大象传媒

Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Samuel Wesley.

Samuel Wesley was a child prodigy, and it was the older composer William Boyce who said of the boy that he was the English Mozart, and that he had dropped down from heaven. Wesley鈥檚 star speedily ascended to the heights from an early age as both performer and composer, but with issues surrounding his often extreme character, and also his health and morals, this ascendency was not to last. His popularity went in and out of fashion during his lifetime, and trying to secure a permanent position as an organist was something which eluded him for a long time. However, he was one of Britain鈥檚 leading musicians, mixed in the highest circles, and was responsible for promoting the largely unknown J. S. Bach to these shores. Towards the end of his life, famous musicians and composers sought Wesley out and even Mendelssohn asked the famed organist Samuel Wesley to play for him. We鈥檙e only just beginning to understand Wesley鈥檚 importance to the development of British classical music, and many of his substantial works, including numerous concertos for piano, organ, and violin, and large scale works for choir and orchestra, all still remain to be recorded.

In this week鈥檚 episode, we鈥檒l hear about Wesley鈥檚 religious background and fluctuating views, his circle of friends, his virtuosic performance career, his passion for JS Bach, and the mystery surrounding his health.

Music featured:
Symphony in A major (Brillante)
O Lord God most holy
Might I in thy sight appear
Psalm 42 & 43
Dixit Dominus
Preludium, Ariette & Fuga in C minor
Symphony in A major
Fugue in B minor for Dr Mendelssohn
Sinfonia obbligato
O sing unto mie roundelaie
Voluntary in D
Air and Gavotte
Violin Concerto No 2 in D major
Sonatina Op 4 No 1
Sonatina Op 4 No 2
Duet for the organ
Symphony in E flat
Arrangement with Variation of Rule Britannia
Rondo on God rest you merry, Gentlemen
All go unto one place
Duet in B flat major (for Eliza)
Voluntary in D, Op 6 No 8
Handel Arr. Wesley Rejoice the Lord is King
Symphony in D major
String Quartet in E flat major (Allegro spiritoso)
Confitebor tibi, Domine
Voluntary in G minor
Ode to St Cecilia (extract)
Might I in thy sight appear
Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum
Symphony in B flat major
Fidelia omnia mandata ejus
Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Luke Whitlock for 大象传媒 Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Samuel Wesley
/programmes/m000dy1k

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z