Benjamin Dale

Benjamin James Dale (b. London 17 July 1885; d. London 30 July 1943) was an English composer and educationalist. He showed remarkable compositional talent in his early years, but this promise was never really fulfilled.

One of Dale’s earliest works, an overture "Horatius" inspired by Macaulay, was composed when he was only 14. He was studying under F. Corder at the Royal Academy of Music. His first published work was a "Piano Sonata in D minor". Dating from 1902 this remains the work for which he is best remembered. The style shows the Romantic influence of Liszt and Schumann as well as the Russian school of Balakirev. It consists of a first movement in sonata form followed by a set of variations which form the slow movement, scherzo and finale. Dale wrote several works for the violist Lionel Tertis. The "Suite" for viola and piano dates from 1906. The last two movements were later orchestrated and were frequently performed by Tertis. The was followed in 1911 by a "Phantasy" for viola and piano and the "Introduction and Andante" for six violas written for Tertis’s pupils. The following year Henry Wood conducted his "Concertstück" (Concert Piece) for organ and orchestra at the proms with Kiddle at the organ. [Henry Wood: "My Life of Music" pub Gollancz]

Dale had the misfortune to be in Germany when World War I broke out. He was interned for the duration of the war in Ruhleben near Berlin. The prisoners kept themselves busy with many social activities including musical ones. There were several musicians there, including the Canadian Ernest MacMillan who was later to become the conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. MacMillan gave lectures on each of the nine symphonies of Beethoven which were followed by a performance of the symphony in piano duet arrangement played by MacMillan and Dale.

After the war his health had become rather poor. He travelled round the world, examining in Australia and New Zealand for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He started composing again and became professor of harmony and later Warden at the Royal Academy of Music. His compositions include a Violin Sonata (1921-22) , an anthem "A Song of Praise" (1923) and a Christmas hymn "Before the Paling of the Stars". He worked for the BBC’s Music Advisory Panel. His last major work was the orchestral "The Flowing Tide" (1943) which has a strong element of Debussyian Impressionism combined with Romanticism.

elected works

Orchestra
* "Horatius", Overture for Orchestra (1899)
* Overture for Orchestra (1900)
* "The Tempest", Overture to Shakespeare's "Tempest" (1902)
* "Concertstück" (Concert Piece) for Organ and Orchestra (1904)
* "Concert Overture" in G Minor for Orchestra (1904)
* "English Dance" for Small Orchestra (1919) – original (1916) for violin and piano
* "Prunella" for Small Orchestra (1923) – original (1916) for violin and piano
* "A Holiday Tune" for Small Orchestra (1925) – original (1920) for violin and piano
* "The Flowing Tide", Tone Poem for Orchestra (1924–1943)

Chamber
* Piano Trio (early work)

Violin
* "English Dance" for Violin and Piano (1916) – originally titled "Country Dance"
* "Prunella" for Violin and Piano, Op.10 (1916)
* "A Holiday Tune" for Violin and Piano (1920); for Violin and Orchestra (1925)
* Sonata in E Major for Violin and Piano, Op.11 (1921–1922)
* "Ballade" in C Minor for Violin and Piano, Op.15 (1926)

Viola
* "Suite" in D Minor for Viola and Piano, Op.2 (1906):# Maestoso – Allegretto espressivo :# Romance (also for viola and orchestra) :# Finale: Allegro (also for viola and orchestra)
* "Phantasy" in D Major for Viola and Piano, Op.4 (1910)
* "Introduction and Andante" for Six Violas, Op.5 (1911, revised 1913)
* "English Dance" (1916); arrangement for Viola and Piano by York Bowen – original for violin and piano

Keyboard
* Organ Sonata (early work)
* Sonata in D Minor for Piano, Op.1 (1902–1905)
* "Night Fancies", Impromptu in Dmusic|flat Major for Piano, Op.3 (1907)
* "English Dance" for Piano (1919) – original (1916) for violin and piano
* "Prunella" for Piano (1923) – original (1916) for violin and piano

Vocal
* "Two Songs from Shakespeare", Op.9 (1919); Songs from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night":# "O Mistress Mine" in F Major for Low Voice and Piano:# "Come Away, Death" in Dmusic|flat Major for Low Voice, Viola and Piano

Choral
* "Before the Paling of the Stars" for Chorus and Orchestra (1912); setting of a Christmas Hymn by Christina Rossetti
* "A Song of Praise", Festival Anthem for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op.12 (1923); words by Reginald Heber; composed for the 269th annual festival of the Sons of the Clergy
* "Rosa Mystica", Carol for Mixed Voices with Tenor Solo (1925); the words from the Mediaeval anthology collected by Mary Segar

Writing
* "Harmony, Counterpoint and Improvisation" by Benjamin Dale, Gordon Jacob, Hugo Anson

References

*New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians
* [http://ruhleben.tripod.com/ The Ruhleben Story]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/ WorldCat]