MFG Midwinter Festival 2022: Sunday AM concert featuring Clarinet Sonata Op.129 by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
Town Hall Theatre
For its 2022 Midwinter Festival, Music for Galway shines a light on a largely unsung hero of music history, the Irish composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. While many music-lovers might have a passing acquaintance with some of his choral music, the scope and breadth of his extensive musical output is worthy of far greater recognition. The influence and legacy of Stanford as one of the 20th century’s most important composition teachers is hard to overstate. Throughout the weekend, alongside chamber and vocal works by Stanford himself, we hear music by composers who influenced him, but also by many of the composers who studied with him in London.
“Mr. Stanford’s music is dramatically significant, as well as beautiful in itself. It has, moreover, that quality so are among modern composers – style.” The Times, London.
“Stanford’s teaching seemed to be without method or plan. His criticism consisted for the most part of “I like it, my boy,” or “It’s damned ugly, my boy” (the latter in most cases). In this, perhaps, lay its value.” His pupil, Edgar Bainton.
Performers
ConTempo Quartet; John Finucane, clarinet; Finghin Collins, piano; Andreea Banciu, viola.
Programme
Frank Bridge - Three Idylls for string quartet
Stanford - Clarinet Sonata Op. 129
Rebecca Clarke - Viola Sonata