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In the early 1950's Butterworth was a trumpet player with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra when he met and married Diana Stewart. He had yet to make his name as a composer. It was when he then joined the Halle Orchestra that Sir John Barbirolli's encouragement resulted in the premiere of his first Symphony at the Cheltenham Festival. This performance in 1955 established Butterworth as a significant British symphonist. The Symphony is dedicated to Diana.
The 'Elegy for Diana' is a short work for strings and one of the composer's last completed works. A slow yearning introduction leads to a Passacaglia, a musical form which perhaps references his admiration for the music of Brahms, one of his earliest musical influences.
Butterworth's own comment about the work – "This Elegy, unlike the flamboyant Symphony for large orchestra, is but a short expression of farewell." |
ISMN M708017-78-3
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Cat.no.148
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Score (6pp. 245x330) Parts for hire |
£5.00 |