During the 1930s, Bliss, Britten, and Berkeley all contributed major works to the repertoire for string orchestra, following in the footsteps of Elgar and Vaughan Williams. They are joined on this album by Frank Bridge whose Lament was composed during the First World War. This is the fourth recording by John Wilson with his award-winning Sinfonia of London. Bliss composed Music for Strings after he had completed the film score for Korda's Things to Come, driven by his desire to compose a piece of 'pure music', expressing his own ideas rather than those of others. Commissioned in May 1937 by Boyd Neel for the Salzburg Festival that summer, Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge was composed at great speed, and helped to establish the young composer's international reputation. Dedicated to his teacher, Frank Bridge, the theme is taken from the second of Bridge's Three Idylls for string quartet. Lennox Berkeley composed his Serenade for Strings at Snape Maltings, where he was living with Britten in 1938 / 39. By the time of it's completion the nation was at war and the music seems to reflect the composer's anxious mood as the world faced an uncertain future.

Tracklist:

Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Introduction & Theme
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 1, Adagio
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 2, March
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 3, Romance
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 4, Aria Italiana
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 5, Bourrée Classique
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 6, Wiener Walzer
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 7, Moto Perpetuo
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 8, Funeral March
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 9, Chant
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge, Op. 10: Var. 10, Fugue & Finale
Lament, H. 117 (Version For String Orchestra)
Serenade For String Orchestra, Op. 12: I. Vivace
Serenade For String Orchestra, Op. 12: II. Andantino
Serenade For String Orchestra, Op. 12: III. Allegro Moderato
Serenade For String Orchestra, Op. 12: IV. Lento
Music For Strings, F. 123: I. Allegro Moderato, Enerfico
Music For Strings, F. 123: II. Andante, Molto Sostenuto
Music For Strings, F. 123: III. Allegro Molto - Andante Moderato

UPC: 095115526422
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 2.5.21
Format: CD

Berkeley / Sinfonia Of London / Wilson - English Music for Strings (CD)