Thomas Pitfield: His Friends & Contemporaries Richard Simpson, John Turner, Benedict Holland, Lesley-Jane Rogers, Lauren Scott, Alexander Jones, The Victoria String Quartet

• Thomas Pitfield (1903 - 1999): Divertimento for Oboe and String Trio:
• 1 Pitfield: Divertimento for Oboe and String Trio: I. Toccatina 02:21
• 2 Pitfield: Divertimento for Oboe and String Trio: II. Pastorale 04:34
• 3 Pitfield: Divertimento for Oboe and String Trio: III. Intermezzo 06:30
• 4 Pitfield: Divertimento for Oboe and String Trio: IV. Finale 04:49
• John Joubert (1927 - 2019): Remember:
• 5 Joubert: Remember: Scena for soprano, recorder and string quartet, Op. 184 07:58
• E. J. Moeran (1894 - 1950): Fantasy Quartet, for oboe and string trio:
• 6 Moeran: Fantasy Quartet, for oboe and string trio 14:27
• Ernst Hermann Meyer (1905 - 1988): Now, Voyager:
• 7 Meyer: Now, Voyager: Ode for voice and string quartet 12:56
• Thomas Pitfield: Three Nautical Sketches:
• 8 Pitfield: Three Nautical Sketches: I. Quodlibet 01:55
• 9 Pitfield: Three Nautical Sketches: II. Meditation on Tom Bowling 02:23
• 10 Pitfield: Three Nautical Sketches: III. The Keel Reel 01:42
• Robin Walker (b. 1953): Parrottry, for recorder and string quartet:
• 11 Pitfield: Parrottry, for recorder and string quartet 04:04
• Jeremy Pike (b. 1955): Spring (recorder, harp and string quartet):
• 12 Pike: Spring (recorder, harp and string quartet) 04:39
• Nicholas Marshall (b. 1942): To a Child Dancing in the Wind:
• 13 Marshall: To a Child Dancing in the Wind 01:36
• Anthony Gilbert (1934 - 2023): A Breath for Life:
• 14 Gilbert: A Breath for Life 02:46
• John Turner (b. 1943): Spring (soprano and recorder):
• 15 Turner: Spring (soprano and recorder) 01:51
• Richard Pantcheff (b. 1959): Spring Suite:
• 16 Pantcheff: Spring Suite: I. Bourrée 02:03
• 17 Pantcheff: Spring Suite: II. Siciliano 02:41
• 18 Pantcheff: Spring Suite: III. Air 02:48
• 19 Pantcheff: Spring Suite: IV. Minuet 02:00
• 20 Pantcheff: Spring Suite: V. Gigue 02:30
• Stuart Scott (b. 1949): Three Blake Songs:
• 21 Scott: Three Blake Songs: I. Ah! Sunflower 01:46
• 22 Scott: Three Blake Songs: II. The Lilly 01:11
• 23 Scott: Three Blake Songs: III. Infant Joy 01:24
• Geoffrey Poole (b. 1949): Season of Mists:
• 24 Poole: Season of Mists: I. November Dawn 03:37
• 25 Poole: Season of Mists: II. Bonfire Night 03:06
• 26 Poole: Season of Mists: III. Autumn Leaves 05:25
• Thomas Pitfield: Carol Lullaby, for soprano, recorder and harp:
• 27 Pitfield: Carol Lullaby, for soprano, recorder and harp 01:51
• Gordon Crosse (1937 - 2021): Lullaby:
• 28 Crosse: Lullaby 02:02
• Christopher Cotton (b. 1947): Overture for St. Paul’s:
• 29 Crosse: Overture for St. Paul’s 04:57
• Total Runtime 01:51:52

Info for Thomas Pitfield: His Friends & Contemporaries

“Thomas Pitfield: His Friends & Contemporaries” pays homage to the multifaceted talent of Thomas Baron Pitfield (1903-1999). Pitfield was not just a composer; he embodied the essence of a Renaissance man, excelling in various fields including teaching, visual arts, poetry, writing, furniture making, and ornithology. Despite his immense talents, Pitfield remained modest and unassuming, dedicating himself to nurturing the gifts of his students at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he taught composition from 1947 onwards.

This album sheds light on Pitfield’s contributions to the classical music landscape, showcasing his compositions alongside those of his contemporaries including John Joubert, E. J. Moeran, Ernst Hermann Meyer, John McCabe, and many more. While Pitfield’s name may not be as widely recognized as some of his peers from the “Manchester School,” such as Richard Hall, his music exudes charm, wit, and inventiveness that captivate listeners. In an era marked by the emergence of modernist compositions, Pitfield chose to traverse the middle ground, creating music that resonates with its timeless appeal.

Throughout his tenure as a composition teacher, Pitfield played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of notable composers like John McCabe, David Ellis, and John Golland, the latter of whom also shared a close personal friendship with Pitfield. Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the achievements of his contemporaries, Pitfield’s legacy lives on through a revival of interest in his music.

The album offers a glimpse into Pitfield’s musical world, featuring a selection of chamber and instrumental works that highlight his artistic vision and craftsmanship. Pitfield’s compositions are filled with elegance, lyricism, and emotional depth. His music not only showcases his technical skill but also reflects his genuine love for the art form and his dedication to inspiring future generations of musicians.

Moreover, the album serves as a tribute to Pitfield’s enduring influence on his peers and students. His selfless encouragement and mentorship left an indelible mark on those he taught, fostering a sense of camaraderie among composers and musicians. Pitfield’s generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence resonate throughout the album, underscoring his legacy as both an artist and an educator.

This double album celebrates the life and work of a remarkable individual whose contributions to the world of classical music extend far beyond his compositions. Through this album, listeners will rediscover the brilliance of Thomas Baron Pitfield and the rich music woven by his friends and contemporaries.

Benedict Holland, violin
Heather Wallington, violin
Jennifer Langridge, cello
John Turner, recorder
Lauren Scott, harp
Lesley-Jane Rogers, soprano
Richard Simpson, oboe
Alex Jones, double bass
Victoria String Quartet

Lesley-Jane Rogers
is heralded as one of the most versatile soloists of today, and is renowned for her captivating and evocative performances. An established concert soloist, she specialises in oratorio, “vocal concertos”, solo cantatas, recitals and contemporary music, and has a vast repertoire of several hundred works. She studied singing and piano at the Royal Academy of Music where she won several prizes, and has since been made an ‘Associate’ in recognition of her eminence in the profession. A keen exponent of contemporary music, Lesley-Jane has given nearly 200 premières, and is honoured to be the dedicatee of various songs and song cycles. Large-scale works include Joseph Phibbs’ Tenebrae, and Michael Finnissy’s Favourite Poets, but it is perhaps for her numerous chamber music recitals that Lesley-Jane is best known, particularly with the recorder player John Turner.

An engaging performer, Lesley-Jane has worked with many leading conductors and orchestras, and her discography numbers some 40 CDs, including several new-music releases for the specialist label Metier, as well as discs for the Divine Art, Prima Facie, Toccata Classics, Campion/ Cameo, Hyperion and Carma labels.

John Turner
is one of the leading recorder players of today. Born in Stockport, he was Senior Scholar in Law at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge before pursuing a legal career, acting for many distinguished musicians and musical organisations (including the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Northern College of Music and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain), alongside his many musical activities. These included numerous appearances and recordings with David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London, the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the English Baroque Soloists. He now devotes his time to playing, writing, reviewing, publishing, composing and generally energising. He has played as recorder soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata, the English Baroque Soloists, the English Chamber Orchestra, and many other leading orchestras and ensembles. Concertos and works with orchestra have been written for him by Gordon Crosse, Anthony Gilbert, Peter Hope, Kenneth Leighton, Elis Pehkonen, Alan Bullard, John Casken, and many other distinguished composers. His recordings include no less than five sets of the Brandenburg Concertos, but lately he has made numerous acclaimed recrdings of the recorder’s contemporary concerto and chamber music repertoire, including four solo concerto discs, all of which have received critical acclaim. Recent recordings include music by the novelist and composer (and fellow Mancunian) Anthony Burgess, Peter Hope, Jim Parker, Roy Heaton Smith, and also a disc in memory of Alfred Deller (a good friend) with James Bowman and Robin Blaze, showcasing music by Blow, Handel, Tippett and Fricker. In all, he has given the first performances of over 500 works for the recorder, with works by many non-British composers, including Leonard Bernstein, Ned Rorem, Peter Sculthorpe, Douglas Lilburn, Petr Eben and Ruth Zechlin. Many of the works he has premiered have now entered the standard repertoire, and these and his own recorder compositions are regularly set for festivals and examinations. He founded the periodical Manchester Sounds, in response to the perceived threat to music libraries in Great Britain. In addition he was responsible for the rediscovery of several works for his instrument, including the Rawsthorne Recorder Suite, Antony Hopkins' Pastiche Suite, Herbert Murrill’s Sarabande, the Handel F Major Trio Sonata and John Parry's Nightingale Rondo (the only substantial known British nineteenth century work for a fipple flute). He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Northern College of Music in 2002 for his services to British music, and is a Visiting Distinguished Scholar of Manchester University.

Richard Simpson
studied at The Royal College of Music with the late Sydney Sutcliffe. Upon leaving, he was appointed by Pierre Boulez to the position of sub-principal oboe with the BBC Symphony Orchestra – and one year later was invited to join the Hallé Orchestra as Principal Oboe. In his eighteen years with that orchestra he had the opportunity of performing concerti by Mozart, Strauss, Vaughan Williams, Martinu and Hummel to critical acclaim. In 1991 he returned to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, this time as Principal Oboe, a position he held for 27 years. He is now enjoying being involved in various chamber music activities and solo work. He was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for 25 years. His recordings include the oboe music of Thomas Pitfield, Benjamin Britten’s Metamorphoses after Ovid, the Rubbra oboe sonata, and Sir John Manduell’s Double Concerto for oboe and cor anglais.

The Victoria String Quartet
In demand since its formation in 2017, the Victoria String Quartet has gone on to perform for chamber music societies and festivals throughout the UK and has been hailed as an ensemble ‘brim full with pedigree and wide experience’ (Buxton International Festival), performing at venues including Kendal (Lake District Summer Music), Pinner and Buxton Festivals, London, Manchester (Bridgewater, RNCM and Stoller halls), north Norfolk, north and west Wales and the Scottish Borders. In addition to gathering return invitations to chamber music societies and festivals, the Victorias are curating an ongoing programme of creative projects: a collection of short chamber works about (and by) Sir John Manduell (Divine Arts), a recording of the Weber, Cooke and Brahms clarinet quintets, and a CD of string chamber music by Richard Pantcheff (to be released 2024 Prima Facie), with BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom McKinney. A recent autumn residency at Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders saw the Quartet performing and recording a collection of string chamber works by Scottish composer Helen Leach. Enthusiasts for lost and undiscovered works, in 2022 the Quartet gave the first public performances of Elgar’s Six Fragments for String Quartet and are looking forward to recording them in 2024. Since its inception, the Quartet has also enjoyed sharing the concert platform with eminent colleagues such as the quartet, Quatuor Danel, Peter Hewitt and Irina Andrievsky (piano), Leo Popplewell (cello), Richard Simpson (oboe) and John Bradbury, (Clarinet).

Alex Jones
is Assistant Principal of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and a member of O/Modernt. Born in Manchester, Alexander began learning the double bass with Gethin Griffith at the age of seven, and has since studied with Ronan Dunne, Tom Goodman, Graham Mitchell, Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, Dominic Seldis, and has partaken in masterclasses with Edicson Ruiz, Sławomir Grenda, Jiří Hudec and Božo Paradžik. He undertook his undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge and his postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was generously supported by the Christopher Hogwood Scholarship and a Munster Trust Derek Butler Award. Alexander has appeared as Guest Principal of the Philharmonia, BBC Scottish Symphony, Ulster and Royal Scottish National orchestras, and, a keen advocate for historically informed performance, has also appeared as Guest Principal with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Dunedin Consort, and The English Concert. As a soloist, he has performed at the Grafenegg Festival, recorded for Divine Art, and has premiered works by David Matthews, Robin Stevens, Jane Wells, and Robin Holloway. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with a number of ensembles and has performed at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and the BBC Proms. Away from the double bass, Alexander is a keen composer and academic. Following his success as BBC Young Composer of the Year in 2016, his music has been performed at the BBC Proms by members of the Aurora and BBC Symphony orchestras, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Lauren Scott
fell in love with the harp aged four after seeing a historic lever harp in a museum in Australia. After two years of pestering her parents she began harp lessons aged six when her family moved back to England. Lauren studied harp at Trinity College of Music and has a busy portfolio musical career. As an established and in demand freelance player, she plays guest principal harp with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and chamber groups as well as pursuing her own projects. Her harp playing has led her to performing in venues across the UK from the Royal Albert Hall to West End shows to commercial recordings to live broadcasts on radio and TV. A lifelong passion for the lever harp has led her to composing music that is influenced by her diverse experiences in the music industry. Her music has received praise from harpists and harp societies worldwide, used as set pieces on grade syllabuses and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Scala Radio and included on BBC Introducing & Apple Music playlists.

Booklet for Thomas Pitfield: His Friends & Contemporaries