Sea Sketches is a suite of five movements for string orchestra, composed by Grace Williams in 1944, and dedicated to her parents. It is one of the composer's most popular works.
| Sea Sketches | |
|---|---|
| Orchestral suite by Grace Williams | |
| Composed | 1944 |
| Published | 1951 |
| Recorded | |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 31 March 1947 |
| Conductor | Mansel Thomas |
| Performers | BBC Welsh Orchestra |
Composition history
editGrace Williams composed Sea Sketches in 1944, while living in Hampstead, London.[1] Shortly after completing the work Williams wrote to Gerald Cockshott, in 1945, saying "I don't want to stay in London – I just long to get home and live in comfort by the sea." She returned to her home town of Barry in south Wales, two years later.[2]
The suite was premiered by the BBC Welsh Orchestra conducted by Mansel Thomas in 1947.[3] Since then Sea Sketches has become one of her most popular works, second only to her Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes.[1][4] and has been performed three times at the BBC Proms.[5]
Music
editThe suite is composed for string orchestra and comprises five movements depicting various moods of the sea.[1] The movements are:
- High Wind (Allegro energetico)
- Sailing Song (Allegretto)
- Channel Sirens (Lento misterioso)
- Breakers (Presto)
- Calm Sea in Summer (Andante tranquillo)[1]
Publication
editSea Sketches was published in 1951 by the Oxford University Press (OUP). It was Williams' first substantial work to be published and the OUP subsequently published a number of her other works.[1] Williams dedicated the suite to her parents "who had the good sense to set up home on the coast of Glamorgan".[3][6]
Recordings
editSea Sketches was first recorded by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by David Atherton in 1970 (Decca SXL6468), and re-issued in 1995 (Lyrita SRCD323). It was one of a series of recordings of Williams' works in the 1970s to promote her work, made with the help of the Welsh Arts Council.[7][8] The work was later recorded by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Roy Goodman (CBC SMCD5227).[3] A new recording was issued by Resonus Classics in 2024, performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Andrews.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Boyd, Malcolm (1980). Grace Williams. Composers of Wales. Vol. 4 (1st ed.). Cardiff: University of Wales Press, on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council. pp. 26–27. ISBN 0-7083-0762-0. OCLC 7547501.
- ^ Cotterill 2012a, p. [page needed].
- ^ a b c Cotterill 2012b, p. [page needed].
- ^ Cotterill 2012a, p. 78.
- ^ "BBC Proms – Works Grace Williams Sea Sketches". BBC. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Cotterill 2012a, p. [page needed].
- ^ Cotterill 2012a, p. 32.
- ^ Boyd, Malcolm (1995). "The Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes". Grace Williams (CD booklet). Burnham, Buckinghamshire: Lyrita. OCLC 883978208. UPC: 502092603234.
- ^ 'Orchestral Works: Grace Williams', Resonus Classics RES10349 (2024)
Sources
- Cotterill, Graeme James (2012a). Music in the Blood & Poetry in the Soul? (National identity in the life and music of Grace Williams) (PDF). eBangor (PhD). Bangor: University of Wales. p. 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- — (2012b). A catalogue of the works of Grace Williams (PDF). eBangor (PhD). Bangor: University of Wales. p. 12. Retrieved 1 May 2016.[permanent dead link]