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Peter Racine Fricker Posted by John France on April 23, 2008, 11:51 am 217.196.232.225 I recently reviewed Peter Racine Fricker's fine Violin Concerto recently released on Lyrita. Today, I have just finished listening to his superb Second Symphony on EMI with Sir John Pritchard conducting the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Yet a brief look at Crotchet reveals, in addition to the above works two violin sonatas a quintet, a couple of choral miniatures and a handful of organ works. Does anyone agree with me that this is a pathetic total for such a fine composer? The Land of Lost Content - British Music Blog  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by chris howell on April 24, 2008, 8:59 am, in reply to "Peter Racine Fricker" 213.215.159.46 I certainly enjoyed studying his Variations op. 31 for piano in my university days, though I haven't refreshed my memory for a long while. My piano professor at Edinburgh, Colin Kingsley, knew Fricker personally, had studied several of his works with him and later, when Fricker's reputation was declining, commissioned a further piano work from him. He should have been invited to set all this music down on record - Kingsley's only record was some White sonatas on Lyrita as far as I know - but of course wasn't. He did record much (all?) of Fricker's solo piano music for BBC Scotland so maybe these performances survive somewhere. Chris Howell  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by Jeffrey Davis on May 6, 2008, 8:16 pm, in reply to "Peter Racine Fricker" 195.93.21.99 Yes, I do agree. The Second Symphony is especially good. I remember it from an old EMI LP, coupled, If I remember correctly, with Robert Simpson's eqally impressive First Symphony (my favourite of Simpson's works) (Boult). That was a good series as it was my way into Edmund Rubbra's music as his Fifth Symphony (Barbirolli) was in the same sries with a wonderful Vaughan Williams Dives and Lazarus and Oboe Concerto. there should be more Fricker. There's a kind of gritty integrity about his music.  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by John France on May 7, 2008, 9:35 am, in reply to "Re: Peter Racine Fricker" 217.196.232.225 The Fricker Second Symphony along with Orr's Symphony and Simpson's First is/was available on EMI CD http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fricker-Orr-Simpson-Peter-Racine/dp/B00006YX78 I am sure y'all have this one!!!! A great CD and I love the Orr too  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by Jeffrey Davis on May 7, 2008, 5:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Peter Racine Fricker" 195.93.21.99 Yes, indeed I have that great CD. My favourite work on it is by Robin Orr. A terrific one movement symphony of concentrated power and eloquence. It reminds me a bit of some of the symphonies by Carlos Chavez (No 4). Robin Orr died recently at an impressively old age.  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by colin mackie on May 8, 2008, 3:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Peter Racine Fricker" 77.101.18.48 I do so agree with the others who have posted! I have been trying to do my best for Fricker on the Classical Good Music Guide Forum. I also treasure my ancient Louisville First Edition LP with Robert Whitney conducting the splendidly powerful 1st Symphony recorded(presumably) during the 1950s. I had hoped that this would be reissued on CD but the project to bring out the old Louisville recordings on First Edition Music seems to have ground to a halt(for financial reasons?). Fricker made the 'mistake' of accepting his professorship at Santa Barbara in the mid-1960s. As with Iain Hamilton, who went to Duke University, North Carolina, this removed him from the consciousness of the British musical establishment and his music was forgotten. Fricker and Hamilton are the two most scandalously neglected British composers of their generation(now that Richard Arnell has come in from the cold!). I have long yearned to hear his big choral work 'The Vision of Judgement' written for the Leeds Festival after reading about so many years ago in the Penguin Guide to Choral Music. I used to have the 3rd, 4th and 5th symphonies on reel-to-reel tape but they are unplayable now sadly! IF any company is ever bold enough to record some Fricker it will earn my deepest thanks!  Post a Response

Re: Peter Racine Fricker Posted by Hubert Culot on May 22, 2008, 6:53 pm, in reply to "Peter Racine Fricker" 81.241.114.171 I cannot but agree with all these comments about Fricker's music and its shameful neglect. Some may also remember that his Fifth Symphony (organ and orchestra) was available on a "pirate" label many years ago. It is not his best work, but still worth a hearing. On the other hand, both the Fourth Symphony and Rondeaux (organ and orchestra) are superb and cry out for recording. Who will consider such fine stuff for possible recording, I wonder. A few years ago, CPO recorded Searle's symphonies. They might thus consider Fricker's ones some day. Fricker's music may at times be uneven but the best of it is just splendid.  Post a Response

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