Talk:List of works by Havergal Brian

HMB

several of the "B&H/1914"s (if not so marked in their score- have not seen the scores) can be confirmed at HMB 1914, page 182 (first page of September 1914) where one does see "Brian, Havergal. Kompositionen f. Orch. Leipzig. Breitkopf & Härtel." followed by the list (compressing) Doctor Merryheart, English Suite 1, Fantastic Var. on an Old Rhyme, Festal Dance and In memoriam (score of each costing 10 n. :) - not sure what that stands for; I assume that the price is what's at the end of lines in HMB listings, but may be mistaken...) In 1914 I know more scores proportionally carried copyright notices than a few decades previously, but still not uniformly all of them (or even enough of them, really, so HMB still a useful resource. Anyhow, I know the fact that these scores were published at these times is available other places but thought I'd give the confirming stuffs.) Eric 23:32, 24 June 2011 (UTC)

Thanks Eric. That’s five of the six orchestral pieces Breitkopf’s London office issued, and I would guess the sixth (For valour) either was omitted or appears in the immediate next or previous date entry. I would guess “10 n.” is the equivalent of 10/-, or 10 shillings, and no pence.
Does Hofmeister give plate numbers? In my UMP reprint of the Fantastic Variations the original Breitkopf plate numbers have been erased; I have photographically miniaturised copies of some pages from In memoriam where the plate number appears to be “L. 906”. As the scores were issued as a batch I would be not surprised at all if each of the six orchestral scores occupy the numbers “L. 901” upwards.
Cheers, Philip @ © talk 02:10, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

BTW it's possible that some of them, esp. Dr. Merryheart and In Memoriam, were first published ca 1913, and the bundle first published 1914. So yes, going to seek out their individual plate nos. (They may have a different plate no. when published as a set- this is precedented, have seen such cases quite recently.) Eric 03:24, 25 June 2011 (UTC) (that is, I'm not so sure they were all first issued as a batch. I may be mistaken of course!!)

As to In Memoriam, in the Library of Congress' "Catalogue of Copyright Entries" (1914, p.8063), In Memoriam is given as "IN MEMORIAM: tone poem by Havergal Brian; Full score for orchestra, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel. [8072. "© Nov. 10, 1913; 1 c. April 23, 1914 ; E 333675 ; Havergal Brian, London." Not sure what to make of that but it suggests a copyright of 1913 - don't know what the April 23, 1914 part means though. (Another source gives a premiere report in the early 1920s. Hrm!) Will keep looking...) Eric 04:19, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

Details of first performances are actually quite well-known (the HBS site usually cites all performances of the larger works), so you needn’t fuss too much over those. The dual dating seems to suggest the work was announced in 1913 and a printed copy actually received by the LoC in 1914. Philip @ © talk 04:26, 25 June 2011 (UTC)