Lennox Berkeley

[imbetter]

Does anyone know more about this composer? I've heard a few of his works but not enough to know of his overall quality. The works I heard appealed to me and I figured I'd look more into his works. Does anybody else know of him and his works?

[retrouvailles]

I've got a CD of his piano works and some sheetmusic of his. I definitely find it interesting from a technical standpoint, but I am not so sure about the musical quality of his music. I do like the piano sonata and concert etudes, though.

[kay3087]

I've only listened to the string quartets. They are interesting, but that's all.

[kay3087]

I have two other CDs of his music that I've yet to listen to, one released on CHANDOS, and the other a Naxos release. I'll listen to them, and the string quartets once more, and tell you what I find.

[argerichfan]

I've heard snippets of Berkeley's non-choral music here and there.  It's generally very accessible and feels (to the ear) well written.  A recent biography I read of Benjamin Britten mentioned Berkeley numerous times.

There's a terrific Naxos CD from St. John's College of the choral music.  With the usual Naxos quality and budget pricing, it's an ideal introduction to Berkeley's music.

His anthem 'The Lord is my Shepherd' is done frequently in church, but truth to tell, I find it a bit cloying. 

[thalbergmad]

I only recall listenting to the piano concerto in B flat, which was more than acceptable to my romantically tuned earholes.

I have not yet heard the Concerto for two pianos which one of my online buddies claimed to be the superior of the two.

Thal

[retrouvailles]

The Concerto for Two Pianos is a deeper work, and it isn't as upfront as the one in B flat, but yes, I would agree that it is superior to the two.

[franz_]

I actually played a work of him, a violin sonatina. Not too ugly, but not great too in my opinion.

[lontano]

Does anyone know more about this composer? I've heard a few of his works but not enough to know of his overall quality. The works I heard appealed to me and I figured I'd look more into his works. Does anybody else know of him and his works?

Nothing first hand, sorry to say, but here's some info on him that might be useful in a general way.
https://www.musicweb-international.com/berkleyl/wright.htm

[kay3087]

The vocal and choral music is his strongest (opining).