Ernest Farrar - The Forsaken Merman, English Pastoral Impressions, Etc

Download from SexiExpi（ripper）@Pando files.

Ernest Farrar
Birth: Jul. 7, 1885
Death: Sep. 18, 1918

Composer. Like many British musicians of his generation he drew inspiration from folk sources, though in form and color his music has a closer affinity with the French school. His best works include "Vagabond Songs" (1910), the tone poem "The Forsaken Merman" (1914), and the lovely symphonic suite "English Pastoral Impressions" (1915). In 1915 Farrar was called up for World War I military service and spent three years as an officer on the Western Front. He was granted leave in the Summer of 1918 and conducted the premiere of his final opus, the "Heroic Elegy", dedicated to his fallen comrades. Farrar returned to duty in September and within days was killed in the Battle of Epehy. Today he is probably best remembered as the teacher of composer Gerald Finzi, who was so stunned by Farrar's death that he became a lifelong pacifist. (bio by: Robert Edwards)



Ernest Bristow Farrar (7 July 1885–18 September 1918) was an English composer, pianist and organist


Life

Ernest Farrar was born in Lewisham, London. The son of a clergyman, he was educated at Leeds Grammar School where he began organ studies and in May 1905 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. There he studied with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sir Walter Parratt. He also took up several posts as organist in Dresden, South Shields and Christ Church, High Harrogate.

His career was cut short by the outbreak of World War I as he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1915 and joined the regiment in August 1916. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion Devonshire Regiment on February 27, 1918.

Farrar was killed on the Western front at the Battle of Epehy Ronssoy near Le Cateau in the Somme valley south, west of Cambrai in 1918.

His grave lies just outside the churchyard wall in Ronssoy Communal Cemetery Extension, in a corner under some trees. A Requiem was said at Micklefield on September 29th, the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.

Works and legacy

Despite his short life, Farrar wrote a large body of music for orchestra, voices and organ. His works include The Blessed Damozel, the Celtic Suite and his song cycle, Vagabond Songs. However, apart from a few songs his works are now rarely performed.

Today, Farrar is perhaps best known as the teacher of Gerald Finzi. Farrar's tragic death affected the young Finzi deeply, and from the very beginning, most of his music was elegiac in tone. Frank Bridge dedicated his famous piano sonata to the memory of Ernest Farrar.

Ernest Farrar (1885-1918)

Rhapsody No. 1 "The open road" op.9

Variations for piano and orchestra op.25

The forsaken Merman op.20

Heroic Elegy op. 36

English Pastoral Impressions op. 26

I. Spring Morning
II. Bredon Hill
III. Over the hills and far away

Howard Shelley, piano

Philharmonia Orchestra - Alasdair Mitchell


http://rapidshare.com/files/219136761/Ernest_Farrar.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/219149207/Ernest_Farrar.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/219188425/Ernest_Farrar.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/219188428/Ernest_Farrar.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/219195742/Ernest_Farrar.part5.rar