´óÏó´«Ã½

This week Donald Macleod is joined by composer Joseph Horovitz, who not only talks about his own career, but also that of his one-time teacher Gordon Jacob; both have had a significant impact upon students at the Royal College of Music, and both have been prolific in writing concertos, and music for wind and brass.

Both Gordon Jacob and Joseph Horovitz had false starts. Horovitz originally set out to be an artist, whereas Jacob intended to be a journalist, though both came round to the idea of composing in the end. Jacob studied at the Royal College of Music, under Stanford and Howells, and was soon composing works such as his "William Byrd Suite". But it wasn't long after his years as a student, that he was making his Proms first appearance, conducting a performance of his own First Viola Concerto.

It was the influence of his teacher Gordon Jacob which made Joseph Horovitz want to compose. Jacob's prolific output as a composer of concertos influenced Horovitz's own work in that area, such as his Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra. And again, like Jacob, Horovitz soon found himself writing music for the stage, such as his popular score for "Alice in Wonderland".

Joseph Horovitz
Vivace from Dance Suite (1991)
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
Frederick Fennel, conductor

Gordon Jacob
The Earle of Oxford's Marche from the "William Byrd Suite" (1922)
Eastman Wind Ensemble
Frederick Fennell, conductor

Joseph Horovitz
Allegro from Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra (1948 rev.1956)
Royal Ballet Sinfonia
Fiona Cross, clarinet
Joseph Horovitz, conductor

Joseph Horovitz
Pas de deux from "Alice in Wonderland" (1953)
English Northern Philharmonia
Joseph Horovitz, conductor

Gordon Jacob
Viola Concerto No.1 in C minor (1925 rev.1976)
´óÏó´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra
Helen Callus, viola
Stephen Bell, conductor

Joseph Horovitz
Two Majorcan Pieces (1956)
Gervase de Peyer, clarinet
Cyril Preedy, piano.