Were there many great English composers?

Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

John Renbourn once commented that a great deal of wunnerful music comes from England, but under close examination it is often traceable to Ireland or Scotland.

Still, he said, there was a brief period when the greatest classical music in the world was being written by English composers, although this period was brief.

I'm not sure exactly what period Renbourn had in mind--maybe the Elizabethan era, or maybe the restoration.

Without thinking too hard I can immediately think of three great English composers:
-- William Byrd (1540-1623), organist in Queen Elizabeth's chapel--and a catholic. Shocked

-- John Dowland (1563-1626)
-- Henry purcell (1659-1695)

Any others?

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Thomas Morley (1558-1602), who wrote tunes for Shakespeare's plays, like "The Frog Galliard."

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Subject: Re: Were there many great English composers? Thu May 28, 2009 3:23 pm

What about Benjamin Britten? Or is he too new-skool? Same goes for Elgar.

Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

Britten and Elgar were great English composers, but I'm looking for the "era" that Renbourn had in mind when he said the English were the greatest in the world. Britten and Elgar lived and worked during an era when I'd say the world's greatest composers were Russian.

The Elizabethan composers, it could be argued, might have been the greatest of their era, although there is serious competition from the Italians, like Claudio Monteverdi.

Henry Purcell might have been the greatest composer of his time, and I might argue that myself, although he overlapped a bit with Archangelo Corelli.

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Wigglepig Gender: Number of posts: 321 Registration date: 2008-06-08

I'd put in a mention for Thomas Tallis and Orlando Gibbons (apparently Glenn Gould's favourite composer)

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Protector of Fuzzy Bunnies Number of posts: 757 Registration date: 2009-06-13

Wrong period again, but I've just begun to discover Granville Bantock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Bantock

My starting point was this CD, and it's beautiful
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66450&f=bantock

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Will Post For Food Number of posts: 835 Registration date: 2008-04-28

John Dunstable (1390-1453) would be a bit too early, wouldn't he?
His musical ideas were certainly very influential.

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Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

To my mind there is no such thing as "too early." Wink

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Will Post For Food Number of posts: 835 Registration date: 2008-04-28

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King of Pop Gender: Number of posts: 3131 Registration date: 2008-05-05

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Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

I like him, but what's with that switchboard thingy on the wall? Was he dabbling in electronic music using 1940s technology?

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Will Post For Food Number of posts: 835 Registration date: 2008-04-28

R.V.W.!!

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Gender: Number of posts: 461 Registration date: 2009-06-15

Name me one great American 14th century composer.

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Schrödinger's Hepcat Number of posts: 4486 Registration date: 2008-04-28

Huitzilin of Nahuatl

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I don't do it for the money, babe. I do it to entertain people.-- Susan Boyle

Gender: Number of posts: 461 Registration date: 2009-06-15

Quote:

Huitzilin of Nahuatl

Didn't he have the arrow stand at Ironagestock?

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Lava bread facepacks: you'll live to 110.