Granville Bantock

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Granville Bantock

Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (born August 7, 1868 in London , † October 16, 1946 there ) was an English composer .

Life

Bantock, the son of a well-known London doctor of Scottish origin, initially encountered considerable resistance with his desire to pursue a musical career, but was ultimately able to assert himself and began his studies in composition , piano, and piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1889 . Violin and clarinet, which he graduated from in 1893. In the following years Bantock founded various music magazines and worked as a conductor (including at the Royal Theater in London ). In 1900 he became rector of the Birmingham and Midland Institute School of Music, where he turned particularly to music education. In 1908 Bantock received the Peyton Chair in Music at the University of Birmingham, succeeding Edward Elgar . In 1930 he was ennobled. His retirement took place in 1934; then he moved to London, where he stayed until the end of his life. Bantock traveled extensively (including the Orient ), had wide-ranging interests (including painting) and was an exceptionally well-educated person who spoke six languages. His commitment to contemporary music was particularly important, not only presenting works by composers from Great Britain but also by Jean Sibelius to the English audience. Bantock was valued by many prominent musicians; Sibelius dedicated his 3rd symphony to him and after Bantock's death became president of the newly founded "Bantock Society".

style

Bantock's style is clearly shaped by his personal interests. So you can often find archaic elements (Bantock dealt extensively with antiquity ) as well as more exotic elements. Typical is a tonal and colorful description of various moods, as Bantock also likes to describe images of nature (e.g. the Hebrides ) through his music. Another important factor is the encounter with Richard Wagner's music , which Bantock got to know in 1889 and which had a major impact on his work. Influences of Richard Strauss' music can also be identified. His melodies partially reveal the intensive occupation with folk music. Especially the Celtic mythology is reflected in Bantocks works often. His orchestration is brilliant and shows masterful ability, especially with regard to the most varied of timbres. The virtuoso treatment of the brass section is particularly striking . Overall, Bantock was a rather conservative composer who never questioned tonality . His works are deeply rooted in the Romantic era and are characterized by opulent sonority.

Works

  • Orchestral works
    • "Hebridean Symphony" (1915)
    • "Pagan Symphony" (1925-28)
    • "The Cyprian Goddess", Symphony No. 3 (1938/39)
    • "Celtic Symphony" for 6 harps and string orchestra (1940)
    • "Helena Variations" (1899)
    • "Six Tone Poems": 1. "Thalaba the Destroyer" (1900), 2. "Dante and Beatrice" (1901, rev. 1910), 3. "Fifine at the Fair" (1901), 4. "Hudibras" ( 1902), 5. "The Witch of Atlas" (1902), 6. "Lalla Rookh" (1902)
    • "Two Heroic Ballads" (1944)
    • Orchestral suites
    • Drama music
    • Various works for cello and orchestra
  • Works for wind orchestra
    • "Oriental Rhapsody" for brass band
    • "Prometheus Unbound", symphonic poem (1936)
    • "Orion"
    • Comedy Overture "The Frogs"
  • Stage works
    • "Caedmar", opera (1893)
    • "The Pearl of Iran", opera (1894)
    • "The Seal-Woman", opera (1924)
    • "Egypt", ballet (1892)
  • Vocal music
    • "Omar Khayyām", oratorio (1906)
    • "The Song of Songs", oratorio (1922)
    • "The Pilgrim's Progress", oratorio (1928)
    • "Song of Liberty" for choir and wind orchestra (1914)
    • Choral symphony "Vanity of Vanities"
    • Choral symphony "Atalanta in Calydon"
    • Sappho (Orchestral Songs)
    • Church music
    • Choirs
    • Songs
  • Chamber music
    • String Quartet in C minor (1899)
    • Sonatas for violin
    • Sonata in F major for viola (1919)
    • Sonatas for violoncello (1924, No. 1 in B flat minor, 1940, No. 2 in F sharp minor, 1945)
    • Piano music

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Bantock, Granville
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bantock, Granville Ransome (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British composer and conductor
DATE OF BIRTH August 7, 1868
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH October 16, 1946
Place of death London