1931 in British music
This is a summary of 1931 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events
- 22–28 July – The ninth annual ISCM Festival of Contemporary Music takes place in London and Oxford, with concerts of orchestral, choral, and chamber music.[1]
- date unknown – Gustav Holst Holst appears as an extra in a crowd scene in the film The Bells.[2]
Popular music
- "Close Your Eyes", by D. Carter and H. M. Tennent
- "Lady Of Spain"; music by Tolchard Evans, lyrics by Erell Reaves
- "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", by Noël Coward
Classical music: new works
- Havergal Brian – Symphony No. 2 in E minor
- Frank Bridge – Phantasm, for piano and orchestra
- Benjamin Britten –
- Christ’s Nativity, Christmas Suite, for SATB choir
- Plymouth Town, ballet, for orchestra
- String Quartet in D
- Arnold Cooke – Passacaglia, Scherzo, and Finale, for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and string quartet
- Frederick Delius –
- Fantastic Dance, for orchestra
- Irmelin Prelude, for orchestra
- George Dyson – The Canterbury Pilgrims (Geoffrey Chaucer), for soprano, tenor, baritone, choir, and orchestra
- Edward Elgar – Soliloquy, for oboe and orchestra
- Gerald Finzi – To Joy, for voice and piano, op. 13
- Patrick Hadley – Symphonic Ballad: The Trees So High[3]
- Gustav Holst – Twelve Welsh Folk Songs, for choir, H183
- Herbert Howells –
- "A Maid Peerless", for SSAA choir and orchestra
- Severn, for SATB choir
- Gordon Jacob – Passacaglia on a Well-Known Theme, for orchestra
- Elizabeth Maconchy –
- A Hymn to Christ, A Hymn to God the Father, for double choir
- The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo, for choir and orchestra
- Cyril Scott –
- Concerto, for cello and orchestra
- Trio No. 1, for violin, viola, and cello
- Trio No. 2, for violin, viola, and cello
- Herbert Sumsion – Piano Trio
- Michael Tippett – Symphonic Movement, for orchestra
- Ralph Vaughan Williams –
- Job: A Masque for Dancing (ballet)
- Piano Concerto in C major
- William Walton – Belshazzar's Feast (oratorio)
Opera
- Thomas Frederick Dunhill – Tantivy Towers, words by A. P. Herbert[4]
Film and Incidental music
Musical theatre
- 8 January – Folly To Be Wise (revue) opens at the Piccadilly Theatre, starring Cicely Courtneidge.
- 13 October – Noël Coward's Cavalcade opens at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where it runs for 405 performances.[5]
- 23 December – Hold My Hand (Music: Noel Gay Lyrics: Desmond Carter Book: Stanley Lupino) opens at the Gaiety Theatre, Starring Jessie Matthews, Sonnie Hale and Stanley Lupino.
Musical films
- A Man of Mayfair, starring Jack Buchanan
- Sally in Our Alley, starring Gracie Fields
- Sunshine Susie, starring Renate Müller and Jack Hulbert
Births
- 6 January – David Whitaker, composer, songwriter, arranger and conductor (died 2012)[6]
- 29 April – Lonnie Donegan, skiffle musician (died 2002)
- 12 September – Tommy Moore, drummer (died 1981)
- 24 September – Anthony Newley, songwriter, actor and singer (died 1999)
- 4 October – Anna Reynolds, operatic mezzo-soprano (died 2014)
- 4 November – Clinton Ford, singer (died 2009)
Deaths
- 8 May – Bertha Lewis, singer and actress with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 43 (car accident)
- 18 June – Fanny Holland, singer and actress, 83
- 22 August – Joseph Tabrar, songwriter, 73
- 19 November – Frederic Cliffe, composer, 74
See also
References
- ^ Anon., "Contemporary Music: Festival in England This Year", The Times, issue 45735 (Saturday, 31 January 1931): 10C.
- ^ Holst, Imogen (1981). The Great Composers: Holst (second ed.). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-09967-X., p. 80
- ^ Mann, William. Note in booklet with 2007 Lyrita CD SRCD 238, 2007, originally written for 1979 Lyrita LP issue.
- ^ Dunhill, Stanford, Bantock Violin Sonatas [RB]: Classical CD Reviews- May 2001 MusicWeb(UK)
- ^ Morley, Sheridan. A Talent to Amuse: A Biography of Noël Coward, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1969, pp. 200–214, 223
- ^ "David Whitaker". dailytelegraph.co.uk. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.