Music Albert Ketèlbey

1 music

1.1 works , serious music
1.2 light orchestral
1.3 instrumental works
1.4 songs

music

under own name , @ least 6 pseudonyms ketèlbey composed several hundred works, 150 of them orchestra. in grove dictionary of music , musicians, phillip scowcroft writes, gifts melody , sensitive, colourful scoring ensured continuing popularity light orchestras , bands until after 1945. popular of hundreds of pieces emphasize emotionalism , exaggerated effects @ expense of structure , harmonic subtlety.

early works , serious music

ketèlbey s compositions classical , orthodox in form, reflecting training @ trinity college. first substantial work piano sonata (1888); followed caprice piano , orchestra (1892), concertstück piano , orchestra (circa 1893) , piano concerto in g minor (1895). ketèlbey s piano writing notable brilliance, , composer s own performance of solo part of concertstück brought out quality. student, ketèlbey composed cadenza first movement of beethoven s first piano concerto, judged clever , effective in performance in 1890.

for chamber repertoire, ketèlbey composed string quartet (c. 1896) , quintet piano , wind (1896) won costa prize , college gold medal. 1894 romance violin , piano praised charming, musicianly work . other works include choral pieces, including anthems every gift ; behold upon mountains , , strong, ye people (all 1896). after these works moved professionally conducting light opera, , serious music became exception rather rule in compositions.

ketèlbey s concert music less known in england in continental europe, conducted many programmes of own works concertgebouw orchestra , others. composer s more avowedly serious music less esteemed compatriots. in 1928 profile magazine british musician commented, there no need explain here why serious music, whether written thirty years ago or 1927 ... has not won popularity of, say, edward german s dances: pleasant music, delightfully scored; not fascinating derives—the music of viennese writers of dance music, of délibes , gounod , like. reviewer added, albert ketèlbey s works of monastery garden type far best in country has written, , represent end born.

light orchestral

ketèlbey, capable player of cello, clarinet, oboe, , horn, skilled orchestrator. followed normal style light music of day: picturesque , romantic, colourful orchestral effects. reviewing collection of ketèlbey s music, authors of penguin guide recorded classical music commented in 2008, when vulgarity called not shirked—only s stylish kind of vulgarity! many of ketèlbey s pieces programmatic, typically lasting between 4 , 6 minutes. penchant arranging works various combinations of instruments makes them harder categorise works of many other composers. first 2 pieces make mark wide public phantom melody (1911) , in monastery garden (1915), both best known in orchestral versions, written cello , piano , solo piano respectively. familiar orchestral version of second of these pieces composer published synopsis:

the first theme represents poet s reverie in quietude of monastery garden amidst beautiful surroundings—the calm serene atmosphere—the leafy trees , singing birds. second theme in minor expresses more personal note of sadness, of appeal , contrition. presently, monks heard chanting kyrie eleison organ playing , chapel bell ringing. first theme heard in quieter manner if had become more ethereal , distant; singing of monks again heard—it becomes louder , more insistent, bringing piece conclusion in glow of exultation.

ketèlbey followed same basic formula many of popular later works. in persian market synopsis notes camel drivers approaching, cries of beggars, entry of beautiful princess (represented languorous theme given @ first clarinet , cello , full orchestra) ... watches jugglers , snake-charmers ... caliph passes by, interrupting entertainment ... depart, themes heard faintly in distance, , marketplace becomes deserted. ketèlbey establishes eastern setting in opening section, employing distinctive melodic intervals, a–b♭–e. orchestral players instructed sing @ 2 points in score, descending motif representing beggars crying baksheesh. although 1 contemporary critic belittled music pseudo-orientalism , mccanna comments princess portrayed big romantic theme cousin of princesses in stravinsky s firebird .

ketèlbey sought repeat exoticism of in persian market in several later pieces. among them in chinese temple garden (1923), described oriental phantasy , episodes depicting priestly incantation, 2 lovers, wedding procession, street brawl , restoration of calm beating of temple gong. example in mystic land of egypt (1931), which, persian predecessor, opens vigorous march theme followed broad romantic melody. again, composer employs unconventional musical devices colour—in case chromatic scale, descending @ each appearance until closing bars, inverted. in 1958, critic ronald ever wrote ketèlbey noted use of every exotic noisemaker known man—chimes, orchestra bells, gongs (all sizes , nationalities), cymbals, woodblocks, xylophone, drums of every variety . ever commented ketèlbey s exoticism had left immovable impression of eastern music on western ears, oriental music ketèlbey music: clashing cymbals; little pinging bells; minor modes; amazingly graphic mincing step created rapidly reiterated notes; coy taps on woodblock.

among ketèlbey s light orchestral works wholly british flavour bells across meadows (1921), redolent, in words of mcdonald, of rose-entwined thatched cottages standing amidst gardens full of hollyhocks gentle brook bubbling on rustic way , cows grazing peacefully in pastures beyond . urban life evoked in five-movement cockney suite (1924), described times character pieces complete leering saxophone, cheeky mouth-organ, , infernally catchy tunes . ketèlbey depicts successively royal procession buckingham palace houses of parliament; east end pub, main theme based on cockney ditty arf pint of mild , bitter ; waltz @ palais de danse; sombre glimpse of cenotaph in whitehall; , in finale, appy ampstead , picture of august bank holiday fair on hampstead heath.

much of music ketèlbey wrote accompaniment silent films between 1915 , 1929, though lucrative @ time, has proved ephemeral, although reused , rearranged of in solo pieces amateur pianists. requirements of cinemas of sizes in mind, film music published in bosworth loose leaf film play music series in versions solo piano or small orchestras. titles offered included dramatic agitato, amaryllis (described composer suitable use in dainty, fickle scenes ), mystery ( in favour uncanny , weird picturizations ), agitato furioso ( famous excellence in playing riots, storms, wars, etc. ) , bacchanale de montmartre (for cabaret, orgy , riotous continental scenes ).

instrumental works

in addition arrangements solo instruments of popular orchestral works, ketèlbey wrote range of music organ , piano. of more serious of these pieces published under vodorinski pen name. among organ works pastorale , rêverie dramatique, both dating 1911. piano works include classical pieces such 1888 sonata, , shorter items in more popular style, such rêverie (1894) , les pèlerins (1925), way of romantic melody (1898), pensées joyeuses (1888), in woodlands (1921), song of summer (1922), , légende triste (1923). musical influences on piano works on whole conservative: works mccanna mentions haydn , mendelssohn in context. of piano music published in years after first world war aimed @ domestic audience; requires modest technical proficiency play , simple in structure deft harmonies. commercially successful of vodorinski works prelude in c♯ minor (1907). mccanna comments not title material reminiscent of rachmaninoff: music turns out copy of more illustrious composer s features, notably final fortissimo statement of melody in bass . ketèlbey followed chopin s model in several waltzes in key of a♭ major, including la grâcieuse (1907) , 2 different pieces under title valse brillante (1905 , 1911).

songs

throughout career ketèlbey composed songs, providing words of written after 1913. first, unpublished, song, still, sad heart dates 1892, , during rest of 1890s wrote songs children sentimental ballads believe me true (1897) seniors. many had words florence hoare, other lyrics included english words songs tchaikovsky, gounod , brahms. ketèlbey s popular ballads included heart s awakening (1907), heart-a-dream (1909), loved more knew (1912), heart still clings (1913), forgive? (1924), , birthday song (1933). wrote patriotic songs use in 3 wars: there s in english after (1899, during boer war), trumpet voice of motherland calling (1914, first world war) , fighting freedom (1941, during second world war). sole shakespeare setting, blow! blow! thou winter wind (1898, revised 1951), written incidental music production of it.