BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND 1963 1964 THIRD RECITAL under the auspices of THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST MAURA LYMPANY PIANOFORTE ★ SIR WILLIAM WHITLA HALL Queen's University, Belfast THURSDAY, 19th DECEMBER, 1963 at 7.45 p.m.

Toccata in C major Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) This is a transcription for the modern pianoforte by Ferrucio Busoni (1866-1924), the German-Italian pianist and composer. He was opposed to many of the musical influences of his day, especi- ally that of Wagner, and gained a great reputation especially as a transcriber of the works of Bach. These hold the attention of the modern performer while his own works are now seldom heard. A toccata was a composition to display the performer's touch and has no specific formal application. Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Schumann had written an earlier collection of pieces for the piano under this title, his Opus 12, written in 1837. This set dates from 1851, when his powers, which had shown serious signs of impairment, seem to have regained their vitality. The three pieces of which it is comprised, seem to have been intended to be played as a whole, the vigorous march of the third following without a break from the second, a slow romance. Three Phantasiestücke, Op III Variations and fugue on a theme of Handel Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) The theme on which this work is based comes from Handel's ninth suite for harpsichord, where it formed the subject for a set of five variations, which are so simple that they form an enormous contrast to what Brahms makes of it. He has twenty-five short variations, not often immediately recognizable by the ear as closely connected with the theme, in which he tackles a wonderful variety of technical problems, always as an artist, and never, in spite of their prodigious learning, in a spirit of dry pedantry. He sets very tight limits for himself, keeping to Handel's eight-bar scheme throughout and departing from the key of B flat in only four of the variations and that no further than to the tonic minor or relative minor. The final fugue is an exhilarating ending to a superb work. INTERVAL

Brouillards Les tierces alternées Poissons d'or Claude-Achille Debussy (1862-1918) The first two of these pieces come from Douze Préludes, Book II, dating from 1910-13, written under the strain of the cancer that eventually killed him. The nature of the first piece may be judged from its title which means "mists." The second is a study in thirds. Poissons d'or is from Images, Set II, of 1907. It is supposed to represent gold-fish swimming about in a bowl. Sonetto del Petrarca, No. 104 Harmonies du soir Ferencz Liszt (1811-1886) Liszt originally set three of Petrarch's sonnets for voice and piano in 1838-9. Much later he transcribed them for piano. Sonnet 104 describes Petrarch's state of wretchedness and uncertainty in his love for Laura, he fears and hopes and knows not whether he is to welcome life or death. The Etudes of 1839 include two pieces with the title Harmonies du soir.

Next Concerts Thursday, January 16: RICHARD LEWIS and GEOFFREY PARSONS Music for a while (Oedipus) Weep no more sad fountains. Sorrow stay. Would you gain the tender creature (Acis and Galatea) How vain is man (Judas Maccabaeus) Ich atmet' einen linden Duft. Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder. Um mitternacht Freundliche vision. Cäcilie L'invitation au voyage. Chanson triste Extase. Phydilé Song cycle. The heart's assurance Thursday, March 5: Thursday, January 23: GASPAR CASSADO (Cello) and CHIEKO HARA (Pianoforte) Toccata Frescobaldi Seven variations on Mozart's "Bei Männern" Beethoven Sonata in F. major Op 99 Brahms Suite in C minor for solo Cello Bach Rhapsodie No. 1 Bartok Thursday, February 27: MAX ROSTAL (Violin) and COLIN HORSLEY (Pianoforte) Sonata in B flat, K 454 Sonatina Sonata Sonata in A major, Op 47 (Kreutzer) Purcell Dowland Handel Mahler AEOLIAN STRING QUARTET Quartet in B flat major Quartet No. 5 Quartet in F major, Op 135 (Posthumous) Richard Strauss Duparc Michael Tippett Mozart Lennox Berkeley Debussy Beethoven Mozart Bartok Beethoven