1920

Summary

Several of Bantock's works were published in 1920: the full score of the Hebridean Symphony (which he conducted with the LSO on 25 May) by Stainer & Bell, the Sonata in F major for viola and pianoforte by Chester, along with several works for solo piano published by Swan & Co. – the ‘personal impression’ The Cloisters at Midnight. New College Oxford, the suite A Marionette Show and the miniatures that made up the Arabian Nights. Bantock completed the Songs of Arcady, Caristiona and revisions to The Sea Reivers and conducted the premiere of the latter at the Queen's Hall on 21 February (where he also met Delius); there were also performances of the Overture to a Greek Tragedy on 27 January (conducted by Hamilton Harty), the Hebridean Symphony (conducted by Tovey) in Edinburgh on 21 February, ‘Pan in Arcady’ in Birmingham (3 November), Part I of Omar Khayyám in Huddersfield (12 November) and The Sea Reivers on 15 December. Bantock was busy as an adjudicator in Huddersfield, Nottingham, Abergavenny, Kirkcaldy, Glasgow, Birmingham and Scunthorpe, and notable visits included those from Francis Brett Young, Holst, Edward Carpenter and the British composer Geoffrey Shaw. In 1920 Newman left The Observer to join the The Sunday Times as music critic, where he remained for the rest of his career, apart from a brief hiatus in 1923 when he was guest critic at the New York Evening Post; he also published The Piano-Player and its Music.

293 GRANVILLE BANTOCK TO ERNEST NEWMAN

30 ELVETHAM ROAD,

EDGBASTON

BIRMINGHAM.

13 Jan 1920

Dear Will

I am sorry I missed you & Vera last Saturday. I did not expect you would be at the Concert, & cleared off after the Songs. Mullings got up the Songs having only seen them for the first time on the Friday night, as the other man – Hyde's substitute – was impossible. Mullings was a brick, & saved the situation. The piano was damnable, & I felt rather ashamed of the whole affair. It is a relief and a consolation to hear that you liked the songs. I hope however to see something of you next time I get up to London on or about Feb 20–21.