William Mathias (1934-1992)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2017

Heading For London

20170724

Donald Macleod explores Mathias's student days in Aberystwyth and London

Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos.

From the age of five William Mathias started to compose music. By the time he was six he'd also started to learn the piano, and would become a highly accomplished pianist. Mathias was born in Whitland in South Wales, and learnt much about music not only from his mother, but also from the then newly-launched Third Programme. He went to the University of Aberystwyth to study English, French and Philosophy, but was encouraged by Ian Parrott to change to music instead. His Flute Sonatina dates from this period, as does his first Piano Concerto which Mathias performed in front of the composer Edmund Rubbra as part of his undergraduate examination. Mathias graduated from Aberystwyth with a First Class honours degree, and went to study music with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music. These lessons often took place in his tutor's home in Little Venice, where Berkeley would gently encourage Mathias to find his own musical voice rather than pursuing the avant garde.

Dance Overture, Op 16

London Symphony Orchestra

David Atherton, conductor

Flute Sonatina, Op 98

Kenneth Smith, flute

Paul Rhodes, piano

Piano Concerto No 1, Op 2

Mark Bebbington, piano

Ulster Orchestra

George Vass, conductor

As truly as God is our Father

Choir of St Paul's Cathedral

Andrew Lucas, organ

John Scott, director

Donald Macleod explores Mathias's student days in Aberystwyth and London.

2017

Teaching In Bangor

20170725

Donald Macleod follows Mathias's return to Wales to teach at Bangor University

After graduating from Aberystwyth, William Mathias went to study with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His own musical language was emerging at this time, including what would become regular traits - a taste for syncopation and his harmonic language. During this period of the late 1950s and early '60s, Oxford University Press began to publish music by Mathias, which they then regularly did throughout his lifetime. Mathias also met a fellow student at the RAM, Yvonne Collins, and they were married in 1959. The newlyweds soon returned to Wales where Mathias took up his first teaching post as Lecturer in Music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. This was a busy period when, on top of teaching commitments, Mathias explored and expanded his own musical voice with works such as his Invocations for organ. As an accomplished pianist Mathias also performed in the premiere of his third Piano Concerto in 1968, alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Swansea Festival.

Improvisations for Harp, Op 10

Elinor Bennett, harp

Invocations, Op 35

John Scott, organ

Piano Concerto No 3, Op 40

Peter Katin, piano

London Symphony Orchestra

David Atherton, condcutor

There is no rose of such virtue, Op 45 No 3

Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Simon Lawford, organ

Stephen Darlington, conductor

Donald Macleod follows Mathias's return to Wales to teach at Bangor University.

2017

Inspiration From Wales

20170726

Donald Macleod surveys works by William Mathias inspired by Wales

In 1968 William Mathias left his teaching post in Bangor and headed to Scotland to take up an appointment as Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. This was a happy period for Mathias and Yvonne, when their daughter Rhiannon was also born. However, the family would only remain in Scotland for one year, for with the illness and subsequent death of his father, Mathias and his family headed back to Wales, where he intended to become a jobbing composer. By 1970 though, a new opportunity came Mathias's way and he was appointed Professor and Head of Music at Bangor University, where he remained for many years. This return to Wales inspired a number of new works, including his Harp Concerto, which was commissioned by the Llandaff Festival and premiered by Osian Ellis. Mathias also received a number of choral commissions, including This Worlde's Joie for the Fishguard Festival and, setting words by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, he composed his dark and turbulent Ceremony after a Fire Raid premiered by The Scholars in London.

Magnificat (Jesus College Service, Op 53)

Wells Cathedral Choir

Jonathan Vaughn, organ

Matthew Owens, conductor

Harp Concerto, Op 50

Osian Ellis, harp

London Symphony Orchestra

David Atherton, conductor

Ceremony after a Fire Raid, Op 63

BBC National Chorus of Wales

Andrea Porter, percussion

Matt Hardy, percussion

Christopher Williams, piano

Adrian Partington, conductor

Donald Macleod surveys works from Mathias that were inspired by Wales.

2017

Juggling Commitments

20170727

Donald Macleod explores Mathias's busy career teaching and composing

During his career William Mathias had the opportunity of writing concertos for many leading performers, including the violinist Gyorgy Pauk, organist Gillian Weir, flautist William Bennett and oboist Sarah Francis. Mathias also composed a Clarinet Concerto for Gervase de Peyer, although Mathias was so busy with other commitments that the work was a number of years late. In order to undertake all these commissions and collaborations that came his way, including writing an opera with Iris Murdoch, Mathias had a very disciplined routine which also had to include his teaching and management commitments at Bangor University. By the early 1980s Mathias composed his Lux aeterna, written in memory of his mother. It includes words from the Mass for the Dead, and was premiered at the Three Choirs Festival in 1982. Around that same period, Geraint Lewis was interviewed by Mathias for a position at Bangor, and recalled being a day late returning to the University of Oxford, due to Mathias's fondness for entertaining.

Toccata alla Danza

Nelson Harper, piano

Clarinet Concerto, Op 68

Gervase de Peyer, clarinet

New Philharmonia Orchestra

David Atherton, conductor

Lux aeterna, Op 88

Penelope Walker, contralto

The Bach Choir

Choristers of St. George's Chapel, Windsor

John Scott, organ

London Symphony Orchestra

David Willcocks, conductor

Vivat Regina, Op 75

Black Dyke Mills Band

Recessional, Op 96 No 4

Richard Lea, organ

Donald Macleod explores Mathias's busy career teaching and composing.

2017

05 LAST

Planning His Fourth Symphony

20170728

Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony

William Mathias composed Let the People Praise Thee, O God for the wedding of The Prince of Wales in 1981. It received its premiere during that service, which was broadcast around the world. After this event Mathias was often contacted to compose other wedding anthems for various people, but he was inclined to turn these commissions down so he could focus on what he wanted to write. By the late 1980s Mathias took early retirement from the University of Bangor, and then in 1990 he underwent surgery. He wasn't allowed to compose for a period, but then he completed his Symphony No 3 which, after his recent experiences, has a feeling of pent-up energy. Two years later Mathias died of cancer, but right up to the end he remained positive and was planning his fourth symphony, although in his final months he'd realised it would never come to fruition.

Let the People Praise Thee, O God, Op 87

The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral

Andrew Lucas, organ

John Scott, conductor

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Grant Llewellyn, conductor

Laudi, Op 62

New Philharmonia Orchestra

David Atherton, conductor

Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2017	01	Heading For London	20170724	Donald Macleod explores Mathias's student days in Aberystwyth and London Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos. From the age of five William Mathias started to compose music. By the time he was six he'd also started to learn the piano, and would become a highly accomplished pianist. Mathias was born in Whitland in South Wales, and learnt much about music not only from his mother, but also from the then newly-launched Third Programme. He went to the University of Aberystwyth to study English, French and Philosophy, but was encouraged by Ian Parrott to change to music instead. His Flute Sonatina dates from this period, as does his first Piano Concerto which Mathias performed in front of the composer Edmund Rubbra as part of his undergraduate examination. Mathias graduated from Aberystwyth with a First Class honours degree, and went to study music with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music. These lessons often took place in his tutor's home in Little Venice, where Berkeley would gently encourage Mathias to find his own musical voice rather than pursuing the avant garde. Dance Overture, Op 16 London Symphony Orchestra David Atherton, conductor Flute Sonatina, Op 98 Kenneth Smith, flute Paul Rhodes, piano Piano Concerto No 1, Op 2 Mark Bebbington, piano Ulster Orchestra George Vass, conductor As truly as God is our Father Choir of St Paul's Cathedral Andrew Lucas, organ John Scott, director Donald Macleod explores Mathias's student days in Aberystwyth and London.
2017	02	Teaching In Bangor	20170725	Donald Macleod follows Mathias's return to Wales to teach at Bangor University Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos. After graduating from Aberystwyth, William Mathias went to study with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His own musical language was emerging at this time, including what would become regular traits - a taste for syncopation and his harmonic language. During this period of the late 1950s and early '60s, Oxford University Press began to publish music by Mathias, which they then regularly did throughout his lifetime. Mathias also met a fellow student at the RAM, Yvonne Collins, and they were married in 1959. The newlyweds soon returned to Wales where Mathias took up his first teaching post as Lecturer in Music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. This was a busy period when, on top of teaching commitments, Mathias explored and expanded his own musical voice with works such as his Invocations for organ. As an accomplished pianist Mathias also performed in the premiere of his third Piano Concerto in 1968, alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Swansea Festival. Improvisations for Harp, Op 10 Elinor Bennett, harp Invocations, Op 35 John Scott, organ Piano Concerto No 3, Op 40 Peter Katin, piano London Symphony Orchestra David Atherton, condcutor There is no rose of such virtue, Op 45 No 3 Christ Church Cathedral Choir Simon Lawford, organ Stephen Darlington, conductor Donald Macleod follows Mathias's return to Wales to teach at Bangor University.
2017	03	Inspiration From Wales	20170726	Donald Macleod surveys works by William Mathias inspired by Wales Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos. In 1968 William Mathias left his teaching post in Bangor and headed to Scotland to take up an appointment as Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. This was a happy period for Mathias and Yvonne, when their daughter Rhiannon was also born. However, the family would only remain in Scotland for one year, for with the illness and subsequent death of his father, Mathias and his family headed back to Wales, where he intended to become a jobbing composer. By 1970 though, a new opportunity came Mathias's way and he was appointed Professor and Head of Music at Bangor University, where he remained for many years. This return to Wales inspired a number of new works, including his Harp Concerto, which was commissioned by the Llandaff Festival and premiered by Osian Ellis. Mathias also received a number of choral commissions, including This Worlde's Joie for the Fishguard Festival and, setting words by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, he composed his dark and turbulent Ceremony after a Fire Raid premiered by The Scholars in London. Magnificat (Jesus College Service, Op 53) Wells Cathedral Choir Jonathan Vaughn, organ Matthew Owens, conductor Harp Concerto, Op 50 Osian Ellis, harp London Symphony Orchestra David Atherton, conductor Ceremony after a Fire Raid, Op 63 BBC National Chorus of Wales Andrea Porter, percussion Matt Hardy, percussion Christopher Williams, piano Adrian Partington, conductor Donald Macleod surveys works from Mathias that were inspired by Wales.
2017	04	Juggling Commitments	20170727	Donald Macleod explores Mathias's busy career teaching and composing Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos. During his career William Mathias had the opportunity of writing concertos for many leading performers, including the violinist Gyorgy Pauk, organist Gillian Weir, flautist William Bennett and oboist Sarah Francis. Mathias also composed a Clarinet Concerto for Gervase de Peyer, although Mathias was so busy with other commitments that the work was a number of years late. In order to undertake all these commissions and collaborations that came his way, including writing an opera with Iris Murdoch, Mathias had a very disciplined routine which also had to include his teaching and management commitments at Bangor University. By the early 1980s Mathias composed his Lux aeterna, written in memory of his mother. It includes words from the Mass for the Dead, and was premiered at the Three Choirs Festival in 1982. Around that same period, Geraint Lewis was interviewed by Mathias for a position at Bangor, and recalled being a day late returning to the University of Oxford, due to Mathias's fondness for entertaining. Toccata alla Danza Nelson Harper, piano Clarinet Concerto, Op 68 Gervase de Peyer, clarinet New Philharmonia Orchestra David Atherton, conductor Lux aeterna, Op 88 Penelope Walker, contralto The Bach Choir Choristers of St. George's Chapel, Windsor John Scott, organ London Symphony Orchestra David Willcocks, conductor Vivat Regina, Op 75 Black Dyke Mills Band Recessional, Op 96 No 4 Richard Lea, organ Donald Macleod explores Mathias's busy career teaching and composing.
2017	05 LAST	Planning His Fourth Symphony	20170728	Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos. William Mathias composed Let the People Praise Thee, O God for the wedding of The Prince of Wales in 1981. It received its premiere during that service, which was broadcast around the world. After this event Mathias was often contacted to compose other wedding anthems for various people, but he was inclined to turn these commissions down so he could focus on what he wanted to write. By the late 1980s Mathias took early retirement from the University of Bangor, and then in 1990 he underwent surgery. He wasn't allowed to compose for a period, but then he completed his Symphony No 3 which, after his recent experiences, has a feeling of pent-up energy. Two years later Mathias died of cancer, but right up to the end he remained positive and was planning his fourth symphony, although in his final months he'd realised it would never come to fruition. Let the People Praise Thee, O God, Op 87 The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral Andrew Lucas, organ John Scott, conductor BBC National Orchestra of Wales Grant Llewellyn, conductor Laudi, Op 62 New Philharmonia Orchestra David Atherton, conductor Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony.