Elizabeth Maconchy - Overture, Proud Thames * • Symphony for Double String Orchestra ** • Serenata Concertante ** • Music for Strings ***

* London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vernon Handley, conductor
** Manoug Parikian, violin
London Symphony Orchestra
Vernon Handley, conductor
*** London Philharmonic Orchestra
Barry Wordsworth, conductor

Label: Lyrita
Copyright: 2007 Lyrita Recorded Edition, England
Catalogue number: SRCD.288
UPC/EAN: 5020926028822
Format: CD
Analogue / Digital recording: ADD
Number of discs: 1
Total playing time: 67.50
Price: £ 14.99 (+ postage & packing)

Track 1: Recorded at Walthamstow, 4 January 1972, Producer: David Harvey, Engineer: James Lock
Tracks 2 - 5: Recorded at Watford, 5 September 1978, Producer: Tom Mowrey, Engineer: John Dunkerley
Tracks 6 - 9: Recorded at Kingsway Hall, 3 August 1978, Producer: Andrew Cornall, Engineer: James Lock
Tracks 10 - 13: Recorded at Watford, 23 August 1993, Producer: Andrew Keener, Engineer: Mark Vigars


Maconchy’s early successes were orchestral, and although she came to be best known for her chamber music, this CD reveals her continuing gift for orchestral writing. Where the quartets are very closely argued (in her words 'passionately intellectual and intellectually passionate'), the orchestral music is more expansive and more lyrical, revealing the full range of her expressive harmony. Her love of counterpoint, of rhythm as much as melody, is still present and gives the music its special character.


1 Overture, Proud Thames (1952) Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994) 5.58
Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1953) Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994) 21.50
2 I Allegro molto 4.51
3 II Lento 6.51
4 III Allegro scherzando 3.26
5 IV Passacaglia (Lento sostenuto - Allegro - Lento) 6.42
Serenata Concertante for Violin and Orchestra (1962) Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994) 21.37
6 I Lento - Andante con moto - Allegro ritmico 5.46
7 II Scherzo with Trio (Allegro molto) 4.32
8 III Andante con moto 6.27
9 IV Allegro vigoroso - Andante tranquillo 4.52
Music for Strings (1983) Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994) 18.21
10 I Molto moderato 6.56
11 II Scherzo 2.50
12 III Mesto 5.15
13 IV Finale: Allegro 3.20