Fantastic variations on an old rhyme

1 movement, 1907†, 11:30

Originally the first movement of Fantastic symphony. Almost certainly revised prior to publication in 1914.

3 flutes (1 also picc), oboe, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, side drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, glockenspiel, harp, organ [ad lib], strings

United Music Publishing Limited

Timings

Penny 1994Brabbins 2017
Total12:0311:56

Articles

• Introduction – David J Brown
• Introduction: Brian and variation form (2) – Malcolm MacDonald
• Analysis: Brian and variation form (3) – Malcolm MacDonald

Performances

28 April 1921 [first performance and encore] West Pier, Brighton, UK
Brighton Municipal Orchestra, conductor Henry Lyell-Tayler
29 April 1921 West Pier, Brighton, UK
Brighton Municipal Orchestra, conductor Havergal Brian
30 April 1921 West Pier, Brighton, UK
Brighton Municipal Orchestra, conductor Havergal Brian
1 May 1921 West Pier, Brighton, UK
Brighton Municipal Orchestra, conductor Havergal Brian
2 May 1921 West Pier, Brighton, UK
Brighton Municipal Orchestra, conductor Havergal Brian
25 January 1923 [first performance of complete score] Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, conductor Sir Dan Godfrey
2 April 1923 Winter Gardens, Bournemouth (Bournemouth Music Festival)
Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, conductor Sir Dan Godfrey
15 March 1934 Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Mary Grierson (pno), Reid Orchestra, conductor Sir Donald Tovey
14–15 July 1979 City Hall, Hull, UK
Alan Smith (organ), City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Geoffrey Heald-Smith
28–30 October 1994 Concert Hall of Ukrainian Radio
Ukraine State Symphony Orchestra, conductor Andrew Penny
7 July 2017 St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hamsptead, London
English National Opera Orchestra, conductor Martyn Brabbins Nicholas Ansdell-Evans, organ

Recordings

Cameo Classics CC9014CD-2 (2 discs) released 1994
14–15 July 1979 City Hall, Hull, UK
Alan Smith (organ), City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Geoffrey Heald-Smith
• Review of City of Hull Youth SO CDs – David J Brown
• Review of Hull Youth SO recording – Lewis Foreman
Naxos 8.572641 released July 2011
28–30 October 1994 Concert Hall of Ukrainian Radio
Ukraine State Symphony Orchestra, conductor Andrew Penny
• The Marco Polo cycle – David J Brown
• First impressions – Larry Alexander
Dutton Vocalion CDLX 7348 released August 2018
7 July 2017 St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hamsptead, London
English National Opera Orchestra, conductor Martyn Brabbins Nicholas Ansdell-Evans, organ