EDGAR L. BAINTON

List of Compositions

compiled by Michael Jones

Information provided by:
The Edgar Bainton (UK) Society,
The Studio,
7, Mount Road,
STOURBRIDGE DY8 1HZ, England.

Tel/FAX: 01384 393 706

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Works for Chorus and Orchestra

Chamber Music

Church and Organ Music

Symphonies and other Orchestral works

Piano Music and Songs

Songs and Part songs

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WORKS FOR CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA

Bainton wrote choral works throughout his life, stimulated by the thrilling sound of the great choral tradition, thriving in Newcastle and the North of England, where he lived from 1901 until his emigration to Australia in 1934. The works below are listed in chronological order, though reference should be made to the Appendix for extra material.
The finest of Bainton s choral works date from the 1920s, when his creative language reached its maturest and finest expression.

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THE BLESSED DAMOZEL (Dante Gabriel Rossetti) Op.11 (with mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists).

Completion: July 1906 - March 1907.
Published: Vocal score - Breitkopf and Hartel, London, Edition no. 25861.
MS full score and parts originally on hire, now part of Mitchell Library collection.
First performance: Katharine Vincent, Frederic Austin, The Newcastle and Gateshead Choral Union and Orchestra, cond. Bainton, Newcastle
Town Hall, 22/11/07.
Availability: Set of vocal scores at Dorking Performing Arts Library,
Surrey (39 copies).
Recording-. None.

SUNSET AT SEA Op.20 (Reginald Buckley), Chorus and Orchestra.

completion: March 1909 - April 1910.
Published: Vocal score - Stainer and Bell, London, 1912, Enquiries to Stainer and Bell, PO BOX 110. Victoria House, 23 Gruneisen Road, LONDON N3 1DZ, Tel: 0181 343 3303, FAX: 0181 343 3024. Copy in British Library.
MS: Full Score and parts originally on hire, currently missing.
First performance: Edward Mason Choir and Orchestra, London, 25/3/12
Recordings: None
Further note: A planned performance by the Broadheath Singers under Robert Tucker during the 1980s at Eton abandoned when score and parts could not be found.

THE VINDICTIVE STAIRCASE Op. 29 (W.W. Gibson) Humoreske for Chorus and Orchestra

Completed: March 22 - April 1913, Full score July let, 1913.
Published: Vocal score, Stainer and Bell, London, 1913, enquiries to address as above. MS full score and parts originally held on hire, now lost.
First performance: Edward Mason Choir and Orchestra, London, 18/3/14.
Recordings: None.

A SONG OF FREEDOM AND JOY (Edward Carpenter ) Op.24 Chorus and Orchestra

Completion: between June 14th. 1910 and April 28th. 1920.
Published Vocal score, John Curwen and Sons, London, Curwen Edition no. 3611 Copy of score in British Library. This work is listed under the Curwen holdings of Music Sales Ltd, 8-9 Frith Street, London W1V 5TZ.
MS Full score and parts originally held on hire by Curwen - possibly lost.
First performance: Newcastle and Gateshead Choral Union and
Orchestra, cond. Bainton, 1919 season.
Recordings: None.

THE TOWER (Robert Nichols) for Chorus and Orchestra.

Completion: 17th September 23, full score 25th April 24. Written for the Hereford Three Choirs Festival at the request of Sir Percy Hull.
Published: Vocal score, John Curwen and sons, London, Curwen Edition no. 3658 copy held by British Library
MS Full score and parts held on hire, parts lost, full score now in British Library: Add MS 57296.
First Performance: Three Choirs Festival, Hereford Cathedral, 1924,
Recordings: none.

THE DANCING SEAL (W.W.Gibson) A Humoreske for Chorus and Orchestra.

Completion; April 25th 1921 - September 29th 1926.
Published: Vocal score, Oxford University Press, 1926. Reprint copies available from: The Oxford Music Archive Service , The Old Forge, Sand Hutton, YORK YO4 1LB, Tel: 01904 468 472, FAX: 01904 468 679.
MS Full score and parts originally on hire, parts now lost, full score now in the Mitchell Library collection but photocopy study score is held by the Edgar Bainton (UK) Society (EBS),
First performance: So far untraced.
Recording: Private recording exists of a concert performance (with piano-duet accompaniment), given during the 1980s by the Egham Choral Society, cond. Guy Scott-Turner (copy with EBS).

A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER (John Donne) for Chorus and Orchestra.

Completion: May 30th 1921 - May 10th 1926. Written For the Worcester Three Choirs Festival and dedicated to William Gillies Whittaker.
Published: Vocal score, Oxford University Press, 1926. Reprint copies available to order from address as above.
MS Full score and parts originally on hire, parts now lost and autograph full score assigned to EBS in January 1993. It is at present on an extended loan to Bournemouth Exhibition (Russell Coates Museum) as part of Centenary Commemoration of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. A photocopy study score is held by EBS; The
copyist s score now at the Australian Music Centre, Sydney.
First performance: Three Choirs Festival, Worcester, 1926, composer conducting.
Recordings: None.
Appendix:

MIGNON S REQUIEM (Goethe and Carlyle) for Boys voices, Chorus and Orchestra

Bainton s notebook lists this work as completed in March 1904, but no materials relating to the work have been found.

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF DANTE Op.18 for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra.

Started May 1908, vocal score form by December; mention of a possible copy made May 1909 but believed to have been left unrevised and unscored though complete.
Unpublished: MS Vocal score and sketches now in Library of the Birmingham Conservatoire (photocopy with EBS). It has been thought that it might have been a response to a possible request from the B'ham Triennial Music festival.

TO THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME (Richard Crashaw) for Soprano, Chorus and Orch.

Completion; August 10th 1928.
Unpublished: MS now in Mitchell Library collection; It is not known at present if the work survives in either full or vocal score form.
(Francis Thompson), Chorus and Orchestra.
Completion: August - October 1931

.Also SYMPHONY NO. 1 BEFORE SUNRISE for Contralto Solo, Chorus and
Orchestra technically comes under this listing, details in Orchestral Works worklist.

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CHAMBER MUSIC

Chamber music meant a great deal to Bainton. As an excellent pianist who broadcast in the UK, India and Australia, and commercially recorded one of his works, he also enjoyed an extensive career as ensemble pianist in the Newcastle area and was part of an established Trio with Alfred Wall (violin) and Carl Fuchs (Principal Cello of the
Hallé Orchestra). He was also the 'annotator of programme notes' for the Newcastle Chamber Music Society, of which he was presented with a complete bound set on his emigration to Australia in 1934.

STRING QUARTET IN A MAJOR

Originally written in Ruhleben Internment Camp, Berlin, from April 6th October 1st 1915 as a cyclic work in three movements. First performed in this form at the De Lara British Music Concerts, London, June 25th 1919. Subsequently withdrawn, extensively revised and a Finale added by July 24th 1920.

Unpublished: MS full score survives from its original version, but with heavy revisions and new parts in the composer s hand. All material held at the Australian Music Centre, Sydney, (photocopy with
the Edgar Bainton (UK) Society (EBS).

First performance: As above - possibly by the Philharmonic Quartet (Beckwith, Goossens, Jeremy and Sharpe) ref. Helen Bainton: 'Remembered on Waking' , Currawong Press, Sydney, 1960, page 37.

Recordings: The Austral Quartet (Elliott, Ryder, Cragg, Elmaloglou),
Festival disc FC/30802, Universal Record Club disc 586. Also recorded
for BBC Radio 3 at Manchester studios c.1990 by the Alberni Quartet
(Davis, Pople, Best, Smith). No transmission to date (1997).

SONATA FOR CELLO AND PIANO

Composition: September 15th - October 20th 1924

Unpublished: Original MS originally held by Helen Bainton, - lost/stolen while temporarily out of her hands. Exists as copyist's score and part - microfilm lodged with ABC Federal Library, Sydney, Australia. Copy held by EBS

First performance: Written for Carl Fuchs. The premiere is believed to have been given by him and the composer in the Manchester area c. 1924, currently untraced but see W.W. Cobbett: 'Cyclopaedia of
Chamber Music' under 'Music Making in Manchester'.

Recording: John Kennedy (cello) and the Composer, for Australian Columbia LOX 811/2, (78RPM) 1951. Copies at ABC Federal Library, National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, and EBS.

Appendix Composer 's notebook also lists:

QUINTET FOR PIANO AND STRINGS Op.9

Completion: September 1904, whereabouts of MS unknown.

STRING QUARTET Op.26

Completion: 1911


First performance: Dunhill Chamber Concerts, London c.1911.
Whereabouts of MS unknown, possibly withdrawn by composer.

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Church and Organ Music

Bainton is most remembered today for his church music, but there is more than just the one famous anthem that deserves to be revived. As an organist Bainton had played before Queen Victoria while a student at the Royal College of Music, and upon retirement from the New South Wales Conservatorium, Sydney, took over temporarily as Organist/Director of Music at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, after the unexpected death of T.W. Beckett.


AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN

Completion: June 13th 1928.

Published: Novello 1925, S.A.T.B. and Organ, whereabouts of MS unknown.

First performance: currently untraced nevertheless widely performed as the composer's most well-known work.

Recordings: Many from around the world. Also used for special occasions, such as the Royal Maundy Service, April 12th 1979, and the Hillsborough Memorial Service, Liverpool Cathedral, April 1989.

Average timing; 4 ½ minutes.

Additional comments: Although normally performed with organ the conductor Guy Scott-Turner has prepared an accompaniment for orchestra: 222(Bb)2/223+ Tuba/Timp/strings. A copy of the score is held by the Edgar Bainton Society (EBS). Enquiries to Guy Scott-Turner via the Society.

FANTASIA ON THE PLAINSONG MELODY VEXILLA REGIS

Completion: June 29th 1925

Published: J.Albert and Son Pty, Ltd, GPO BOX 4899, Sydney, NSW 2001 Australia 1973. Timing: c. 4 minutes.

Appendix:

FIAT LUX for ''4-part chorus S.A.T.B."

Completed: May 8th 1928 (for the Duchess of Montrose), words; Lady Dufferin.

There is an unexplained mystery concerning this anthem: Bainton's notebook assigns it to 'Novello' and is listed in Helen Bainton: 'Remembered on Waking', Currawong Press, Sydney, 1960, page 114.
However, no copy is retained by the British Library and Novello's have no record of its existence, so at present it has to be presumed lost.

WHO CAN NUMBER THE SAND OF THE SEA? for "S.A.T.B."

Completed: May 11th 1914

Unpublished: whereabouts of MS score unknown.

OPEN THY GATES

Completion: June 29th 1931

Published: Oxford University Press, S.A.T.B. unaccompanied, words: R.Herrick,

Availability: Reprint from 'The Oxford Music Archive Service', The Old Forge, Sand Hutton, York Y04 1LB, Tel. O1904 468 472 (Fax 01904 468 679).

Recordings : The Tudor Singers, cond. Guy Scott-Turner, Felsted School Chapel, on MW 932 (LP), recorded 1982. Timing: 1 minute 47 seconds.

Also on CD: The City Chamber Choir of London, oond. Stephen Jones on BMS 417CD 'Songs of Springtime' timing: 2 mins. 16 seconds.

CHRIST IN THE WILDERNESS

Completion: June 27th 1922.

Published: Oxford University Press, S.A.T.B. unaccompanied, words R.
Graves. Now available in a reprint from Banks Music Archive as above.

Recordings; The Tudor Singers record listed as above. Timing: 3'44".

Also on CD: BMS 417CD 'Songs of Springtime' as above, timing: 3'54~.

Australian listing: Adelaide Singers' conductor Patrick Thomas, ABC rec. RRC/66

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THY GLORY

Completion: May 13th - 20th 1912

Published: John Curwen and Sons, London, 1913, Curwen Edition no. 80549,

Church Choralist no. 549) - now listed with Music Sales 8/9 Frith
Street, London. Copy held in British Library, London, ref. E.1330.

SYMPHONIES AND OTHER ORCHESTRAL WORKS

Bainton placed great faith in his orchestral works. They represent on
their clarity of orchestration and level of inspiration an important
part of his entire output. His symphonic works in particular are some
of his most personal creations, particularly his Third Symphony,
which was nearly left unfinished due to his wife's death, and
completed only weeks before his own, being premiered posthumously in 1957.

Apart from two works published in the UK, all the MSS and performing
materials of Bainton's orchestral works reside in Australia and may
come under the jurisdiction of the Australian copyright
representative for the Bainton estate.

SYMPHONY no. 1 'BEFORE SUNRISE' for Contralto Solo, Chorus and Orchestra.

Completion: 16/12/1907, but not brought to public attention until 1917 as a recipient of one of the First Carnegie British Music Awards.

Published: Stainer and Bell, London, Vocal score ed. 2005 (1920).
Full score in 1922 as part of 'The Carnegie Collection of British Music'.

First Performance: 06/04/21, Newcastle and Gateshead Choral Union and Orchestra, conducted by the composer; Newcastle Town Hall. Review in the TIMES, April 7th.

Printed performing materials from: Stainer and Bell, PO BOX 110, Victoria House, 82 Gruneisen Road, LONDON N3 1DZ (Tel. 0181 343 3303, FAX 0181 343 3024) also Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Library and BBC Library.

Recordings: 1st. Movement 'Genesis' only: The BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Barry Wordsworth, broadcast as part of Radio 3 documentary series about the Carnegie Trust, presented by Lewis Foreman.

SYMPHONY no 2 in D MINOR (1939-40)

Started in summer 1933 as a symphonic poem: 'Thalassa', re-worked during a summer holiday in Bundenoon, Australia, 1939 and completed over the next few months.

Unpublished: MS Full Score and parts: ABC Federal Music Library, Remington Centre, 169 Liverpool Street, SYDNEY, NSW 2000, Australia.

Instrumentation: picc+3. 2+corA. 2+Bcl. 2+Cbsn./4331/timp. 3 perc./hp /str.

First Performance: Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Bainton, 11/09/41,
reviewed by Neville Cardus,

Recordings :

Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Bainton (26 mins.) 13/04/55. ABC PRX/3875
Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Joseph Post (25 min. 38 sec.) 12/07/68. ABC RRC/401.
Adelaide Symphony Orch./Myer Fredman. ABC tape SSM64.

SYMPHONY no. 3 in C MINOR (1952 - 56)

Begun in 1952? his wife's sudden death in 1954 left the work incomplete at the third movement, but he completed the work just before his own death.

Unpublished: Duplicate set of MS Full score and parts held at the Australian Music Centre, Sydney, possible additional material held at ABC Federal Library

Instrumentation: currently untraced.

First performance: Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Sir Bernard Heinze, at first subscription concert of the 1957 season, given 'In Memoriam' to the composer.

Recording: The above performance was recorded and issued on LP by the BROLGA label BZM/12 (mono) (37 mins. 52 secs.) 1957.

Symphonic Poem: 'POMPILIA'

Completion: May 1903

Instrumentation: Currently untraced.

unpublished: MS Full Score only in Mitchell Library Collection.

First performance: Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 8th October 1903,
cond. Sir Henry Wood

(ref. H.Wood: 'My Life of Music' (Gollancz), page 229).



Suite: THE GOLDEN RIVER Op. 16

Completion: February-April 1908, re-scored April-June 1912,

Unpublished: MS Full Score and parts at the New South Wales
Conservatorium, Level 1, 47 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NSW 2000, Australia.

Instrumentation: picc+1. 1. 1. Cbsn+l/2130/ timp/drum/cymb/tri/hp/str.

First performance. Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Bainton, 15th March/09.

Recording: None known.




Overture-Phantasy: 'PROMETHEUS' Op. 19

Completion: May 3rd, 1909

Unpublished; MS Full score now in the Mitchell Library Collection,

First performance: Newcastle Festival (for whom it was written)
20/10/09, conducted by Bainton, and subsequently at Bournemouth,
23/12/09 with Bournemou-th Municipal Orchestra,

Instrumentation/recording: no details available.


Symphonic Poem: 'PARACELSUS' (After Browning) Op. 8

Completion: July 1904, but re-written and re-scored June 1913 hence low Op. no

Unpublished' MS Full score and parts in Mitchell Library Collection.

Instrumentation: currently unknown.

First Performance: Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 31st August 1921
cond. Bainton, then subsequently Bournemouth 12th January 1922, cond. Bainton.

Recording: None known,



THREE PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA; Elegy, Intermezzo and Humoresque.

These pieces started life as incidental music for Shakespeare plays
performed in Ruhleben Internment Camp, Berlin - no. 2 as entr acte to
the Windsor Forest scene in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' (1916
Tercentenary Production), no. 3 as an entr acte for 'Twelfth Night'
(1918 production).

Unpublished: MS Full score and parts at ABC Federal Music Library.

Instrumentation: Picc+2, 1+corA. 2. 2./4331/timp/glock/hp/str.

first two items: first performance at the Henry Wood Promenade
Concerts, 20/09/19, cond. Bainton, subsequently at Bournemouth, 17/04/20.

First complete performance: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Bainton,
6th January 1921, also: Three Choirs festival, Hereford, summer 1921.

Recording: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Joseph Post, (11 mins.
40secs.), 13/12/67 on ABC RRCS/128, also ABC tape PSM/5069.


CONCERTO FANTASIA for Piano and Orchestra

Started in Ruhleben, June 1917, completed January 27th. 1920.

Published: Stainer and Bell, London, 1922 as part of the 'Carnegie
Collection of British Music' (awarded 1920). Two-piano score ed. no.
2017, printed full score and parts available from: Stainer and Bell
(for address see 'Before Sunrise), BBC Music Library, London, NSW
Conservatorium, Sydney. Copy of two-piano score at The British Music
Information Centre' 10 Stratford Place, LONDON W1N 9AE.

Instrumentation: currently untraced.

First performance: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Sir Dan Godfrey,
with the composer as soloist, (6th January 1921 (see above: 'Three
Pieces for Orchestra')

Also: Second performance there 12th January 1922 conducted Bainton
with Winifred Christie as soloist, prior to first London performance
at the Royal Philharmonic Society Concert, Queen's Hall, 26th January 1922.

Recordings: BBC broadcast: Hamish Milne (piano), BBC Concert
Orchestra, Ashley Lawrence, 1987 (broadcast four times since). Also
ABC recording, (1977) Ffrangcon Davies (soloist), Adelaide Symphony
Orch./Myer Fredman.



PAVANE, IDYLL AND BACCHANAL for Strings
Completion: 1924

Published: Oxford University Press, 1925, no. 2 of 'Oxford
Orchestral Sets' ed. W.G. Whittaker. Printed score and parts.

Instrumentation: Strings with flute in Idyll, tambourine in Bacchanal.

Performing sets available in several venues in Britain and Australia
including Birmingham Conservatoire, Music Library, Paradise Place,
BIRMINGHAM B3 3HG, Bournemouth Orchestra Library (address as above),
ABC Federal Music Library and NSW Conservatorium Library.

First Performance: currently untraced.

Recordings: Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Joseph Post (10 mins. 30 secs.)
20/09/68 on ABC RRCS/128, also ABC tape PSM 5069. An ABC archive
recording also exists of the above orchestra conducted by the
composer in 1954.



Rhapsody: EPITHALAMION

Completion: March 30th - June 12th 1929.

Unpublished: MS Full score and parts: ABC Federal Music Library, also
dupl. at NSW Conservatorium Library.

Instrumentation: Picc+1. CorA+1. Bcl+1. 1. /2121/timp/glock/hp.str.

First performance: Three Choirs Festival, 11/09/29 conducted Bainton.
Subsequent performances: Bournemouth 09/01/30 cond. Bainton, also at
Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 11/08/32 cond. Bainton - broadcast
live by BBC. Also featured in BBC British Music Festival: BBC
Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult. Recording: ABC broadcast: the
Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Patrick Thomas.


ECLOGUE for Orchestra

Completion; May 21st 1923

Unpublished: MS Full score etc. currently missing: not listed at
Mitchell Library or other regular sources.

Instrumentation and Recording: unknown.

First performance: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra Cond, Bainton, 5th
January 1928, also the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts 8th
September 1928, cond. Bainton (listed as First Concert Performance
in London).


AN ENGLISH IDYLL (Words: Neville Cardus) for Baritone and Orchestra.

Written for Bainton's Farewell Concert at the NSW Conservatarium, 1946.

Unpublished: MS Full score and parts: ABC Federal Library (with vocal score)

Instrumentation; 222274231/timp/hp/str and Baritone soloist.

First performance: Harold Williams with the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra/Bainton as above - reviewed by the lyricist!

Recording: ABC broadcast of 1977, details currently unknown.



TWO SONGS for Baritone and Orchestra Op. 13 (Words: Edward Carpenter)

Begun: April 1908, completed July 1910.

Unpublished: MS Full score and parts originally held by the Rutland
Boughton Trust, now assigned to the Mitchell Library Collection with
duplicate retained by Edgar Bainton Society (EBS).

Instrumentation: 2122/4231/timp/hp/str and Baritone soloist.

First performance: currently unknown

Recording: None known.

Appendix:

'SWEET NIGHTINGALE' - An English Folk Song, arranged Bainton
Completion: date unknown

Unpublished: MS Full score and parts at ABC Federal Library.
Instrumentation: 1111~0000/piano/strings,

First performance: unknown recording: none known unless broadcast by
ABC at some stage.


MUSIC FOR A TRAGEDY

Completion: Date unknown

Unpublished: MS score believed lost, parts only at ABC Federal Library.

First performance: unknown.

Recording: unknown, unless as ABC broadcast.



Music for film; 'BUSH POLICEMEN'

Written for the Australian Film Unit, 1953, Duration 10 minutes (1
reel). Listed at the National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra.

Unpublished: MS score at the Mitchell Library Collection.

The following works are now lost, possibly destroyed/disowned by the composer:




SYMPHONY in B flat ( A PHANTASY OF LIFE AND PROGRESS') Op. 5

Completion: February 1903

Unpublished: MS missing.

First performance: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Bainton, 15/10/03,
detailed description contained in programme note for this concert. No
other performance traced. Listed erroneously as 'Op.9' at Bournemouth).



FOUR DANCES: Morris Dance, Minuet, Pavane, Valse Op. 21

Completion: April - July 1909

Unpublished: MS missing.

First performance: Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Bainton, 15/12/l0,
also given at Newcastle Philharmonic Society/Bainton. Tyne Theatre,
18/05/11 (without no. 2).


CELTIC SKETCHES: Sea-Sorrow, Sea Rapture, Pharais Op.23

Completion: 14th April 1910 - 26th June 1911

Unpublished: MS missing

First performance: Newcastle Philharmonic Society/Bainton, 01/OZ/1Z
(3.00 p.m.) also at Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra/Bainton, 28/03/12
and Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 10/10/12, cond. Bainton (listed as
'First London Performance')

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