Albion's Glory : A Celebration of Twentieth Century English Composers by Stephen H. Smith

What is meant by the term `English Music'? After discussing the definition and factors for identification involved, Stephen H. Smith explores the shortlist of composers who should be considered, as well as any omissions from such a selection. The book then gives a short history of English music from the nineteenth to twentieth century. The main body of the book - the composer survey - is divided into three subsections: Progenitors of the English Musical Renaissance (Parry and Stanford); Ten of the Best (the author's choice of England's "top" twentieth-century composers); and The Best of the Rest (fifty entries on other English composers, in alphabetical order, including several overlooked ones with a nevertheless powerfully distinctive musical voice). A final section explores alternative ways of accessing the music along with their pros and cons. With a bibliography and discography to accompany each entry, a general bibliography and an appendix on the mystery surrounding the fate of E.J. Moeran's `Second Symphony', Albion's Glory gives a complete overview of the history of English music and the composers who brought it to life.
Binding: Paperback / softback