John Abbott
@sfjohna.bsky.social
Classical music researcher, technology analyst from the UK. Wikipedia contributor on obscure composers. Walking Berkshire and beyond with my son.
https://atuneadayblogdotcom.wordpress.com/
https://atuneadayblogdotcom.wordpress.com/
83) Wilfred Heaton composed Salvation Army music throughout his career, but their requirement for practical music was at odds with his broader compositional ambitions. Paul Hindmarsh has made a catalogue of works en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred... www.britishmusicsociety.co.uk/2025/02/wilf... #jawiki
Wilfred Heaton: His Life, His Music - British Music Society
This is a remarkable story of a pioneering composer who wrote largely for brass bands, yet considered that they were, in general, not fully committed to serious music...
www.britishmusicsociety.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
83) Wilfred Heaton composed Salvation Army music throughout his career, but their requirement for practical music was at odds with his broader compositional ambitions. Paul Hindmarsh has made a catalogue of works en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred... www.britishmusicsociety.co.uk/2025/02/wilf... #jawiki
82) Welshman John Rippiner Heath was a doctor as well as a composer, known by patients as "The Beloved Physician". In 1938 he wrote a Cello Concerto for his son Kenneth which was revived in 1962, 12 year after his death (5/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ri... ##jawiki www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfNg...
John Rippiner Heath - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM
82) Welshman John Rippiner Heath was a doctor as well as a composer, known by patients as "The Beloved Physician". In 1938 he wrote a Cello Concerto for his son Kenneth which was revived in 1962, 12 year after his death (5/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ri... ##jawiki www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfNg...
81) Stanley Hawley, born in 1867 as the son of a butcher at 61 South St, Ilkeston - the house is a still a butcher's today - was praised as a piano soloist by Grieg. He composed recitation pieces for speaker and piano, such as The Raven (1896). (4/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley... #jawiki
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
81) Stanley Hawley, born in 1867 as the son of a butcher at 61 South St, Ilkeston - the house is a still a butcher's today - was praised as a piano soloist by Grieg. He composed recitation pieces for speaker and piano, such as The Raven (1896). (4/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley... #jawiki
The pieces (specially commissioned by ABRSM and others) include compositions by Michael Betteridge, Louise Derwent, Chris Gardner, Ailie Robertson, Alexandra Skevington and Fred Viner @openupmusic.bsky.social @mbetteridge.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The pieces (specially commissioned by ABRSM and others) include compositions by Michael Betteridge, Louise Derwent, Chris Gardner, Ailie Robertson, Alexandra Skevington and Fred Viner @openupmusic.bsky.social @mbetteridge.bsky.social
After that it's Thursday 20th November, lunchtime, at the Guildhall School of Music, as part of Disability History Month. clariontrio.co.uk
The clarion Trio
clariontrio.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
After that it's Thursday 20th November, lunchtime, at the Guildhall School of Music, as part of Disability History Month. clariontrio.co.uk
80) While conducting in December 1894, the sleeve of Cécile Hartog's muslin dress was set alight by one of the lamps on her music desk. An orchestral member extinguished it with an opera cloak. She composed incidental music, solo piano music and songs (8/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9... #jawiki
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
80) While conducting in December 1894, the sleeve of Cécile Hartog's muslin dress was set alight by one of the lamps on her music desk. An orchestral member extinguished it with an opera cloak. She composed incidental music, solo piano music and songs (8/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9... #jawiki
79) Sidney Harrison gained a higher profile than most classical pianists in two ways: by pioneering televised piano lessons (from 1950); and by acting as a mentor to (and being recorded by) Beatles producer George Martin. He also encouraged John Lill. (3/20) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_... #jawiki
November 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
79) Sidney Harrison gained a higher profile than most classical pianists in two ways: by pioneering televised piano lessons (from 1950); and by acting as a mentor to (and being recorded by) Beatles producer George Martin. He also encouraged John Lill. (3/20) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_... #jawiki
78) William Lewarne ('Bill') Harris, a music teacher and single parent of three children, still managed to compose four Cornish operas (he was a friend of Inglis Gundry) and much more. He died in 2013. His son was the Harrods piano tuner Steven Harris (9/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William... #jawiki
November 7, 2025 at 7:50 AM
78) William Lewarne ('Bill') Harris, a music teacher and single parent of three children, still managed to compose four Cornish operas (he was a friend of Inglis Gundry) and much more. He died in 2013. His son was the Harrods piano tuner Steven Harris (9/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William... #jawiki
77) Clement Hambourg, youngest of the four musical Hambourg brothers, turned to jazz music after his strict classical training. He set up the House of Hambourg in 1946 and it became a pivotal venue for jazz in Canada until its closure in 1963 (10/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement... #jawiki
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
77) Clement Hambourg, youngest of the four musical Hambourg brothers, turned to jazz music after his strict classical training. He set up the House of Hambourg in 1946 and it became a pivotal venue for jazz in Canada until its closure in 1963 (10/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement... #jawiki
76) The Grimson musical family (active in London from the early 1870s) performed the Mendelssohn Octet together as an annual event in London for several years, also tackling the Gade and Svendsen Octets. Violinist Jessie Grimson became the best known. (10/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimson... #jawiki
Grimson (musical family) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
76) The Grimson musical family (active in London from the early 1870s) performed the Mendelssohn Octet together as an annual event in London for several years, also tackling the Gade and Svendsen Octets. Violinist Jessie Grimson became the best known. (10/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimson... #jawiki
here's a list of his books that I compiled. He was quite a character!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G...
November 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
here's a list of his books that I compiled. He was quite a character!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G...
75) Critic Cecil Gray: friend of Peter Warlock, co-founder of The Sackbut, van Dieren and Delius worshipper, male chauvinist 3x married, author, opera composer, D H Lawrence nemesis, Anthony Powell character, Capri resident, hard drinker etc. etc. etc. (9/18) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G... #jawiki
November 4, 2025 at 8:48 AM
75) Critic Cecil Gray: friend of Peter Warlock, co-founder of The Sackbut, van Dieren and Delius worshipper, male chauvinist 3x married, author, opera composer, D H Lawrence nemesis, Anthony Powell character, Capri resident, hard drinker etc. etc. etc. (9/18) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_G... #jawiki
74) Pianist Kyla Greenbaum, (much) younger sister of Hyam, made Lambert's Rio Grande a calling card piece. But she also gave the first UK performance of Schoenberg's Piano Concerto at the Proms in September 1945. She died in June 2017, aged 95. (10/19) xtools.wmcloud.org/articleinfo/... #jawiki
November 3, 2025 at 10:54 AM
74) Pianist Kyla Greenbaum, (much) younger sister of Hyam, made Lambert's Rio Grande a calling card piece. But she also gave the first UK performance of Schoenberg's Piano Concerto at the Proms in September 1945. She died in June 2017, aged 95. (10/19) xtools.wmcloud.org/articleinfo/... #jawiki
73) Conductor Hyam Greenbaum (died 1942) helped his friends Walton and Lambert complete some major works. He married Sidonie Goossens. But derailed by the war, his career ended in conducting variety music for BBC radio from Bangor, which he hated. (10/19) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyam_Gr... #jawiki
Hyam Greenbaum - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
73) Conductor Hyam Greenbaum (died 1942) helped his friends Walton and Lambert complete some major works. He married Sidonie Goossens. But derailed by the war, his career ended in conducting variety music for BBC radio from Bangor, which he hated. (10/19) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyam_Gr... #jawiki
72) Michael Graubart, who died in June 2024 aged 93, was one of the youngest émigré musicians exiled by the Anschluss: he was 8. He taught at Morley College (1969-91, succeeding John Gardner) and then at the Royal Northern College of Music until 1996. (7/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael... #jawiki
November 1, 2025 at 7:55 AM
72) Michael Graubart, who died in June 2024 aged 93, was one of the youngest émigré musicians exiled by the Anschluss: he was 8. He taught at Morley College (1969-91, succeeding John Gardner) and then at the Royal Northern College of Music until 1996. (7/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael... #jawiki
My list (not generated by ChatGPT) includes around 95 composers and several hundred texts en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
List of composers in literature - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My list (not generated by ChatGPT) includes around 95 composers and several hundred texts en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Fascinating - I looked pretty closely at his ''Sea Surface Full of Clouds" when I was studying at Birkbeck. Very serious minded, and you're right, he will shudder at the Howard Goodall reference. For me, I'd like something half way between Goodall and Taruskin, not sure If I've ever found it
October 31, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Fascinating - I looked pretty closely at his ''Sea Surface Full of Clouds" when I was studying at Birkbeck. Very serious minded, and you're right, he will shudder at the Howard Goodall reference. For me, I'd like something half way between Goodall and Taruskin, not sure If I've ever found it
71) Rosamund Brunel Gotch worked for many years as a stage costume designer, dressing over 160 productions at the Royal College of Music (including Hugh the Drover), and also edited the letters of two young Mendelssohn admirers, which is excellent (12/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosamun... #jawiki
October 31, 2025 at 7:44 AM
71) Rosamund Brunel Gotch worked for many years as a stage costume designer, dressing over 160 productions at the Royal College of Music (including Hugh the Drover), and also edited the letters of two young Mendelssohn admirers, which is excellent (12/24) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosamun... #jawiki
70) Baritone John Goss gave recitals of classical lieder and English art song mixed with what he called sociable songs - folk song, drinking songs, army songs & sea shanties. A friend of Peter Warlock, he sang the 2nd performance of The Curlew in 1923 (1/23) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Go... #jawiki
October 30, 2025 at 7:04 AM
70) Baritone John Goss gave recitals of classical lieder and English art song mixed with what he called sociable songs - folk song, drinking songs, army songs & sea shanties. A friend of Peter Warlock, he sang the 2nd performance of The Curlew in 1923 (1/23) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Go... #jawiki
69) Marie Goossens, like her younger sister Sidonie, was a harpist. She played with Diaghilev in 1919, with Frank Chacksfield (on Ebb Tide) in 1953, and on the Spiderman film soundtrack in 1981. Her autobiography Life on a Harp String is a great read. (10/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_G... #jawiki
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 AM
69) Marie Goossens, like her younger sister Sidonie, was a harpist. She played with Diaghilev in 1919, with Frank Chacksfield (on Ebb Tide) in 1953, and on the Spiderman film soundtrack in 1981. Her autobiography Life on a Harp String is a great read. (10/22) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_G... #jawiki
The thing is you really don't need a Grokipedia - you can just generate AI slop as you go, on a query by query basis. It's just the same - steals from the most obviously available sources and adds some fill-in platitudes, mostly taking its lead and tone from the way the original question was phrased
October 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The thing is you really don't need a Grokipedia - you can just generate AI slop as you go, on a query by query basis. It's just the same - steals from the most obviously available sources and adds some fill-in platitudes, mostly taking its lead and tone from the way the original question was phrased