- published: 21 Feb 2015
- views: 1964
Wilfred Josephs (24 July 1927 – 17 November 1997) was an English composer.
Born in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, the fourth and youngest son of Russian and South Shields Jewish parents, Wilfred Josephs had his first musical studies in Newcastle with Arthur Milner, and showed early promise, but was persuaded by his parents to take up a 'sensible' career. He subsequently became a dentist, qualifying as a Bachelor of Dental Surgery of the University of Durham in 1951. He later studied at the Guildhall School in London.
In 1963 his Requiem, a complete setting of the Hebrew Kaddish, written in memory of the Jews who died during the Holocaust, won the first International Composing Competition of the City of Milan and La Scala - then the biggest musical award in the world, after which he gave up dentistry and became a full-time composer. The Requiem was performed by Nino Sanzogno in Milan, Maurice Handford for the BBC,Max Rudolf in Cincinnati, and Giulini in Chicago. A recording was made by David Measham for Unicorn Kanchana.
Wilfred may refer to:
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An orchestra (/ˈɔːrkᵻstrə/ or US /ˈɔːrˌkɛstrə/; Italian: [orˈkɛstra]) is a large instrumental ensemble used in classical music that contains sections of string (violin, viola, cello and double bass), brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Other instruments such as the piano and celesta may sometimes be grouped into a fifth section such as a keyboard section or may stand alone, as may the concert harp and, for 20th and 21st century compositions, electric and electronic instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ὀρχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the 20th century.
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often written by composers for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning common today: a work usually consisting of multiple distinct sections or movements, often four, with the first movement in sonata form. Symphonies are scored for string (violin, viola, cello and double bass), brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments which altogether number about 30–100 musicians. Symphonies are notated in a musical score, which contains all the instrument parts. Orchestral musicians play from parts which contain just the notated music for their instrument. A small number of symphonies also contain vocal parts (e.g., Beethoven's Ninth Symphony).
The word symphony is derived from Greek συμφωνία (symphonia), meaning "agreement or concord of sound", "concert of vocal or instrumental music", from σύμφωνος (symphōnos), "harmonious". The word referred to an astonishing variety of different things, before ultimately settling on its current meaning designating a musical form.
Symphony No. 1 is a simple designation for the first symphony published by a composer. The term applies to:
Wilfred Josephs (1927-1997): Symphony No. 5 "Pastorale" Op. 75 (1971) BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra-Vernon Handley, conducting ***Please see NOTE below. Modern British composer Wilfred Josephs composed 12 symphonies in his lifetime and dozens of other orchestral works as well. He also composed stage works, concertos, and chamber works, yielding a rather large catalog of compositions. His 5th Symphony is played here and has been commercially recorded on Unicorn (LP) with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. This upload is from a British radio concert performance. (from the collection of John Carter of Leicestershire, G.B.) ***NOTE: Josephs' Symphony No. 5 has recently been issued on CD in a new recording on LYRITA SRCD.2352 performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, David Measham conductin...
Wilfred Josephs: suite from The Great War (1964). Conducted by Marcus Dods.
Wilfred Josephs (1927-1997): Symphony No. 1 (1974-1975) BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra-Meredith Davis, conducting Avoiding much of the atonality found in some of his later symphonies, modern British composer Wilfred Josephs composed his Symphony No. 1 in 1955 dedicating it "to Memory of my Father," but revised it in 1974-75. It is the later version we here in this radio performance. Note: there is also another recording of this symphony on You Tube with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Poole, which makes for a good comparison. Go to noochinator2 youtube.com/watch?v=dkcCH-huQ6U --from the collection of John Carter of Leicestershire, G.B.
Wilfred Josephs: Symphony No 7, 'Winter', Op 96. [George Hurst- Bournemouth Sinfonietta]. broadcast premiere
Wilfred Josephs (1927-1997): Symphony No. 4 Op. 72 (1967-1970) BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Brian Wright with Ameral Gunson (mezzo) and Jonathan Roberts (baritone Modern British composer Wilfred Josephs composed 12 symphonies in his lifetime. The Symphony No. 4 was composed from 1967 through 1970. Its unusual ending has caught the interest of a number of critics over the years. It is believed that this is the premiere performance, but it is not certain. --from the collection of John Carter of Leicestershire, G.B.
Wilfred Josephs: Main & End Title music from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1977).
'Symphony no. 1' of Wilfred Josephs, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Poole.
Wilfred Josephs: Main & End Title music from "All Creatures Great & Small" (1974). Conducted by Marcus Dods
Interesting look at the choices available to Robert Dearberg,music editor,from composers Wilfred Josephs and Robert Farnon.