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The Gluepot Connection - New CD and Concert
New book on Alan Bush by Dr Joanna Bullivant
Talk at Oxford University
Re-broadcast of Alan Bush radio programme
Alan Bush programme on Australian Radio
Recent Concert of Alan Bush's Works in Cape Town
Stokes Meyer Sightreading Prize 2016
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2016
South Africa concert in September
October concert in South Africa
Ormskirk Music Society Concert
Concerts in June and July
Two new CDs
Appeal for funds for new Alan Bush CD
Alan Bush concerts in Russia and Belarus in April and May 2013
Lascaux Symphony on new CD
Alan Bush concerts in Russia in 2013
Alan Bush featured at John Ireland Festival in London in June
London performance of Dialectic in May
New CD - British Recorder Music
Two performances of The Winter Journey in Germany in December 2011
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2011
A Review of 24 Preludes for Piano and Ballet in Small Spaces
Alan Bush's Twenty Four Preludes and the Ballet In Small Spaces, May 2011
Red Strains: Music and Communism outside the Communist Bloc after 1945
Performance of Corentyne Kwe-Kwe
New Publications of Alan Bush Compositions
German Production of The Press Gang
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2010
BBC broadcast of the 'The Winter Journey'
Memories of 'The Ferryman's Daughter'
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2009
Frank and Hilda Stokes and Marjorie Meyer Sight-Reading Prize 2009
Photos of the the Unveiling Party of the Alan Bush Bust
The Unveiling Party of the Alan Bush Portrait Bust by Ian Walters
December 2008 Performance of 'The Winter Journey'
September 2008 Concert
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2008
Frank Stokes and Marjorie Meyer Sightreading Prize 2008
Christ's College Memorial Service for Paul O'Higgins
Professor Paul O'Higgins
Alan Bush Bust Appeal
Two recent books on Alan Bush available now
Concert in September 2006
Forthcoming Books
London Concert in December
More performances of Concert Piece in Europe
Dimension to perform Three Concert Studies
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2006
Performance of Concert Piece for Cello and Piano in Munich
Birmingham Clarion Singers Concert
Concert at RNCM in November 2005
Upcoming Concerts
New CD by the London Piano Quartet
The Stokes and Meyer Memorial Prize for Sight-Reading
CD and Concert of Bush's Symphonies Nos 1 and 2
Northern Chamber Orchestra Concert
RNLI Concert Review
RNLI Concert in September
The Alan Bush Composition Prize 2003
Manchester International Cello Festival
Edna Iles Memorial Concert
April Chamber Concerts – Alauna Ensemble
Concert review of Sonatina for Recorders and Piano in Norwich
Violin Concerto CD selected CD of the year by critic
New Redcliffe CD - British String Quartets (No. 3)
Concert in January 2003 at the Purcell Room, London
Alan Bush Chamber Music – Volume 1 released
New CD - 'Alan Bush' - Re-issue of 1985 Hyperion recording
"In My Eighth Decade and Other Essays" available from Trust
Nancy Bush's book published
Virtual Alan Bush exhibition goes live
News Archive
2003
2002
2001
2000



RNLI Concert Review
Posted: 10 October 2003

On Saturday, 13 September 2003, the James Allen Community Orchestra, conducted by Rupert Bond, gave a Concert in aid of the RNLI at St John's Smith Square in London. The items in the concert all had a 'sea' theme. The programme included Alan Bush's Variations, Nocturne and Finale on an Old Sea-Song for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 60, which was composed in 1962, published by Novello, 1973. This piece was originally scored as a composition for piano, and given its first performance in this version by Edna Iles (piano) at a Macnaghten Concert in London on 21 March 1958. Alan Bush withdrew the first two movements after this first performance, and later re-scored them as Variations, Nocturne and Finale in the version performed on 13 September 2003. Alan Bush retained the Nocturne and issued it as Nocturne for Piano Solo, Op. 46.

In her programme note, Barbara Kley described the piece as opening "with an arresting introduction on woodwind, brass and drums followed by a statement of the theme, a bold whaling song, on the piano. The theme is very short - a mere sixteen bars - and there follow thirteen variations, all equally short. The Nocturne, which follows without a break, is in ternary form. In the meditative opening and closing sections the composer has tried to evoke the nostalgia of a long voyage, while the central section is much busier with scurrying phrases in the orchestra punctuated by side drum and cymbal. The Finale seems to grow out of the Nocturne's middle section and its main theme is derived from the theme of the Variations. In this work, the composer, in addition to glorifying the piano, has paid tribute to man's courage and intelligence in the struggle to understand and control nature".

The piano part is very demanding, but Mark Bebbington, a very accomplished pianist, gave a virtuoso performance and he also entered into the spirit of the music very much in the way Alan Bush would have approved. The orchestra, conducted very ably by Rupert Bond, provided the support required by the soloist and played with great enthusiasm and panache. The work was well received by the audience, and Mark Bebbington, in particular, was deservedly applauded for his excellent performance of the solo part.

This work has not been performed for many years and never before in London. The first performance was given at the Cheltenham Festival in 1965. David Wilde (piano) and the BBC Northern & Midland Light Orchestra, conducted by Meredith Davies, performed it at a Cheltenham Festival Concert on 7 July 1965. It was then issued the following year as a LP on the Pye Golden Guinea Label, with David Wilde (piano), and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Snashall. It was later broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in a Morning Concert, again with David Wilde (piano) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Snashall on 22 December 1975. There was a further broadcast of the work in 1982.

It is to be hoped that the welcome revival of this work will lead to other performances both in London and elsewhere. However, the James Allen Community Orchestra, their conductor, Rupert Bond and Mark Bebbington are to be congratulated for providing us with the opportunity of hearing this most enjoyable work by Alan Bush again.