Roger Quilter: His Life and Music [Hardcover]

Valerie Langfield (Author)

Book Description

Series: Music | Publication Date: October 23, 2003

Superb new biography... I can't speak highly enough of Valerie Langfield's book. Her analyses of songs is nothing less than a master-class in the art of song-writing. The CD (includes) Quilter recordings which deserve to be far more widely known. RICHARD OSBORNE, OLDIE. The songs of Roger Quilter are a staple of the English artsong repertoire, yet little is known of his life, and his popularity suffered an eclipse in postwar years largely through changing musical fashions. Championed by the great English tenor Gervase Elwes, Quilter became famous for songs such as 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal', 'Love's Philosophy' and 'Go, Lovely Rose'. The BBC included A Children's Overture in their first broadcast concert, and the success of his atmospheric music for the children's fairy play Where the Rainbow Ends ensured his immense popularity.Access to numerous sources worldwide, many of them unpublished, and extensive interviews with friends and family, have enabled Valerie Langfield to write a sympathetic and authoritative account of Quilter, the first full-length study. The first part focuses on Quilter's life: she examines his relationships with his friends, particularly Grainger and the de Glehn family, and how his wealth, ill-health, family and homosexuality affected him. Her researches testify to Quilter's quiet philanthropy: his many practical actions included his founder-membership of the Musicians Benevolent Fund, generous and discreet assistance to young musicians, and help to Jewish friends fleeing Germany and Austria before the second world war. The second part of the book discusses and contextualises all his music: songs, chamber, orchestral and theatre music, and his light opera, Julia, performed at Covent Garden in 1936. The CD included with the book contains recordings of Quilter himself, either playing or conducting. The 17 songs that Quilter recorded in 1934 with the baritone Mark Raphael are included, together with his own arrangement for piano quintet of the song cycle To Julia with Hubert Eisdell as the tenor soloist. Quilter also conducts a short selection of items of music from Where the Rainbow Ends./I> Also: Schedule of performances; Catalogue of works; Discography; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The biography has been thoroughly researched and is meticulously documented. When she come to the works, the same thoroughness is applied. GRAMOPHONE (John Steane) Superb new biography... I can't speak highly enough of Valerie Langfield's book, which is a mine of information on a 75-year-long musical life lived in the shadow of smart society and two terrible wars. The scholarship is formidable, the detail scrupulously marshalled... The CD recordings deserve to be far more widely known. OLDIE (Richard Osborne) VL has performed a wonderful service for the memory and works of Roger Quilter, and all who care for English song are deeply in her debt. IVOR GURNEY SOCIETY JOURNAL (Roger Buckley) Engaging, well-researched, highly detailed biography... Book and CD will delight devotees, scholars and performers of English song. CHOICE Authoritative and superbly researched study of his life and music. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (Michael Kennedy) Splendid...will certainly remain the definitive exploration of Quilter's life and music for a long time to come.... Beautifully researched, aptly organized, well edited and carefully written. ALBION --Various

About the Author

VALERIE LANGFIELD is a freelance musician. She read music at Girton College, Cambridge.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 396 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (October 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851158714
• ISBN-13: 978-0851158716
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,916,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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