Sir George Dyson: Violin Concerto; Hierusalem & At the Tabard Inn

The presence of several recordings of Sir George Dyson’s music in SOMM’s past catalogue bears witness to the label’s strong advocacy and affinity for the Yorkshire-born composer and organist. Theyinclude a release of his Choral Music conducted by Sir David Willcocks [SOMMCD 014]; premiere recordings of St. Paul’s Voyage to Melita and Agincourtwith Vernon Handley conducting the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus [SOMMCD 234]; and The Open Window, Complete Music for Piano with Simon Callaghan [SOMMCD 0622-2], which was selected for a Gramophone Critic’s Choice and received a four-star review from BBC Music Magazine. With their latest release, SOMM reminds us of the true worth of Dyson’s music, which still remains unaccountably neglected.

This new release includes Dyson’s 1943 overture, At the Tabard Inn; his Violin Concerto from 1941; and a hymn from 1956, Hierusalem, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Choir of Merton College, Oxford led by John Andrews, who has conducted many of the UK’s leading ensembles and is an exponent of neglected English music. The vocal soloist in Hierusalem is London-based lyric soprano Olivia Carrell, noted for her “silvery soprano” and “stunning” singing. Welsh violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones has been recognised as one of the most promising international soloists of his generation since making his sold-out Royal Festival Hall debut at the age of 15.

George Dyson (1883 – 1964) showed early talent as an organist and, in 1900, he won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where he studied organ with Dr William Stevenson Hoyte and composition with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. In 1938 he became the first alumnus to be appointed director of the RCM.

Among his most notable works of this period is the four-movement Violin Concerto, which was favourably received by both the press and the public. The Italian-born violinist, composer, and critic Ferruccio Bonavia noted that “…every note, every phrase is essentially ‘violinistic,’ conforming in every way to the special genius of the instrument.”