)
String Quartet No 7 in C minor, Op 166 (Allegro molto)
Irish Rhapsody No 4, Op 141 (The Fisherman of Loch Neagh and What he Saw)
An Irish Idyll in Six Miniatures, Op 77 No 2 (The Fairy Lough)
Mass Via Victrix, Op 173 (Agnus Dei)
How beauteous are their feet

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Luke Whitlock for 91热爆 Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) /programmes/m001xdr0

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Release date:

Available now

1 hour, 25 minutes

Podcast