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Donald Macleod and Edward Gregson explore how Marxism became a driving force in Bush’s music.

Donald Macleod and Edward Gregson explore how Marxism became a driving force in Bush’s music.

All this week, Donald Macleod is in conversation with British composer, Edward Gregson, who offers a fascinating window into his own story and also the life and work of his mentor, Alan Bush. We’ll see how both composers have made significant contributions to Britain’s musical story, and we explore the events that led to the very different trajectories of their careers.

Edward Gregson knew that classical music would be his life after encountering Brahms’s music as a teenager. He studied composition with Alan Bush, and his natural instinct for melody and brilliant orchestral colour have made him a popular choice with audiences and performers across the world. He also prides himself in rising to a challenge, including taking on the leadership of one of Britain’s major musical conservatoires.

In the early part of the 20th century, Alan Bush seemed destined to become of the regular stalwarts of Britain’s music scene, alongside his contemporaries William Walton and Michael Tippett. It was not to be. Bush's conversion to communism put him at odds with the British establishment and sent his career in a very different direction. His story is intriguing and frustrating in equal measure but, Edward argues, Bush’s ever-present political agenda shouldn’t detract from the intrinsic quality of his music.

Today Donald and Edward turn their attention to Alan Bush’s story. We see how Bush’s dazzling talent catapulted him to early attention and follow him to 1920s Berlin where he witnessed, first-hand, the rise of German fascism.

Bush: Concert-Piece for cello and piano (opening)
Joseph Spooner, cello
Catherine Summerhayes, piano

Bush: Relinquishment
Piers Lane, piano

Bush: Dialectic
Medici Quartet

Bush: Piano Concerto (extract)
Rolf Hind, piano
Apollo Voices
´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Bush: Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)
Royal Northern College of Music Symphony Orchestra
Douglas Bostock, conductor

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Alan Bush

    Concert-Piece for cello and piano (opening)

    Performer: Joseph Spooner. Performer: Catherine Summerhayes.
    • MERIDIAN : CDE-84458.
    • MERIDIAN.
    • 11.
  • Alan Bush

    Relinquishment

    Performer: Piers Lane.
    • REDCLIFFE : RR-008.
    • REDCLIFFE.
    • 1.
  • Alan Bush

    Dialectic

    Performer: Medici String Quartet.
    • CLAUDIO RECORDS : CB5151-2.
    • CLAUDIO RECORDS.
    • 9.
  • Alan Bush

    Piano Concerto (extract)

    Performer: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Rolf Hind. Performer: Apollo Voices. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. Singer: Ashley Holland.
  • Alan Bush

    Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: RNCM Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Douglas Bostock.
    • CLASSICO : CLASS CD-484.
    • CLASSICO.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Tue 15 Feb 2022 12:00

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