Burney & Hawkins: A Tale of Two Histories

BBC Radio 3, 2008
Presented by Peter Holman

London 1776: two very different men compete for the musical hearts and minds of the English nation. When Charles Burney published the first volume of his History of Music – the work he believed would open his way into respectable society – another such History had just appeared on the market. Written by Sir John Hawkins, a well-established man of letters, it offered serious competition to Burney’s work, and could not be allowed to succeed.

Peter Holman explores a tale of personal rivalry, character assassination and ruthless social climbing, bringing to life the characters of Burney and Hawkins, what they thought about music of their time and earlier, and how Burney sabotaged his rival’s work. With Simon Callow as Burney, John Fortune as Hawkins and contributions from Alvaro Ribeiro, editor of Burney’s letters, social historians Rosemary Sweet and William ‘Bill’ Weber, and the writer Kate Chisholm.

The music excerpts featured offer a sample of the pieces discussed by Bruney and Hawkins in their histories, and music contemporary with their publication and the ideas they expressed.

Carl Friedrich ABEL Overture in C, Op.5 No.4: Presto
Il Fondamento, Paul Dombrecht (director)
Vanguard Classics 99703

Thomas LINLEY the younger  Violin Sonata in A major: Rondeau
Locatelli Trio
Hyperion CDA66583   

Charles BURNEY Tell us, o women (Dialogue Hymn) 
Phillipa Hyde & Jennie Cassidy (sopranos),
Patrick McCarthy (tenor), Adrian Peacock (bass)
Mark Caudle (cello), Peter Holman (organ)
Hyperion CDA67150  Tk 6             
                              
Johann Christian BACH  Quintet in D major, Op.11/6: Andantino
Concentus Musicus, Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (director)
TELDEC 4509 91002-2 Tk 5

Archangelo CORELLI Trio Sonata in D minor, Op.1 No.1:  Allegro
Remy Baudet & Sayuri Yamagata (violins)
Albert Bruggen (cello)
Mike Fentross (therbo)
Pieter-Jan Belder (organ)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92403  CD 1  Tk 42

Johann HASSE Artarserse: ‘Per questo dolce amplesso’
Vivica Genaux (mezzo-soprano),
Academie fur Alte Musik, Berlin, Rene Jacobs (director)
Harmonia Mundi HMC 901778

George Friedrich HANDEL
arr. William BABELL  Rinaldo: ‘Vo far Guerra’
Claudio Astronio (harpsichord)
Stradivarius STR33514

ANON.  Sumer is icumen in (excerpt)
Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier (director)
Harmonia Mundi  HMA 1951154

John DOWLAND  Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
Ian Partridge (tenor), Konrad Ragossnig (lute)
Cadenza  CAD A863

John JENKINS  The Bell Pavan (excerpt)
Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall (director)
Astree Auvidis  E8724

Christopher SIMPSON  Suite in D major: Almaine
Sonnerie
Virgin Veritas  562 1612

William LAWES  Royall Consort Suite No.1 in D minor: Fantasy
The Purcell Quartet
Chandos CHAN 0584/5

Johann Christian BACH  Symphony in D, Op.18/4: Allegro con spirito
The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead (conductor)
CPO 999 752-2

Henry PURCELL  Chacony in G minor, Z730
The Purcell Quartet with Risa Bowder (viola)
Chandos CHAN8663

Henry PURCELL  Three Parts Upon a Ground in D, Z731
The Purcell Quartet
Chandos CHAN8663

John BLOW  I said in the cutting of my days
Robin Blaze (counter-tenor),
Joseph Cornwall & William Kendall (tenors)
Winchester Cathedral Choir
The Parley of Instruments, Peter Holman (director)
Hyperion CDA67031

Johann Christian BACH  Oboe Concerto No.2 in F: Larghetto
Anthony Robson (oboe)
The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead (conductor)
CPO 999 347-2

John Wall CALCOTT  Have you read Sir John Hawkins’ History
Mathew Spillett & Will Hellawell (tenors)
Julian Pike (baritone)
Premiere recording made privately especially for the programme

Joseph HAYDN  Symphony No.73 in D ‘La Chasse’: La Chasse Presto
The Hanover Band, Roy Goodman (conductor)
Hyperion CDA66520