Gallantry: duo
d'amour (intermezzo-romance)
Published in
1920. It was reviewed thus in the
journal Musical Opinion:
“Albert W. Ketèlbey has a flair for vivid contrasts, and he manages to
secure them without resorting to sledge-hammer methods. His Gallantry partakes of the form of
a song-without-words, and its romantic atmosphere is felt at every turn. We
like the idea of combining the two melodies in duet fashion - a device which
discloses the expert's knowledge behind it all.”
Composer’s synopsis
The piece opens with a Cello Solo (with Piano Accompaniment) representing the man's declaration of love, followed by a Violin Solo representing the lady, the two themes are then played together simultaneously, hence the sub-title "Duo d'amour". After an episode of passionate character, the original themes are played by the full orchestra, the piece ending quietly and serenely.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
Archive |
|
Piano |
? |
Universal
Roll S 13614a |
roll |
|
by
1930 |
||||
|
Military
Band |
Band
of HM Royal Horse Guards, Dunn |
Columbia
DX 192 |
WAX 5822-1 |
12” 78 |
UK |
[Jan
31] |
Jan
31 p.406 |
BL,
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Columbia Cinema Service YBX 45 |
WAXD 117 |
12” 33 |
UK |
[Aug 31] |
||||
|
Re-issue |
- International Military Music Society IMMS 101 |
LP |
UK |
VLM Winter 84 |
BL |
||||
|
Orchestra |
Albert W. Ketelbey & his Concert Orchestra |
DR
4760-1 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Nov
40] rec.June 40 |
Dec
40 p.154-5 |
BL,
TM , (TM CAS) |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Evergreen Melodies C 62 |
CD |
UK |
[1999] |
PD,
TM |
||||
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos 8.110869 |
CD |
UK |
2003 |
BL,
NX, PD, TM |
||||
|
Mandolins |
Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, Zonn |
New World NW 80544 |
|
CD |
US |
1998 |
|||
|
Carillon |
Trevor Workman |
Bournville Carillon
BC000005 |
CD |
UK |
2003 |
TM |
|||
|
Piano |
Markus Staab |
private recording |
|
web |
Germany |
2009 |
|
|
|
|
Piano |
|
Themodist Full Scale
T30259 |
roll |
UK |
? |
PD |
mr10 |
Hear the Nashville mandolins
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0vDJ0O26MA
Staab’s recording can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYF79BOu3i8
Adam Ramet can be heard
playing the Thermodisc pianola roll in 2022 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgFGRW0Svxk&list=PL1YBeOI62FT9AAgLrbVth2g2mWPUFlIqD&index=11
Ketèlbey’s own recording makes 3 short cuts, totalling 25
bars. A vibraphone is included in the
orchestra, and plays 4 bars of the coda as a solo. The main section has a published metronome
marking of crotchet = 108, though one orchestral part has it as 69. The recording averages crotchet=84 for this section.
The recording by Workman uses
his own arrangement, and was made at a live performance on Bournville Carillon,
Birmingham, on 9th August 2003.
Garden of Love: serenade
A rare survivor of an
orchestral accompaniment to a song in a revue.
This song was written for the revue Samples,
first put on at the Playhouse Theatre in the autumn of 1916 by André Charlot. It was a
late addition to the show, not included in the original script submitted to the
Lord Chamberlain’s Office. Unusually,
the orchestral parts were published, with the option of replacing the solo
voice part with a cornet.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2019 |
PD,
TM |
To hear the realisation of the orchestral version, click here http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garden of love
for orch sync.mp3
The
Garland: a cantata for female
voices in two parts
This is the most extensive
work from Ketèlbey’s collaboration with Florence
Hoare, which mainly consisted of parlour songs and works aimed at
children. It was published in 1904; the
accompaniment is for piano, though at least one production did have an
orchestra of some sort.
Although called “Cantata”,
dialogue was provided to allow it to be staged.
One early performance was at Brook Hall School in Winslow (Bucks.) in 1905.
This was a very small school for teenage girls, and a photo of a similar event
can be seen at http://www.winslow-history.org.uk/winslow_brook_hall.shtm
Here is the review from the Buckingham Advertiser and
Free Press, Saturday 29th July 1905
BROOK HALL
SCHOOL, ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
… On returning to the Schoolroom, the programme
was resumed as follows …
The pupils had during the programme been seated
on the stage, attired in white dresses with light blue sashes. And now followed a floral cantata, “The
Garland” (by Albert Ketèlbey) by eight of the pupils
attired in Brittany costumes, of coloured skirts, with apron and fichu of white and starched caps, and carrying bouquets of
flowers. The characters were: Margot (1st
soprano), M. Wood; Christine (2nd soprano), C. Kibble; Village
Maidens, N. Wood, G. Jones, E. Ward, E. Hughes, L. Dancer, and W. Price. It is not only an exceedingly pretty piece,
but also very pretty and pleasing in its theme…
The singing was extremely good throughout;
indeed, the whole rendering of the piece gave evidence of very careful
training, the solos and duet of the principal girls at the close being full of
pathos, especially when the coveted flower, for the gaining of which the girl
had risked her life, is handed over by her to her rival, for the benefit of the
invalid sister…
There were also performances
in New Zealand under the title Fete des Torses.
Synopsis
La Fête des Torses is held in
a little Town in Brittany, when a prize is offered for the prettiest garland of
flowers. Margot and Christine, two rival
beauties of the village, have each seen, and coveted for their garland, a
starry flower growing high among the rocks.
Margot desires the prize to buy luxuries for her invalid sister, and
Christine overcoming her jealousy, dares the danger of the ascent, and brings
the flowers to Margot, thus enabling her to win the prize.
With the characters
consisting entirely of girls, this work would have been ideal for a girls’
school. The music is tuneful and tautly
constructed, though some of the vocal writing is disappointing.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2020 |
PD,
TM |
In our realisation, Margot’s
part is taken by a clarinet, Christine’s by an oboe, and the Village Girls by
flutes.
1. Twine your
garlands http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
1 sync.mp3
2. When you and I were
little girls http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland 2 sync.mp3
3. There's a blossom sweet
and fair http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
3 sync.mp3
4. Which would you
choose? http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
4 sync.mp3
5. A wreath for the
fairest http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
5 sync.mp3
6. In a garden all of its own http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
6 sync.mp3
7. My hands have plucked a
gift for thee http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
7 sync.mp3
8. The festal day will
pass away http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Garland
8 sync.mp3
Gipsy Idyll
A simple piece for violin and
piano dating from around 1897. Can you
detect ANY gipsy features at all?
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2018 |
PD,
TM |
To hear this realisation, click here http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Gipsy Idyll
for violin and piano synth.mp3
Golden Autumn: tone picture
Piano piece published
in 1923, though the style suggests it have been written much earlier.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Piano |
Rosemary
Tuck |
Marco
Polo 8.223699 |
CD |
UK |
1993 |
BL,
NX, PD, TM |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Naxos 8.574299 |
CD |
|
2021 |
Awards
21 p.48 |
NX,
TM |
|
Piano |
Eric
Halstead |
private
recording |
www |
UK |
Hear
Tuck at https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-EK4x8HNXSo&list=RDAMVM-EK4x8HNXSo
The
Halstead recording is available at http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/3998219-collection-of-ketelbey-midi-files-zip
Good Night
A part-song for unaccompanied
male voice choir, dating from 1906. It is almost a hymn tune, with the first
tenors leading the refrain “Good Night”.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2019 |
PD,
TM |
To hear this realisation as a
trombone quartet, click here. http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Good Night for
trombones sync.mp3
La Gracieuse: valse-impromptu
This piano piece was published in 1923, though the
plate number indicates it had orginally been issued around 1907. The title on the sheet music is mis-spelt
with a circumflex accent, as “La Grâcieuse”
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Piano |
Rosemary Tuck |
Marco Polo 8.223699 |
CD |
UK |
1993 |
BL,
NX, PD, TM |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Naxos 8.574299 |
CD |
|
2021 |
Awads 21 p.48 |
NX,
TM |
|
Piano |
Rosemary
Tuck |
private
recording |
CAS |
UK |
June
96 |
TM |
Hear Tuck's commercial recording at https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=A-l54NtLuQw&list=RDAMVMA-l54NtLuQw
Grannie’s
Counsel, by “Raoul Clifford”
1897 song, with an
unusual theme – a grandmother’s advice to her courting granddaughter who has
fallen out with her boyfriend.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2020 |
PD,
TM |
The voice part has been realised by a wheezy cor anglais. http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Grannie's counsel
for cor anglais sync.mp3
The Great Day
This song was written in 1944
in anticipation of VE Day, starting “When the bells of joy are ringing…” Church bells, and even broadcasts of Ketèlbey’s own Bells
Across the Meadows, had been silenced during the War, so as in 1918 (see The Old Belfry), bells symbolised the
resumption of peace. The song was
available with piano, organ or orchestra accompaniment, together with bells and
also a vocal backing group, sometimes wordless, sometimes with the text.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2019 |
PD,
TM |
This realisation retains
elements of the original scoring. http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Great
Day for ensemble sync.mp3
Happy Returns: waltz
A 1937 reworking in contemporary dance-band
waltz style of two themes from A Birthday Greeting. But whose birthday this time?
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Dance
band |
Ragamuffin
Syncopators |
Bosworth
BC 1080 |
CP 567 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[1938] |
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Bosworth BPM 218 |
CD |
UK |
2001 |
TM |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
Commotion 1869 6100 0324 |
CD |
|
2004 |
||||
|
|
Re-issue
“My
Sweetheart” |
-
Soho Archive SOHOA 106 |
|
CD |
|
2-12 |
|
|
The Ragamuffin Syncopators make
several changes to the published scoring, generally allocating melodies to solo
players.
The re-issue on Commotion
label is of music used in the film My Architect: A Son's Journey
Click here to hear the Soho
Archive re-issue. https://www.universalproductionmusic.com/en-de/search?q=ketelbey&qtext=ketelbey&vtag=1&vwave=1&vdesc=1&ktype=9
The Heart’s Awakening
1907
song, words by Florence Hoare. A
contemporary review ran:
“To graceful
lines by Florence Hoare the composer has wedded equally graceful and
expressively truthful music, which, while technically excellent, is capable of
affording pleasure to audiences of average musical taste. Vocalists no doubt find such songs especially
welcome. Tenors - to whom the song will
make its most urgent appeal - have too few such songs in their repertoire.”
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Song with piano |
Peter
Dempsey (t), Guy Rowland |
Dempsey
AWK 1 |
CD |
UK |
2009 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
Song
with piano |
Peter
Dempsey (t), Guy Rowland |
private
recording |
DVD |
UK |
rec.26.11.2009 |
PD, TM |
Dempsey’s CD can be heard at http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/anniversary.html
The
Heavenly Message: sacred song
From 1899. The opening phrase sounds very much like In a contemplative fashion, from The Gondoliers.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2020 |
PD,
TM |
The realisation
replaces the voice with an alto trombone.
http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Heavenly
message for trombone sync.mp3
Heroes All!: quick march
Based on well-known songs,
composed by April 1940. There is an
optional sung chorus, which turned out to be ill-timed. “Heroes, we welcome
you” had a slightly different meaning by the time the music was published, around
the time of the Evacuation of Dunkirk.
The songs include Rule Britannia, Figaro March, England
Expects (from “The Death of Nelson”), Heart of Oak, and The Girl I Left Behind.
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2019 |
PD,
TM |
This orchestral realisation
can be heard at http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Heroes%20all%20for%20orch%20sync.mp3
Humoreske, op.17, by “Anton Vodorinski”
A quirky piano piece, dating
from around 1906. WARNNG: The listener
might feel dizzy!!
|
Medium |
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Synthesized |
Tom
McCanna |
private
recording |
mp3 |
UK |
2019 |
PD,
TM |
The realisation can be heard
at http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/synth/Humoreske
op.17 for piano sync.mp3
webpage updated 8 May 2023