Ernest Austin

Ernest Austin (31 December 1874 - 24 July 1947) was an English composer.

Biography

He started composing in 1907 after a career in business, and was self-taught. He was the brother of baritone and composer Frederic Austin (1878-1951).

Little-remembered today (he does not even have an entry in the comprehensive "New Grove" dictionary), [As of 2007-06-10; http://www.grovemusic.com/] his orchestral music enjoyed some success in its own time, including performances at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. He was a prolific composer of songs, covering a wide spectrum of mood, from serious Shakespearean settings to ballads of both sentimental and robust natures. He also made piano transcriptions of the work of other composers, a particularly common practice of the time.Listen
filename=Pilgrim's progress bowyer.ogg
title="The Pilgrim's Progress" by Ernest Austin
description=Part of 12th movement: trumpet fanfares on the organ and choir singing. Played by Kevin Bowyer
format=OggHis best-known work is probably "The Pilgrim's Progress", a 12-section narrative tone poem setting for solo organ of the work by John Bunyan; it takes about 2¾ hours to perform. There is a text which explains what is happening at each stage of the music which can be read by a narrator, and in the 12th movement, there are optional parts for choir (SSATTB), bells, and solo violin. [Kevin Bowyer: "20th Century European Organ Music: A Toast", in "The IAO Millennium Book", ed. P. Hale, ISBN 095387110X] It was revived in November 1988 at St. Michael's, Cornhill, London, by organist Kevin Bowyer, who continues to perform it on occasion. [ [http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/Event.aspx?id=256 Kevin Bowyer's performance] of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' in Glasgow, 16 June 2007] [ [http://www.giof.org.uk/ Glasgow International Organ Festival] : he performed the complete "Pilgrim's Progress" at the 2007 festival]

elected works

Organ

*"The Pilgrim's Progress", Op.41; 12-movement narrative tone poem in 4 parts, with optional choir (SSATTB), bells, solo violin and narrator (1912-1920)

Chamber

*5 Piano Trios, in part based on traditional melodies (before 1914)
*"In Field and Forest", for flute, French horn, and piano
*Lyric Sonata, for violin and piano

Orchestra

*"Variations on The Vicar of Bray", Op.35, for string orchestra (1910, played at the Proms)
*"Stella Mary Dances", Op.58, orchestral suite (1918, played at the Proms)
*"Sweet Night", for flute, clarinet, cornet, and string orchestra
*Symphony

Piano

*Suites: 6 "Dream Themes"; 4 "English Pastorals"; "To Music" (7 movements); "Under Blue Skies"; around 25 "Tone Stanzas" (1908-1924)
*2 books of Preludes, Op.56
*"Indian Pipe Dance" (1921)
*14 Sonatinas for children, on English folk-songs
*"Through the Eyes of Youth"
*Sonatas
*Transcriptions of songs, "Sevillana", and "Mot d'Amour", by Edward Elgar (1926)

ongs

*Song-cycles: "Songs from the Highway"; "A Sheaf of Songs" (5)
*Single songs: "Aspiration"; "Fountain Song"; "I Made Thee Mine"; "The Infinite Voice"; "Life"; "Sigh No More Ladies"; "April Wears a Smiling Face"; "Tony the Turtle"; "Cradle Song"; "Sea Dogs"; "Sleep Little Rose"; "Sweet Night"; "The Woodland Tailor"; "A Song of Folly"; "Thoughts" (vocal setting of Brahms's waltz, op.39 no.15)

Choral

*With orchestra: "Hymn of Apollo"; "Ode to a Grecian Urn"
*Female voices: "The Dream Maker"
*Male voices: "Home on the Range" (cowboy song)
*Unison songs for children

Books

*"The Story of the Art of Music Printing" (1913)
*"The Fairyland of Music", described as 'a fairy tale with music' (1922)

Sources

* Philip L. Scowcroft: "British Light Music Composers" (ISBN: 0903413884) [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/3rd.htm]